Vacation Time!!!!

We spent the last few days at Jellystone Park/Canyon Lake area close to New Braunsfel. We were originally supposed to leave Thursday but Michael had to be in the area for business reason so we packed up early and got an extra day of vacation. We had a really good time in the fun and sun. We arrived Tuesday afternoon and spent time exploring the park. Boy we are used to our usual camping park...these spots were tight. Wednesday Michael met his customers while the kids and I swam, met Yogi bear, and jumped on the jumping pillow. Thursday our friends the Paynes got there early and we headed out to Canyon Lake with our new toy---a jet ski. We had a blast and throughly enjoyed the day. Friday we spent the day in Gruene shopping. Suprisingly, with 5 kids between the families we had a really good day. We met some more friends the Heberts on Friday night for dinner. Saturday after a really big breakfast; we spent the day on beautiful waters of Canyon Lake. The kids jet skiied, boated, and swam until we were exhausted. We got up today and headed home. It was a good week. The smile box is a caption of our week.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Aunt Mismis finally get to hold Baby Mike.

Yesterday, my itching arms were finally satisfied when I got to hold my newest nephew, Mike. Since they didn't allow aunts in NICU (that's just craziness) I had to wait to hold this sweet little man. After church yesterday, we decended on Port Neches to visit Mike. It was so wonderful to hold him, smell his baby newness, and tell him how loved he is...it was a good day. God blessed our family with a healthy baby and we are so excited to watch him learn and grow. Enjoy the pictures.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Michael Gather Bartlett

I promised yesterday to post some pictures of our newest nephew. Please forgive the quality and distance of them because I was taking them illegally through the NICU window. His parents have some better ones which they will post soon...I will get better pictures Sun or Mon when they get home and Aunt Misty can finally get her hands on her new little man.

Make a Smilebox photobook

Baby Mike is here!!!

Baby Michael Gather Bartlett arrived in all his glory today at 1:09pm. He was 7 pounds 1 ounce and 19 1/2 inches long.  He started (what is know in the labor world as grunting) its where they are working to hard to breathe because they still amniotic fluid in their lungs. So they took him to NICU.  He will be there for 72 hours. He is being weened off oxygen now and as soon as they do that his parents will be able to hold him in the NICU.  Jean is doing great...a bit upset since she hadn't even gotten to see him yet. Hopefully, once she gets feeling back in her legs she'll be able to get down there late this evening to see him. I am posting from jean's computer and don't know how to download pictures here so as soon as I get home tomorrow I will post what pics I have. It's been a good day.

Thoughts

As I sat yesterday cleaning out my children's closets and drawers, I became a bit reflective. Was it 7 years ago that my sweet Lane was born? It feels like I have turned around and the years have flown. I read a blog this morning that quoted someone as saying "the days are long but the years are short." It really hit me. Some days are so trying and difficult but I wake up the next morning and my little Landon is 5 and outgrowing his clothes so fast that he'll soon catch up with his big brother Lane. As I watch the world and this hungry dash for money and power; it occurs to me that the most precious thing is time. Time is always slipping past and its up to us to use it wisely...we can never get it back. The clock will never move backwards for us. As I look at my Kiki in her princess dress up with all the mischievousness of a three year old, I am humbled that God has placed these beautiful creatures in my care for such a short time. My daddy always said ever since I can remember enjoy every moment of your life...it goes by so fast. You'll turn around before you know it and your children will be grown, he would say. He's right, I think as I pack away the small clothes and pull out the bigger sizes.
Tomorrow, I get to be there as my newest nephew is brought into the world...I wonder how fast he'll grow.