Happy Birthday Mark

Mark quickly realized that as much as he thought it was fine he didn't have a party for his birthday, his kids NEEDED a party for his birthday. They had counted down the days until his birthday only to be confused that we weren't having a cake or decorating. Well, Mark quickly changed his mind and the kids and I spent all day decorating the kitchen table. Rockets, cars, and flowers were made and hung on the light. Pennants were strung and cupcakes were iced in anticipation of the birthday festivities. I think he was glad he relented. I know the kids were well pleased with the whole affair.
I don't know if you can tell but Eve was in charge of all decorating. She had been given some stickers at the grocery store and insisted we use them as decorations for the cupcakes. Needless to say, all the cupcakes had toothpicks with 'Kroger' stickers on them. To give you an idea of Mark's trust in my decorating skills, he thought I did it and wondered what it meant. I thought is was very obvious that it was Eve's idea!




It is still tough for Mark and I to figure out how to take care of our lawn and the kids. We usually pop a movie in, set up treats on the table and try to get the work done as fast as we can, checking on them occasionally (our house has tons of windows so we can see them all the time too). But last Saturday Jude was sick of waiting for me to put him down for his nap and fell asleep like this. Eve was devastated when I took him up stairs to finish his nap. She was quite content having him sleep on her for a couple of hours.



I just love to get great shots of the kids. I don't know what made Asher smile like this, but I am glad I got the picture.


We haven't had any pictures of our little kiddos up on the wall and we hadn't had a good family photo since Eve was barely two, Asher still a bun in the oven. So finally, after driving Mark crazy with my talking about it, we got photos and frames for his birthday (I know I am so thoughtful, I get him what I want for his birthday). Mark's sister Melanie took our family photos and with only 15 minutes for the photo shoot she came up with some amazing shots. I hope the copies of the family photos are big enough to see... We picked up a few extra frames and since our kids are so gorgeous, we plastered photos of them all over the place. Mark is worried it is too many, but when your kids are as beautiful as ours you gotta do it!


So, if you cared (which Cammie specifically asked for) here are the photos we developed. Please just go ahead and skip this if you are not interested, it is only pictures of the most beautiful kids in the whole entire world:)

We got the first two photos developed and they are the 8x10s on our wall... for anyone wondering they are from Kemah (who knew, right?)! I love the sidewalk!!




This one I got as a 5x7 simply because I love it but it didn't look right as one of the big ones. It isn't on the wall (that would be a bit crazy having THREE of the same family shoot) but it is on our shelf, still a lot, but since I don't care no one else should).


Eve's is a 5x7 on the wall


Asher's is the other 5x7 on the wall


Jude's is the 4x6 on the wall


We did a beach picture of each of the kids for the wall and this is the final one, of Eve. 5x5



THis is the one of all the kiddos that is on the wall as a 5x5


This is the buddies 5x5


Then we got a couple of frames for the shelves and fireplace mantel. A double frame for Jude and Asher...




..and our prima ballerina on her own


FInally, we have an individual baby picture up of all our kids. It took a while but Jude's is now on the shelf too.


That is it!!!! I am now off to make decorations for a baby shower that I am helping with. I got some great ideas from one charming party (blog) and from a friend of mine (Sarah), so we will see what I come up with. I am going to take pictures because I am sewing the decorations (which will be given to the mom to decorate her baby's room). Wish me luck!

bits of things

I had a crazy day when I posted these pictures, but I am now back to comment on them.
To begin, Eve is a little fish now (or a little shark). She went from not even putting a bit of her face in the water in April to this. She had a great time with Mark jumping and flying into the water. She can now swim the width of the pool under water by herself and she jumps in off the side all the time. I am so proud of her progression and I can tell it did a lot for her confidence.



Tricia's parents came to visit and they had a great time (I am assuming) with the kids. I know the kids had a blast.

To begin with, Loral made bread with the Eve and Asher twice! They loved it. Asher really got into it, even using his fists like Grandma to punch the bread.




