Grandpa Bristow, you are crazy!!!

As I got on the computer, I saw an email from Grandpa Bristow, and the email was about the earthquakes we got here. (We got a 5.9 earthquake at about 2 that lasted for almost 30 seconds, and then another at like 8 that evening. There were 3 aftershocks for all of them combined.)

So he said...

Of course the real mystery of all this is the relationship between Josh & Amanda moving to Virginia and the strange events that have followed them here: record snow, earthquakes and now Hurricane Irene making a beeline for the DC area. Is it a mere coincidence inquiring readers want to know? :-)

Silly Grandpa!!!

-Becca

King's Domion

We took our annual trip to King's Dominion yesterday. Fun was had by all and we were grateful that no one got lost and it didn't storm on us. Becca, Rachel, Laura, and Derek started out the morning with the huge roller coasters. Unfortunately, Laura got too hot and threw up after one of them and took it easy the rest of the day. My mom and I had fun with Brian, Miriam, and Jeffrey, going on more tame roller coasters, playing in a splash house, and trying to keep cool! It was so humid in the morning that just waiting in the shade for them to go on the rides (there are like 5 rides in the park that a pregnant woman can go on...) I was dripping. I was glad when the water park portion opened at noon. After sitting in the air conditioned car for lunch, we headed to a water ride then to the water park, Laura joining the younger kids at the splash playground and then on the ferris wheel and the carousel. Miriam and Brian were disappointed they couldn't go on all the rides, but there's enough to do that they had a good time anyway. Becca, Rachel, and Laura had read the Book of Mormon, Brian read the BofM stories, and Miriam and Jeffrey listened to stories to qualify for the trip. The kids watched part of a movie on the way home and then we turned on the Book of the Mormon stories as a fitting end to the day and most of the kids slept at one point or another on the ride home. We all had a great time and were completely tired out by the end of the day. I do look forward to doing it again, not pregnant. :) I'd attach pictures, but we didn't take many...we were having too much fun!

--Sarah

Update on Ellie

Mom's 31 1/2 weeks pregnant, so only about 7 weeks til Ellie is probably born. So she'll most likely be born at 38 1/2 weeks.

**Sigh**

-Becca

It's a girl!!

How time gets away from me! We've had the fun of Spring break, the last crazy month of school with testing, concerts, awards assemblies, etc., and here we are in our second week of summer vacation. The kids are enjoying the freedom to read three books a day (Rachel), play legos for hours on end, watch mythbusters on netflix, swim at the pool, and generally have a great time. I am enjoying having everyone around, at least I am when I am not playing referee. My favorite consequence I have come up with in the last couple of days is that when one of them is bugging another, I get to assign them an extra chore. We'll see if it cuts down on the contention....

On another note, I had an ultrasound in May and we're having a little girl! I knew it, but it was nice to have it confirmed. :) We are thinking of naming her Eleanor and calling her Ellie. We could also call her Ella or Nora, or name her something else altogether if she doesn't look like an Eleanor. :) The kids delight in telling me that Ellie is growing (my belly is getting bigger...). I am glad she appears to be healthy and growing and developing normally.

--Sarah

New Additions

In Feb, one of our gerbils died and so we were able to get a new one that got along with our other from almost the first day. Her name is Pippi, so we have Pippi and Poppy. She is cute and has lots of energy!

On a happier note, we are happy to announce that we are looking forward to welcoming another little one in September. We're all excited and I am really hoping for a cool summer! I am feeling better and starting to not be quite so tired. Yeah!! Everything else is going pretty well...we are all healthy, for the moment, the kids are doing well in school and enjoying it most of the time. Miriam is looks forward to joy school (Jeffrey joins in when it's at our house) and everyone is growing so fast! We got out the measuring stick out a few days ago and most of the kids had grown at least a half an inch since Jan. Crazy!! I can no longer see over Becca's head, which was a shock, though I have long since resigned myself that she is going to be taller than me, and soon. We are enjoying the start of spring--daffodils and crocuses and hyacinths, trees blooming, and lots of birds. Oh and the bugs are starting to reappear. I guess it's a small price to pay for some beautiful weather!

--Sarah

Guess what? We're sick again

Yep, we are. Rachel brought the stomach bug home on Tuesday and stayed home on Wednesday, then Brian brought home the fever bug, so he had both at once. Now Lala is just getting over the stomach bug. On Friday, Mom was reading to Laura's class, and as she was leaving, she went to go check on Bri. Well, he and his teacher were a couple steps out the door on the way to the nurse. He had a fever, so Mommy brought him home. I have lucked out that I haven't gotten the bugs, but neither have Daddy, Mommy, Miri, and Jeff. Hopefully we won't.

Hope you aren't sick!

-Becca

Sick, sick, sick!!!

I hope you aren't as sick as us on the East Coast! We have this horrible cold that makes you really congested, have a bit of a sore throat, feel miserable, and won't go away. I think Aunt Meg and Uncle Bryce got it on the plane and then gave it to us. Hope they're feeling better.

Hope you are healthy during this season of the year. If not, hope you'll feel better!

-Becca