Birthday catch-up

Playing a bit of Catch-up here.

We were a little slow getting to celebrate Maya's birthday. We had slumber party and family party plans for the weekend before her actual birthday on Monday, Feb 16. However, stomach bugs being what they are, we ended up postponing everything a bit while everyone recovered.












Happy 8th, sweet Maya!!!

Matt left work early so we could spend the afternoon at Chuck E. Cheese's

Matt playing skee ball...

...really, really well.

Maya with her ticket jackpot winnings

Later in the week we went to my Dad's house in Lexington (he's in the back in the UK blue sweatshirt). Maya's trying out her new baseball equipment that he gave her.

When we got home from Lexington, her American Girl twins had arrived.

Maya with her babes, Matt & Madeline

And we had an impromptu Packing Peanuts Party with the neighborhood kids

By the weekend, we were able to have the previously postponed slumber party.

Here are Riley and our neighbor friends making DIY pizzas

Much Love for the Birthday Boy!

Last Sunday was Riley's 9th birthday! He had such a blast with family and friends all week long, having a party with part of our family the Sunday before his birthday, then two of his unschooled buddies over for a few days and nights during the week, then a couple more friends over to play Friday afternoon, shopping for birthday presents on Saturday, and another family dinner here at home with more family on Sunday. It was a busy, fun week spent immersed in things he loves to do: hanging out with friends, playing lots of Guitar Hero, playing and trading Pokemon and Yugioh (and making a trade for a card he's been wanting for soooo long!), skating, playing his new game (Battleground), and learning to play his and Matt's electric guitar.







Aunt Noelle totally gets Riley's sense of humor. This gift bag was lovingly paired with a b-day card that gave him "the moon" (not the one in the sky!). Both the bag and the card now decorate his room! (And the candles in the second picture are not in a really flat, unfrosted cake -- he asked for birthday brownies instead of cake)

Happy Birthday, Seth!

Today is Seth's 4th Birthday. After presents and cards and cake decorating at home in the morning, we had a family dinner and birthday party at my Grandmother's house in Frankfort. Seth had so much fun playing with his new monster trucks and Ben 10 toys. Once we got home, we watched the Night at the Museum DVD that Papa and Kathie gave him; and now he is once again happily playing monster trucks. The day is always bittersweet as I remember Seth's twin, who I lost very early in the pregnancy and because Seth is my only child who never met my Mom, at least not in this world, anyway. I've always kind of comforted myself with the idea that Seth was for all of us here and his twin stayed with Mom -- she was absolutely in love with being a grandmother. I am just so grateful that our family is blessed with this little guy -- he brings us so much joy, laughter, and love.

Monster Jam!!!!

Okay, so I'm finally getting around to blogging about our Monster Jam Weekend. This was Seth's early birthday present, and I'll need to post about his actual birthday tomorrow! It was so much fun to take him to Toledo at the end of July to see this live monster truck show and to experience his contagious joy for something he is incredibly passionate about.




The next day we went to COSI Toledo, Seth still in his Monster Jam shirt, which he always wears backwards so he can see the truck pictures:












We finished the day at Lake Erie before heading back home:

Happy Birthday, Maya!

Today was Maya's 6th birthday. We had a really full day with presents at home, then a homeschool day at Jump Zone, and ending in a birthday get-together with some very sweet friends for cake and ice cream and more playing. Exhausted now, we're all chillin' with a movie (monkey-themed, of course). I'm incredibly thankful for each and every day we spend together. It's a wild and amazing adventure, and I am so filled with love for this girl!