Ethan is SIX !

Yesterday, we celebrated this special guy's SIXTH birthday! 

I saw this on my friend's blog and thought it would be fun to do with Ethan....

1. What do you like to do for fun? I like to play the Wii and my DS. And, I like to play soccer. 
2. What is one word to describe you? Kind. {For the record, Colin said "nice" and Cameron said "playful". True, true.} 
3. What was the nicest thing you did for someone? Ummm...I gave someone a present on their birthday.
4. If you could be any animal, which one would you be and why? A bear, 'cause I'd like to be a bear. Me: Why? Ethan: I just do. 
5. If you could have one special power, what would it be and why? I would turn into a guy like Hulk and be really strong but I'd also have a hammer nobody else could pick up. 
 6. Favorite candy? Those green things we had in Missouri that look like popsicles that had sugar on them {rock candy} 
7. What do you want to be when you grow up? A plane driver. 
8. Favorite color? Red.
9. Favorite things to do in school? Music {YES!} 
10. Favorite song? Blessed be Your Name {Double YES} 
11. Favorite book? The ants go marching. 
12. Favorite sport? Soccer 
13. Favorite Drink? Sprite 
14. Favorite Ice Cream? Green mint with the chocolate chips. 
15. What is your favorite food? Tacos and pizza 
16. Favorite Restaurant? Monicals 
17. What is your favorite thing about Colin? That he helps me sometimes when I can't get stuff and I can't do stuff. 
18. What is your favorite thing about Cameron? That he plays with me. 
19. What is your favorite thing about Lola? That she is cute. {Heehee} 
20. What do you love about mom? You make food for me. {Ah. A way to the man's heart....} 
21. What do you love about dad? That he plays with us at night time, he plays basketball in our bedroom and nerf wars. 
22. What are you looking forward to now that you're 6? I can't wait to do stuff when I'm six that I couldn't do when I was five. {Good thought process} 

We went about 9:30 and took--at Ethan's request--some muffins for his class at school. 

Lola was more than a little excited to see him! These two are the best of friends, but can also

 fight like cats and dogs sometimes...depends on their moods! I much prefer the good days :)

Lola was quite the hit with the boys in the class. Oh, dear.

Ethan was very excited to show me his "special birthday chair on the special birthday carpet". *grin*

A birthday crown from his teacher!

First bite of his favorite muffins....

The class all sang to him and he got his "birthday spankings". All in all, a successful morning!

Later that afternoon, I worked on his cake and some accessories. 

I found online how you could dye rice, so Shane worked on that, while I worked on decorating his cake.

Ethan requested a Bowser cake and I freaked out...but then I remembered Pinterest!

Thank you for the inspiration Pinterest!!

We had a lovely dinner....Ethan requested his favorite. Tacos :)

Right after dinner, Ethan got a phone call from Grandpa Danny! 

Then later, Grandma 'Nette and Grandpa.

After that, we started on the presents. We had a bit of catching up to do because

of some sickness over Christmas and Lola's birthday...so she opened a few first.

She's still on that Hello Kitty kick. *grin*

I have to say....I just think that "present-reaction-pictures are priceless! The looks on their faces....

Ethan

Colin

Ethan again

Cameron

and Ethan some more.

Ethan loves sheets....last year, it was Mario Kart, and this year....

Angry Birds!

The best for last--his favorite, Super Mario for his DS.

Then, the rest of the family got here and we started in on Christmas celebrations!

Livy opening her Violet

Aunt Karen and her birthday snuggly blanket (those were 

a popular gift in our house this year, they are the best!)

Soon, Daddy led Ethan in to the kitchen...it was CAKE time!

The finished product. I couldn't wait for Ethan to see it!

His reaction was awesome. I don't think he could even believe it!

We sang Happy Birthday, and he got all the candles out in one whiff.

His birthday was very special....here's to many, many more years with this precious little man!
We love you Ethan!

Mother's Day

This year was a very special Mother's Day for me.

I woke up to Colin's "card"--letters that he individually drew 

and cut out himself, then displayed on our dining room table *grin*

And Cameron's card that he made me in school. He also gave me a flower that they planted in class!

(Have I said how much I love his teacher?)

It read, "I love you because you love me." I'll take it. :)

After a wonderful morning spent with my church friends and family, Shane took our family and my mom out to eat at my favorite Mexican restaurant.  It was truly lovely not having to cook or clean up.  I love love love going out to eat.

Reasons #1-5 why I am the most blessed mother alive:

#1

Numbers 2, 3, and 4

And at the left end, number 5!

