#3's turn

 #3 way back when he was my surfer dude.  Love his blonde locks.  He had a birthday at the beginning of the month and wanted to go to the zoo.

 So we did, with everyone else in the area(or so it seemed!). Walking back to the car the kids played hide and seek in the grass.

Now he is 8! Birthday dessert pick was Strawberry Shortcake.

Another Birthday

Birthday Morning, the children had put a banner up and had cards and balloons for me!

We spent part of the day at Missouri Botanical Gardens.  

ps Military friends, they have a really good discount when you visit.

I really wanted a picture with a waterfall, trying to sneak one in before people walked by didn't work out so well and remains the only picture taken of me on birthday :D

We decided to go to China for the day, got the robes and #2 dished out some stir fry for us.  They had camera's that made the kids go on the big screen-a big hit for my hams!

 

The only time I didn't hear "I'm hungry."  "My feet are tired." is when they ran around this maze playing hide and seek(the ran forever at the end of our time there!).  

beautiful

The July brothers

Some of #1's birthday activities included some game playing.


Dropping parachute men from the deck.


and of course some birthday cake! Following the June birthday brothers he asked for ice cream cake too. This time we made it ourselves-very yummy!



*Now prepare yourself for some red eye*

We went to check out some dinosaurs today. They still made #4 a little nervous but he didn't bury his head in my arms this time!



The July birthday boys with their momma.



#5 checking out his new ride.


Now onto some baby cake pictures.

Not sure what happened to his candle here.



Wasn't all that interested in the cupcake. Played with the frosting and started decorating his tray. Then would pick pieces of cake off and hand them to his sister.



Just look at this face!


This is his brother's cake. #5 really liked the ice cream cake; maybe we should have made him one too! :)

Today we have a 4 year old!

June & July and September are big birthday months around here. Today we celebrate #4's Birthday and he turns 4! He is away with grandparents today, was asking me if I could come for cake later. Didn't quite understand why I couldn't get on the plane and be there for cake! Ok, tear my heart a little! But I know he'll have a fun day regardless of my being there.

Fishing



Just swinging


Snake skin (can you tell he LOVES this shirt?)


Happy Birthday my sweet, bug loving boy!

Our six year old

He turned six on June 6th. A fun day spent with most of the family.

Riding his cousins bike.


Checking out a train.


Fun at the creek.

Happy Birthday to our 5 year old!!

He wanted his candles arranged in a '5'. It did look more like a 5 before they were lit. Having dirt cake complete with worms.

Showing his new scooter.



Had to add this one as well. Reminds me of a tourist. See his new slippers, has his first grown up pair(without the back strap).

Cheese

cake that is!!

Two with a new hair cut. The oldest had the 'bright' idea that he could cut some of his hair and then mail it to someone he hasn't seen in awhile. I guess the person likes to ruffle his hair so he thought this would be a good solution? Hmm, when does the age of no supervision required come?? I mean he was suppose to be writing a letter, not craft time or beauty school;)

My birthday was this past Saturday. Thank you for all the birthday wishes!!
Here is a 'traditional' picture of me with my eyes shut!


We went out for lunch and then to the zoo. I had a pineapple upside down cheesecake-yummy! #4 thought the little birthday sundae they brought me was just his size so he claimed that(and some on mine and James' cake too-that boy eats!) I enjoyed the 'little' tiger cubs at the zoo. We got to see them up close as a zookeeper talk was going on. Although we couldn't hear the keeper I enjoyed the tigers a little closer. #1 found out that if he rattled on the bushes the cubs would come to the fence to 'play'.

