Back to Blogworld?

Likely not. However, my father-in-law asked for the web address for this blog recently, so I figured I'd better post something more recent. :) Lots of changes since last year. We've had an addition -- Olivia Sue Dray was born 3/13/12 and is already a whopping 3 months old! I've joked recently that it's hard to believe she's already 3 months old when it felt like the first 4-6 weeks were never going to end! Joking aside, I do find myself trying to more conciously enjoy her baby-ness because I realize how horribly quickly it goes. We're still working on sleeping through the night, but she's been a pretty content baby (after we got past the first few weeks) and gets toted around everywhere her big brothers and sisters need to be. Just realized, as I was looking through the newborn photos we have of Olivia that she probably has the least amount of "just born" pics. That would be because Brad didn't have any time to get the camera ready before she was born due to a combination of the facts that she came pretty quickly and I didn't have an epidural and so had a death-grip on his hand. :) Okay, well before I spend the rest of my day on here trying to catch up on the last year at the Dray house, I'd better get off and get productive. Here's hoping for another update before Olivia turns one!

What?

I have a blog? Maybe I should try to update it every once in awhile. I think a good starting place would be with my background -- goodbye winter, hello spring! :)

Bekah's One-Liner

Yesterday, my mom came and got the girls to run some errands with her and was serenaded by Emilie and Bekah during the trip. At one point, mom asks, "What more could a grandma ask for?" And Bekah replies, "Another song?"

And I might get some birthday pictures and updates up here soon. But don't hold your breath.

I Think She'd Say This is her Favorite Present EVER!

Bekah sure loves her little kitty! Smokey got out the other night and Bekah was in tears as we were trying to get her to come back in. :)

Oh, and Bekah got her hair chopped off the other day. She says it's a little too short, like a "boy's haircut" (oops!), but I've reassured her that it'll grow back. :) Next time, we won't go quite as short!

...but boys seem to be much harder on these glasses!

Well, Nathan's only had his glasses for a little over a month and has managed to significantly scratch his first pair and break his back-up pair. Pair number 3 is in the mail. I almost ordered 2 pairs when I ordered the third, but thought I should wait until his re-check in November to make sure his prescription doesn't change again. I'm rethinking that now. :/

75% Glasses Rate

We're shooting for a perfect 100 before we're done. :) Have a feeling Nathan's glasses are going to be harder to keep from breaking. :/ His back-up pair is already in the mail. (The second pic is intentionally a little farther back...thought I'd show off the new window covering as well.) :)

Emilie's "Wharf"

So Emilie forgot to watch where she was running...and ran smack into the side of the deck. Brad was pretty impressed with the welt on her forehead!

Cleaning Out the Car

Sam, helping vacuum the van while we were still on Robinson.

The Old Purple/Yellow Room

We needed to re-paint this room before the renters moved in, so we let them pick the colors. I didn't think to mention, "not red". I strongly dislike painting red (had to put like 7 coats on the walls flanking the fireplace in that house). But I liked the way it turned out -- and it only took 2 coats. :)

Our Climbing Tree at the "New" House

Do you see anything in this tree? The kids have been making their way up, limb by limb. As for the unpacking...we're getting there! The kitchen's mostly just down to those odds and ends that don't seem to have a logical home and the rest of the house is still a work in progress.

Crescent Drive (Both Floors!)

Figured I'd better do this now before we move in 8 days...or it might be awhile before I'd get around to it again! It's a lot different from the last video -- and I included the upstairs this time, too.

Nana and Papa Got a Pool

And the kids couldn't be more thrilled! A few weeks back I bought the kids some ice cream cones as a treat and Emilie said, "This is the third best day of my life!" This made me wonder what the first and second best days were...so I asked her. "The first best was when Grandma and Grandpa got their pool and the second best was the first day we got to swim in it." I guess she was just ranking the previous week or two. :) Anyways, these pictures are from that day -- their first swim in Nana and Papa's pool.

Sam's Actual Birthday

The older kids were going to a VBS the night of Sam's birthday that ended at 8:30. I didn't plan on Sam attending until we got there and they said the program was for 3 and up...and Sam did just technically turn 3 at 12:22 that afternoon...So, he stayed. But I worried about him the whole time -- or, more accurately, I worried about his teacher the whole time. :/ Apparently it went well and Daddy was ready and waiting with his ice cream birthday cake when we got home (Sam L-O-V-E-S ice cream). Can hardly believe this kid is 3 already!

Sam's "Extended" Family Birthday Party

I say "extended" because only the grandparents were here and he has a whole lot more extended family than that! He had a great time opening his gifts and I was glad he didn't seem to mind that it was thrown together last minute. Sam says, "Thanks for the gifts!"

Big Tractor

Sam was captivated by the excavator across the street. I'm sure he would've walked over and touched it if I hadn't been watching.

Dance Recital

The girls had a lot of fun at their end-of-year recital on the first Sunday of June. Emilie's did a tap and ballet routine and especially enjoyed the tap. Bekah did ballet and her movements were pristine.

Nathan's Last Day of Pre-School

Nathan really enjoyed Pre-School at the YMCA this year. It was a good fit for him, as he wasn't quite ready to sit through our school-work every afternoon and yet, wasn't taking a nap anymore either.

Great Grandpa w/ About 1/2 of the Great-Grandkids

All of us inside were wondering what had happened to them all -- and there they were, just swinging on the deck. :)

Fresh Air + Green Grass to Play in + Minimal Sleep =

Sam, the second morning up at Brad's grandparents' farm near Richland Center in mid-May. I was ready with camera in hand for a plop into the cereal bowl, but that never happened (although it looked utterly possible).

Sam's Fred Flintstone Bike