Surprise, Surprise, Surprise...NOT

Since Jackson was born, Blaine and I have been very open about the fact that our family is not complete. We are now announcing that we are expecting NUMBER 6. Now let me answer a few questions. . .

1. This IS a planned pregnancy.

2. We are NOT trying for a girl.

3. We will be very pleased with either a boy or a girl. We are looking for healthy.

4. My amazing kids have kept this a secret for a month.

5. We are about 9 weeks along, which puts us at late May for delivery.

Feel free to answer the poll to the right, we would enjoy your input. Our favorite boy name we are considering is Pubert, I got that name from a good friend, what do you think?

Some of you may have been wondering where the Bringhursts have been over the last five weeks, we are still here, not much has changed. In the last few weeks we have celebrated Blaine and Dylan's birthday. They share a birthday, it is always a lot of fun. This year we decided to head to NYC for a double header. Yankee game in the day and Broadway show at night. That was a very fun and very long day. For dinner we went to Bubba Gumps in Times Square. Bubba Gumps likes to celebrate special occasions with their patrons, the video below is Blaine and Dylan celebrating with our waiter, it was just a little embarrassing but they were both good sports.

Zach loves to get Jackson up in the morning, he loves to ride the horse with Jackson and sing to him. Luckily he let me record him, I think they are adorable.

Family Bike Ride

Yesterday we decided to head out for a family bike ride. Last year we bought a five bike bike rack. There was a clerk at the bike shop that chuckled at it when he saw it. I told him I would have bought a seven bike bike rack if it existed. I'm not sure he knew another family as big as ours.


Back to yesterday, I loaded up the trailer and the tandem inside the truck and then loaded the other five bikes on the rack. Now we are ready to leave. As I was walking to the truck with our new adorable puppy, Moose, Blaine asked "What are we going to do with Him. I so casually said, "He's coming with us!" You could kind of tell that Blaine has never been in a car with a pup before, because he wasn't sure what to expect. Moose travels well, he likes to snuggle into your leg while laying on the seat.

We ended up biking seven miles. We took these pictures before and during our ride.
We took this picture on the trail. It was such a cute picture when I looked back to check on Jackson and Moose. Moose was asleep and Jackson was petting him.
We ususlly can't go anywhere without a little competition. This time we were riding for gold. There was two "races" the first was the tandem teams and Casey and Dylan won the gold medal Mom, "J", and Moose won the silver. For the solo riders, Blaine won gold, Austin won silver and Zach won the bronze. We had a great time and biking is a great way to build a strong family bond.

We added to our Family today!

After four or more years of telling the boys they cannot have a puppy, Daddy finally gave the OK. I found out about Moose last week from a neighbor who's co-worker rescued Moose's mom a couple months ago. Moose's mom, Phoebe, is a Shiba Inu. When she was rescued she was due to have these five adorable pups. We aren't sure what the dad is but suspect Moose may have some Lab in him. I went last week to meet Moose and new he was meant for our family. Here are some pictures of Moose getting acclimated to our family and home.

Here is our first experience of home. We had just arrived home and it was pouring rain. We wanted Moose to potty outside before we took him inside.

Moose loves to lay on the cold tile.

Here is Casey just after he got home from school.

At the bus stop.

I kept the boys out of the loop so that I could surprise them at the bus stop. I captured Austin's reaction on video and a little of Zach's reaction.

Moose did really well last night. He cried for about 10 minutes before he settled in to sleep. I got up at 2am and took him out and then again at 5am. Luckily we haven't had an accident yet. Moose is well loved and we are thrilled to have him in our family.

Labor Day Weekend

Last weekend we took the opportunity to enjoy nature and the beautiful scenery at Ricketts Glen. For those of you who have highly recommended it to us... Thank You. Jennifer and I always go to the campsite at check in and then the husbands come after they get off work. This time we got a little bit of a late start and then the rain came. Our planning didn't work out so well this time, we set camp in the dark and the rain. It rained all night which was actually kind of romantic. By morning the rain was gone and scenery was beautiful. We had a great time and Blaine spent his first consecutive three days in the woods. He is always a good sport. Here are a few pictures from our trip.

Before we left Dylan helped me make some cookies for our trip. He is always a very big helper.

This is everyone at the beginning of our hike. We figure it was about a five mile hike.

