Phoenix Zoo

When the weather is nice, our family LOVES going to the zoo.

We have even bought annual passes many years in a row.

My kids never get tired of seeing the animals. Me, on the other hand, I like seeing them, but

if I get very close, I get a weird chill up my spine complete with full-body goose bumps...

I don't love big animals.

Maybe my kids love seeing the animals because they are deprived since we refuse to have pets...?!

No matter the reason, they love getting up close and personal with the animals...

I found these pictures of the last time we went...

no fear here....

Up-close and personal

Four monkeys... (HAHA!)

My kids love the weird metal animal that looks real, they always want a picture on it...

so we obliged.
(p.s. I think it is call an oryx?)

Over the river and through the woods...

... to Grandmother's house we go!!

Ok, so we just drive on the freeway, no river, no woods.

But it is still so fun to go to Grandma's house.

I am so glad that my kids have fun memories of times they spend with their grandparents.

I only knew one of my grandmas... my other grandma and both grandpas passed away before I was born. And most of my memories with my grandma were when I was really little so they aren't too vivid. She was sick for a lot of my life. So, I rely on other peoples' stories and pictures to remember my grandparents.

My kids though... they have a different story. We usually see one or both of the grandparents every week. And they have a blast every time they go to see them...

here's the proof...

Some cousins and aunt Dee just chillin' out maxin' relaxin' all-cool at gma Mac's.

When it's just us a grandma Marilyn's, the kids get to do whatever they want... horses, trampoline, games, root beer floats,... you name it!!

So FUN!!!

UNFORGETTABLE!!!

Going Back in Time!

I just started going through my camera the other day and I realized how much has really happened in our family since Sophie was born. So, my goal is to slowly organize my pictures and then journal about them on my blog. So, I hope you don't mind reading our really old news... bear with me, it's for posterity! :)

Made for the Stage

About this time last year, I wrote about how Chansey and I went to The Queen Creek Performing Arts Center (QCPAC) to see their community theater production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat". It was really good and Chansey was truly inspired!! She saw her uncle on stage and realized... " I want to do that!" So... she has been in two musicals since... both at QCPAC ...

She was an Oompa-Loompa in Willy Wonka Jr. last November. This musical was done all by children ages 7-17... no adults. And it was REALLY good!! Chansey was only in a few scenes, but it gave her some wonderful experience. She did a great job and loved every minute of it.

This year, at the beginning of summer, she performed in The Wizard of Oz. She had a couple of backround parts in this production... that of an Ozian and also a Poppy Flower in the Poppy scene. This is her Ozian costume... they all wore green, different shades and styles,... so cool to see! She was in a few critical scenes in this musical and even though she didn't have a big part, she had to attend a lot more practices and it was a lot of hard work. She is a natural on stage and we are proud of her. I am looking forward to many more performances in the future!

Fast Forward

Don't have a heart attack... Yes, I am finally updating my blog! It has been too long ... The title of this post explains it all... Life has really been in "FAST FORWARD" mode. You know when you fast forward a video while you are watching it?!... and you can see what's going on, but it goes by so fast that you don't get to absorb it all? Well, that is how it has been around here for the last year. It is a good thing I have pictures to help me remember it all. I just looked through my camera pics today and it motivated me to begin journaling (blogging) again. Hopefully I can record some details soon about things that we have been doing since Sophie was born (better late than never, right?!)

But first of all... a few cute, random pictures from this last week... just to show how everyone has grown...

Chansey was in the "Wizard of Oz" at the Queen Creek Performing Arts Center (hence, the make-up and shiny clothes). One of the parts she played was that of an 'Ozian' (citizen of OZ). Her performances were last week and here she is with Eathan, Bella, and Spencer on the stage after the last show wearing her Ozian costume. She did a great job in the play, we were really proud of her. It was a lot of hard work this time!

Just playing around...

Sophie is so big!!! (She looks like a mini-Bella)

She is crawling like a pro and standing and walking around furniture. We are in no hurry for her to walk on her own. :) I wish they would just stay little. She loves to eat everything and she sleeps through the night now.... YEA!! She is always happy and we have so much fun with her.

