36

So thankful for this guy. Thankful for how he loves me and our kids. Thankful for his determination to follow a project to the end. I easily get discouraged or overwhelmed (as in painting the whole house-during our construction process) And he cheer leads until it's done.

Thankful for how he loves to improve all around him. Thankful for his determination to finish putting the the landscaping mulch on the back of the house last night...even after it was dark and he could hardly see.

And funny how he came in after it was totally dark and he wished our outdoor lighting was completed outside so he could finish the side of the house.

Thankful for how he is the one to usually bath the kids, & tuck them into bed. Giving me a break.

Loving the banter that he has with our oldest...making sure she knows she has her daddy's affection.


Love how he can turn a heavy hearted situation in to a lighter load to carry.

Love how he teaches our boys how to be little men. Teaching them baseball right now...working with them, teaching them to be a team member.

Thankful for how he praises my cooking & baking~offering excitement & encouragement for even a very simple & boring meal....showing our boys how to adore a simple act of love such as cooking. I'm hoping they are "catching" this for when they have wives someday.

Thankful for how he cleans up my mess in the kitchen while I cook. So love having him to work beside...doing the part I don't like (the dishes.)

Thankful for the last 14 years I've known him...because he's made my life so much fun.

Happy 36th Birthday Donovan.
You make my life so full.

announcements

Last Sunday we celebrated some birthday's in our family at my aunt and uncles.

My aunts lunches are always divine, and we basked in the sun for the afternoon taking in the warmth and watching the kids play. One of my favorite ways to spend a Sunday afternoon.

And then last Wednesday we met my parents and sister at Mc D's to celebrate William and my niece's birthday's that are just 3 days apart.

Yes...they spoiled him. Look at all that cash! Gesh, I'm gonna be gettin' loans from him this week.

If there is one thing I "caught" from my mom growing up...is how to celebrate birthdays. One of my best memories is how she used to celebrate us, putting candles in our pancakes for breakfast...letting us pick what we wanted for supper...fun things like that.
Something I'm trying to pass along to my kids.

This was the first time we celebrated a child's birthday and sent him off to school. Isabella & Jack both have summer birthdays. So it was a busy morning~but I did some things the night before (I don't want to have to get up to early people) and we made his choice of breakfast sausage, pancakes, & strawberries. Yummy.

And just enough time for opening a gift as big as him. Wanna know what it was????

Something he learned to enjoy in Florida. :)

And if you are into Facebook...you may have seen from one of my status' that Mr. William had made an announcement last week in his class. He came home on Monday and told us, "Mom & Dad~today I made an announcement in class and invited all the kids in my class to my party." Uhhhh....William we are not having a party. Sorry pal. Nice idea. But no.

So I told him in a nice and gentle motherly way...Sorry not this year honey. You'll have to make another announcement. So the next morning was my regular time to come in to the class for my 1/2 hour volunteer time. And one of the kids in his class came up to me and asked what time the party is? Uhhh....to William's credit he had only been at school 30 min. so maybe he hadn't had an opportunity to make the announcement. So...mama stepped up to the plate to clear things up. The poor poor thing. Hid his face in my shirt and had shed a few tears. He was crushed, and a little embarrassed. But he quickly recovered and the above picture is 2 days later on his birth DAY. I took in a snack and he was in high spirits. He was dancing in his chair while his class sang Happy Birthday to him. I've never seen him so elated, or so goofy. The more the kids laughed at his excitement the more goofy he got.

That day after school Grandma Elsie picked him from school and brought him home just in time for a cookout on the patio. An impromptu party with a little family, cake and ice cream.

Enjoying some presents.

After it cooled off outside and some of the family had to leave....we came inside and William put on a dance party for Uncle Wes, Aunt Joann and their kids. Have never seen him so hyped up in front of company. He had some awesome moves and we all laughed so hard to watch him groove it. Loved it. Love that 6 year old and all the ways he makes us smile.

Now gearing up for Donovan's turning 36 tomorrow. :) :) Off to make a cheesecake....

