Celebrating Alice

On Alice's birthday morning, she woke up to find her dream come true waiting on the couch: a giant stuffed dolphin.

Michael had decorated late the night before after another long day of unpacking (I surely can't take credit for that crepe paper awesomeness).
She's really into dolphins right now.
Great-Grandma came with some craft sets . . . Alice is also really into crafting right now, much to the chagrin of my glitter-saturated super-shag carpet. We also had the extended family over for cake and ice cream. Things were especially low key because of the move.
Let's just say that I did my best under the circumstances. My cake-making gear was packed in a box somewhere in the garage. Michael printed these dolphins at the last minute so the cake was at least a little interesting.
Happy birthday Al! You are the sweetest, smartest, loveliest most helpful and darling seven year old girl. Our family would never be complete without you. My only complaint is that you are growing up much too quickly.
I took Alice and a little girl from the new neighborhood (the only one her age that she had met so far) to the beauty school for a birthday manicure and pedicure.

I may have gotten glitter toes done while I was waiting for them . . . I'm not too old for glitter toes, am I?

Don't answer that.

Ten

Ten years old and we love his guts.

Photo by Sunshine Soul Photography

At ten, every waking moment of his day is spent reading, wishing he was reading, or thinking about what he can read next.
So we got him more books for his birthday.
And made this recipe he requested for his birthday cake. I'm a kind of sad that he's too old to request character cakes anymore . . . but the amazing deliciousness of the chocolate peanut butter cake soothed my aching heart a little. The kid has good taste in desserts.
And good taste in friends. We did a teensy tiny little bowling and ice cream get-together for him with a few friends since we are moving and have new twins and our life is a general tornado of upheaval right now. Sorry kiddo. Maybe you can have a real birthday party next year.
Happy 10th birthday Seth! We are so glad you are ours!

Nine

Happy birthday to the big guy!
(Cake disclaimer: I'm practicing for my sister's wedding. The torting, tiering and icing went off without a hitch, but I'm kind of a fondant novice. I'm making a couple more practice cakes this week Em, don't stress out. I figured out what I did wrong and plan to rectify it in the next cake.)

We kept the festivities kind of low-key this year because we have SO much going on, and because he had a huge birthday celebration last year. We invited a few neighborhood friends and the cousins over for Mario cake.
There is a Mario theme here. The fact that he preferred these action figures to the fighting blood and guts kind of action figure was okay with me.

He also got a long-range walkie talkie set (that he plans to use to communicate with his good friend next door after they are supposed to be in their rooms for the night . . . though what he really wanted was a cell phone),books, an Ezy roller, some toys for the pool, the Percy Jackson boxed set, and various and sundry other exciting things that I can't recall right now.
He's really growing up . . . and we just love his guts. He's such a smart, funny, creative young man. And he's read more minutes than anyone else in his class this year! Seth loves to tell jokes, play the piano (I about burst with pride as he played Ode to Joy and Old West Rodeo at his recital and school talent show last week), write his own comic books, swim, ride bikes and scooters, play basketball, soccer and Super Mario. He's always surprising me by dropping intelligent new words into casual conversation. The kid's brain is a veritable vault of scientific facts. We are so thankful he's ours!

The Big Little Guy

Sometimes I am struck by how quickly one of the children is learning, growing and changing all at once. Right now it seems to be Thomas' time to grow, because every day this little boy is surprising me with something new. He is fairly articulate for a three year old, and is developing a real sense of independence along with empathy for others. This progress is encouraging considering the potential for damage done with all the bonks on the head courtesy his older siblings. I also didn't like it when they encouraged him to drink his bathwater, but maybe there are vitamins in there that science has yet to discover.
These pictures are from his pre-school trip to the fire station.
He is definitely still a mommy's boy, but never hesitates to run right into nursery at church, and loves to stay with friends while I volunteer at the big kids' school. I can always count on T for a hug . . . and to climb on my lap every time I sit down to use the computer.
He's playing Santa, and asking Alice what she wants for Christmas. Sometimes he and Alice can really torture each other, so I happily seized the opportunity to snap a picture of them getting along.
Yup. He's really growning up. And guess what? This is the first time in years that we've been able to have glass ornaments on the Christmas tree!

We'll keep him!

Back in the Saddle Again

It has been such an eventful two weeks, I'm going to have to share it with you a little at a time. I wouldn't want to overload you all with a deluge of photos.

We'll start with this.

Seriously, he's eight.

The birthday party at the park was rained out, so we held it in the dining room with my treadmill standing sentry. Michael and I were then nutty enough to take the six rowdy boys (plus T) to see the movie Up. It was a blast . . . and went surprisingly well. Eight year old boys crack me up.

A friend gave him a Cub Scout hat. Cub Scouts! He's old enough for Cub Scouts! I can't wait for his first Pinewood Derby. He won't remember, but he did Cub Scouts before as a baby riding in the Kelty Pack on my back when I was the Wolf Den Mother in Arlington.
Michael's family came for the big week. We had a mini-celebration with them too. I stole the idea for the crocodile cupcake cake from Mia. Sorry Mia. You are so brilliant, I couldn't help myself. What else can I say?

So, in honor of Seth and his achievement of successfully aging himself to eight, I present some of my favorite pictures of him. Indulge me by enjoying them. Or you could go look at YouTube videos of Susan Boyle. Your choice . . . but you'll be missing out if you pick Susan.

I love this kid. Happy Birthday Big Guy!