Lydia chose to see Ice Age, The Meltdown as a family for her birthday celebration. We had a great time eating popcorn and hot dogs, while watching the show together. Afterward, we took the girls to Wal-mart to do a little shopping. By the end of the evening we (James and I) were wore out and ready to get the wound up girls to bed!
I love mother-daughter pictures!
Lydia just had to have her picture taken with the X-Men claw!!
Lydia is such a special kid. She is independent and creative. She looks out for other kids and tries to include them (with the exeption of her sisters, sometimes!!). Her teacher describes her as patient and kind-hearted. (Just so you know I’m not the only one that brags on her!)
I overslept this morning, so it ended up being a hectic morning. I only got the one snapshot above, but I will post more pics later. James and I decorated Lydia’s room last night. We strung orange and pink streamers everywhere. She got a new bike and a Hello Kitty outfit to wear to school. She’s going to open her sister’s gifts after school.
Little girls are the nicest things that happen to people†Allan Beck
I took three of my girls Easter dress shopping Monday evening. Boy was I wore out by the time we arrived back home at 10 o’clock! They love to shop! Each of the girls picked out new dresses and shoes. Elaina fell in love with her dress as soon as she saw it hanging on the rack. We could not persuade her otherwise. This girls LOVES clothes. She put on her new dress Monday evening to show it off for her Daddy and hasn’t taken it off and it’s Wednesday afternoon! She has been riding around on her John Deere Gator for two days in her lovely spring dress. At night she refuses to take it off to put pj’s on! I really need to wash it!
Elaina loved getting her picture taken in her new dress.
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Cookout Fun
Saturday afternoon we had a cookout! The kids had a ball! We had a pinata full of candy and they all ate as much as they could! James’ grilling was scrumptous and eveyone’s side dishes were delish! Later in the evening Mary and Carl and Tom and Karen stuck around to visit and listen to music. Tom played the part of DJ and even did some dance moves for us! We all pooled our dollars and quarters and the kids had a dance contest! It was a hoot. The kiddos will dance wholeheartedly when the reward involves cash!
This was how Jaden looked for several hours!! His fists were full of candy!
Carl and Mary
Karen really enjoyed the food!! I think she really likes my potato salad!
Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song.†Pope John Paul II
Here’s a pic of my cutie cousin Jared with his friend Sarah on his 21st birthday! I love the hair Jared!!! Jared is the youngest of my Aunt Kathryn’s three sons.
Tell me I’m clever, Tell me I’m kind, Tell me I’m talented, Tell me I’m cute, Tell me I’m sensitive, Graceful and wise, Tell me I’m perfect– But tell me the truth.†Shel Silverstein
Well, we’re back from a fun night of partying. Jessica opened her gifts from her sisters after school. Lydia bought her a Strawberry Shortcake doll, Elaina gave her a Barbie Mermaid and Anjelia was proud to give her another cute doll. Jessica practiced riding her new bike and then we headed for Chuck E. Cheese. The pizza was actually pretty good. The girls had a blast playing games. I think James has as much fun as the girls. He loves to play skeet ball and win lots of tickets for them. God is so good to us. A gentlemen gave the girls 1000 tickets tonight! They were able to “shop” and get some neat things. It was yet another birthday blessing. (Jessica’s bike rang up half price at the register!)
I made Jessica one of her favorite cakes, Red Velvet. I finally got Mom’s wonderful cream cheese icing recipe from her. I grew up eating this delicious icing. She used it on all her cakes. Mary, I owe you a cake with this frosting!
Cream Cheese Icing
1 – 8 oz. package cream cheese
1/4 cup oleo
1 3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
Cream all ingredients and ice while cake is warm.
The greatest gift you can give another is the purity of your attention.†Richard Moss
Today is a very special day for our daughter Jessica and my cousin Debbie! Happy Birthday, Girls!!! My Jessica is seven years old today!!! God chose for them to share birthdays and He also chose for Debbie to take part in Jessica’s name. At the time of Jessica’s adoption, we were able to change her name. Debbie e-mailed me with the idea of changing her middle name to Faith. IT WAS THE PERFECT NAME! My cousin Kandis has a beautiful post today in honor of my cousin Debbie. Please check it out HERE. I want everyone to see all the pics.
Yesterday was Tom’s birthday. We have been good friends with Tom and Karen for like fourteen years. Tom’s a great guy who loves to laugh big and loud at his own jokes! MOST of the time everyone else laughs too!!!! Tom has a very serious side when it comes to men’s ministry and his work with kids at the children’s hospital. Tom has a bible study group that he leads and he is one of the men in charge of men’s ministry at their church. Maybe if I get time I’ll post a crazy picture soon! Happy Birthday Tom! Check out Karen’s birthday post HERE.
We couldn’t wait for the kids to go to sleep last night. They were so wound up about Jessica’s birthday. Finally, they all slipped into deep sleep and we snuck into Jessica’s room. James and I decorated it with balloons and placed a really cool brand new bike at the foot of her bed!!! I couldn’t wait for her to wake up this morning. She came running out and asked if we knew there was a bike in her room!!! James put four dollars in the purse on the handle bars.
The girls were excited to help her celebrate!
Jessica wanted microwave sausage and biscuits for her birthday breakfast. Kids are so funny! I told her I’d make her anything and that’s what she picked! She has a special birthday plate and cup she uses each year.
Her Daddy gave her a special journal.
