Birthday Parties

This year Claire wanted a "Charlotte's Web" themed birthday party.  It was a bit of a challenge as the only thing that kept coming to my mind was pulled pork sandwiches.  Well, that wouldn't do!  So we put our heads together and came up with a menu and some decorations that she was happy with. 

We had Aunt Melissa, Grandpa & Grandma Puplis and Grandpa & Grandma Rosen over for a Saturday morning breakfast.

Candles in her pancakes.

Anxious to open her gifts.

Eagerly explaining the plot of "Charlotte's Web".

Grandpa and Henry enjoying the party

Grandma lends Claire a helping hand.

Never saw a 7-year-old so excited to get a bag of dirt for her birthday.

She's ready to start her garden this Spring with her new seeds and supplies.

Admiring Grandma's original painting.

A few weeks later, we celebrated Claire's and Sylvia's 

birthdays together with the Sternberg family.

This was truly a kid's party.  The parents prepared their favorite foods 

while the kids handled the decorating.

More gifts!

This girl loves her Legos.

And candy!

Grandpa's craftsmanship suited Claire's love for learning perfectly.

A game where she can practice her addition and subtraction.

She even took her game to school with her on Monday to use for her math lesson.

Sylvia's game of stacking dominoes.

18 candles to blow out.

* * Claire's Birthday * *

The long-awaited, highly-anticipated day has arrived.

Claire's 7th Birthday!

We often joke that she was born 5 weeks early because God must have 

known she wouldn't be able to wait another day for her birthday.

Waiting for her birthday breakfast.

A couple gifts to open before heading off to school.

Our little reader had asked for a couple of her favorite books.  She's read Charlotte's Web twice, and she's excited to begin The One and Only Ivan for a second time.

As for the rest of her birthday, she enjoyed her Fun Friday at school.  She passed out her Rice Krispy treats, and was excited to report that no one said, "No thank you".  And the highlight of her afternoon: Miss B. let her pick out a  book to order from the book order.  She chose one about panda bears.  

After school, we picked up dinner from Russ' and spent the evening at the new house.  

A wonderful birthday for our wonderful girl!  I can't wait to see what this new year will bring for her. She continues to amaze us.    

January Review

A new year, a new home

We closed on our new home on December 28th.  Fortunately for us, we have until March 5th before we need to vacate our Oakwood home.  This will give us a good two months to begin some of the much needed renovations.

Our first dinner at the new house.  It was pretty special to be there together as a family for the first time.  I made Shepherds Pie, one of Joe's favorites, to commemorate the occasion.  

The boys lend a hand ripping down wallpaper...

for about 2 minutes before George wandered off and Henry followed after him.  I actually heard Henry say, "I'm too smart for this job."  I kid you not.

Claire is the opposite, really wanting to help and spend as much time at the house doing what she can.  She must take after her Mama.  

And her Dad, of course!  Joe has been busy lending a hand as well.

This picture doesn't really show the allergic reaction well, but one evening I had cut George's dinner with the same knife that I had used to cut some eggs for the kids.  It didn't take long for his face to show my terrible mistake.  

I'm convinced this kid is really a 6' adult stuck in a toddler's body.  He can just never seem to be tall enough to suit his desires.  We've had to hide our step stools since he would carry them around the house to get into all kinds of mischief.

Poor deprived George had never enjoyed a sucker until a kind mailman gave him one and before I knew it, this is what he was left holding onto.  How'd that wrapper taste?

We will miss this little nook for the kids.  Likely the most loved spot in our house.

I'm sure the kids can create little nooks wherever we are!

Milestones Sunday at Church

Henry has entered the Sprouts class, and received a tambourine to mark his milestone.  He was so proud!  And I have been enjoying being one of his teachers this year.

Demo in the main floor bath

Henry's snapshot of Claire cuddling up at the new house

January 31st

Omphalocele Awareness Day

Everyone in their black and white

Showing off his special belly.

Awhile back, Henry was playing pretend, as he often does, and I saw him lift his shirt and talk about his belly button.  Then he looked at me so seriously and said, "Mom, just pretend I have a belly button."  Love that kid!

To celebrate his special day, Henry chose pancakes at Mr. Burger for dinner.

Working on clearing out an old electrical panel for the new house.

George now insists on sitting at the nook with a "big boy breakfast".  He wants so desperately to keep up with the big kids.  He's a bit messy, but does pretty well.

I left the boy alone for 2 minutes and this is what happens.

Before picture of Upstairs Bedroom #1

Before picture of Upstairs Bedroom #2

Another Angle

Enter Quality Builders...

The large Bedroom #2 is being split into 2 bedrooms and a small common area.

Moving from demolition to framing!

Also the half bath is being expanded to add a shower

This is off of Bedroom #1, a new little nook to love.

Henry's vantage point

Came into the kitchen the other day to find him making himself a peanut butter and nutella sandwich for lunch.  So responsible.

Making rice krispy treats with my Claire for her birthday treat for school.