My little helper boy. I was opening the oven to clean one night and this little guy grabbed a napkin and started going right to work for me. I thought it was the funniest and sweetest thing! So glad I have such joyful helpers! (although must note it isn't always so-we are all working on that)



We had another birthday this week. Our girl is 7!! She was very disappointed to find out we were still going to do school on her day. She complained "Why can't I have a summer birthday too!" (Note: all the boys are in June/July) Well the thing is we had a fun day dispite having to do some 'school'. Had great morning at the beach-now when we can't go to the beach in September I think we'll have to move her birthday to the summer;)

Ever since we had our pictures taken she strikes a pose, silly thing:)



Can I say that I love fall? Yes, I am talking fall Hawaii style but it is a nice cool evening. Perfect for the pot of potato soup I have simmering on the stove, which will go lovely with the freshly baked bread that we worked on this morning. Yum, the smells of fall. So what if I'm cool because it got a little cloudy and I'm sitting here under the fan in shorts. I'm going to enjoy this fall where we can eat out on the lanai. Who knows what the next fall will bring.

Speaking of food, I am oddly excited to share that our little guy, #4, will now eat salad. I've always give him a piece or two but he is finally at the point where he will eat a real serving of salad! Hip Hip Hooray!!

Happy Birthday!!!!

Yesterday was my husband's birthday......
Wow, I have so much to say that I can't, LOL!
So I'll just leave it at this, I'm so thankful that the Lord placed you in my life!!

I love you!

recap

Check out this Cross Nursing video. I think it was a pretty good segment, I haven't nursed any but my own but I can say the thought did cross my mind a time or two. I don't think it is such a strange idea,especially if you are comfortable with nursing, what better way to comfort and nourish a child.
And this article on Freebirthing. I read a lot of the comments and really just held my hands in the air saying you people are so uneducated. Yes, childbirth is a risk. It is a risk in the hospital as well as at home. No being in the hospital doesn't make everything ok. Being in the hospital can even put you more at risk. Even here in the good USA- the death rates of the mom and baby are among the highest in the industrialized world. IMO thanks to induction and C-sections and the fear of being sued.


ok, lets get back to the children, shall we?

Quickly(because I'm tired ok) pictures are from a beach picnic. It was too windy for Frisbee so we ended up playing different jumping games.

Our oldest turned 8 last Friday! We went bowling(his request and no pictures) daddy was able to join us(was suppose to work late so very exciting!) But should have done it a different day, kids had fun but parents-not so much. Too much no napping crazy whining for us.
Saturday the children and I went to the Zoo, took a friend and her son with us. This would be the tree pictures.
#1 got his cake on Saturday-not much to look at but yummy! Black Magic cake. The first icing I made and had to dump as it was too runny. Second batch was ok, but not enough. But the cake made up for the icing!!

Happy Birthday

To blessing #4!!!






He turned 2 today!!

Camera charger, camera charger where art thou?

We reorganized our computer area and we now have a missing camera charger. Of course the camera is on it's last little bit of life so I really need to figure out where it got misplaced!



It was this one's birthday yesterday(June 6th, I actually started this post a few days ago).


He's the Big Number 4!!!

These are some cards the older two made for him. Aren't they neat pop up cards? I really like having all the Usborne craft books around. The kids are constantly getting great ideas from them!



We took a cake to bible study and sang to him. He had been a little more cuddly than usual before we brought the cake out-not sure why. But he did try to blow the candles out but they insisted on staying lit! This upset him quite a bit(I believe the picture of him and cake is after his attempt at the candles) so his sis blew the candles out for him. After he got his piece of cake to eat he was as happy as a plum!
He got a little black and decker tool set like daddies. It's really quite cute. Daddies stuff has the rechargeable battery that you slide on each piece, #3's has this piece too(although his isn't actually rechargeable-it does need a battery)
Today we picked up a scooter and helmet for him. He hasn't quite figured it out, I think he walked it more then rode it.
He's a very happy and healthy young boy-we are so blessed to have him in our lives!!

If you are interested in our cake recipe we used this for the chocolate cake. This was the icing-I used some odds and ends of colors I had left over from other events. It was really yummy!
#3 was helping me roll out the pie crust for our chicken pot pie this week. Now he's use to rolling out the pizza dough which is a little tougher for him to roll out. With the pie crust I had to keep telling him to go easy-then I finally realized he was use to the different consistency and was having fun with how pliable it was.
At the park today.

I blame this headless shot on the fact that they kept walking, while I was trying to zoom in a little on the fact that #4 was holding out a flower for me.