A baby shower!

I wish I had taken my camera to my shower last night. Yes, my ward sisters threw me a baby shower for baby #6. We had such a fun time! At least I did and everyone else seemed to have a good time so that's all that matters. Domonique got some really cute clothes so she won't have to wear all hand-me-downs. I was excited about the hooded towel because all my other kids have one but I didn't have one for her, so now I do! There were several handmade gifts from some very talented women. I also received lots of diapers and wipes which helps out a lot because I'm always changing her diaper. While I opened gifts, the person who's gift I was opening had to ask me a question about me, my family or anything else the giver wanted to ask. It was a fun way to share myself with my new ward family. I guess I'm not really new anymore, but I've been in Primary since February so there are some people's names I don't know, and they don't know me. We worked on solving that problem last night. I really appreciate all their love and kindness and generosity. Thank you!

It is official!

Kevin has been accepted to the Synergy program here in Saginaw, so we are staying. Several of our friends were accepted as well so they will be staying, too! I love it when a plan comes together and actually happens the way you think it should. Of course, even when things don't work out the way you think they should, things seem to work out anyway and, in the end, it is all for the best. It's best to follow the Lord's plan, doing all you can to be prepared and make correct choices so that He can lead you.

A different kind of humid.

I thought living on an island in the Caribbean was about as humid as we could get. Today, in Michigan, it is really humid. The difference is that it's cloudy so the temperature is cooler than it would be on the island. That means that we can actually feel the humidity in a different way - it actually feels wet. I got up with the baby around 4 this morning and went downstairs. I sat down on the couch and it felt damp. I grabbed the burp cloth and it felt damp. Everything was damp because it's humid and cool so it isn't getting burnt off with the heat of the sun. The paper items in our house feel damp. I guess it did get like this on the island, when it would rain (pouring rain) but then the sun would come out and it would evaporate. I am thankful for the cooler temperature but I hope the wetness in the air goes away soon.

A show and then dinner.

The library that we go to had a summer reading program with activities on Thursdays. For the last one they had a man come who is a juggler/magician/funny man and the kids loved it. Marissa got picked to be a helper for one of his tricks, so that was extra fun (except that he called her Melissa because she has a hard time saying the letter 'r' - it happens a lot to her). We all had a fun time.

After the show, we went out to dinner to Red Lobster! It was the first time the kids have ever been there. I love the biscuits and they were as good as I remembered them from my childhood. The kids all enjoyed popcorn shrimp - except Ben who enjoyed the mac and cheese. It was a yummy dinner and the chocolate cake with ice cream was a great finish! Thank you, Memere, for a delicious dinner!

Blessing Day

Domonique was given a name and a blessing today at church. My dad is here now so he was able to stand in the circle with Kevin and a few other men. I was able to write down some of the blessing. After sacrament meeting a lady handed me a piece of paper, on which she had written down what she could of the blessing and it was a whole bunch more than I got so I am excited about that. She was a perfect angel - as always. It was nice.

Coolin' off!

This week has been really hot here (and lots of other places around the world). Wednesday, Kevin decided to let the kids play in the sprinkler after they all got sweaty weeding the garden. It was a treat for all their hard work. They were all very excited - I think it was a first for most of them, at least at our own house. (Now that I think about it, I think they did this at my parent's house one summer.) Anyway... they really had a good time and it was so fun watching them. Of course, I enjoy watching my kids do lots of things.

I wish we lived in a tent.

That's what Xiomara said as Kevin was making the bedding arrangements in the tent for their camp out. Kevin and his mom slept in the tent in the backyard with the kids last night. The kids were all very excited - maybe because they were up past their normal bedtime so that it would be dark when they went to bed. Once we tucked them in and started singing our normal bedtime songs I realized Kemiah was crying. I think she just got nervous about sleeping outside. Fortunately, she was really tired (combination of no nap and late bedtime) so she went to sleep quickly. The rest of the kids really enjoyed the camp out and if the weather cools off they may do it again this next week. So, here they are, ready to get into the tent (which is the same tent I grew up using with my family when I was a kid).



Domonique joined for a few pictures but she slept inside with me.

More of the newest member of the family.

It has been a few days so I thought I'd post more pictures. She is such a good baby and everyone loves to hold her. I am most thankful that Kemiah loves her and is not showing any resentment towards the new baby.

I laid her down on the floor so she could wake up and finish eating. She stayed on her side, with her hand under her chin and slept a little longer. Still working on the routine.


I have a picture of all my kids, in this same swing, slouching just like this.


Group picture. My sweet angels - all SIX of them!

My goofy husband, who still won't let me get a nice picture of him - but Domonique was perfect, staying so still and looking so cute!

Kemiah with her baby. It was really cute to see her hold her baby sister and she didn't want to give her up.

Her name comes from the name of the island we lived on (Dominica), but the spelling comes from my oldest sister (Monique). To say the baby's name the first 'o' is short and the second 'o' is long. Her middle name is my mother's name and the name of one of Kevin's aunts. Just thought I'd let you know.

Proud to present...

Domonique Janice

July 4, 2010

9:13 p.m.

7 pounds 13 ounces

20.5 inches

Here I am before she arrived but after the epidural.

Here we are together!


Proud Daddy!


Family Visitors! It was so fun to see how excited the kids were to see their newest sister. They were all so loving!


Kevin's mom is with us so she has been a big help

So there you have it. Our family now numbers 8 and we are all very happy!