Five on Four

Until they learn to read calendars, my kids are hopelessly confused as to when their birthdays happen.  We have them hoodwinked into thinking the day of their birth is whatever day we decide to have a party.   Elia used to tell people, "Last year, my birthday was April 2nd, this year it is April 12th,  and I don't know when it will be next year."  See?  Confused.

So the Deli turned 5 on the Fourth of July, even though technically his birthday is July 10th.   He doesn't know better, and he's pretty happy with the idea that we all gather to celebrate him with his very own red, white and blue cake.  Funny how every year his birthday is a red, white and blue theme...

His birthday was extra special this year because we had so many family members from out of town visiting, from my side and the husband's side.  Yes, we still have family here.  My two sisters' families have left, much to our sadness - there were lots of teary children saying good by and giving big hugs when the separate departures happened.  Now we have one week left with my brother's family and my mom.  We are all tired but happy to have so much time together.  

Deli had a good birthday, surrounded by loved ones.  Now that he's a big five year old, he's planning on learning his letters good, starting to read, putting his shoes on the right feet and maybe, just maybe, wearing underwear.  No promises, though.

And she's just my type!

This girl, this crafty little girl, turned nine on Sunday.   For weeks she'd been counting down, telling everyone she spoke to, "Easter Sunday's my birthday!  I'll be nine!  On Easter!!!!"  

She turned nine on Easter Sunday.  We celebrated with family and some home made piñatas and a whole lot of food.  

She has a love for making things, this one.  She made the apron at the top and the arrangement above, all by herself.  Not a day goes by when she doesn't come downstairs with something she has sewn, painted, stuffed, knit, drawn, or arranged.  We are blessed to have her with all her creativity, sweetness and light.  

Happy Birthday Elia Luz!

Sorry, No Poetry Wednesday

Just the poetry of some family time.  It's been years - four, five? at least - since I've seen my second sister's family.  We had the chance to come out to Pennsylvania and we grabbed it!  We have been here since Friday and have enjoyed every minute of it.  My kiddos love all their cousins.  Some, *ahem, Del*, are a little more annoying in their love, but the cousins put up with him which is all we can hope for.  His love is like a stinky, stinky rose, that one.

Yesterday we celebrated Calvin's 11th birthday.  Eleven!  This boy was just a little crawling baby when I got married, how can he now be eleven!?

The day started with some weight lifting,

followed by some treasure hunting - gum at the end, woo hoo!

There were breaks here and there for reading and crochet,

playing of cards,

and general shenanigans.

There were personal pizzas,

and a whole bunch of cookies.

Calvin enjoyed our singing of the Happy Birthday song, I think.  At least I hope he did, we sang it at least three times that I was involved with.

It came time to blow out the candles and Calvin blew.... and blew.... and blew.....

until Aunt Bethie and I yelled "Just spit on them!"  Joking, of course.

So Mikey obliged.

And spit on them.

We didn't mind.

Calvin opened his presents, although it was debatable whether Calvin opened, or Mikey opened, or Del opened.  They are just so very helpful.

Happy Birthday, Calvin!

It was a joy to celebrate with you!

The Josie is 7

On Saturday we had a birthday party to celebrate the Josie turning 7 and the Deli turning 4. Saturday was Josie's actual birthay, and maybe just a month late for Del. The most surprising part of that sentence is that we celebrated a birthday on the birthday date. A rare occurence around these parts.

Of course, as seems to be happening a lot lately, my camera died too early, so there are very few photos.

Let's begin a few days before the birthday, shall we?
The kids decided to make their own pinata.
Well, the kids decided, but only one kid really did it.



Everyone except for the Elia decided that the paper mache mix was too goopy, too smelly,
and too much.
I agreed, but was conscripted.
The original plan was to make a chewbacca head, but we went with a beach ball.

Although it ended up looking like an easter egg.
Whatever it looked like, it didn't matter.
It was stuffed with candy, so it could have looked like a brown paper bag, for all the kids cared.

We ate a lot of good food. A LOT of good food.
Grandma made a super cute clown cake, I made some pies.
Josie wanted a blueberry pie shaped like Ariel.
I made a blue berry pie with a top crust made from cut out stars.
Close enough,right?

Happy birthday sweet Josie!

