The Zoo

Luke and I have been wanting to take the kids to the Ft. Wayne Zoo all summer, but our weekends have just been too full. I decided it was now or never since we have a baby coming in less than 2 weeks. So, I asked Luke's parents if we could all go when I stayed with them this last weekend. It was perfect! We had such a great time. Little Miss Independent a.k.a. Lauren, isn't in as many pictures because she wanted to be out and walking and not riding in a stroller. Therefore, she was eating many snacks while looking at the animals.

We rode the train which was lots of fun and both kids enjoyed that. In fact, I would

have preferred taking the train around the entire zoo! ;)

Lauren enjoyed the farm animals because she could get up close and personal with them.

We opted not to go into the goat pen because they were mauling the other people in there. A bit much for the kids...they were content with petting them through the gate.

This was the BEST part of the entire zoo (at least I thought). James got to feed

a giraffe. It was amazing to be that close to them. It scared him the first couple of

times when the giraffe stuck out that tongue to get the lettuce. He just thought it was great!

He even got to play some bongo drums....another highlight of his day!

This was the end of a very long, fun time at the zoo. Lauren was a few hours past nap time and we were all spent! Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for a great day!

Where has time gone??

So, James had his first day of preschool yesterday and what can I say, he LOVED it!

We had debated sending him to school this year since he has 2 years before kindergarten,

but thought he would not only enjoy it, but benefit from it. You all know well how much

James loves his mama...and being with his mama...all the time. I was a bit apprehensive

of how he'd do, but he was a CHAMP! He was so looking forward to going and got right out of the van, said he loved me, and walked away. I was shocked, but pleased. No tears or anything.

Well...from James that is. I cried a bit and thought, "This is it..."

Here he is ready to leave the driveway. He was annoyed that I wanted ANOTHER picture.

This is terrible lighting, but I couldn't resist the picture. This was baby right before

heading out the door for his first day of preschool.

He loved painting and snack time. He liked painting and being a firefighter. He said he liked painting

because they got to wear "big daddy shirts" so they wouldn't get paint on their clothes. I loved hearing that! He could even tell me several of the names of kids in his class and who he shared

toys with. I can't believe he is growing up so quickly...I need to stop blogging now or I might get all emotional again!

Hard At Work...

So, I told you all in my last house that we were working on some internal transformations and I'm glad to inform you they are finally FINISHED! (well...almost....some of the trim needs to may its way back on the walls). Bless Luke's heart he worked for 3 1/2 days straight...literally...with like 6 hour sleep breaks to complete the ceramic tile! Wow, was that time consuming. I don't think we would ever do that large of a space again, but we LOVE it and it looks great! Here are a few pictures of the changes. I only took one of the before...I know...terrible...but it was kind of an afterthought. We also got new carpet and I picked out some new decor...it's like a whole new house!!!

The "before" picture. I've always hated this awkward wood design that was supposedly a transition from the kitchen to the living room. Luke has always said he was sure the builders were covering something up and BOY WAS HE RIGHT! We found all sorts of mishaps underneath that awkward wood design.

Here is the view coming into the front door....

Looking toward the front door. This is the best angle of the tile (I think). Luke did a great job!

Here is some of my new wall decor which I also love!

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And another new addition to our house is simply because I have the BEST in-laws ever!

Yes, you read that correctly....they are great! And this picture proves it! This last weekend the kids and I spent the weekend at their house while Luke worked on the flooring. I have been

sleeping miserably lately and my emotions proved it! They had gotten a new mattress set in Luke's old bedroom
that I got to "try out" for 2 nights and my sleep was 100% better...

So...literally 8 hours after I returned home with the kids, my in-laws showed up with an entire new mattress set for us/me hoping I would sleep better. Is that amazing or what?!?
It wasn't in stock in the Ft. Wayne or Elkhart stores, so they drove all the way to South Bend

to pick it up!

This picture doesn't show it's true height. Luke said I should've taken a picture with a yard stick next to it. It's almost 36 inches high.

The only trick is the size...it's SO TALL! I tried to get some pictures to show you just how tall it really is. I'm still getting used to getting in and out of bed. I have to roll out right now with this belly right now ;) (And yes, that is a baseball bat underneath the bed...I am paranoid about intruders and I'm sure to ward them off with that!?! That...and the Ab-roller next to it!)

Give me your best guess...

Well, we are keeping very busy as usually friends. I am trying to do as many things with the kids that I can since I know it will be much more difficult once we have our third. I am officially in nesting mode...poor Luke is probably grateful I didn't nest quite like this with the other 2....Here are the major changes we have made/are making:

-Luke traded in his BMW for a minivan...poor guy...yes, that's right readers...a minivan. Yes, I swore

I'd never drive one and we avoided it at all cost, but it was really the only option and

guess what? I like it...a lot!

-We painted our entire upstairs (finally)

-We are getting new carpet (HOORAY) many of you know what an eye sore that has been for me

-And....drumroll....we are redoing our kitchen and laundry room floor. Oh, I'm so happy!

I am going to feel like I'm in a new house (well except for the whole space issue).

Someone asked me if we had the 7 year marriage itch we we don't at all, but my goodness we

are making a lot of changes! Everything (Lord willing) should be finished before the newest

munchkin arrives...

Little Lake Fun

James had a great time giving himself a glorified spa treatment of a sand bath. He had so much fun covering himself and then washing off.



