Our New Deck!

Here are some pictures of our new deck! It is about 90% done... we still need to add the handrails for each set of steps and we need to put up some lattice around the bottom to keep the cat from going under there. We are already enjoying using the deck, eating outside, sitting out there at night when kids are in bed... thanks again to Chad's folks for the use of this nice table and chairs! Trex decking is amazing stuff... no splinters, ever!

The Baumgartner Six Pack?

Ok folks, now that the news that we are expecting our fourth child is pretty much public knowledge, I suppose it's ok to blog about it. So first things first. I'm going to need a new name for my blog. Baumgartner Party of Five just won't work once we are 6. Send me your ideas... I will choose the new blog name from the suggestions I receive here. Post your suggestion as a comment (not anonymously, please).

And to reply to the most common questions I have been getting as a result of sharing this good news outside the four walls of my home, here are a few thoughts:

1. Yes, we are aware of what causes this.
2. Yes, we are crazy.
3. Yes, I am getting too old for this.
4. No, we don't care if it's a boy or girl. It will be one of those, I'm sure. And yes, we would like to find out early if they can tell us. I'm a planner, you know.
5. No, I have not had morning sickness, thankfully.
6. No, I will not tell you what the worst symptom of pregnancy is. You don't want to know.
7. I don't know yet if I will keep working. I haven't bought my Lotto ticket yet so I can't tell you.
8. No, we do not have any names chosen yet. If you have a good suggestion, and I mean a GOOD one, feel free to comment here. I can't promise to pick from my readers' submissions on this one, however.
9. I don't know if this will be the last one. I said the last one was the last one, but now he's not the last one anymore is he? Only God knows...
10. WOW is an appropriate response to our news. However, bear in mind, we are still no Jon & Kate plus 8 or the Duggar family (with 18 kids and counting), now are we? Four is a pretty good number, don't you think?

More to come soon....

Trip to Presque Isle (Erie, PA)

Instead of a longer summer vacation this year, we decided to build a deck, so our summer trip was just a weekend spent at Presque Isle (in Erie, PA for those not from around here). Presque Isle is a beautiful peninsula jutting into Lake Erie, and from the shore, you might actually think you were at the ocean! We had a great time, and we'll post pictures of the new deck tomorrow!

Anna enjoying the surf and sand.

Dad helps Eric get past the seaweed "sandbar"

Caleb warming up under his towel

Dad and the kids braved the water... it was still a little too cold for Mom's Florida blood.

Sunbathing

Beach 8 at Presque Isle

Anna collected teeny, tiny seashells for hours

Anna Banana

The Diego kite was a huge hit with the kids! Great day for flying it too!

Eric waits his turn to fly the kite

Caleb's 3rd Birthday!

Yippee for Star Wars toys... thanks, Deacon!

Daddy bought Caleb a train table and everyone is enjoying it.

Caleb is apparently excited.

The young Jedi's most awesome Light Saber Cake ever, made by Grandma B.!

Thanks for the Spiderman Scooter, Gramma Debbie!

Let's Roll!

Helmet? Check. Elbow and knee pads? Check!

The big digger from Mama.

The party blow-outs... thankfully not the noisy kind!