Beck is 4

Four years has really flown by with this guy.  With his turning of four we leave behind the baby years, including diapers!

He's feeling pretty good about it. 

He was "super duper" excited about the festivities.

He wanted a blue cat with a kitty cat on it. (Not my best work, but he was pleased!)  Yes. He did wear this costume all day.

Trying to stifle a grin while being sung to.

This guy. He's got his eye on the future.

And he's got his eye on you. 

V-MAN 6

My #3 is 6. I was obviously not ready for this because I put a #5 and 5 candles on his cake. Thankfully my daughter caught it and the evidence of my desire to keep him forever 5 was removed.

Van you are a trip! You are sweet and silly, loving and serious, and I think you are a perfectionist. You are a true joy in our family and I can't imagine our clan without you. Happy Birthday Van the man!

You celebrated with your Joash and the rest of us. Superheroes are a big deal! Gifts from everyone including a duct tape wallet made with love by your big sis. 

10 For the Girl

Happy Birthday to my spunky, kind, note writing, reading to her brothers, fort building, kitty adoring, singing in her room, roller blading, eye crossing, crafty, independent, so much more to come, rock my world daughter.

Celebrated cake and ice cream on her birthday and roller rink on Saturday with a couple of her girls.

The requested gorilla cake. Toothpick stuck into the 0 candle because it came without a wick. We make things happen around here. 

The days

The days have been coming and going and I've felt the weight of monotony. I've also learned to see the moments that I can be thankful for.  And for even that, I am thankful.

A son who is eager to get his work done.

A daughter who does her work well. 

Spicy candles from a friend who is near and my favorite mug to remind me of friends that are far.

We celebrated my MIL's 60th birthday with a meal of her favorite foods and a family picture at her request.

This was no small feat.

Catching the first signs of colds as they come and watching them go.

J12

He's 12.

Say what?

12.

As any mama would, I remember that moment where I held him and suddenly was overwhelmed with a love I never knew before. Blessed with 12 years of this boy that brings me joy and makes me pull my hair out at the same time. This boy that is turning into a man but not too quickly as the Legos and make believe play proves. Next stop teenland, but until then I'll enjoy the ride with this boy. 

18 holes of golf, cake and ice cream with family, presents

His grandparents gave him a cajon.  He's enjoying it, making up beats, etc.

May is done, June has begun

If you were to ask my daughter what the most important thing about my birthday is, sh would reply that it is also the new kittens birthday. We were headed out the door when they kids come running up the basement stairs holding the teeny kitties. We thought the cat had worms...not babies. I didn't know they could get prego so soon (she's not even a year old).  Ah well. A memorial weekend with 2 cakes and many loved ones and perfect settings and kitties. Not a bad way to turn 36.

We finished our first year of homeschool! Evaluation done (Eden reading for the evaluator above) and now turning in papers, then we can get started on next year take a rest.

Last Sunday evening was beautiful and we took a ride exploring nearby abandoned barns and a quick stop to the river. The wind was blowing in Beck's hair and it stayed like that. Back home for a strawberry lemon tart. My kind of Sunday.

I have this app called Old Photo Booth Lite (lite as in free version).  Now and then we go to it so we can laugh really hard. Here is Jesse. He like the one with the tie while I am particularly impressed with how pretty he is.

Oh my pretty little boys. Van on the left and Beck on the right. Beck's might be my fave.

Eden. Ah, the mullet is kind to no one. I'm thankful my kids are good sports, but I do wonder if we should also start a therapy fund for them.

#4 is 3

My youngest is 3! Eeeek! A simple celebration was had with the family that lives close. He sang a long , loved that the cake was chocolate and said thank you for his presents. That's my boy.

My sweet Beck., you are such a joy to us! I love how you put on a serious face when you are being snuggled at bedtime or saying "I love you". You love to be silly and still suck on your two middle fingers. You love your blankets and trucks and big brothers and sister. You prefer to be outside than in and the more dirty the better.   You are a joy among joys. Happy Birthday.

#3 is now #5

Celebrated this little man's big 5 tonight!

Excited? Why yes. Why do you ask?

A Thomas request was made and fulfilled. Kept my cake decorating goals simple this year. And for those of you that are Island of Sodor aficionados, you are correct. That is Edward not Thomas and it was fixed before the birthday boy would notice. Which he wouldn't. But my other kids did. 

Gifts! He kept talking about how he was going to have cereal in his new bowl tomorrow. Thanks grandma!

Play time with sister.

Trying out Mom Mom's new and very LOUD whack a mole game.

Bad family photos. It's how we roll.

Vanden, someday you will grow up and read this. So let me tell you that you are truly a joy in my life! Funny man with a tender heart. You want to grow big like Jesse. You often ask "Where's my Eden?" when you want your sister. You love the kitties and playing outside. You love pretending to box and have a great imagination. You have a solid opinion and are not wishy washy.  You are affectionate to us all and can be sweet to your siblings especially giving Beck lots of love lately. Your latest thing to say when you are mad is that you don't like your house and you are going to build your own house and it will be black. I think this is your way of saying that you look forward to growing up and not being told what to do. It will come soon enough! Your vocabulary and articulation have really improved over the last year and we can see it on your face when you are processing what you you want to say.  We can't imagine our lives without you. Happy Birthday to my sweet, sweet boy. 

November

November is always a full month for us. Full of good things of course

Voting

Eden turned 9.  What freaks me out most is that this means next year she'll be ten.  My only little girl will be in double digits.  yikes. Oh my how it flies!

She asked for a horse cake and the party planner in me wanted to protest. Um, I believe we've done the cowgirl theme already! However, how could I resist those eyes? Also, I tried to keep it a little more low key this year. I didn't even make goodie bags. She requested tacos for dinner so we had the extended family over for a fiesta meal and horse cake.

We had the honor of hosting Thanksgiving in our new home this year. It made us scramble to get a few things done, but it was worth it. I loved being able to stay home and share what we've been so blessed with.