Happy Birthday Jack!

Today Jack turns 8! I can't believe he is that old! I know it's what all mom's say, but it really seems like just yesterday we were bringing him home from the hospital. He has grown into such a wonderful young man. He is a great leader with a kind heart. I appreciate his willingness to help out around the house with the chores and with his siblings. He is a great example for his brothers and sister. Darin and I are very proud of him. We had a small party with our friends today for lunch. He wanted hamburgers and chips. I "tried" to make a camouflage cupcake cake for him. It turned out pretty good (at least he thought so.) Some of the fun gifts he has gotten so far include a new air soft gun and target (from Grandpa and Grandma) a Connects Roller Coaster building set (from Aunt Debbie) Gi Joe Guys (from Will and Lily) and a flying helicopter (from Hank). Darin and I bought him a video game, but it is just coming out and will be here this week. There are still a few gifts on the way, but thanks to all of you who gave him such fun presents. He has been busy playing with them all day.

Country Fair

Hat!

Ever since Will was a really little guy (but could still get around) he has always done this funny thing. He likes to be a "hat." If he can get on your head he will and then he will sometimes declare "HAT!" He mostly likes to sit on your face and bounce up and down. This does not go over well with the older siblings who find this to be kind of annoying. Go figure?

Rice Krispies

New Red Car

This is our new little car. It gets 34 miles per gallon and is mainly for us to have a more cost effective way to make trips to Fresno without kids and for Darin's speaking travels. We are very excited to welcome it into our family. It is a 2008 Honda Fit.

Potty training accomplished?

It's been what seems like years, months for sure, that we have been promising Lily this princess bike. She saw this at Walmart and immediately had to have it. We told her if she could go 1 wwek without peeing her pant "having an accident" then we would buy it for her. She would get really close only to blow it at the last minute. This week she finally accomplished her goal and went 1 week without an accident. I am not convinced we are gonna be accident free, but we are sure happy to be at this point...there is a light at the end of this potty training tunnel.

Lily's Stank Face (for Jayne and Shannon)

Will's choice

Darin took Will with him to the General Store yesterday to get something I forgot I needed to fix dinner. He let Will (17 months) choose a snack, whatever he liked, Darin said. So Will pointed to a box of donuts and nodded his head yes. Darin bought them and Will ate almost all of them. He's really into junk food right now. It's not really a good thing. I am probably gonna have to crack down. It was funny to see him with the box of donuts though. He is such a funny kid. He walked into the house and pointed at the grocery bag and said "more." I didn't even realize what he wanted until Darin explained. Today he went to the cabinet and grabbed out the Crisco and said "more" I drew the line at donuts, and wouldn't give in to his Crisco need. I am mother of the year, I am pretty sure.

Muddy Will

Mud Hole

Tonight after dinner the kids got to play outside in a mud hole. They all had such a fun time, but I think Will enjoyed it the most!

Yea for Neighbors!

We are so excited that the kids have friends their own age to play with. They have been having fun making muddy creations with the new neighbors!

First Day of School

New Camera

Well I got another camera the other day. I started with a Sony Cybershot 7.2 that I got right before Lily was born. I really liked this camera but the boys spilled a whole cup of orange juice on it and it never worked quite right again. So Darin saved up and surprised me last Valentines Day with a Canon Powershot SD750. It was amazing, until Will dropped it and the lens broke. So...I have been using the old oj sticky one, until two days ago. I got a Olympus 850SW which is Shock and Waterproof. Hopefully this will stand up to the abuse my family and I put on a camera! So far, I love it!