Zach and Casey

Jackson and Blaine

On the hike there were about 15 to 20 waterfalls. Here is a picture of one of them. All the kids and Dads had a good time climbing some of the waterfalls.

Blaine and Jackson

This next picture was taken on the trail. The tree's roots are coming out of the ground and are all intertwined with each other. I thought it was quite a spectacular view.

Jennifer and Randy

Casey braving the tree bridge.

This is me attempting a group picture on a 2 second timer.

Take One Take Two ( didn't even make the picture at all on this one)
Take Three

All the natives were very patient in my attempts to get a group picture.

Take Four

We plum wore out the kids, this is Dylan at the evening campfire. And even Zach couldn't make it to bed...
On Saturday evening we had a spiritual visitor. You may think it is the Madonna, or some say it could be the face of Jesus. Look closely He/She is looking to the left and downward. The forehead is pronounced with eyes, nose, mouth, and chin.
On Monday we rented a petal boat, row boat, kayak, and canoe. It really was a ton of fun. This is all of us switching around out on the lake.

I love this picture of Jennifer rowing my husband.

Well this is our weekend, I would highly recommend Ricketts Glen. It is a great place for family bonding.

We recently were able to go out west to visit family. The trip out there was a nightmare. We left Philly late after sitting on the plane for two hours. Finally got in the air and was still hoping to make our connection in Denver, we arrived about 20 minutes after our plane took off. It was already pushing 10pm and no more flights were leaving that night. Blaine got in line to get us scheduled for the next available flight by the time he was done it was LATE. We finally found a hotel that wasn't filled to capacity and laid our weary heads. The time was after 2am but coming from Philly it was after 4am. We were beat and our experience on Frontier airlines was not pleasant. We finally made it to Boise the next evening and our two day stay in Boise was reduced to 18 hours. When we arrived there luckily our luggage made it, but after 19 days we still are waiting for our three car seats to arrive.

While in Utah, I vaguely remember a wedding, Oh yes, I remember it was my brothers wedding. I was graced with his presence for all of about 45 min. and my kids barely got to see their uncle and new aunt for maybe 5 min. I have no evidence of this blessed event.

We then spent the next few days with Blaine's side of the family. I have great evidence of that.

Here is Casey and Jackson palling around.

I love this picture of the boys and two of their cousins

Here are most of the grand kids, we were still missing a few.

What is wrong with this picture, Sister hosts family gathering, Brothers torment Sister.

Actually it was very funny watching Blaine and his brothers bounce their sister.

Here is Blaine and I, his brother Barry and his wife Dani, next is his sister Janet and her husband Mark, and last but not least we have Bruce (this is where the name Jackson Bruce comes from) and his wife Sue.

Jackson Bruce

Very cute picture of Amy, Bruce and Sue's daughter

The family

Here is a cute pic of my niece and I.

Here is a pic of the girls, Blaine's sister Janet and the sisters-in-law.

While we were in Utah we were also able to see some wonderful friends. We always look forward to seeing our friends and family every year. I can hardly wait for next time.

Tagged

I know it has been a long time since I have blogged. Yes I have many reasons. None of which I care to post on the Internet. As far as the tag goes...I was actually tagged about six months ago, but it was a verbal tag and I decided it didn't count. Then my niece tagged me about 2 1/2 months ago. That is almost how long it has been since my last post. So Nat this ones for you. I'm not a very interesting person so coming up with 6 interesting facts about myself is kind of hard for me. Here we go in no particular order.




Fact ONE: I love the theater-you know Broadway and off Broadway. These are the shows I have seen... in order of preference.


Wicked-with original cast
Wicked-with Blaine, this would be first but I really enjoyed Kristen Chenowith's performance
Wicked-with sister
Wicked-with friends

Phantom of the Opera-this was my first show ever on Broadway. It was a jaw-dropping experience for both of us. I have seen it three times.

Lion King

Mamma Mia

Hairspray

Tarzan

Billy Joel's Movin' out

Rockettes Christmas show

Beauty and and Beast

Les Mes

Chicago (don't recommend)

Contact (don't recommend) Loved the dancing but lots of cursing.



I am adding Mary Poppins to the list tomorrow. I hear this is a great one.
There might be more but this is what I can remember.




Fact TWO: Airy noise makes my skin crawl, I would rather hear fingernails on the chalkboard than hear the sound of the hairdryer, static, the nebulizer, or the fan in the car turned up higher than 2.



