Birthday Party Fun

We celebrated Ethan's birthday with Summer and Bob-Bo(my aunt and uncle). They put on a great magic show for the kids, Summer painted faces and Bob-Bo did balloon art!!  

Bob-Bo and Summer

The kids loved the show.

Helping make a birthday cake.

Waving the magic wand.

The birthday boy with Bob-Bo and Summer!

The cake!

Ryan got volunteered for a magic trick!

Birthday boy getting his face painted.

Sweet Ella

The other family clown!!

Happy Birthday Ethan

This post is WAY overdo...
Back in September we celebrated Ethan's 5th birthday!! Ethan is a super sweet, spunky little boy that also has a very sensitive side. He loves to be outdoors playing in the dirt, riding his bike or making tents out of whatever he can drag outside. Ethan is a great big brother to Isaac and Ella, always watching out for them. He likes to pester Emma but also really looks up to her. I am so honored and blessed to be his mom and enjoy watching him grow and mature(even though it's happening too fast).

1 day old

5 years later

My handsome boy

It's been a while...

Things have been super busy the last couple of months and I don't see things slowing down anytime soon. I still have yet to add more pictures from vacation like I said I was going to do, but I thought I would take a few minutes to put up some cute shots from tonight. All of them LOVE to be outdoors and we finally had a break in the 100+  temps and were able to enjoy being outside.

Mulch is so exciting!

So angelic looking.

This is her famous face right now!

Watching the big kids ride their bikes.

Opting to go thru the grass to avoid hitting her brothers!

Beautiful!

Absolutely loves riding her bike!

Hanging out

Ella trying to keep up with the boys!

Super handsome!

Love this kid

I say to smile and he does some funny face just about every time!

A normal look

A not so normal look. This kid keeps us laughing!

I tried to get some shots of the four of them together and it didn't work out so well. Here is how the photo shoot went...

I don't think Isaac is getting ready to punch Emma?

Yes, his finger is in his nose. As I was taking the picture he said, "what about this pose mom?"

The best out of 10 or so!

Something's Missing

A little over a month ago, Emma and Ethan were wrestling around on the living room floor when she started flipping out. She was holding her mouth, panicking like I have never seen and kept mumbling something. I managed to hear her mutter that Ethan had knocked her tooth out! It was already loose but not quite ready to come out. After MUCH drama she eventually calmed down and thought it was pretty cool she had lost her 3rd tooth. Fast forward to yesterday morning. Ryan was on the couch and I went over to hug him. For some reason, the kids cannot stand it when we hug and they always come to squeeze in between us. Yesterday was no different and a dog pile ensued! Ethan first, followed by Isaac and then Emma on top. After a few minutes of goofing around, Emma gets off and states in a very calm voice that Isaac just kicked her tooth out. This time there was no drama and no crying, just excitement that her tooth was out. She has lost 4 teeth now: she swallowed the first one, she pulled the second one, third was knocked out by Ethan and the fourth knocked out by Isaac. She thinks it is pretty cool that each brother knocked a tooth out!

Happy 3rd Birthday Isaac James!!

Isaac turned 3 on Monday, June 13. Isaac's name means "laughter" and it definitely fits him perfectly. That boy can get anyone laughing. His wide variety of funny faces and the things he says have us cracking up daily. His latest phrase he says wrong, we can't bring ourselves to correct him because it is so cute, is "you get on my nerbs"!! He also likes to eat the candy NERBS!! He has a huge supply of energy, loves to climb, read books, snuggle(my favorite), play with tractors, be outdoors in the dirt and ride his tricycle. We are so thankful for him and cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store for our little man!
We love you, Isaac!!

Headed home!!

Hanging out with big sis and big brother.

This boy enjoys his ice cream!!

Happy Birthday Ella Faith!!

I am having a hard time believing it, but today we are celebrating our baby girl's First Birthday!! Ella has brought and I know will continue to bring so much joy and happiness to our lives. Ryan and I love to just sit and watch her, whether playing or sleeping. Ella is such a sweet, happy baby and rarely will you see her without a smile. She loves to play peek-a-boo, run after her brothers and sister, climb, sit and look at books, loves to swim(but doesn't like baths), loves to eat pretty much anything and she LOVES her blankie! We are so thankful and blessed that God chose us to be her family. We love you Ella Faith!!

Summer Vacation 2011(so many good pics that there will be more posts to come)

Ethan trying out the boogie board!

These two girls loved playing in the sand.

Isaac preferred the sand over the water, especially if there were big waves!

Toothless grin(Ethan knocked out the top tooth a couple weeks ago)

She spent most of her time riding the waves!

Isaac copying Nathan

Sleeping on Aunt Kathy while Mommy and Daddy played in the water.

Hanging with Uncle Andy

Trying out the waves with daddy.

Emma burying Grace

Ella's version of boogie boarding!

Cousin fun!!

My handsome man!

We recently returned from a family vacation to the East coast. My cousin Sarah(junior bridesmaid in our wedding almost 12 years ago) got married on May 21 in Greenvilee, SC so we headed that way a couple days before. We met up with my parents, grandmother and my brother and his family when we got there. They had a lovely wedding and a beautiful, fun reception which included dancing, a huge swing set and playhouse for the kids, and yummy food. Instead of bubbles or birdseed, they chose to leave as we were all holding sparklers and then as a surprise, fireworks were set off as they drove away. Sunday afternoon we headed to Garden City Beach, SC and spent about a week there with my brother's family. We all had so much fun playing at the beach and it was even more fun watching the kids enjoy themselves.