We are so in love

Amelia is just over a week old and we still think she is pretty perfect. Everyone loves to hold her and love her. She's a keeper.

We can't wait til she starts to smile.

Amelia and big sister Eliza.

Clara and Amelia

Susanna and Amelia

Nathan and Amelia.

And the biggest brother of all, a great brother and protector.

Off to feed...

All the other important happenings around here

So, of course little Amelia trumps all other news in this house and we are completely in love with her. But, there are some other things happening around here. Here are a few:


NATHAN'S BIG NEWS...Okay for most this isn't that exciting but for this 11 year old, this is HUGE. This is my Nathan, the one I have known since he was 2 years old. I think he is adorable an can not picture him any other way.

But, for the past two years, he has been begging us for a change. So, a switch in doctors and we got the green light for his big change.

This kid got CONTACTS. He doesn't get to wear them all the time because of so much swimming in the summer but he is a pro. The doctor said he had never had someone get them in and out so easily. He loves them and is excited about the change. I am just a little sad. He is growing up way too fast and I loved how his glasses kind of magnified his eyes and made them look bigger. He is still working on a little bit of a lazy eye but he is one excited young man.

CLARA TURNS 6. She had a hawaiin party complete with the limbo, swimming, slushes, and tons and tons of friends. Just of few of her cousins here...Sadie, Annie, and Betsy Jones

The boys at the party, they stayed off the girl trampoline.

The girls at the party. I thought it was funny how they just kind of segregated themselves. I guess cooties start early. She had a blast and thanks for all the help from great sisters and sister in laws.

SWIM TEAM season started. I knew this would be the only meet I went to so we had a family affair at the freestyle meet. (I went into labor that night). This is Clara's first year and I think she may be my only child that has an aggressive streak. She loved every minute of it and even got 2 first places at the backstroke meet the next week.

Swimmers take your mark...

Just after touching the wall. Big Breath.

You would never know this little girl hates every minute of it. She usually only goes to one meet a year but I love that my kids get up and get going on summer mornings so this mean mom makes them do it. she ditched out on backstroke.

Nathan has to swim at 7 am and is now in the group that has to swim two laps and do flip turns. He is doing great and has fun riding his bike with all of his friends. I am really proud of him.

Announcing the Arrival of...

Amelia Rose Garner Born June 11, 2010 6:09 am 7 lbs. 3 oz. 21.5 inches Medium brown hair with blonde tips. Absolutely perfect.

I have lots to update but we decided Amelia trumps all other happenings at our home. Had to get pictures posted quick for grandparents far away...My sister took better pics, hopefully can post some of those soon.

This picture wouldn't flip

The oldest and youngest, protective big brother

How excited does she look?

Nathan and his sister

Eliza and her new best friend...hopefully she will be more tender than with her puppy.

So sweet, we love her so much already.

Our big happy family.

swimming lessons

I was smart this year. I signed up my youngest for swimming lessons before school got out and before it got too hot. In my very pregnant state, I knew I could not sit through the hot summer. So, for the past 8 weeks, this little girl has been in heaven. She has gotten to be quite a little swimmer and has now entered the "scary" stage where she thinks she can swim more than she can.


All my kids have had "miss Kim" who is the best.

Does she look like she is having fun. She jumps off the diving board and swims to the side to her teacher now. All of the kids like getting the rings the very best, it is the highlight of their class.

She took classes with her best friend Halle. They have so much fun together.

All my kids have been doing a lot of swimming lately. Their dad heats up the hot tub a few degrees and they will stay there for hours. Clara is really into bunny ears right now.

Hopefully this fair skinned little girl will remember her sunscreen this summer.

It will be Clara's first year on swimteam. It starts on Tuesday...more updates to come.

Three sisters swimming together.

And...Nathan has some new exciting news we will post soon.

Rocket Launch

All of the third graders at Susanna's school got to launch rockets today. She was very excited and wanted to make sure I came to watch. It was hot and very sunny so we have a lot of squinty pictures. They had a blast sending them into the air. I tried to capture hers coming back down or going up but I can't seem to find things when flying through the air.

This is cute Chloe (Susanna's cousin) and their friend Lily who is moving tomorrow. They will all miss her.

All the third graders patiently waiting their turn. What a great group of kids.

Susanna lining up her rocket and figuring out where she wants it to go.

5...4...3...2...1...blastoff

Cute friends squinting in the sun.

A girl and her puppy

This little girl loves her puppy "mixon" She can't say Nixon but can't seem to get enough of him (poor dog). We are constantly telling her to leave him alone and not lay on top of him but she just can't stop herself. She loves him so much. She climbs right into his stinky dog bed and lays on top of him most the time. It is fun to watch her as she plays with him.

This is one of the consequences of all her loving...he finally fought back a little and she didn't care at all. One of the things she does is stick her finger right in his mouth and then say he's biting me. It cracks me up...what did you think he was going to do?

Clint and I made a little deal with this dog. I was going to be doing "baby" so he is in charge of all dog maintenance. He gives him a bath and even blow dries his hair. I think he has bonded to this little dog. He has to clean out his eyes and trim the hair on his face and a few other kind of gross things.

I am also trying to "tile train" this dog. You ask what that is? Well I am sure I made it up. Growing up there were some dogs around the corner from us that would never never never step off their grass. I figured I would do the same thing. I want to lay my baby on the ground and have people come over and not have my dog jump all over them so...we only let him go on the tile. He is pretty good most of the time but tries to sneak on when he gets a chance and when my visiting teachers came over, he went crazy running up to her on the carpet...darn. But, with the family, he usually just sits as close as he can get and watches us with a pathetic look on his face. Tough luck buddy...I still don't like dogs and this is the best it's gonna get.

AND...I had to include little ballerina Eliza. She loves going to dance and wearing her dance clothes. But, she really likes all the attention she gets when she goes to the dance studio. Most of the kids don't have little siblings so they go crazy over her. She didn't used to like all the attention but now she eats it up and has them all eating out of her hand. Last week she got 3 different people to try her dance costume on her for recital (and I said no). They can't resist her chubby cheeks and questioning..."just real quick?" It has been fun teaching her and seeing all of her antics. Not the best behaved in class but lots of personality.

this was actually Clara's costume for her first dance recital.

Happy Birthday Justin

My oldest child turned 14 years old yesterday. It is definitely making me feel old. What can I say about this great kid. He has been my buddy since the beginning. Unfortunately he also had to deal with all of my trials and errors and there have been many. He usually just knows I am crazy and deals with it. He still talks to me and tells me things and I love him so much. I am so proud of what a great kid he is. He has so many talents and tries hard at whatever he does. He is a great violin player and is swimming year round this year. He is a great student and the best big brother any sibling could ask for. Of course he and his brother have their moments but he really does treat his brother and sisters so good. He worries about me and takes care of me. He always tries to do what is right and is a great little worker. He is a good friend and an overall great person. He is one amazing kid. I love you Justin.

He takes care of his sisters so well. Two days this week he went out and watched them swim in the pool after school while I was teaching dance. What a brother. They know they can always go to Justin to help them.

He finally got the ipod touch he has wanted for awhile. He was kind of surprised and wanted to play with it all day. So much that when I brought him lunch he convinced me to let him come home for his last couple of classes for some more tinkering. He deserves it.

The first picture of him at 6:30 on his birthday. I thought he would like to see this later on to see how excited we were to celebrate his birthday with him.

can you just see how much his little sisters love him. His brother went to dinner with he and his dad so he was too stuffed for cake and Susanna of course was at a dance rehearsal getting ready for nationals. I picked out this cake because I knew he wouldn't care and his sisters would love it.