Leave me a comment...tell me how you celebrate birthdays in your family.


quote of the day:

Suzy: (talking to William) "do you want to give mommy breakfast in her bed for mother (modders) day?
William: "no, not this year."

(Must be the whole friend party thing~resentment coming out)

another one....
Isabella: "Please, please save me some chocolate ice cream for me??"
Donovan: "Sorry you can have one bite, but the guy who works the hardest gets the rest"
Jack: "Well God worked 7 days making this Earth...so He should get it all."

suzy Q

At this point some of you are wondering if Suzy is my favorite, or others may be wondering if I gave the other 3 children away. Neither is the case. I just have so many photo opportunities with only one at home, while the other little bunnies are off to school.

And lets face it the girl loves to have her picture taken. So I just have to say...little Suzanna Faye had a tad bit of adjusting to do after vacation. She was so used to having all her little playmates around, swimming, snacking at all moments of the day and basically living the dream. All good things must come to an end and we must come back from vacation and get back to normal. What ever that is. It changes every day...doesn't it? But this week I was kicking it into gear with ending the 20 hour movie marathons. And pretty much a huge decline in the TV viewing options.

Little lady had a little adjustment. O.k. huge. She was "bored". "Can't we have a friend over? Can't I go somewhere? What are we doing today mom?" Well friend, "we are cleaning, laundry, napping, and making supper." Didn't seem to sit really easy with her. We had some come to Jesus meetings. We wept. Well she did. And after a few days...we were back in business. Well that is until they had no school on Friday because of parent/teacher conferences. Why do that have to do that???

But here is a little moment when little miss remembered how play well by herself. Reverting back to her ol' self. She was going through all my drawers/cupboards and taking an inventory verbally and then "writing" it down scribble by scribble. Love when she gets in her zone and uses her imagination. Love you Suzy Q!!

orange...

Yummy treats for your almost summer days....

Frothy Orange Drink

1 can (6 oz) frozen orange juice concentrate, unthawed
1 cup water
1 cup milk
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
8-10 ice cubes

Combine in blender; until thick and slushy.
Yield: 4 cups

yummo!!


quote of the day:
Jack talking to Donovan..."I love the color grey....and that is the color of your hair."

made in Indiana

So one more post about Florida....do you mind? I'm still smiling just thinking about being warm and all free time in the world we had......

We took a short drive over from our condo to Marina Jack area. Is that correct Florida family...or is it called something else??

Lot's of fun things to see...such awesome views...all for free.

Also a little splash pad, we love to visit when we are there.

It was a little windy...but the kids didn't seem to mind.

This picture is for my cousin Wilma. Now do you believe me....wind + curly hair= mess. Told you!

On Friday we took a break from the beach & pool to go to the outlet mall. We also found some cool handmade shark tooth necklaces for the boys. Maybe a shirt or 2 for mama.

Friday night...Andy & Danielle hired a babysitter for their kids and ours and we headed over to Tampa for some Cheesecake Factory Action.

Oh my goodness....DELISH!

We heard good reports from the babysitter....and it was nice our kids play together so easily. Not sure about William here....but he's workin' it.

Two of our mornings last week I took the 2 oldest and we went for a morning walk. So cool to be with these 2 kids. They kept up well, and it was some good conversations with them. Loved how Jack actually wanted to hold my hand.

LOVE barefoot walks on the beach~! But watch out.....

Saturday morning we saw a live jellyfish. So cool.

A baby crab.

On Saturday we had a cousin's get together at the beach. Pack your own lunch and come time. SO fun to hang out with them again.

Here are the chillins ~Just chillin pool side with some pops.

The awesome view from our room, rocked so MUCH!!

Jack goofing around.

Pretty cool the condo had 2 different grill areas we could use.

As I was setting up this photo op and they were looking out at the ocean....guess what we saw???

Dolphins! Can you see the fin up in the above picture?? We walked down the beach following them for a while. It was so fun for the kids!

Quote of the day:
William: while looking at his Mexican-born stuffed animal - "dad was I made in Mexico?"

Dad: "nope you were made in IN"

Thank goodness the conversation ended there.