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Not much new or exciting to write about this week. I have had a head cold for most of the last week, and it wouldn't be too bad except I can't take any decongestant until I am 12 weeks (which is technically tomorrow - YAY!). So we have all been taking it easy (ie. not doing much laundry, etc).

One fun thing we are doing as a family this summer is reading lots of books. The older girls will sit for hours and read. We recently read Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief together as a family. It was very entertaining. Yesterday the movie of it came out on DVD so we ate some Greek food and had a movie night. I love summertime when we can stay up late and enjoy time together without the stress of school work and early mornings. The heat is another issue....

Oh, one major milestone we just passed: we are out of credit card debt! YAHOO! We have been working on this goal for a little over a year doing Dave Ramsey's debt snowball. It is sad to admit that we were in so much debt, and unfortunately, we still have student loans to pay off, but we are progressing and doing better. It feels so good to have that weight off our backs. (Now if I could get the weight off my mid-section.... ha!)

Speaking of weight, here is the only share-worthy picture of the week.

Look at the size of this chimichanga! This delicious piece of food-art was purchased at a little fast food place called El Metate for a whopping $4.50. Thankfully, Richard helped eat it. :)

Have a great week!

This Week in Review

This blogging business isn't so bad. It has been so fun to receive so many comments and congrats from so many people. Thanks for all the love and support!

Last Wednesday, the day of the big announcement, was also the day we told our kids. They are so excited! The girls all want a boy, because as Katie said, "I just feel bad for Jonny." I made this cake as a fun way to tell them. It is pretty sad-looking, but it got the point across and, who doesn't like cake???



Saturday was a special day. My niece Emily was baptized by her father (my brother) Gary. We were all so happy for her!


Here's a picture of all the family here in Mesa.



Sunday was Father's Day. I am so thankful for all the dads in my life. My dad has always been a great example to me. I am so thankful for my good husband and the good example he is for our kids. We love him a lot! So we tried to spoil him. Richard's day started out pretty good with breakfast in bed and several presents.



We both had to teach lessons in church, so that was a little stressful. But he wore this fabulous tie, which was from a couple of years ago and we pinned on the number 5. (I would have made a new tie, but our printer doesn't work so well.) Anyway, it got lots of attention and we were able to share our news in a fun way.




After a great dinner at Richard's parents' house, Richard started feeling sick. A few hours later he had a fever and the stomach flu. Happy Father's Day!! He spent all of yesterday feeling pretty rotten too. Sorry...I didn't take any pictures of that. :)

So now, I know you are all waiting to read the most important part of this blog......
how many loads of laundry did I do this week???? Well, actually, I don't keep track, but because I wasn't feeling so great, I would say only about 7 or 8. I will work on that for next week. ;)

Naming a Blog

I have thought about making a blog now for a year or so. I have always thought, "Well, who wants to know about my day and how many loads of laundry I did?" But I came to the conclusion that even if that is all I post about, at least I will have some kind of record of our life, because I am not good at keeping a journal or scrapbook or anything.

So I have come here to blogger many times to start a blog. But one of the first things it asks for is a name. That is like a real decision, one that can't really be changed that easily. I would quickly become discouraged after nothing seemed right.

Just recently I thought of the name of this blog, "The Eldredge Seven." I know....real creative, huh? (Well, at least it is better than "Sempiternal Septenary," which was Richard's idea.) I thought it could be like "The Magnificent Seven" (I'm pretty sure that's an old tv show, although I never watched it). Seven is also a lucky number (duh). And Richard is the seventh child in his family of ten. It is now also the total number of people in our family.

"But wait!" you are thinking. "There are only 6 people in that picture." That's right. You read it here first, folks! We are having another baby! WOOHOO! We just started telling people today. I am 10 weeks along and due on Jan. 13, 2011. The kids are so excited and so are we!

So now I have to start working on another name, one much more important than a blog name. Hopefully the name for this kid won't take a year to decide.

THANKS FOR READING OUR BLOG! Come back soon!