Pretty Darn Excited...

That these ladies have finished their school curriculum for this year! Don't know how in the world we did that other than when we work we work really, really hard. We've had so many interruptions with surgery, and medical tests that this is an amazing feat! However....and that's a BIG however.....we have many days yet unfilled to finish our required days. Yes...we ordered more books, and we'll get around to those....but here's a sneak peek at some of the things we've done lately that encompass school and the world known as .....us. Heh.


Here's Caroline! At a whopping 3 weeks old:)

Cade surprised Katie by picking her up at school and got to PPPPLLLLLLAAAAYYYYYY all day!


Make Paper Mache Easter Bowls to paint....Messy, messy, messy....and did you know the glue is edible? They found that out!

Tried out the pool....brrrrrrr!

Jammed a finger (mine!)....and boy! That mama can whine!

Got buried with our shoes on....after running 2 mi to the park (and back)!

Got in a little dizzyesque spinning.

Took these cuties to the Science Center......here's how I make them line up as we travel hither and yon to keep track of them!

Always time for a gymnastics break when learning all things Science....

My Leni at the new toy exhibit at the Science Center.

Science Center fun....and giving Mel-the-mommy time with her newborn!

The Clean Up

Yep...they're in there some where. Smile.

Can You Guess?

The ladies have been very crafty lately....which leads to some interesting discussions and items laying around. I love their creativity! Can you guess.........
Which hand-painted tea set belongs to which girl? If you know them, it shouldn't be a hard decision. Mostly they have LOUD discussions of whose is the top "prize"....but this mommy loves them all!

One Week Old ....

Got to see sweet Caroline today. She's tucked in all nice and cozy ready for the world to do her royal bidding. Isn't she beautiful?? Yea...we agree. Mom and Dad are doing great! Cade is adjusting well and is today at our house working off some steam with the aunties:)

Tornados, A Nephew and a Couple of Divas

Messy day today. Lots of rain and tornados around our area. Boo...hiss. So, as Cade came over to visit we had to decide what in the world to do. Cade decided to make his mommy a special refrigerator magnet (SHHHHH! We want Mommy to be sooo suprised!) ...which lasted all of 3 seconds. Heh. All 4 LOVED the colored peanuts made from cornstarch. They stick together with a little water. See the log cabin? Laura Ingalls herself would be proud. Leni painted a birdhouse for her fine, feathered friends that hopefully won't be scared off by the BRIGHTNESS but oh-so-cuteness! ......and please, please take note of the divas getting their nails done. Oh my but they think they are all that and more. Funnest day we've had in a long time.......and it's still raining....and there's lots of daylight left. Guess we'll go paint our ceramic tea set...(GIANT eye-roll from Cade).

The Racetrack

Here's what the others do while Caroline is sleeping peacefully and being admiringly gazed upon in the other room:)

Meet Caroline!

Here's a glimpse of new granddaughter Caroline!

Scenes From Behind the Scenes....

Here's some views of the events of the day....when you choose to give birth in an office park....on a couch....in a waiting room...



Medana was so kind to bring Jason food because his real family didn't want to leave even for a minute (and miss the excitement!) to get him anything. She's the best!

The VanLue family of four....

Peeking at new baby Caroline...born just inside the door:)

Pacing, waiting, praying....pacing, waiting, praying....oh yea...and freezing!

Mel's Dad and brothers set up camp....their way.

Here She Is!

Caroline Raye VanLue has made her entrance! Isn't she beautiful?! We got the call on Wednesday morning that DIL Mel was in labor and going to the mid-wife's office to be checked before heading to the birthing center. Jay and Mel were really looking forward to this center which would've given them a spa-like experience for the birth and day after. Well....it didn't exactly work out that way. Mel was told at her exam that she was too far along to leave the exam office (NOT set up for a birth!) and was placed in lock-down. Hmmm?! What's that you ask? All patients at the office were asked to leave, the front door was locked, and baby Caroline was then delivered......on the couch.....in the waiting room.....of the mid-wife's small office used for consults and exams.....in an office complex with normal business going on all around them. Zero meds. She was born at 1:42pm and the happy family went home a little after 5. Yea. Mel's pretty amazing and has just raised the bar pretty high for the female race of child-bearing age. Caroline came in at a healthy 7 lbs. 10.5 oz's and 18.5 inches long. A headful of jet black hair is now sporting lots of bows! We are so proud and in awe of Jay and Mel who handled this with incredible poise, unwavering strength and fortitude that would crumble most in their situation. God is indeed good and we are very grateful for his protection over this family! Don't be suprised at the many, many pics of this little wonder that will be showing up in the coming days! And I do have to point out that Cade handled all of this with his usual focus and attention.....not on his parents but on all the cars types and names in the parking lot. He's pretty awesome himself!

P.S. I have no idea why this pic posted so small. Leave it to my computer dumbness I guess but I loaded it the same as I always do. ????

Thou Shall Not Be Left Out.....

This one couldn't stand being left out.....so she gave it the good ol college try:)

These two fine ladies were given rollerblades recently by a friend. L and K had yet to try anything like this ....so being the sly
parents that we are.....told them these are special ones that only work......in the grass. Only special girls have these one- of- a- kind grass fed skaty-thingys! They bought it.....and we aren't budging. Smile.