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Saturday, June 30, 2007

The Crowd's Calling for It

Okay, fine! Quite a few people have asked to see a picture of me (I can only assume to make themselves feel better about how they look when they're full of baby), so here I am in all my gestational glory. For reference, this was taken yesterday (36 weeks, 5 days) - so I will get even bigger, though I'm not sure that's possible!



Wednesday, June 27, 2007

A little help please!

Okay. It's getting down to the wire (kind of) with less than a month left until #3 comes our way . . . and we have no idea what to name him.

We've been searching and making lists for months and still no clear winner. Not even a clear front -runner. I like a couple names, Darren wants some others, Dalton has a clear preference, and Dane doesn't really care (he's suggested Dalton, Baby Jesus, and Kieran - his friend's baby brother). We've kinda painted ourselves into a corner with the "D" thing, but at this point I don't think we can deviate.

To complicate matters, Dalton had some drama in church last week when they were discussing the meaning of names. He found out that his name means "valley farm" and needless to say he wasn't impressed. As a matter of fact he was upset (didn't help that some other kids laughed - even though the meanings of their names were equally nonsensical).

We tried to console him by telling him that we named him after his Grandma and Grandpa Rennaker's farm in the Creston Valley, that we made lots of lists and his name was always on both of ours - so it won! That, followed by a procession of apologizing primary children (with prodding parents in tow), wasn't sufficient to assuage him. He still insisted that he hated his name.

Then, on the way home from church he announced that he wanted us to call him "ACE". (Stifled laughter and wide-eyed bewilderment exhanged in the front seat at this point) I don't know where he got that (maybe from Chicken Little -"Oh Ace!") but luckily he changed his mind later in the afternoon. (We did our best to call him Ace at every opportunity - in hopes of annoying him into wanting his old name back. All very passive agressive) Consequently, the ordeal has made me look a little more at the meanings of names than before.

Should I mention that one of the names I like, Drew, means "manly"?

I suppose we'll see what happens in the next few weeks. Maybe inspiration will strike and we'll just know. Or we'll keep tossing ridiculous suggestions back and forth until we're in the hospital and suddenly we've got a baby named after my painkillers.
Only time will tell.

Monday, June 25, 2007

Cookie Monster


Dane loves cookies, so we made some by hand today. He stuck by me through the entire process and was literally very "hands on". He's such a good helper and the cookies were delish.
(Don't worry Darren, his hands are clean and he didn't eat any cookie dough!)

Saturday, June 23, 2007

The Last Day of School!!!

REWIND to last September . . . the first day of kindergarten. So exciting!

Back to the present . . . finally- the last day of kindergarten arrives. Even more exciting!!!
Is it me or does he look way older? They grow up so fast :)

We celebrated with an afternoon at the beach. Dalton is the ultimate beachcomber - especially when it comes to hermit crabs.

Dane loves the water. Unfortunately this means I never get to sit and chill for very long.
Of course- I love the water, too!

Little guy has a routine: he'll play in the surf, get tanked by a wave or two - then when he's shivering, he'll lay in the warm sand and dig his feet in. Repeat.
Oh to be 3 again!

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Father's Day

Here's to Darren - the fantastic father in our house.

On Sunday we did the traditional breakfast in bed, . . .


. . . gifts, . . .


. . . and the candy tie which MUST be worn to church. (here's this year's version. I know Dalton's getting older because he actually said, "ya know Dad, you don't have to wear that. It's kinda funny looking.")


We also made a book/card all about Darren. Here's part that was pretty funny:

All about Darren
By Dalton and Dane Rennaker

How old is Dad? 29 (Dalton)
What is Dad’s favorite color? Blue (Dane)
What is dad’s favorite food? Chocolate & apples (Dalton)
What is Dad’s favorite thing to do? Play Thomas and pirates (Dane)
What is Dad’s favorite TV show? Golf, hockey, basketball, baseball, football (Dalton)
What is Dad’s best talent? He beats monsters (Dane)
What’s the best time you had with Dad? Seeing TMNT with him –“it was a very special time” (Dalton)
What’s your favorite thing about Dad? He reads to me; he’s fun (Dane)
What is something nice about Dad? He took us to Father/Son Camp and made me a bow&arrow (Dalton)
What’s your favorite place to go with Dad? Target (Dane)
How much do you love Dad? With all my heart (Dalton) To infinity and beyond (Dane)


We're pretty lucky to have a dad like Darren in our family. He truly is the best. Love you!

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Life is like . . .


. . . a bowl full of cherries?

I bought a bunch of cherries and realized quickly that I was the only one who liked them. They reminded me of the summer of 2004 when we spent a month in Creston, BC, at Darren's parents' farm. Marie (mom-in-law) brought home a case or bushel or something of lovely cherries. She would even know what kind they were - because I think they grow something like 30 varieties in the valley up there. Migrant workers come to pick each season and they're not hispanic - they're French Canadian hippies who bathe in the Goat River.

Anyway, Marie got a cherry pitter and I got to work it. I set it up by the fridge in the kitchen and I'll never forget the bright red splatter all over the side of the bare white fridge each time I punched a cherry. It looked like some gory crime scene better suited for a sleazy motel. We moved operation outside after that.

Strange story, I know, but I can't eat cherries without thinking of it.

SO - if life is like a bowl full of cherries, then it's sweet and rich at first - and full of bitterness and rot after a while. ( like I said - I can't eat them all by myself!)

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Here we are world!

Well, this is our blogging debut. (One giant leap for me that most of mankind took a while ago.) I thought this would be the easiest way to share news of the upcoming addition to our little family (baby boy #3 due 7/23/07), as well as to keep in touch with so many loved ones spread across the world. We're not that continental, but I can't say "country" when Darren's from Canada, eh?

So here's to self-exposition, becoming increasingly techno-saavy, and making interpersonal connections through a computer. Cheers!