Another Parenting Milestone

Last night Steve and I performed MacGyver-style nasal surgery using only a flaslight and a pair of tweezers. What makes kids think...hmmm, my life will never be complete unless I shove a piece of corn up my nose. Then listening to Kenna scream her head off as we went (literally) fishing for gold, Isabelle wanted to make sure she didn't miss any of the excitement and SHE stuffed corn up her nose. At least last night's antics didn't include a trip to the ER. I suppose that's all you can ask for since you apparently can't ask for common sense in children.

Happy Birthday Rhyan!

If Rhyan had 3 wishes she would wish for:
1) The opportunity to meet Hannah Montana
2) An older sister
3) A baby brother

Rhyan's Birthday interview :
My favorite color ... green and pink and blue
I feel happy when ... I’m with my family
I like to eat ... Tortellini Alfredo
My Favorite Movie ... Marmaduke
I feel sad when ... my family members get hurt
I like to play with ... my brother
My favorite song ... Rock Star by Hannah Montanna
My dad is ... amazing
My mom is ... fantastic

My favorite holiday ... Christmas
I love to ... go to school
My favorite food is ... baked potatoes
My favorite thing to do as a family ... jump on the trampoline
My favorite toy is ... Littlest Pet Shop

It makes me happy when ... when I get to play with my friends
My favorite thing to do in my free time ... play in the toy room
My favorite number ... 8
I feel frustrated when ... I can’t learn a new trick in gymnastics
I really like it when ... I get to ride my bike outside
My favorite subject in school ... reading
My favorite game ... hide and seek
What I like about me ... is I’m talented
What do you want to do when you grow up... a teacher
What is the best thing about your birthday ... getting presents
Who is your hero, the person you look up to, or want to be like when you grow up ... my mom.

Happy Birthday sweetheart! I am so grateful to such a kind and thoughtful child. She genuinely loves those around her. Her teachers in school constantly compliment her on befriending those around her. One of her best friends in school was an autistic boy. He had never had friends in school before. When I told her how proud I was that she was his friend, she gave me a “duh” and said that she liked him, that he was funny, not realizing that most kids wouldn’t bother to get to know him. Her sisters adore her. Kenna screams Rhyan whenever she sees her. Sometimes in the morning I hear Isabelle go in her room and ask her to make her cereal. Steve and I adore her too. She is a blessing and a gift to our family.

Happy Birthday Levi!

I know we are a little late for this, Levi's birthday was last week so sorry. Levi got money from Grandma Jean and will get a ceiling fan from Nana & Papa. From Mom and Dad he got more money, some Lego guys and the new Rick Riordan book (author of the Lightning Thief books). I think his favorite part was having money to spend the way he wanted to.

If Levi had 3 wishes he would wish for:
1) A million dollars
2) A a jet
3) 2 more wishes

Levi's Birthday interview

My favorite color ... green, blue and red

I feel happy when ... I am with friends

I like to eat ... tacos, nachos and enchiladas

My Favorite Movie ... Avatar

I feel sad when ... I get hurt

I like to play with ... Lego's

My favorite song ... Tik Tok by Ke$ha

My dad is ... fun

My mom is ... fun to be with by ourselves
My favorite holiday ... Christmas

I love to ... play baseball

My favorite food is ... Chinese food

My favorite thing to do as a family ... play together

My favorite toy is ... my kickball and Lego's
It makes me happy when ... nobody fights

My favorite thing to do in my free time ... run around and be crazy

My favorite number ... 12

I feel frustrated when ... I don't always get to do what I want

I really like it when ... I have fun

My favorite subject in school ... P.E.

My favorite game ... four square

What I like about me ... is that I'm special

What is a funny/interesting thing that has happened to you ... I love fake mustaches and I wore pigtails and a mustache to school on my birthday.

What do you want to do when you grow up... be a rockstar

What is the best thing about your birthday ... getting presents

Who is your hero, the person you look up to, or want to be like when you grow up ... Zack my cousin

So happy birthday to my almost teenager. I can't believe it has been 11 years. It has been a privilege and a joy to be his mother, and I know his father feels the same way. I am so incredibly grateful to his birth mother who chose to place our beautiful baby boy with us. Levi is such a responsible, mature, little man. He is thoughtful of others. He is kind and protective of his sisters. He is concerned about finding his place in the world. I think he will leave this world a better place. Recently I was looking through a box with loose pictures in it and I came across a stack of pictures of him as a toddler. He was giving the camera his stubborn one-eyed death glare. I am so grateful for his stubbornness, (even as I curse it). He never deviates from the path he chooses. Whether its locking himself in the bathroom at church before his baptism or making right choices at school he is not swayed by those around him. So happy birthday Levi. Please continue to make right choices and grow straight and proud before the Lord. Always remember we love you and are so grateful for you.

Our new digs

Moving has been a big example of good news/bad news. For instance good news/bad news scenario #1. Good news: the unpacking is coming along. Bad news: I spend more time picking up the messes my children cause than actually unpacking. Good news/bad news scenario #2. Good news: we almost moved out AND we have renters all lined up. The bad news: It took us 3 times longer to get out than we thought and about a 100% more crap than we thought we had. Of course as someone pointed out we've had almost 13 years to squirrel said crap away. Good news/bad news scenario #3. Please see scenario #1. I could go on for a while but the point of this is to post pics of the new house. That's all you care about anyway. So for all you bad friends and family members who won't come visit us...this is for you.



PS. Please, please, please disregard the disarray!

We're moving out!

Yes, it's true we are moving. As many of you know we have outgrown our house, (well actually that happened several years ago) and we have found a new place. Originally l had planned to post my address here but my common sense caught up with me and now if you want directions to the new digs you'll have to email me. This way we'll know who really loves us!

Another Milestone

Today Kenna passed another milestone on her way to mobility. Rhyan started yelling at me to look at Kenna. She was standing there eating a cracker. I snapped a picture from my cell phone, which is why its a crummy picture and it also looks like she is holding onto Isabelle's boot. I promise she isn't!

On another related subject (well its only related because it concerns milestones), Isabelle is 90% potty trained. I say 90% because she could be 100% if I was more on the ball and reminded her more frequently!