If you know me, you might know that I love to play Scrabble. If you know me even better and have had an opportunity to be in my house, you know that I have a Scrabble board filled with every name of my family. Since I first put the letters on this board in 2014, I have had to rearrange it several times to make room for additions. I was delighted to add Hannah, Jeremy and Julissa and happy with the way I was able to fit their names on the board. It is starting to get full and I figured that one of these times when there is an addition, I will have a hard time finding a place for it. It was about a week after Clara was born that I got around to looking at the board. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that her name was a perfect fit at the top of the board without changing anything! I'm pretty sure Jay and Kristen didn't take this into consideration when they named her but I will take it!
While Kristen was in the hospital, Alexis, Lydia, and Mark stayed with us, and Kristen's mother kept Hannah. On Monday, I invited Awstin over for the afternoon as well, to play with his cousins. Here are a few things that we did together.
It was hot, so playing in the creek was a great activity!
Mark waits for the corncob he put in the other end to emerge from the pipe.
Alexis and Lydia look for creek treasures.
The sprinkler helped to keep Mark & Awstin cool!
We enjoyed doing things inside in the air conditioning too.
Alexis and I made cupcakes.
Grandpa and Mark playing Chutes and Ladders.
"I Spy"
Lydia searches intently for her "I Spy" picture
On Tuesday, I took the three children over to Kristen's parents house where we were reunited with Hannah. Kristen's parents have a backyard swimming pool which is just wonderful for the grandkids. They all enjoyed playing in the pool for a long time, before we gave them supper and then I took them back to their home to begin their adjustment as a family of seven :)
Alexis can swim by herself.
Lydia and Mark.
Hannah.
Josh and Julissa were away on vacation all week and Megan was keeping Sparten for them. On Wednesday Awstin had a great time playing fetch with him from the safety of his perch on top of the picnic table.
We have a new family member! Clara Faith was born on Sunday, July 16, weighing in at 7 pounds, 4 ounces. She and Mother (Kristen) are doing great and we are delighted that everything went smoothly and that she has safely arrived. On Sunday evening her siblings got to meet her. Here are some pictures of the happy event.
And then there were five :)
Happy faces!
Proud Sister.
Alexis couldn't stop smiling!
Hannah kept saying "I hold it!"
She looks so pleased!
Sisters.
Mark wasn't sure about holding her himself so he and Kristen held her together.
First family picture.
Grandpa.
Grandma.
Cousin Awstin visited her on Monday. Love that smile!
