Aidan's 8 Year Portrait

I only had to pull 3 teeth to get these pictures!  Thanks Aidan!  You are a handsome boy, and I don't like to have my picture taken either.  :)

Chandler's Bike Rodeo

This little guy. . .

 turned five last month!  I can't believe I'm just now getting around to posting photos of his party.  We had a great day.  It started off in the AM with Chandler running in to show me a granola bar that the mail man had given him.  It had "happy birthday Chandler" written on it.  I freaked out a bit, and came outside to find Chandler talking it up with the mail man.  He had told him it was his Birthday and the mail man produced a granola bar out of his lunch and wrote on it.  Chandler talks it up with everyone (we're working on that a bit).  The mail man is very kind and wanted to let Chandler "drive" his truck so we got the camera and were mail men for a moment.

 Then, lucky that it was a "sunny" day, the kids started arriving for the bike rodeo.  Daddy organized the obstical courses and games.

 And then it was cake time.  Chandler designed the cake himself!

 Complete with a secret layer of rice krispee treats in the middle.  I'd say it makes for an "interesting" flavor combination.

Happy Birthday Chandler!  We love you so much!

Tulip Time!

 While Grandpa Wilde was here visiting a week or two ago, we made our annual pilgrimage down to the tulip festival in Woodburn.  We landed down there on such a nice sunny day!  The kids didn't even really need the rain boots we made them wear, but experiences of the past have taught us that they are usually necessary!

 They might have affected Emilee's gait just a tad. . .

 Grandpa spent about 45 minutes pushing the big kids on these tire swing horses.  They loved it!

And of course, we raced rubber duckies.  On a side note, did you know that these pig tails bring me endless joy?  Endless.

Hurray for Spring time!  Hurray for tulips!

Me and my Girl

I had the opportunity last Friday to spend a little extra quality time with my girl.  She looks just like the rest of them. . .  little bird lips and all. 

 and just in case you're wondering what that might look like from the outside. . .

there I am in all my 6 months along glory.  When I saw this picture, I thought, "Seriously?  How is my belly not twice this size?"  That's because it feels twice this size.  How can a bulge only that big cause a woman so much waddling, pulled muscles at the drop of a hat, second thoughts on picking anything up from the ground, swollen ankles, frequent headaches, tripping over feet, an aching back, and general exhaustion?  I mean really, it's not that big!!!  I miss my capable, agile, run the double jogger, saying "yes" to my kids, strong body.  Pregnancy is never easy, and mine are a lot easier than some and for that I am grateful.  But if I had a nickel for every time I've thought, "I am not 24 any more," over the past month, I'd have enough money for a really stylin' maternity outfit.  Or maybe a pedicure.

That being said, I do enjoy having my little buddy with me wherever I go.  She always reminds me she's there.  A little kick, a little twist.  We share an ice cream cone.  We look at the tiny PJ's in Costco.  Yes, I wanted you in there.  I'll probably even miss your pokes and prods once you're out.

And I can't wait to meet you!

Egg Hunt 2011

 Yesterday was a glorious, sunny, beautiful, warm, spring, day before Easter.  It was heavenly.  70 degrees and couldn't have been prettier!  Hurray for a late Easter!  It made our annual egg hunt even more fun than normal, because we were dry and warm and enjoying our first real day of Springtime weather!

We did nests for all the kids again this year. . .  they love this!

 and the cupcakes were rather pretty this year. . .

 Here are all the big kids lined up and ready to raid the hunting grounds!  They were so excited.  It's always so hard to hold them back until everyone arrives and for the little kids to get started.

 Off they go!

 We did the hunt in a wooded park with little walking trails.  It made for some great hunting!

 And of course we had some areas for the little people. . .

The sunshine was so nice.  To really appreciate how nice it was, you can go here, here, or here and read about some of our past hunts. . .

We missed all of our old friends and neighbors from the old house, and the park access right across the street, but it was sure fun to celebrate with all of our new friends!

Happy Easter!!!

Happy Birthday Chandler!

 It's Chandler's turn!!!  Happy Birthday big guy!  We're having his party the next Saturday, so today was just family gifts and cupcakes, but he had a great day!  Chandler has got to be one of the most fun people to give a gift to in the whole world.  It could be a twig and a rock from the backyard, and he would jump for joy and say something totally genuine like, "Oh, I've always wanted a stick shaped just like this!!!"  He's so fun.

One of his favorite gifts this year were new replacement buzz lightyear PJ's!  (and Woody too)  He was so excited!  

Grandma and Grandpa sent some story books with CD's they had read the stories onto.  He loves them!

Stay tuned for party news!

the WOLF!

Let's continue Aidan's big week, shall we?

 Turning eight around here also means you get to join the cub scouts!  Aidan had his first pack meeting a few days after his Birthday!  Here's that "Oh, everybody's looking at me!" face again!

 Here are the wolves giving him a rousing welcome!

 Our pack has a fun tradition for the new scouts.  One of the first things they need to do is complete their "bobcat."  Gordon and I helped him do this before his first pack meeting so he could earn it right away.  When you earn your bobcat, the leader turns your upside down. . .

 Then your mom pins on your bobcat right side up, and you're not supposed to turn it over until you've done a "good turn."  He pretended to hate it, but he loved it.

Welcome to the world of Cub Scouting!!!