Asher! What is there to say? We went to the beach with Grandma and Grandpa for Canada Day. Asher discovered the joy (last time with his Dido) of dumping sand in his hair. I don't know why, but he loves it. Needless to say the tub was full of sand that night after tubbies.

On the 2nd we went to a baseball game. It was packed! I had been to a BlueJays game before but this was the first time my parents had been to a professional baseball game. I think the only thing they will remember is how many flights of stairs they had to climb! It was crazy! We didn't find the elevator until we left. Eve and Asher were thrilled because of the hotdogs (which cost more than the tickets!!!!!)


I am not sure how to describe this one. Eve thinks the Davy Crockett hat is a princess wig and Asher was fine wearing the pink gypsy hat and princess shoes. Oh well!

Jude the buddy!!! He loves his Tubbies, and I can't believe I got a shot that he wasn't flailing around uncontrollably. He is pretty CUTE.

pictures for my wall...

We don't have any pictures of our little family up anywhere (well a few in frames on a bookcase doesn't count). These are some that I will hopefully get developed in smaller wall frames and then we have some amazing family photos that Mark's sister Melanie took of us that will be the centerpiece of the photo wall. We do have some older photos too, but these ones were pretty priceless.

Our Ballerina and other things

Eve had her ballet recital a couple of weeks ago! She loved it! I am not sure if she loved dancing as much as wearing make-up.

Eve and her best bud Camille. They look so much alike that even their moms can't tell them apart.

Dancing Queen!


Eve (after having done her own hair) with baby Jude!


At the end of the day at the beach. Asher had successfully covered himself in sand, which successfully all made it back to our house and our tub!


All the boys hanging out. Mark's Dad came to visit.


Judah, Judah, Judah! You are our little Buddha!


At the zoo with their Dido.


It was HOT! Asher, Eve, and Jude cooled off with snow cones. Eve was very proud of her pink tongue


Asher was just as proud of his green one!

Mother's Day!!!!

Just a quick post. I love surprises!...well...most surprises. Mother's Day arrived and I got a great breakfast and a yummy dinner. My gift was a bit vague. It was odd for Mark, usually he loves giving gifts. I figured that it must have been a crazy couple of weeks at work and thought 'oh well'.
Two weeks later, or close to it, this arrived at the door.

NOt by itself, but a delivery truck and three guys. I love it!
*just a side note: We had been looking at it for a while online and I was drooling over it. I just didn't know Mark had bought it. Even though my mattress is the same, somehow I find my bed more comfortable.
My Hubby is so sweet and he loved that I had no idea, he always loves when I have no idea about what he is doing.

Asher is 2!

Asher is now 2. He reached the 'terrible' stage much before his birthday and he is definitely worthy of the title. We love him anyways. Despite all his energy and his ability to scream louder than any woman in any horror movie, he has a sweet side: he loves loves loves to give Jude hugs and cuddles and is usually rather gentle when lovin' is little brother.

I recently discovered Cold Stone's "Ice Cream Cupcakes" and I am pretty sure I am never going back. So cheap and very yummy. All I had to do was print of some little label, tape them on to toothpicks, and stick them in the cupcakes!
As you can guess the theme was Outer Space!


With family in town we decided to actually have an activity for Asher's birthday. We went to NASA. Perfect for little kids and they loved it all.


Asher was thrilled with the space shuttle in his treat bag (he is obsessed with airplanes of any kind).

The Birthday Buddy


Eve and her cousin Avery waiting rather patiently for Asher to come and open his presents


Asher kind of got the opening present idea, but Eve and Avery were there to help him out when he wasn't going fast enough.

CAKE TIME!


This is him in all his glory! We had just put all the mulch down and he quickly picked it all up and dumped it on his head.

I couldn't decide what was a better shot, so you get both.


Our little Jude. THere were no shots of him with the other kids and we couldn't leave him out; too cute for that! Ah he is sweet and cuddly and smiley.