Birthday Season

5 birthdays in 6 weeks, not including mine which is also in April.

This time of year is an important time at this house. I suppose it's because I will have given birth 5 out of the 6 times during the spring, and therefore we are in birthday mode around here, which of course just so happens to be full of pivotal birthdays this year.

You see, Levi just turned 13 (he is now officially a teen), River is about to turn 18 (where did my little boy go?) Abram is turning 7 (thank goodness he is not in the double digits), and Isaiah will be turning 16 in April (aacckkkk another driver soon). So all four of those birthdays happen within weeks of one another, nevermind squeezing in a fifth celebration smack dab in the middle. I know we could have planned it a wee bit better, but if you know Den and I then you knooooooow we are not big planners....*giggle*

Anyway, I have learned that close to birthdays the boys get antsy. It's not because they can't wait for birthday cakes and gifts, no it's more like a little timer goes off in their biological brains and bodies, and it's not normally a very jolly experience for mama. I have made notes throughout their lives of these sorts of events and I am pretty sure it is scientifically correct, of course I am the mad scientist.

So, River is counting down to becoming 18 because he has big plans. He is getting ready to leave this old nest soon and he is flapping his wings and batting people in the eye with his gigantic wingspan. Levi is now a teenager and can attend church functions as a "young kid". He is constantly getting advice from his older brothers on how to be "cool" at such activities. Of course, then he wants to practice the "cool" part on the rest of us. Isaiah is anxious to turn 16, but he is behind on getting his drivers license and he is NOT pleased about this. He tries to get sympathy from me, and I can fake it from time to time, but I am sure I ooze "Oh well" a little too much, and therefore am not scoring points in that department.

Oh when did it all become so complicated? Abram is getting ready to turn 7 this month and his biggest concern is if we will be able to manage a Chuck E. Cheese run on his glorious day. I think I can squeeze a two hour adventure in to make his little world go round. However, he is not immune to the birthday evolution. He is always a little more emotional a few weeks before he is ready to blow out the candles. A few more gusts of throwing his little weight around in whatever small area he can, but lucky for me, his little weight is easily placed in the corner on such occasions....hehehe Now a 6'5" foot boy is a little more challenging and therefore takes a little more caloric brain power for me.

So to conclude this long winded post....I have to ask myself the question, "What was I thinking adding another birthday in the spring??!!"LOL

Roman's Birthday Party

Well we did it! The party was here yesterday and gone today. So strange to have a birthday so close to the holidays, but also kind of nice to break up all the spring birthdays that we have pushed together. However, everyone was so generous with their gifts that Den and I don't feel the need to buy anything too extravagant for him for Christmas. We love it, but he will eventually hate that! hahaha

We did a Backyardigan party. He is really into them, and I wanted to keep his birthday young since they are only babies and toddlers for such a short time. Here is the cake, that stained my teeth blue all evening. lol

When I first decorated the table at Chuck E. Cheese he was a little taken back. He just couldn't figure out what all the fuss was about. Everytime we sang him Happy Birthday throughout the day he would cry out, "No No No!" Of course, we all thought it was very funny.

Here is the crew of friends who showed up to help us celebrate. Thanks to everyone who came, and thank you for all the wonderful wonderful gifts. You will be happy to know that we stayed up late putting them together. It truly looked like Christmas since all the Christmas decorations have just been put up in the house.

Here he is trying to blow out his candle. I am not sure why he was challenged by this since he has no problem blowing out my Yankee candles when I am trying to make my house smell good...hehehe


Daddy and the kids are gathered around while he is opening up his gifts. It was so fun!
Of course, we made sure all 16 kids got tokens to play games and ride the rides with. I think everyone had a great time. I know my boys had fun!





During the time that Chuck E. Cheese takes center stage to sing all the birthday kids their birthday song he decided to break a move on the dance floor. Seriously.....I couldn't believe my bashful child was FEELING it so much! hahaha

Once the party was over we gave him our gift. This was the gift that we couldnt tear him away from at Toys R Us. My older boys had one when they were young and so we knew it would be a hit again. We left it by the front door with a bow on top of it. He was surprised and quite happy! Again, we sang him the dreaded birthday song while he climbed in, however it was received with, "No No No." and his face covered. I wanted to make sure that we thanked Auntie and Uncle Colin for their special gift too. Thanks for thinking of him, he loves his new Spiderman Papazan chair. Abram said it's pretty comfy too!

Roman is 2

Roman is turning 2, tomorrow.

I remember when he was born (of course). He was smaller than all the rest of my boys. I was sick alot with his pregnancy and he was teeny. (6lbs-15 oz. All my others were 9lbs-4 oz. BIG DIFFERENCE)

He was the first one I breastfed, and it wasn't easy or glamorous, but he needed it!

I love his high tolerance for pain. Not that I smack him around, but he can fall or hurt himself and he is as tough as nails.

