Happy Birthday Grandpa

Last weekend, we were able to take a quick trip up north for Shane's Dad's birthday weekend.

Grandma 'Nette had a great time cuddling with Lola!
The first pic I took was sooooo good--but blurry!

There...that's better!

Lola--while under Daddy's a certain someone's obvious close supervision--

snuck a bit of the cake before Grandpa could!

Blowing out the candles on his B-I-G 6-0!!!

{Despite his age, he was able to get the candle snuffed out in just one breath.}

After her first taste, Lo was all about finding ways to sneak more--

even if it meant crawling across the table to get to Livy's!

Uncle Rog looks a lot like Shane...and Lola would snuggle with him like she does her Daddy. So cute!

I wanted so badly to get a good shot of Grandma and Grandpa with our clan.

"E, smile! No, that looks like you're crying...Cameron, natural smile, honey--don't force it. Col, peek your head out behind Lo, I can't see you! Loooooolllllaaaa, it's okay baby! Smile for Mommy!"

*sigh*

"Ethan, stop scowling, buddy! Col, Cam, good smiles...Lo-LA!! What is the matter baby girl? No, Grandpa, gotta be ready at all times...look up here!"

*sigh*

"C'mon guys!! PLEASE?!?!.....Just smile for Mommy....oh, forget it. Sheesh."

We moved on from picture taking to gift opening.  All the kids were great helpers, of course!

Cameron loved Grandpa's new pants, apparently.

And Luke liked Grandpa's shoes!

Lola and Livy played--oddly enough--with a snake during most of the afternoon.

Stretchy...rubber....fake...but gross nonetheless.

They seemed to enjoy it....so....well, whatever, I suppose.

(I think both girls just knew, subconsciously, that it bothered me--

therefore, it made them want to play with it all the more.

I mean, after all of our snake experiences, why on earth should I be bothered with a fake one?)

"Look Mom. A snake. Hahaaaahhhaha."

Little stinker.

After snake peek-a-boo, Lolee girl found herself...Grandpa's shoebox.

"Hmmm...what have we here?"

Peek....

a-boo, Grandpa!!

Then she discovered that she could fit inside the box.

Now the real fun begins!

Needless to say, we had good food, good family time, and lots of fun!

And we did get that good family shot--plus an extra couple of very cute cousins in there, too!

And of course, we couldn't leave out our snake.

Crunching the numbers

{Cameron and Ethan, arguing}

Ethan: "I am having zero percent fun with you, Cameron."

Germs, germs, go away....

Normal week for my countertop

My counter top this week.

(Nebulizer meds not pictured!)

My poor little sickies.

*sigh*

Writing assignment

The other day, Colin brought home his most recent school writing assignment.

I don't know if it is because he is my son or what--but this struck me as absolutely hilarious.
Remember, Colin created and wrote this entirely on his own.

Apparently, his class is learning about cats and the Armed Forces.

Both good things.
*grin*

Cousins

A couple of weeks ago, we took a fly-by-night trip up to see our brother and sister-in-law and "the cousins".

"Mom, we can't wait to see the cousins!!", my kids shrieked in a high pitch voice told me 

(for daysanddaysanddays).

Top to bottom, L to R: Olivia (3), Ethan (4), Luke (4), Cameron (5), Colin (7), Lola (13 mo.), and Annelyse (4 mo.)

We got there and had lots of fun.  Over 48 hours of straight wear-their-mommies-out-ness.

"The cousins" plum tuckered these kids out.

Lola and Annelyse, though nine months apart and still obviously small, seem to have a special bond already.

There was hand-holding....

and smooching,

and lots of cute girlie goodness.

 

And then....you have....the boys. 

Sillyness abounded.

 These two are so cute. Livy and E get along so well!

Notice the arm around the waist and the hand-holding. *grin*

Aimee and I giggled every time these two were next to each other about their size.  

Both girls, though nine months apart, were 16 pounds 10 ounces at their last checkup.

So amazing to see how God designs children--all shapes and sizes!

Love these little ladies*.

*note to self: need to teach Lo to be more lady-like in a skirt

We had a great time, guys....won't you have us back soon?

14 months

Apparently, Lola has decided that--now that she is 14 months old--she is old enough to hang with the big boys.

Yesterday, Colin took her outside to play--and she certainly did just that.

While the boys were monkeys on the swing set, she had some fun on the slide.

Mommy nervously watched from the deck....

She did well! One leg over....the other leg over...until she was all the way on the slide.

Cameron decided to make silly faces at her, and to coach her from the top, saying things like, 

"C'mon baby girl! All the way to the top...you can do it! You are a good climber Lola!"

....but he just ended up causing her to laugh, lose her grip, and slip to the bottom.

She landed in a giant hole the boys have created with their feet from their non-stop sliding.

Seriously. It is deep.

She didn't seem to mind.

She clapped and bobbed up and down for about five minutes....

....and then found a leaf and made the 'icky' face.

She made sure to show her brothers.

Colin is such a servant....he was the push-er, as usual, while Ethan was the push--ee.

It was adorable to look out and see a foursome on our swing set.  But it was even better to see my boys'  love and protection for their little sister while they played.  They were not more than two feet away from her most of the time, making sure she was okay.

She was.

 

{Rockin' her first dirt mustache}

I'd say it was a successful first trip to the swing set.

Happy 14 months, Lola Claire!