I'm sorry for the organization of my pictures. I have NO idea

what has happened and how to fix them so I'm leaving them just the way they are. We took the kids to a little beach over the weekend and had such a great time! This is the first time Luke has gone with me when we've taken the kids to the beach. We had such a great time playing and being a little family. I loved every second of it...well, other than the fact that toward the end I was light headed and short of breath ;(

Luke made them their own water holes which they both just loved playing in. Lots of other kids thought they were cool too and tried to join them a few times.












Always fun watching them together.

Pregnancy Pictures-3rd times the charm...
My favorite photographer (Darcy) who has taken the pictures on several other occasions did my pregnancy pictures. She got LOTS of them and there are some really neat ones. I am including some of my favorites, but if you want to see all of them I will have to send you the web album.

My belly is ginormous! I do love that she got so many pictures of Luke and I together. After all...he is the baby-daddy :)

James is usually loving on my belly many times throughout the day. When it came to picture time there were too many other things he wanted to do like hunt for turtles.

This was the most difficult any family picture has ever been to get. The kids, especially Lauren, didn't have any interest in sitting long enough to get a picture. So...this is the best we could do. It's so "them" and so "us."

So, I am 35 1/2 weeks...YIKES! I cannot believe that the birth of this baby is literally right around the corner. I get scared every so often, but we're excited. I am officially entering the uncomfortable stage. Bending down or having the kids sit next to me while I read them books/jab, poke, and crawl on my belly is agonizing. I don't remember it being this difficult last time around. Sleeping is officially impossible, but other than that I really do feel good!

So.....I'm taking a poll since who knows when I will post again... What do you think the sex of this baby is? Be sure to leave a comment and give me your opinion. I've always thought girl. My sister said based on the torpedo coming out of my stomach...she thinks it's a boy :) Happy guessing!

Oh July...how I love you...

July is a great month for many different reasons: first of all, it's the month we got married which makes it the BEST, it's blueberry pickin' time, it's pool time, and it's fair time! These are some of the favorites in the Carpenter household and they all happen in the month of July...

7 Years and going strong...

I cannot believe it has been 7 years since I married this man! Wow...words cannot describe the joy that I have and the journey we have experienced...here we are 7 years later, 2 3/4 kiddos and happier than I could have ever imagined I could be...really...I am constantly reminded of the man God has given me and how grateful I am for everything he is and everything he does for us. He's the best! I know the next 7 years are only going to get sweeter...and busier...and bigger...And an fyi..do you know how we spent our anniversary? At the Elkhart County 4-H fair. Ha...does that mean we are rednecks???

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Blueberry Pickin'

I love picking blueberries...this year I thought it would be fun to take the kids along with me so they could help. James and Lauren both enjoyed it thoroughly...at least Lauren did for the first 10 minutes and it was all down hill from there. Our strong willed child was displaying and extremely strong will that entire weekend and weekend (I cried many times). Therefore, we only picked 2 lbs. of blueberries...yes...a measley 2 pounds! It won't make many pies or cobblers and really wasn't even worth the effort, but James had a great time and Lauren enjoyed eating them for a bit. We'll try again next year...

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It's Fair Time...

If you remember last year friends, we made many trips to the fair really so the kids could enjoy the animals. This year was no different except Luke made me promise to keep my camera home all but once...Yes, I know sheer torture for those of us scrappers...but it drives him nuts when I'm trying to catch the perfect shot and it doesn't help that my camera is ginormous...needless to say I didn't get pictures of James eating the giant corn dog or us feasting on elephants ears and Dairy Bar ice cream, but trust me...we did...and it was all delicious!

James and Lauren both LOVED the animals. We spent a great deal of time in the various animal barns. James enjoyed feeding the horses their hay. We even got to see some of the baby piglets being born.. that was really neat!

Grandma and Grandpa Carpenter came down one evening to go the fair with us and we had a great time! The kids even rode a few rides...Lauren wanted to ride more, but she wasn't tall enough for most of them which she wasn't real happy about. If she could talk I'm pretty sure she would have given those carnies a piece of her mind!

They loved this little train ride and we sure enjoyed watching them laugh and giggle at each other as it went around the track.

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Pool fun

My kids sure love being outside, but since it hasn't been that warm we haven't spent as much time in the pool and sprinkler as we did at the beginning of the summer. Here they are at G&G Bogue's. James' goggles crack me up...

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Just because I love the way they play...
So this picture has nothing to do with the month of July except it they have been playing in the dryer many days during July. They are so fun to watch. Often times it's Hide and Seek, but the other night Lauren decided to join James in there. I just think it's funny and sweet. Nothing sweeter than watching and listening to your kids play together. And just think...in less than 8 weeks we will have another munchkin in the mix of things!!! YEAH!!!

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32 weeks and still growing....

And here is the 32 week belly shot. I'm having my maternity pictures taken so so I will be sure to blog those as well... It's coming quickly! I cannot believe it!

Capturing Moments

These are the pictures I had taken of the kids a couple of weeks ago that I promised to let you see. Here they are: I just LOVE the way my friend Darcy was able to capture the moments, quirks, and personalities of and between James and Lauren. These are just several of many (110 to be exact) that are some of my favorites. Enjoy scrolling through them!

I love how big and blue her eyes look in this picture

This is the sweet smile I think of when I think about James...this is the same smile he gets on his face when I ask him if he knows how much I love him...

We had trouble getting a picture with the two of them together. Lauren wasn't real interested in James getting "too close" therefore James wasn't interested in being batted away by her. :) This one is just endearing....it's sums up the relationship I hope these two always have...




I love this face and the fact that we "have" it. She makes this a lot...especially when she
sees something she likes.

I love this one too...anything James does, Lauren does. She has so many of the same interests and bents that he has...So cute...

Have a great week! I will post again soon!