Summer Vacation Road Trip

The Meeks hit the road last week.  The hot weather was insane, but we still managed to have lots of fun.  First stop was Holiday World and a quick trip to Grandma and Grandpa Meek's house in Evansville.  The kids loved the rides at the park.  Carter is a huge fan of roller coasters and Ryan loves water slides (the bigger the better for her!). 

Next stop was a two night camping trip in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park outside of Gatlinburg, TN.  Carter loved looking for bears (which we never saw, thank goodness!), eating smores, putting logs on the camp fire, being in charge of the flashlights and hiking.  During the hikes he had so much fun looking for the trail markers and counting the numbers listed on them.  Ryan loved picking up rocks, eating gravel and chasing Carter and her older cousin, Grayson, around at the campsite.

We took some time out from camping to check out Pigeon Forge (where Carter and Kyle rode go-carts) and spent some time in Gatlinburg.

Final stop on the road trip was Athens, GA for cousin Barry's wedding.  By this point you could tell the kids were getting tired, but it didn't stop them from dancing like crazy at the wedding reception.

Other notable dancing of the evening came from Daddy and Uncle Kevin in the "Meek Brothers Dance Off" against Cousins Barry and Drew.  If I only had pictures or video of that!  It can be summed up by one word....Epic!  Be sure to ask Kyle all about it next time you see him!  Classic 90's dancing done in the worst way!!

Touch a truck day

So what do you do on Touch a Truck Day?  You touch trucks, climb on trucks, pretend to steer trucks and honk the horns of course.  Carter loved it.  The fire truck was his favorite.  He made sure we got back in line multiple times.  He was star struck with the firemen and the police men.  Ryan was a good sport.  It was a hot day and past her nap time.  She didn't "touch any trucks" but she enjoyed being out in the crowd.

20 Weeks and it's a girl!!

We've hit the halfway mark, ladies and gentlemen!  I just looked back at my 20 week pictures with Carter and Ryan.  I had a sweet little baby bump with my first pregnancy.  The second pregnancy was definitely a full preggo belly.  Now with the third, well, lets just say the woman at Lowes today thought I was going to be giving birth at anytime.  She was floored then I told her I had until Thanksgiving!  I'll be sure to post a belly shot soon. 

We had an ultrasound over a week ago and it's another GIRL!  We would have been happy either way, but it's sweet to think Carter will have 2 little sisters to look after and Ryan will have someone to play house and barbies with.  Also, Ryan was such an easygoing baby.  We're crossing our fingers that it's a "girl trait" and we'll have another easy baby.  Ask me again what I think about have 2 girls close in age when we have two girls in high school!  My excitement might not be the same!

I'm feeling well.  I'm over the morning sickness, but that doesn't stop me from taking a nap nearly every afternoon.  My arthritis is acting up but it's more of an annoyance rather then an issue.  For being 20 weeks pregnant with 2 small kids, I think I'm doing well.  I have to admit, I'll be glad when my pregnancy days are officially over.  It's been a long 4 years!

I hope everyone had a great 4th.  We were at the lake and had a wonderful time.  It was a great way to say goodbye to the cottage. (parents are selling it a the end of the month).  Here are some highlights.

Carter's First Fish

Swimming in the swim spa

Dad and son wave runner ride

 and tubing

 4th of July fireworks

Ryan's 1st Hair Cut

Ryan's hair has been growing alot lately. Her bangs are in her eyes most of the time and will probably be that way until they fully grow out or until she learns to love wearing hair bows.  The back of her hair has become a curly "mullet" that has gotten out of control.  Today we decided it was time for Ryan's first hair cut.  Something to simply take the length up in the back and give it a little more shape.

Ryan did a wonderful job for a first cut.  She cried, of course, but not hard and she sat really still on Mommy's lap.  She was even willing to let the stylist braid her bangs!  Ryan loved getting a sucker as a "reward" at the end.  Here are some pics to enjoy!

love it when he says....

Carter is such a talker.  3 year old kids are just so darn cute!  I love it when he says...

Em-o-wee for our 6 year old neighbor, Emily

O-tay for ok

Pink yemonade for pink lemonade

Clothes hang-a-per for clothes hamper

The list could go on and on.  Of course I can't think of anymore now.  Blame it on the pregnancy brain!

falling behind

Yes, shame on me.  I've been falling behind on my blogging.  Since moving into the new house we've been on the go, go, go. 

We finally have the old house on the market.  The first 3 weeks have been slow (real slow), but we still have our fingers crossed that the right buyer will come along sometime soon. 

We also enjoyed a week long visit with Robin and her kids: Wilder (almost 8) and Montana (6).  My camera made it's way back to Colorado with them so I don't have any pics to share at this point. 

I'm 16 weeks pregnant and I was hoping morning sickness would be a thing of the past by now.  Unfortunately I haven't kicked it yet, but my energy level is much better.  We find out the sex of the baby June 30th.  Hard to believe it's right around the corner.

Here are a few pictures of the kids to share.  We took them to Sears for their annual pictures.  I wasn't crazy about doing it in a studio, but the deal they had going on was too good to pass up.

 We want to congratulate our friends Dave and Gail who got married last month.  We are so happy for them.  The wedding was a fun getaway weekend for Kyle and I. 

Also, we want to give a big blog welcome to some new babies.  Over Mothers Day weekend our friends, Dan and Andrea, had a very adorable and very chill baby boy, Griffin.  Adelyn Bolles (sister to Carter's buddy, Nate) was born June 8th.  We hope to spend lots of time with these babes this summer.  Both are so cute!

so much going on

Tonight Ryan is asleep by 7pm, Kyle is out of town and Carter is visiting his grandparents in Evansville. This seemed like the perfect time for Mommy to get some much needed blogging done.  I know I've been "missing in action" lately.  That's because we have been super busy with some major changes in our lives.  For starters we're having another BABY!  Yep, this will be #3!  We're due November 26 and everything on the ultrasound a couple of weeks ago looked great.  We're pretty excited.  I'm rather nauseous and exhausted.  Also we moved into a new house.  We're still in the process of getting the old home on the market.  That has also been an exhausting process!

Since I'm not up for posting much at this point, I thought I would share some recent photos:

Don't mess with a girl on an Easter Egg Hunt....

Carter checking out his loot....

 LIGHTSABERS!!

 Popsicles on the front porch.....

Finally little Ryan is willing to wear hair accessories......



P.S.  Happy Mothers Day to all Moms!