Now he is four

We had a birthday boy living in this house recently.
He turned a big four.

This boy had not one, not two, but three days where the mail arrived with cards, envelopes and packages with his name on them.
He happily tore open envelopes filled with crisp dollar bills and boxes full of treasure.
And what treasures they were!





Great Aunt Becky sent a superhero t-shirt with just enough room to grow.
Yes, he did wear it for three days straight. And that was only because I made take it off to wash.

Uncle Dave and Aunt Katie sent over a pirate outfit.
The sword and hook may or may not have made some other children in this family jealous. Who doesn't want a hook for a hand?
The outfit came complete with earring, eye patch, chain necklace and hat.
The only thing it didn't come with was a belt and scabbard for the sword.



But Del made do.

Arrrrrr.

If Frida and Harpo had a baby

he would look something like this.







And he would be turning four today.
Happy Birthday to our crazy big Deli pickle!!

we survived

Yesterday was my birthday.
It was a lovely day from the breakfast in bed beginning, to the going out to eat end. That pretty much sums up what I want for my birthday. I don't want to cook. Normally I enjoy cooking very much, but you know how sometimes you get in a rut and you just can't think of a meal beyond crackers, peanut butter and fruit? That is how it's been around here. Anyway, birthday! The children made me some amazing presents, the husband, being a good husband, wished he could have done more, when in actuality he did great. It was a wonderful day.

The picture above is of me going home from the hospital. My oldest sister, Beth, is holding me, with my next oldest sister, Kim, looking on. You are right. There are no car seats. In that picture I am only days old. You are also right. There are no seats to speak of in that van, and my newborn self is being entrusted to a 9 and 8 year old. But you know what? We survived. And beautifully.

Instead of inspiring horror, this kind of picture just makes me happy. And it makes me worry less for my own kids. My parents did their very best with what they had and we all turned out fine. I'll do the very best with what I have and my kids will turn out fine. With the grace of God and a loving family, we will survive and we will thrive.

We are now heading out camping with friends where hopefully our children will do something dangerous and hopefully they will survive.
Have a wonderful weekend, all of you!

A Super-tastic time

On Saturday, we celebrated Mikey and Elia with a superhero birthday party.  We somehow managed to not take any decent pictures, and now Blogger/Picasa is not allowing me to post any edited pictures, so once again you get the grainy ones.  Enjoy.  

All the friends arrived and donned their super capes (courtesy of a a Super Grandma - she sewed up 20 capes, can you believe it!) and joined the festivities.  We played pin the rope on Wonder Woman, find the Kryptonite and bash the pinata.  

We did not take pictures of the fun, but we did take one hundred different pictures of the Suuuper Caaake! (sung out loud in a big Taaa Daaa!)  It was indeed super.  It was amazing...ly...

Super...

...roBUST...ly..

can't.  look.  away....

What was I saying?

Oh!  Yes!

The cake!

It was awesome!

And also made by the Super Grandma.  Did we make anything for this party?  No.  We just decided a theme, then called up Grandma and Grandpa and had them make us stuff.  They ARE super heroes that way.

  You should get you some of them.

The little heroes of the day loved the cake.

We didn't take any pictures of all the goings on, maybe because we were having too much fun celebrating two of our sweet kiddos with a great bunch of family and friends.  Thank you to you for coming out and joining us. A super time was had by all.

Birthday Pirate Princess

There was a birthday in this house not too long ago. Everyone was greeted with a hearty, "Aaaargh". Pirates and Princesses - they go together, right?

Beautiful princess and castle cakes from Grandma. Tasted as good as they looked, too. We had a treasure hunt (the pictures didn't really work...) a whole bunch of food and fancy dresses for the birthday girl.

Grandma made a pinafore/tutu for the girlie, it's been worn to the library, the store and just for fun.

So! Happy birthday to the Smell!

Five!

The biggest little Livo turned five. I don't know what happened. One minute she was being born, the next she was turning five. Happy birthday sweet SmellBell!

More pictures of birthday festivities to come...

More birthday fun

We had a little party with Grandma & Grandpa and Great Grandma & Great Grandpa K. There was cake, ice cream and some noisy toys.

Two!

The powertool/construction kit. Mikey wouldn't try the tool belt on then, but he wears it all the time now.


The construction worker. Good look, no?