Fact THREE: If my calculations are correct, I have managed to bare five children, all boys, only spent a total of 17 hours and 40 minutes in labor, pushed about 8 1/2 pushes, for a grand total of 46 lbs and 13 oz. Here is the break down...





Casey 8lbs. 7oz.--7 labor hours- one push
Austin 9lbs. 5oz--2labor hours- one push
Zach 9lbs. 5oz--7labor hours-two pushes
Dylan 10lbs. 2oz--20 min labor--two pushes
Jackson 9lbs. 10oz. 1hour 20 min labor 2 1/2 pushes



Boy does Blaine ever have it easy!!!



Fact FOUR: Even though lots of people know about this one, I still have to put it in because it is unique. I was born with a wink jaw. If you haven't seen it, I am sure you will be looking for it at the next ward BBQ. Wink Jaw is my crazy eye. I have a nerve or muscle or something that links my jaw to my eye. The bottom line is that my eyelid goes up and down as my jaw opens and closes. Jaw open, eye wide open---Jaw closed, eye normal. This is a repetitious action as I chew my food or gum or just tease the kids around me. Maybe, just maybe I will record a demo...we'll see.



Fact FIVE: About twice a year I miss the country lifestyle that I was raised with. Growing up we had all the farm animals, usually raised for food. We had milking cows, one that liked to pin me up against the wall before a good milking. She didn't like me and I really didn't like her. One of our cows picked me up with her horn and threw me a good ten feet. I was real little, maybe like eight or something. That scared me. I have experienced a chicken harvest, it's a little bloody. The phrase running around like a chicken with it's head cut off is a literal phrase. Don't wish to do that again any time soon. My sisters and I would have to squish ((please say this next part in your best country accent now I would say squash), but back in the day of farmin' we were squishin' them buggers)), the potato bugs that were making home on the rows and rows of potato plants that Dad planted. The saddest time was when Dad took the pigs to be castrated. I didn't watch, but listening was bad enough. I was hiding on the floor of the pickup covering my ears trying not to hear the wretched sound of the little piggies squeal. There were always mega chores, chores and more chores. This is why I only miss that lifestyle twice a year. I have a cushy life compared to them country folk.



Fact SIX: I have drafty windows. You must be wondering why this is interesting. The reason they are drafty is because my walls and windows are bulging with testosterone. Right now I am typing and in the other room I have a 13 year old, and 10 year old and a 7 year old hootin' and hollerin' about something that just happened one the Yankee game. 40 minutes ago they were bragging about how the Yankee announcers are the best announcers and that all the others are just boring. last night I came home from my friends home and Casey, Austin and Blaine had all the MLB hats that Blaine has collected over the years, laid out perfectly on the dinning table in order of division and then ranking in each division. The plan is to put 30 nail holes in one of my walls and place the hats one them according to their current rank.


Now as one team takes the lead of their given division the caps will be readjusted. My initial reaction was NO WAY!!!


As I looked at their faces and could see that they could not understand my reaction I agreed to a wall that I only have to look at if I am making popcorn. I don't think it is natural for my seven year old to know the thousands of facts that he knows, the other two know even more. I am sitting here blogging and I look to my left and see this very cute picture of Casey and Austin and can't help but realize that I may have something to do with this obsession to sports.

So for now I will put up with my drafty windows and look forward to every Girls Night Out.

Now I am suppose to tag someone else but I am not going to. Most of my blogging friends have already done this. If I was going to tag somebody it would be Sue but she hasn't started blogging yet, not sure why, I know I would enjoy it.

Bored Stiff

Dylan is so bored!! I was looking at the pictures on my memory stick and found many many pictures taken by Mr.D. Since he has completed preschool he is in constant need of special attention. This is like total over the top attention. I can't even walk into the next room without Dylan insisting on knowing the intent of my whereabouts. This first picture is just to show the humor that consumes Dylan. Got to love 'em.

Dylan's "personal" Photo Gallery

"The Body"

Eye

Foot

Arm

Buttocks

Stomach

Here is Dylan helping me with Jackson during breakfast. I love his feet in the picture.

"From the Den"

Looking Out

Looking In

Looking Up

Looking Down

A few self portraits are a must.

This is an attempt to copy another picture randomly placed on my camera. Dylan saw Amy's picture and decided to copy. Looks like I need to keep my camera on a shorter leash.