Please excuse my lack of blogging =) I have been completely uninspired lately and I'm looking for something to inspire my creativity! I am desiring to find more creativity in my writing and I haven't been able to get there yet.

Amy, be patient with me =) I'm working on this!!! 

P.S. I'm trying out some mobile blogging which will be a fun and fast way to post some blogs!

A day at the beach!

We were all feeling better, so we decided to go to the beach! We thought we picked a good day.....but unfortunately, we were wrong. We got there and played for a little while and then it started raining. Nigel didn't mind - he was already in the ocean! The boys and I just kept running to seek cover. It was still a WONDERFUL day, though!



Nigel got to use his new surfboard!

Have fun!!!

The boys threw rocks in the water.....their favorite thing to do =)

And I got to to get my feet in the water =)

Look at that face he makes at me!

See that little dot above the boys, in between them? That's Nigel =)

More Penny =)

I just have no words. No words. She is stunning and amazing and delicious all at the same time. And if I could, I would snuggle her all day long and pretend like I have no other responsibilities. Oh, sweet Penny =) She's awesome.

And just a little update......she is now 2 weeks old and has surpassed the 8lb mark =) That means that she's gained almost 1lb in 2 weeks =) Good girl! And great job mama!!

Look at how long her fingers are!!!

Jude just wanted to make sure that he was still getting some attention.....so he was pulling out all the stops. Singing, dancing, playing guitar, playing in a box and just acting crazy =) I love you Jude! You are so full of fun and you never cease to amaze me!

Look at that little pucker =)

Happy 4th!

We just weren't sure if we were going to get much celebrating in this year for the 4th. Nigel had to work from 6am-4pm and then 6am again the day after. Brock was still not quite himself, but he was fever free and throw up free =) And me, I was bound and determined to make red, white, and blue cupcakes. I had been thinking about them for quite a while. So, I did it.

I just started with a white cake mix and then added some (a lot) of food coloring.....

And then I layered in the cake batter and baked. And I failed. Failed miserably. I didn't take a picture of the inside of the cupcake. Boo. But, it was beautiful. And here are some of the tops.....

After Nigel got off work, we headed out to Cascade Locks....one of our favorite places to go on the 4th. They put on an amazing fireworks show. And we always have so much fun!

We played ladderball.....

And we got crazy =)

Beautiful fireworks.....

So, so, so sick.....

My poor little Brock-monster was so sick =( He started throwing up on a Friday and didn't stop until Sunday and then had another episode on Tuesday. We actually had to take him to the emergency room on Saturday to get checked out for dehydration. He could not keep anything down and was incredibly miserable. They sent us home, after a thorough check, with some anti-nausea medication and strict instructions to come back if he wasn't getting any better within the next 24 hours. Fortunately for him, he did get better because he absolutely hated the ER. Everytime a nurse or the doctor would come in the room, he lost his mind. Cried and screamed and wanted nothing to do with them =( It seems like now we are on the mend and that he is working on getting better.....and we are just hoping that nobody else is attacked by this miserable bug.

Penny is here!!!!!

We have our first baby girl in the family! She's finally here =) And I couldn't be a more thrilled auntie! I can't get enough of her. She's amazing =)

Penelope June Lockwood

Born July 1st, 2011 at 9:03am, weighing 7lbs, 4oz, measuring 20 inches long.

Erika did amazing with no epidural!! Mama and baby are doing amazing and Penny is a fantastically wonderful baby. Mellow, sweet, and perfect!

Jude is a very proud big brother. He loves his little sister!

A very happy and proud Nanny holding her first sweet granddaughter =)

Look at those eyes!!! She was very alert at the hospital!

And of course, her precious feet...

One very happy (and relieved) mama =)

So sweet, Erika and her kids!

Bath time! Penny LOVED having her hair washed and brushed!

All clean and wrapped up in the towel.

Clean, dressed, and happily being held =)

I could stare at her all day!!!

She found her thumb! Erika is hoping that she'll keep on finding it, too =)

Jude's new Paper Jams guitar that Nanny got him as a "Congratulations-on-becoming-a-big-brother" gift.

Welcome to the world, sweet Penny! We are all so thrilled that you are here and that you are as fearfully and wonderfully made as God intended for you to be =) What an amazing blessing you are and will continue to be to all of us!