Slackin'

Sorry for my absence once again.

It seems that there has been a lot...and nothing much...going on lately and I have been a negligent blogger. Sigh.

Last Sunday was my birthday and it was a GORGEOUS day weather wise. As a child, all but one in my memory there was snow on the ground. Often A LOT of snow. This year, it was 13 degrees and sunny so we took advantage of it. After a lovely brunch at Cora's (mmmmmm), we spent the afternoon at the park playing in the leaves. What fun!

Burying the little man



Fun in the leaves



The Bear being "cool guy"




The girlie posing (as usual)

It was then back at home for a dinner made for me by my hubby and then cake.

Why five candles? I am not sure. Perhaps one for each of my children? Sounds good to me.

It was a lovely day spent with the people most important to me. What a perfect way to spend a birthday! (I do think that a spa day is still in my future though LOL)

SIX!!

Thursday marked The Girlie's sixth birthday. Wow!! I can hardly believe it!

Here she is...what a happy looking six year old, huh?










Our first stop of the day was Mongo's Grill for lunch. Birthdays in our family are sort of a big deal. The birthday child basically calls the shots for the bulk of the day: ordering up whatever they want for breakfast, lunch and supper, school can be skipped...you get the picture. Mongo Grill was both the girlie and the middle child's choice so this was our second visit this week. Oh well. it is much better than McDonalds!!



Check out these goofballs!








After lunch, we spent a wonderfully warm day at Fort Whyte Alive. We walked the paths, rented a Bison Buggie, heard geese honking and just generally enjoyed the fresh air.

These two are doing their "cool" poses

On "the rock" where pictures have been taken each year for 6 years

Birthday Girl up close

Daddy/daughter duo

By the end of the day, the princess was tired so The Bear offered to piggy back her the rest of the way. What a good big brother (and S had to get in on the photo action :)

And there they go...

What a great day!

NINE!!

Well, our middle child has turned NINE!! Wow, how time flies.

This year, we broke from tradition a bit and celebrated his birthday the day before (usually, we are sticklers for "the date"). There was no school on the Monday so we thought we would take advantage of it (and S was thrilled at the idea of getting his presents a day early!) So, as has been the tradition for the last 9 years, we spent the afternoon at the Children's Museum.



Here is the birthday boy!

Fun with the mirrors (and little brothers)

The girlie goofing around

Our little newscaster

S is many of the things that middle children are. He switches from being a calm and mature "bigger kid" to a silly, goofball, "little kid" on a dime. He can be the pest and the tantrumer one minute, and the peace maker and the helper the next.

He is smart, and sweet, and kind. Quick to anger but also quick to forgive. When the little ones need a hand, he is often the first to offer. When the mood strikes him (and it strikes with some regularity) he can become "Super Cleaner" and will tidy anything that you ask...and then some.

He really is such a great kid and we had a great time celebrating him this week! Next year...double digets. Oh My!!

THREE!!

Wow, I have so many posts to catch up on that I am going to skip posting all of the gratuitous flower and nature pics that I have taken to fulfill my 365 challenge and just post the ones that cover the events of our life in the last two weeks.

Beginning with the little man's third birthday!

I can't believe that my baby is three. No longer a baby or even a toddler, he has officially entered the pre-school category. Wow.


As is our tradition, we went to the Mennonite Heritage Village for the afternoon. Here is the gang (the teenager had to go to school)








The famous windmill...







Here is the birthday boy inside above windmill

After a rather wet and cloudy day at the museum, we went out for dinner (little a's choice...Boston Pizza?!?) and then home for Smartie Ice Cream cake.

Then is was back outside to test drive one of his birthday gifts. A new bike...with foot pedals!!

He loves it...

...even after his spill into the muddy ditch when he forgot how to steer (what does the mean mommy do? Runs for her camera, of course!)

I can hardly believe how much he has grown up already. He is a smart, sassy, sweet little boy that can steal my heart in a glance.

There was a time when we thought we were done having children at four. Four was a bunch already! Our house was full...as was our car...and our life was rich and wonderful. Then the little man came along and I cannot imagine our life without him. His sweet smile, his twinkley eyes, his deep throaty laugh or his daredevil energy. He is the icing on our cake, the sweet little something that tops of a wonderful meal....he is our dessert when we had once thought our dinner had been enough. The sweet little something that just completes the meal the way nothing else can.

I love you little man! I am so glad that you have blessed our family with the gift of yourself and I enjoy watching you grow each and every day.

Fifteen?!?

On May 17th, the teenager turned 15. Fifteen?!? How is that possible?




Each year we have brought him to the zoo on his birthday and taken his picture here.




Here's one with the siblings (except the little man...who was too busy running around like a crazy man)




This has always been a family event but...all good things must change with time. This year, he brought his girlfriend.

Aren't they cute?

After the zoo, we came back home and BBQ'd (at the birthday teen's request) and then had a backyard bonfire and roasted marshmallows.

The highlight of the day for this mother? Seeing him smile...a lot. Those smiles are few and far between now-a-days so that made the concession worth it. I am slowly learning to let go...and realizing that maybe someday, all of my children will be bringing new people to be a part of our family traditions...learning to embrace this and welcome them if they make my kids happy. That is, after all, what is all about, right?

Birthday Weekend

Saturday, March 14th was my hubby's birthday. We had a fairly low key (at his request) but here is one of my favorite shots of the day.

Daddy/daughter



Here is the birthday "boy" and the cake we had for him that day.



Then, on Sunday, we had the extended family over for dinner and cake to celebrate both hubby's birthday, and The Bear's (which is tomorrow)

Here is a gratuitous cute shot of the youngest member of the clan



And the birthday boys blowing out their candle

Happy Birthday to two of my favorite guys!!