I gave her a new outfit to wear to school!
She asked James to please come home early! She wants to open her gifts from her sisters and head to Chuck E. Cheese for pizza and tokens!!
Please check out last year’s birthday post in honor of Jessica’s sixth birthday HERE.
“Like a lily among thorns is my Jessica among the maidens.” Song of Songs 2:2
Lydia performed beautifully tonight in her 2nd grade musical, “Jungle Party Tonight“. The kids dressed in tropical and khaki attire. Their music teacher is a sweet Christian lady that undoubtedly worked VERY hard with these kids. Their performance was excellent! There’s just something about seeing my kid on stage that makes my heart swell up so big! We were very proud of our petite, dynamo girl. She has been soooooo excited all week in anticipation of tonight. She was so nervous and excited that I was surprised she was able to eat her dinner.
I have a hard time taking decent pictures of the girls when they are on stage but I did get a few other snapshots to share with you. First I’ve got to list the names of the songs they sang tonight. The titles will give you some idea of just how cute it was. The kids danced and did all kinds of choreographed movements along with their singing. Too cute!
Pledge of Allegiance and song “America”
Jungle Party Tonight
The Crocodile Smile
Bloo the Kangaroo
The Caterpillar Song
Boa Constrictor
Ants in My Pants
Lydia poses outside her classroom with her Flat Stanley pictures that Rob and Sarah took. Lydia chose Rob to participate in her school project. Great letter Rob. I loved the pic of Stanley standing on Pikes Peak. Too funny!!!
Jessica had to swing by her classroom before we left.
Mom and Larry seemed to really enjoy the show!!!
Elaina and Anjelia had all the songs memorized from Lydia’s practice cd.
“A man never stands as tall as when he kneels to help a child.”
I DID IT!!! I fulfilled my civic duty. I know. . I know. . it’s an honor. I’ve been called to jury duty three times now. The first time I actually served on a jury for a week. It was a civil case so it wasn’t exciting. I didn’t mind, though. Afterall, I got out of work and sat around the courthouse for a week. I was honored then. . .
My life is so different now. I have been completely stressed out about doing jury duty. It was a thrilling feeling to make it to downtown K by 7:30 this morning and find a parking space quickly and easily. Thank you Lord! It dawned on me while I was driving through icky traffic that one reason this whole thing was so upsetting to me is because I can’t think of a single weekday in eight years that I’ve gotten into the car first thing in the morning and drove off for the day, leaving children and household responsibility behind. It felt like “calling in” which I’ve always hated to do.
The day was much easier after arriving at the jury room. I sat from 8 AM until 2PM and read. Everytime they called names for panels every muscle in my body tensed up. My muscles are very sore now. Much to my relief, my name was never called and I was sent home with my 9 dollar check in hand. Thank you, Lord. I just knew I’d get picked and then WHAT would I do for childcare?
I was reminded today of how passionate I am about my job as stay-at-home mom. Many times in the past, I’ve daydreamed about getting into the car first thing in the morning and driving off. (I really hate the panicked– must run away feeling.) Today I was given the chance to do it and I just wanted to be home with my kids. I don’t care who pukes or how nasty my house feels or how many messes I have to clean up or how much fighting I have to referee, or how pulled I feel in four different directions by little girls wanting my undivided attention–I love being home with my kids!
Maybe today was a good reminder for me. Lest I get too carried away, evenings and weekends are different! James when are we going out again. . . ALONE?!!
I consider trial by jury as the only anchor ever yet imagined by man, by which a government can be held to the principles of its constitution.†Thomas Jefferson
Do you know what goes good with Percolations coffee? Ice cream!! Yum! Head on over and cool down at my cousin Kandis’ new blog, Tizzy Wizz! (Tizzy Wizz was an ice cream we grew up on at the local Holy Cow ice cream factory. I’ll let Kandi tell you all about it. I’ve already said too much!) Check out her fun retro blog!
Whatever coaxes us out of hiding, to write, record, and express, is a revolutionary act. It says that we believe our lives count: our lives do count.†SARK
My mom’s side of the family is fairly large. My Grandma Vera had six daughters: Marlis, Marilyn, Nita, Linda, Kathryn and Kelli.
Marlis (brunette), Marilyn (top left), Nita (my mom, the little blonde), Linda (da baby)
The six daughters had sixteen children. The sixteen of us are having families of our own–eighteen children to date. We are all toothy and giggly and talkative (as you can tell from the blog conversations!)
I’ve recently received several pix of a few of our awesome children/grandchildren. You will no doubt be delighted by our angels!!
Here is a true doll baby. This is my cousin Scott’s little guy, Aiden. Aunt Kelli and Uncle Alex are his doting grandparents.
What a sweety!!! Baby Dimitri with Uncle Joe. My Uncle Joe and Aunt Kathryn are proud grandparents (I can’t remember your cute grandparent names). Dimitri is the son of my cousin Justin and his wife Kiki. I was very sad to have missed their Big, Fat, Greek wedding!
My cousin Kandis with her son Ian. Aunt Marlis is the proud, Grandma Tootsie.
Charmer James shows off his new birthday boots. James just celebrated his 5th birthday! He is my cousin Debbie’s third son! Aunt Marilyn and Uncle Gil are the proud grandparents!
Here’s Debbie and Steve’s three boybarians, Christian, Connor and James!!
Their sweet side shines through!
Thanks to everyone who sent me pictures!!
“The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other’s life.”
