Happy, Happy, Happy Birthday!

Flying back in time a little bit today in order to post some things that I really don't want to forget.  How time flies and gets away from us.  But, an 8 yr olds birthday party is something that should not be left un-posted.

It is hard to believe that 8 years have already flown by and our little man turned the big 8.  He was pretty excited about his birthday this year.  I guess there is something about turning 8 and feeling like a big kid.

He first had a pizza party with his grandparents (Rick & Dianne Schmitt), Sissy, Chevy, Randy, and Mommy.  We tried a new pizza place in Corpus.  He and Randy played games and earned tickets.  Randy donated all his tickets to the birthday boy and I thought that was rather sweet.  Showed me Randy is growing up, since he didn't want to keep them for himself.

This years big birthday party was a trip to the movies to see Monsters University.  Here in the first row is Sonny, Caleb, Cooper; and in the back row: Ella, Piper and Swayd.

Dairy Queen and ice cream cake......we used the party room at DQ, so we were unable to bring in our own birthday treat.  So, ice cream cake is what we had after everyone had a DQ meal.

And poor dad.  I wish DQ had thought to take it out of the freezer so it was a bit softer and easier to cut.  We were quite worried about his fingers....but he got the job done.

And present time!  This was a fun gift from Cooper and Swayd.  They made their own special wrapping paper.  Isn't it sweet?

Caleb's party goer's:

Front row:  Sonny, Piper, Sami, Caleb, Ella, and Aiden.

Back row:  Cooper, Hudson, Adison, and Swayd.

We went a different route this year in thinking it would be easier to have the party away from home.  Less work, less cooking, less cleaning and getting ready.  It was still a crazy day, but it was surely nice to go home and not have a mess to clean up!!

Happy 8th Birthday to our sweet son, Caleb!  We love you!

Blessings,

Resurrection Sunday 2013

Easter was at the Parker's this year and I did my best to take some photo's of the kids having a great time.  Not always easy as they were constantly on the move.  They really seemed to enjoy the Easter Egg Hunt and the Confetti Eggs, but I think they honestly just had a good time being with each other for a few hours.  

It really meant a lot to me to have everyone here.  And I'm sure I can speak for the group when I say we really missed Mom and Dad.  They were in Wisconsin for my Grandpa Win's 95th birthday.  While we really missed them, they did a good thing by going up there to see him.  Not everyone is pictured here.  I didn't think the adults wanted me to focus on them very much.  :)   A few made it into the background though, and if I did get a good picture of you, it's here.  

Group photo of all the kids.  

Another group shot of the kids. 

Caleb hunting for eggs.

No, Adi is not into Elmo.  Grandma Pam had to find a basket for her to hunt eggs with and so we borrowed Chev's. 

Hudson, trying to find all his eggs.

Honey, pestering Aaron and his friend, James, who joined us for the festivities.

My sweet daughter-in-law holding Chev, who really didn't feel good that day.

My precious granddaughter.  Can't believe how fast she's growing up.   

Caleb with his smashed up nose.  Poor guy.  He walked into the side of a wood plank while helping dad with the barn.  He wouldn't let me take a picture of it.  But, I think with all the Easter fun going on, he didn't think about it.  Hee hee.

Buds 

Chev just eating the box....what?  We're supposed to smash these? 

Caleb and Sami making sure Honey gets a bit of confetti egg smashed on her head also.

My little mess, oops, I mean, my little niece, Samantha (Sami).  Doesn't she have the sweetest smile ever?!?

Someone looks like they are up to "something."

My little love's....they do my heart good.

It was such a blessed Resurrection Sunday.  We all enjoyed all the Easter fun, but rest assured, all the kiddo's know what the meaning of "Easter" is really all about....

Blessings,

Sp - Egg - tacular Fun!

Decorating eggs around Easter time has been a tradition in my house for as long as I can remember.  Since it is something Sissy enjoys doing also, she has continued that tradition with us even though she has her own home now.  I think Caleb looks forward to decorating eggs with her every year.  Sometimes Randy is with us when we are decorating, but he was in school this time so we had to go on without him.

This was a new technique that Sissy and Caleb tried.  I think they decided it was an epic fail.  You were supposed to shred crayons and melt them on the hot eggs.  Didn't work quite like the box showed it would.  So....

They moved on to the old tried-and-true method and had much more success.

Even Chev was "coloring eggs," even though he didn't really seem to care a whole lot about what was happening.  But, I'm quite sure his opinion will change once he gets a little bigger and can actually get "in" on the action.  Can you say eyelashes?  Lucky guy!

Here they are, with more eggs in the dye.

An up-close pic of Sis trying to use a whisk to get the eggs in an out.  I"m not sure how that went.  I should have asked her.  I think it was a good idea, but if I remember right, after a few eggs they were just using a spoon to get them in and out.

Some of the finished product.  Caleb accidentally tossed two of the dye tablets into the same cup.  SO, they created a funky green color.  It didn't stop them from using it.  Two of the eggs to the left are colored with it.

And here is Caleb's SPECIAL egg with the Iron Man mask.  No one was allowed to eat the egg.  It was eventually thrown away because it had been in the fridge so long.....He was okay with that because I kept the mask for him.

I pray your Easter season was a blessed one, as was ours.

Until next time....

Blessings,

Feeding the Ducks

Guth Park can be a fun place to go to feed the ducks and geese.  I can't say that I've ever gone when there has been SO many winged creatures in want of the bread we brought.  It was cool, yet somewhat intimidating when the honking geese would swarm around you from both sides.  

I don't know what kind of ducks these are, but I sure thought they were pretty.  And there was SO many of them.  This picture doesn't even show all of them. 

And here they come!  Exactly what I mean!  Geese on the attack!

So sweet....

They are pointing and laughing at something... 

Chev and Daddy 

I love this picture.  Allie laughed at me when I was swinging my bread bag at the geese.  And when I turned around, I caught her doing the same thing.  Hey!   You use the tool you have at the time!

Caleb was quite brave this time.  These geese have intimidated him before, but Caleb felt a little bad for this guy.  When he honked, it sounded like he had a bad cold.  He was all hoarse and croaky. 

Chev and his Momma.

We'd hoped for a beautiful sunny day, but instead we had a cloudy day.  Maybe that wasn't so bad as it was probably a bit cooler.  We had fun and laughed a lot all the same.

Til next time,