People always ask me questions like... "How is life with five kids?" and "How do you do it?" Well, the answers are... Life with five kids is wonderful and fun and HECTIC and I do it by running around like a chicken with my head cut off!! Seriously though... I have always been a busy person... I am high-strung and I have always found things to keep me busy. But, now, it's a different busy. My home and children are what keep me busy... pretty much all of the time. We still manage to find time for fun and, as always, church callings and extended family are part of the usual craziness. But, managing my household takes up more time than it ever used to... in a good way. I guess it took five kids to teach me how to keep my priorities straight... I must be a slow learner. :) But, I am still learning and enjoying the ride in the mean time.

I will post more pictures soon and write about some of the things we have been doing lately...

STAY TUNED!!

She's Here!!!

The pattern continues!! We had another little girl on Friday, August 14 at 3:15pm! She weighed 7 lbs. 15oz and was 20 1/2 inches long. Her name is Sophie Pearl Breinholt. We couldn't be more excited. So far, everyone is doing great and adjusting well to the new little life in our home. It is a special, peaceful time for our family. We are so thankful.

We took so many pictures, it was hard to figure out which ones to post. So, I thought it would be fun to post one of each of us holding her at the hospital.

But first, ... a close-up...

Chansey and Eathan came to the hospital with Aunt Allison about an hour after Sophie was born. We didn't tell them she was a girl until they got to the hospital. It was a fun surprise!

Todd took this picture of himself with Sophie. Pretty good! He looks like a happy daddy to me! He was pretty sure we were having a boy, so I think he was the most surprised that she is a girl. It took us both a few seconds to believe it. There was an added measure of suspense when Sophie came out with the cord between her legs!... it took a second to see whether she was a boy or a girl... we had to laugh at that.

Well, Sophie thinks it is time to eat, so I will post more pictures and details later.

My Last Post While Pregnant

The sun is just barely starting to come up... I have been awake for an hour and a half. I just tried to lay back down to get one more hour of sleep, but to no avail. My mind is racing, so I thought I would post my feelings and what is going on... I might want to reflect back on this someday.

This was to be my last night of uninterrupted sleep for who knows how long... and ironically enough, not much sleep came. Why you ask? I am scheduled to go into the hospital in three hours to be induced. I am flooded with emotions and worry and self-doubt and a fair amount of fear. Let me just say that I am normally fundamentally opposed to being induced and even though it is about to happen to me, I still am not sure if I like it. My doc has been asking me if I want to be induced for the last two weeks and my answer has continued to be "no." I am fairly comfortable (except when I eat too much or my Restless Legs Syndrome shows up) and I always thought... "why rush things, the baby will come when he or she is ready." But, he won't let me go any longer... I was due yesterday and I have been dilated and effaced for weeks. Also, I have been having contractions for about 36 hours and nothing is happening... so weird. Don't get me wrong... I am excited to have the baby here, but I just wanted to do it on my own like the other ones. Chansey was four days early, Bella was several days early, and Spencer was almost two weeks early. With all three, I knew I was in labor, went to the hospital when the pain was more than I could handle and with the last two, had a baby in less than two hours. Easy. I looked forward to that happening again... shouldn't it be earlier and easier every time?! I guess not.

This whole situation is similar to what happened when I had Eathan. I had to go in and have pitocin and Eathan eventually had to be vacuumed out... no fun. So, I just hope this doesn't go down like that. I hope it all goes fast and easy and no heavy machinery is need to coax the baby into the world.

I am also worried about my other 4 kids. It is really hard for me to think about leaving them for a couple of days. I will miss them and when I get home, my baby won't be my baby anymore. I will have to say "hold on" more and my focus will change... all scary. So, before I lay down for a few more minutes (before I really have to start functioning) I will pray for them (and me) one more time and I hope all will be well.

The moral of the story is two-fold... 1. Just when you think you know stuff... you really don't
2. Sometimes, the best things in life come to those who wait. I say that because I have never been this far along in a pregnancy. I have waited patiently for the baby to come... I guess now I better listen to my doctor and let him help me out. The waiting is almost over.