I love how he puts his hands on his hips and stares me down, even when he is in a good mood. It cracks me up!

He is full of pride. A pint size man with the pride of a 100. (That's not going to be pretty when the Lord has to mold around that....lol)

I love how he is so masculine, but he loves and adores shoes. He can walk up and down my stairs with my black strappy heels without breaking a sweat.

I love how he acts tough, but he melts like butter in Mama's arms.

He is now saying, "Mom" "Mom" and when he sees that I stop what I am doing and ask him "What", he feels all and powerful. Typical male! hehehe

He is starting to say the last word that anyone says in their sentence. It's off the wall and hysterical.

He loves to stand with his legs far apart and put his hands up like a ninja warrior. If he only knew how little he really was, but no one has the heart to tell him.

I love how we still call him "Baby" and he is accepting of it. We are trying to break ourselves since a new baby is on the way, but it's really hard!

He is a big eater. He loves loves loves to eat!

I love how he is pretty easy to reason with, even though he is just about to turn 2.

When he is referring to anything or anyone that is tough (like a superhero) he says, "Grrrrr". Enough said.

When someone is getting ready to go he high tails it to find his shoes and get "dess" (dressed). He wants his hair done too, which he demonstrates by whining and repeatedly pointing to his little noggin. He is a man that is all about the details.

He loves to draw, now if we can just keep it on paper rather than walls, doors and furniture. (magic eraser is my new best friend.)

I just love him! I am so thankful to have another little human in my life. I want to help him on his journey and make him in to the man that I know God intends him to be!

Happy Birthday Roman!!

Birthday Weekend

Our birthday boy!!

This is the little house that we rented at the Coast. It was small, but quaint.
We were here so we could spend a quiet birthday weekend with the little family.

The one and only shot of me the whole weekend. This was taken in the yard. The weather was too perfect to pass up the photo op.


We got right down to business. Cake and gifts!




The weekend involved board games.





And, of course, reading.



One beautiful baby, who kept us hopping.

Group (male) shot.

Isn't this frameable? Love it!

Levi letting Roman help with the kite.

Isaiah enjoying the kite experience too.

Daddy running ahead of Abram, and Abram watching the bright kite high in the sky.

River got the bum kite. This kite had ISSUES! hahaha

Roman UNhappy, but this moment was short lived that morning.

Later that day, the weather heated up. It was a pleasant surprise to all of us. So the guys all had to climb in to the frigid ocean to play. I stayed on the beach with Roman.

We had chocolate chip cookies. Although his might have been more like sand with a chocolate chip.....

Levi buried him, and he loved it!

Once the sensation came back in to their bodies from the numbing sea water, we headed for home. It was very relaxing and fun for all.

Thanks for the getaway baby! *wink*

It's Den's Birthday!

It's my hubby's birthday today! He is 38........whoa........where has the time gone? We were laying in bed this morning discussing the fact that I remember when my Dad turned 38. In fact, Elise (a friend of mine) and I came up with a homemade diddy to sing to him on that special occasion. I remember parts of it to this day, so I made sure I sang the little goofy song to my honey this morning. Now mind you, the song makes no sense really, but it has a special memory to me....lol You see, my friend and I were odd then and thoroughly enjoyed such things. I guess I have never really outgrown such things.

So I thought I would write a quick list of all the little things I love about my Den. Here it goes. Get some coffee it may be a while....hahaha

1. I love his twinkly little smile.

2. I love how he calls me baby or babe. I don't know why we started this so long ago, but it has stuck.

3. I love the his laid back ways with me and the boys. He gets riled up from time to time, but for the most part he is an easy going joe.

4. He is never hurtful with his words. This has been amazing to me through the years. He never gets off subject when arguing with me, and puts me down in a hurtful way. I loooove loooove this about him.

5. I love how he wants to give me the best. I don't need the best, nor do I always want the best, but he feels like I deserve it. This goes further than anything he could ever buy for me.

6. I love the kind of Dad he is. He gets down on the floor and wrestles with them. He loves his boys and is very involved.

7. I love his heart toward the Lord. He knows the bible very well, and not because he gets paid to. He is driven to know the Lord, the truth, and the word. I have came to him many many times for advice and he is good to follow the Lord's word.

8. He loves puns. I'm not a pun lover per say, but I can appreciate his humor. Our humors are NOT exactly the same, but we both smile and savor the other one's joy.

9. I love how confident he is. I know that he is fearful from time to time, but he wears the fearless, "everything is going to be alright" cloak quite well. I am thankful that he is in control of situations.

10. I love how he gets mushy, misty eyed when he speaks about the little one that I am carrying. He is sentimental and I adore this about him.

11. I seriously love him so much that I could write stuff all day long. I am not exaggerating. I don't know why the Lord chose him for me, but I know that I am ONE LUCKY GIRL!

Happy Birthday, Honey! You have made me the happiest girl in the world!