Arrgh Matey!

Chase's 5th Birthday Party!!

Chase is SO into Pirates, stemming from the VeggieTales 'The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything' movie. So we looked for the most tame pirates possible, which isn't easy. I steered his birthday party more toward a Pirate Treasure Party, to avoid as many skull and crossbones as possible.

We had his party at a local park and all the kids got these pirate bandannas when they arrived.
JuJu, as usual, was the only girl (who wasn't a baby), so she got the only pink bandanna.
Chase and his buddy Mason from preschool.

This was a "big" birthday party for us and we did that on purpose, since he was turning 5. He was allowed to invite 7 friends and 5 were able to come. That was a great number!
Chase and his buddy Colton from Church and Bible Study (and t-ball and swim lessons :).

We sent them on a treasure hunt with these maps not long after everyone had arrived. (Phil made this. Isn't he great?!)

They had a blast, studying their maps and talking about where the treasure was and what it would be.
After following the map and searching the park, they discovered a treasure box (which I didn't get a picture of). We took the treasure box back over to the playground and they opened it to discover it was filled with MORE treasure boxes! Each of these were labeled with their names and contained a telescope, eye patch, glow-in-the-dark silly bands, tattoos, glow-in-the-dark ring, stickers, skull and cross bones sweat band, etc. They loved it!

It was then cake time! Luckily it wasn't too hot outside so all the chocolate didn't melt!

I hope all your wishes come true this year sweet boy!

Braden and another picture of JuJu with food on her face! She loves birthday parties for nothing more than the cake and ice cream!

Looks like he's following in his big sister's footsteps! His buddy, Pops, fed him cake and ice cream.

Chase and his buddy and neighbor, Josh.

We were so glad that Uncle Korey and his girlfriend Tara could join us! Tara lives in Missouri and they take turns driving to see each other on the weekends.

Sweet baby boy!
The kids loved playing in the sand part of the playground and boy were they a mess when we left! But I'm pretty sure that they all had a blast and that's what matters!

Chase and his buddies Braden and Colby (brothers), checking out their gift to Chase- a truck and tractor stencil book. Chase loves to draw so this was a hit! Ryder was camera shy this day so I didn't get any pictures of him.

Is that not the cutest pirate ever? She's checking out her ring.

Happy 5th Birthday Chase! I can't wait to see what this year holds for you. You are always learning, asking questions and seeking to help others. You are a wonderful son!

Christmas Afternoon

We went to Mimi and Pops' house for Christmas afternoon and the kids napped there. We then opened presents and ate Christmas dinner.

We had snow flurries all day, just enough to be pretty. They didn't stick by any means, but the kids loved watching them.

Some parents would cringe at the sight of this gift, but I love hand bells, as does Chase. He loves playing them at Bible Study, so Mimi and Pops got him a set. This is a great family gift as well.

JuJu and Chase each got a board game. I think they got 3 games total this year, which is great because we only had Memory before this. They have loved playing games with us!


Some old school toys made an appearance too- tinker toys for Chase and the Fisher Price wind up clock for Parker.



Chase and JuJu both also got sleeping bags,which were a huge hit! They've been sleeping in the on top of their beds at night.


JuJu got "make-up", which she is applying to her checks in this picture. They must play with 'make-up" at school, because she's been talking about it for a while and I've never really told her about it. She loves to find things that look like compacts and pretend to put make-up on. Here we go........

And look at that smile when she opened up her new baby doll! This one bounces and coos and is really cute. She named her baby Parker. :) She also got some diapers and a feeding set.

Chase gave Mimi some green kitchen towels, because green is his favorite color.

Santa, aka Uncle Korey. He has played Santa (handed out the gifts under the tree while wearing the Santa hat) for as long as I can remember. We both did it as kids, but he kept the title.

There's our little model.

Parker is confused and thinks that shoes belong on your hands instead of your feet. He is constantly crawling around the house with a shoe on each hand. It is so funny!

Mimi and Pops and the kids.

Our family

The whole gang, including my Uncle Terry (at the top), Mimi and Pops, Uncle Korey, and our family.

Halloween 2010

Well, I took a week off from blogging to get ready for my in-laws and then to enjoy their company. I'm recovering from a stomach virus right now, so I have some blogging time on my hands.

(Uncle pushing Parker)

For Halloween this year, we had my parents over, as well as Uncle Korey and his new girlfriend, Tara, for a chili dinner and then trick-or-treating.

After our chili dinner, we loaded up the wagon with the older two and the stroller with Parker and headed out.

It was nice to have so many sets of extra hands! Uncle pulled the wagon, Tara and I took turns with the stroller, Phil took pictures and my parents took turns holding Parker. They ended up leaving us to trick-or-treat with the older two and took Parker home with them hand out candy.

Chase and Julianna had a blast going from door to door and collecting candy.

They really enjoyed coming home and handing out candy at our house. They were very generous too! Two big handfuls for each trick-or-treater!


They really loved Halloween this year and the candy! Chase got to chew gum for the first time and he thinks it is SO cool!

Christmas 2009, Part 2

After Santa and presents from Mommy and Daddy at our house, we headed to Mimi and Pops' for naps and then a late lunch/early dinner and then more presents. We really only do gifts for the kids, so they had a blast!

Our dinner was yummy! We had apps of Hot Mexican Spinach Dip, Veggie Bites, and sausage and cheese. Dinner consisted of beef tenderloin, broccoli/cheese casserole, mexican corn casserole, mashed potatoes and rolls, with a chocolate sheet cake for dessert. It was wonderful!

Mimi and Pops' tree with all the gifts! Keep in mind that those are all for my 2 kids!

Uncle Korey and Kacey did well for the kids this year! JuJu got an ice cream set, with bowls and spoons and toppings.

She loved it and ate lots and lots of ice cream!

We all joined in, it was so yummy. :)




If only that ice cream were real!!

Chase got a Buzz and Woody set from Uncle Korey and Kacey and he lit up!! That was the most excited I have ever seen him about a toy in his whole life!!

He held these up and happily posed for a picture, saying "Merry Christmas" very joyfully! We were all so happy for him, that's how happy he was! He slept with them for the next 3 nights.

Uncle Korey and Daddy putting together a Jay Jay the Jet Plane track for Chase.

Chase got an easel, complete with all kinds of art supplies- chalk, paint, markers, a big pad of paper, stickers, paint brushes, etc. from Mimi and Pops.



JuJu got a baby doll high chair and baby doll bed from Mimi and Pops, complete with a new baby doll, that sucks a paci and lots of baby feeding stuff. She loves it all!

Chase got a Buzz lightyear shirt and socks with some jeans from Mimi and Pops, which he had no interest in putting on. But JuJu on the other hand, wanted to put her outfit on immediately!

Along with her new balerina slippers. Somehow in the last few weeks she has grown attached to "uncle" and wants Uncle Korey everywhere she goes. She asks about him almost daily when we are at home. So it's no surprise that he's the one she asked to help her get dressed, open all her presents, etc. on Christmas Day.

A construction worker hat, just like Bob the Builder!

And a princess puzzle, which she can switch the outfits around.

And here's what the inside of the playhouse looks like now. Complete with all the baby furniture. She's gonna be ready for our baby to come, that's for sure! She's practicing all her Mommy skills.

Thanks to all for the gifts. The kids have thoroughly enjoyed them all! Hope you all had a Merry Christmas!