And the Baby Is...

growing well, measuring right on for our due date (with the exception of a head that is a week ahead of itself! go figure), and lookin' good.

We proudly present to you...

Katelyn Rose Capers

It's a girl!

Looking at her face-forward


She loves sucking her thumb...


She sucked that little thumb nearly the entire time!


And here is one of her not-so-little feet!

Only 22 weeks to go, give or take. My, how time flies!!!

He's Here! -or- Joshua.

I am proud to annouce the arrival of Joshua Cooper, newborn son of my friend Jaime and her husband "Hobz."

This precious bundle arrived on Saturday, August 22, 2009 at 4:41 p.m. measuring 20-1/2 inches and weighing 7 pounds 4 ounces.

I have seen the new family and all are doing well. Joshua - or "Coop" as they will call him - is absolutely perfect!

Congratulations, newly expanded Hooley family! :)

Well-Wishes -or- Due.

One of my closest friends from work is due to have her baby today. I excite to hear the news of Baby Hooley's arrival, and I hope to hear it soon!

Send a prayer for a safe and non-traumatic labor for Jaime, her husband "Hobz", and baby, won't you?

"I ON TABLE!" -or- [more] Outdoors

Today was another out-of-town workday for my brother-in-law, so I got to pick up our niece and nephew again, which meant another fun trip to the park! Elizabeth chose to stay home and nap; apparently the first day of 2nd grade was quite tiring for her! Here is some of the fun we had:






And of course, "Shellie, I ON TABLE!":

Summer Fun -or- Outdoors

My brother-in-law has had to work out of town a few weeks this summer, which has afforded me the opportunity to pick up my niece and nephew from daycare a few times. Here are a couple of pictures from our first trip to Nord-Kalsem Park:

Graduation Day - or- Pride

On July 31st, Jonathan graduated from WalMart Management Training!





I apologize for being very tardy in posting this great news... I've been dragging my heels on uploading pictures from the camera because of my innate impatience with the process.

Congratulations, Jonathan! I am so very proud of you!

I am pining for the ocean. Badly.

Where does the time go??? - or - Summer.

So... uh... Wow! The summer is nearly gone! The kids head back to school in two weeks already!

As I realized my last post was 6 weeks ago, and because we've been up to a lot since that last blog, I thought I'd get back into the game and post pictures of what we've been up to. This slideshow is picture-heavy entry, so forgive any extended loading time the page requires, won't you? ;)

We've been to softball games, begun the process of buying a home, moved into a tiny apartment until we close on the house, gone swimming a few times, and been to Oregon to stay with Jonathan's folks and brother for two full weeks (sans Jonathan who could not get the time off of work). Now the process of getting ready to return to reality and begin the school year. . .

Way to Get Under the Ball! -or- "Lacey"

So, Lauren has played softball again this year. She's shown tons of improvement in her skills and is gaining a lot of confidence. In fact, she's so confident that she attempts to catch...

with her head!

We love you, "Lacey!" You're becoming quite the young softball player and we're proud of how you really get your head in the game!

A Hectic Week -or- Life.

Elizabeth had dance rehearsals and recitals for nearly 20 hours this week. All that hard work paid off, and she made quite the little star! This was her first year in dance, and she is loving it!

As my previous post suggests, Jonathan has had a week full of changes in preparation for entering Management training. He doesn't look any worse for the wear, though:


And then, randomly, here is a darling one from the Mother's Day program that was held at Elizabeth's school back in May:


I'm preparing for a long week without my husband nearby. What's your week hold?

17" Less - or - Change!

So, yesterday Jonathan decided to create a little change in his life. A promotion into management with a ginormous raise and 8 weeks away from home apparently isn't enough change for him. ;) So...

and...

went...

and then...

resulting in...


Now THAT is a lot of change! He looks awesome, wouldn't you agree? (My apologies for blurry Blackberry photos.)

I love you, Jonathan, my Newly Short-Haired Management Club's president and founding member. ;)

The Day I Wish I Never Lived -or- Loss.

So, yesterday we suffered a miscarriage. I do not believe it is a stretch to say the entire family is heartbroken.

Thank you for your prayers.

Mas Mexico!

Okay, so while I still have Internet today, I am posting one more batch of pictures. There are a lot - sorry - but this will be our last day paying for Internet until probably Sunday. ($30/day seems like a big waste, even to feed our addictions!)

Outdoor breakfast seating this morning:

Indoor breakfast seating:

Beautiful tile mural in Fruitas Y Flores restaurant (Fruits and Flowers):

Delicious light breakfast (including the now infamous chocolate croissant/eclair thingies!):

Breakfast bread and roll selection:

Fresh fruit selection:

Our favorite bridge to cross (it leads to all the food!):

Real hibiscus flowers!!

Real some-other-kind-of-flowers!

"I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts!"

Morning peace on the beach:

I know who ate the canary! (Yes, that white haze is a feather in his mouth!)

Us and Ol' Man Cortez:

And again:

A REAL PELICAN! FLYING! I WAS IN AWE!! STILL AM!!! lol

The view as we sunbathed after breakfast:


Phew! I'll bet you're as tired of looking at these as I am of posting them all one by one! Adios~

Mexico Part Deux -or- Rerun.

Here are the pics we've got so far. Don't be too disappointed when you realize you've seen pretty much identical photos before. You know. Last November. Because we're too silly to try a new vacation spot. This one is so wonderful!









And for Jill, the "proof":

Yes+

So, we have some news to share with you all:

Jonathan likes it...


Elizabeth likes it...


And so will everyone else. ;)