Yesterday was J-man's 9th birhtday. He spent the first half of the day with Dennis. They went out to breakfast and then worked on some fence at the farm. Guy bonding stuff. While they were away, E and I did some decorating, made a birthday sign, wrapped presents and decorated the cake.

At one point I was upstairs and E and V came up the stairs w/ boxes on their heads.

So I drew them faces.


Then I caught her doing this. She cracks me up. (she lost her other front tooth on sunday!)


When the boys got home we let J open a couple of presents.

Then we took a friend and went to Cracker Barrel for dinner. (that's ketchup on his friend's forehead)

Then we went home for cake. This year's creation... an X-Wing fighter. Like me it isn't perfect, but I was generally pleased and J loved it, and that's what counts!

He always gets overwhlemed with love when everyone sings to him. So sweet. (he's definitely my son)

Then, V decided it was time for presents.

The bummer about this pic is that the moment before this moment, he was holding the legos over head cheering a big "yes!".

From grandpa and grandma.

Then everyone left except Grady and they went to bed with their glow sticks (around 9:45ish)

But they didn't go to sleep until after 11pm.

Thanks to all who sent greetings, gifts and love to make his day extra special!

9

There he is.
Leaping into another year.
Year 9 of life to be exact.
Love him.

this week

Yup...gave in to the summer buzz. Said I'd never, but we did it. His hair grows so fast, it's so thick and it's been so hot. He loves it.

Yesterday we played in the rain.

We had planned to go creek stomping and swimming w/ Den's mom and a couple cousins and we kept those plans despite the rain.

Notice V has no pants. They kept falling off so we ditched. He don't need no stinkin' pants.

They kept running back...

...and forth.

Then a quick plunge in the pool.

Praying that there would be no thunder and lightning. (there wasn't)

Some of us were plumb tuckered out.

Last Sunday I made great great aunt hank's (Henrietta) camp pancake for the kids. I had been describing it to E, my lover of questions, and decided that it would be easier to show her. YUM. (I know these pics are blurry...my hands shake like a drunken sailor when I try to take pics w/ no flash)

Today during J's cello lesson I took the others plus cousin Ethan to a park to feed geese & ducks. Those buggers are aggressive! The one white goose was hissing at us. So ungrateful, in my opinion. We quickly finished off our few pieces of bread and got out of there.

courage and love

E had a baby tooth pulled today. It had an adult tooth growing behind it for a year and it didn't want to budge. She was so brave!!


BEFORE

AFTER

People keep asking how V is doing w/ B.

You can see that he likes to share. He loves him.

So far so good.

So...B is pretty much the best baby ever. This is him right before bed. He was smiling and cooing away, and he fell asleep while I was brushing my teeth. Every night is about as easy as that one was. Though he does like to stay up LATE.

mts '10

Year 9 of our annual trip w/ Den's fam has come and gone. Twas a good one, and we spent our time....


in the pool,

(this is how he got in the pool, every time. no steps for this man)

(whose toes match the pool perfectly? that's right, my toes)

...picking berries,

modeling,

soaking up baby-ness,

enjoying the "beeg boat", (thanks uncle dwayne!)

the lake,

(he kept saying, "swimming, swimming, swimming" as he walked out to his neck)

(this is a rare sighting of a 3 torso mermaid. notice which girl did not run into the water on the count of three...yep, my girl)

launching water balloons at small children,

s'mores,

and the last morning we went just us to a state park where it was all about throwing rocks

(Den was the master and could skip his rocks all the way under the bridge)

and sleeping for some.

Not mentioned, were....family, late night Rook and Catch phrase, movies, and food.