God has blessed me with a wonderful mother and the opportunity to be a mother to four amazing little people. All else aside--what could make Mother's Day any better than that?

Visitors!! (This week, I want to remember: 4/9 - 4/13)

Monday, April 9

It was another gorgeous day, so we spent most of it outside. My kids did this for what seemed like hours. I love the look of sheer-terror-turned-sheer-joy on Lola's face as she comes down!



Then, when biking got old...they turned to the four-wheelers! Or, to the "fweeee weeeeeweeeers" as LoLo says!

My babies. :)

Tuesday, April 10

Tuesday, while the kids were playing, I took some time to look around our property. It is so pretty right now, with everything in bloom. We have one of the most unique trees--it is called a tri-colored beech (I think) and it has pink, grey, and white leaves.

This tree is just starting to break out in bloom!

 How pretty the trees are....how ugly my garden is. Oy. 

Much work is needed.....soon enough, soon enough!!

The apple trees have....wait for it....APPLES!!!

And excited as I was about the apples, I was even more excited to see such an abundance of peaches!

Today Lola got her stitches out, too! She was a champ--it took four of us to hold her down, but she did as well as could be expected for someone who is quickly becoming terrified at the sight of medical personnel!

She wasn't smiling when we left the office....

...but a Panera muffin sure put one on her face quickly! 

Chowing down.

{If anyone makes a comment in the light of "just like her mother", you are dead to me.}

Wednesday, April 11


Wednesday, we did a lot of stuff around the house, because we were getting ready for some exciting visitors on Thursday!!!


Thursday, April 12


The cousins are here! The cousins are here!  Rog and Aimee and their children came down for a visit with our family. We had a great time visiting with them--and the kids had the best time together!

Colin is soooo good with little ones--he directed the games on Thursday. 

First was Ring around the Rosie...

{We all. fall. down!!}

Ethan saw the fun and had to join in....

...but nothing could convince Cameron. 

He preferred to stand (sit?) guard, on Lola's bike, with his gun. :)

After playing in the yard, Colin decided it was time to give the dollies a chance to get outside.

This was fun for all, and went on for quite some time.

They gave each one a turn in the swing--and then decided to pack them all in at once.

Lola riding the four wheeler

Now, Lola and Miss Annelyse were quite something together. Both are the babies of the bunch and both are young--so they are used to getting their way. As it always is with kids, each time one was playing with something (you name it, it didn't matter!) the other one wanted it. In this case....it was the four wheeler.

Annelyse spotted Lola riding it, and headed straight in her direction.
(You can barely see the "oh no you don't" look on Lola's face behind her!)

Lola, in turn, spotted her coming--and took off! It was so funny to watch them!

 Then it was time for some chalk drawings....

....and fighting Uncle Rog with the light sabers. 

This could have gone on a lot longer, but we had to remind the boys that 

Uncle Rog is a lot older than daddy and much weaker, too. *giggle*

 Then it was time for a snack....

....and watching Rio!

Well, we started to watch it--but the kids decided they would rather play outside. It was nap time anyway, so Shane took the biggies to the park while the littles stayed home and slept.

The two little ones woke up and played well for a bit outside together.

(Except maybe an argument or seven about who got to go down the slide first. lol)

We had a lovely dinner of spaghetti, salad, and garlic bread, then Daddy and Colin headed off to baseball practice. In the hour that Daddy was gone, do you want to know what I did?

That's right folks! It took me almost a whole hour, but I got all six kiddos bathed! lol  The girls actually loved the bath. We had such fun singing and playing (and splashing, splashing, splashing. Hey, my floors got really clean!)  

Annelyse's nickname is LeeLee; Lola's is LoLo (or LoLee) and Olivia's is Livy.  So me, talking to them in the tub, went something like this:  "LeeLee--I mean LoLee, come here, let me rinse your hair. Livy--I mean LoLo--I mean, LeeLee...."

And on and on in the same manner for approximately 30 minutes. I decided next time we are together, I"m giving them numbers.

One

Two

and 

Three.

*grin*

(Learn your numbers, kids, cause Auntie can't remember your names. The end.)

Friday, April 13

The next day, while I was getting ready, the girls decided they wanted to play in the bassinet. So, I obliged! They had me cracking up--this went on for 15 minutes!

Then we took another trip to the park. The kids just loved it there.

They slid 

and slid 

and slid down the slide.

 And Ethan and Luke made up a game of "let's see how many rocks we can fit in our shirt, take them up, and dump them down the slide to make really loud noises."

We had such a great time--please, guys....come back soon!!

What a great week!