Birthday girl!!

Jane is such a great girl. It has been so fun to watch her grow into a little girl. I'll be honest, at one point I was a little worried about Jane when she was quite little. She did not ever try to talk much. In our house, that is somewhat a cause for concern. Jane, however, is just fine. I think she is a bit of a perfectionist and was waiting until she could talk on her terms. And now, every day, she speaks more clearly and is so happy that she is able to communicate meanings. 

The birthday girl in the morning!

The day before Jane's birthday, Anne wanted to make something for Jane. We decided on a little doll house. I got an old box and covered it with felt. It turned out pretty cute. It reminded me of all of the diaper box projects I used to do for the boys. It's been a long time! And Jane loved it!

The birthday girl with her crown. 

With the fisher price zoo from Grandma and Grandpa. Definitely a favorite!

Andy's birthday

In our nine years of having kids, we have only ever had two birthday parties (the third coming up in a couple of weeks). We had one for Benny when he turned five and one for Andy when he turned seven this year. We are not anti-parties, though it may seem like it. Spencer and I decided a long time ago that we would have birthdays on odd birthdays. We do not feel like our kids need one every year and we liked the idea of odd years so that we can keep the 8th special with that being baptism year. What ended up happening is that we have skipped over all first birthdays. **NOTE — we always have a family birthday dinner with cake and presents.** Benny's first birthday was actually the day Spencer's youngest brother, Garrett, left for the MTC. Benny ate green beans for dinner while I was miserable on the couch with food poisoning and then Spencer shared some ice cream with Benny. We like to set the bar really low. 

This year Andy really wanted a party and kept asking about it. Actually, no real asking, but talking about it like it was going to happen. Spencer and I decided to make it happen. Very simply. 

Andy wanted four friends (one was not able to come) to come and watch “The LEGO Movie.” Easy enough. Oh, and cake and ice cream. He LOVED it!

Our group for the afternoon. One of the friends has a sister Lilia's age and we asked if she could stay, too. 

Andy, true to form, asked Grandma and Grandpa for a costume (that trend may have ended this year with him, actually). Luke Skywalker. And he's even got the haircut to match!

As soon alas he put his on Benny went to get in his Anikin Skywalker costume. These boys know more about Star Wars than I ever could have imagined. And I sill remember the first time I showed it to Benny. 

Anderson Clark is a mild-mannered boy who wants to do what is right. And wants everyone around him to do the right thing. One thing that impresses me so much about Andy is what he remembers. We talk about the gospel in our home regularly and he takes it all in! When we moved to Indiana, one of his new primary teachers (dear Kate Robertson who just moved away) told me that Andy always knew all the answers and that she was going to have to change the lessons around to make them a little more challenging for him! Something this mother loves to hear. 

Andy has always had a strong connection to his dad. It is so fun to see how excited Andy gets when Spencer gets home every day. I know he loves me — he shows me love — but the way this boy lights up for his dad is amazing. 

Happy Birthday, Andy! Seven looks good on you!

February birthday catch-up: Andy

We had a fun day for Andy's sixth birthday! E did have school that day, but I think it was fun for him to go. For his birthday dinner Andy requested spaghetti with meatballs. “With real meat!” Benny called out from the other room after Andy made his decision. Yes, we had real meatballs. Next time, though, I need to add more breadcrumbs to help them stick a bit better. They were quite tasty, though. I also tried my hand at making French bread. That turned out quite well, also! It was a nice dinner. 

Opening and being excited about his Lego Star Wars set!

It doesn't look like it, but he does really love the Captain America and Iron Man action figures he got. 

Birthday cake with Optimus Prime and a small Bumblebee. 

The next day we went to The Children's Museum to celebrate Andy's birthday. One of the kids' favorite places. Here we are at the fossil digging section. 

Janie had a great time, too!

Benny and Andy were very good “helpers” in the playscape area for kids five and under. Since Andy was just older by a day I didn't have too much of a problem letting him play a little. He did keep coming to the edge of the climbing section to “check” on Anne who was playing in the sand section by me. 

Everybody loves making music!

Who doesn't love riding a carousel?!

We had a great celebration for Andy's birthday! Andy is great at being six. He loves to play with his siblings and is great at watching out for his younger sisters and making sure they don't get into things they shouldn't. Andy really enjoys being a kindergartener and is doing really well at school. He is loved by all who know him. Church included. 

I especially love that Andy is so tender-hearted. He cares about things. And he likes to feel secure. Benny would love it if he and Andy could go to the bus stop on their own every morning. They can, but Andy always asks that I go with them. I do almost every day. I know that some day that will stop. One of my favorite things is that sometimes when I am walking by Andy he will reach up to hold my hand. Another thing I know won't last forever. Nor should it. But that doesn't stop me from enjoying it when I get it. 

Happy Birthday, Andy Dandy Dooby Doo!!

February birthdays: Anne

I think these first two are a repeat, but this was the morning of Anne's birthday. She came in initially complaining that Andy kept saying she was three. I said she was three. “No, I not. I two,” she replied. We finally convinced her she is three and she loved all the happy birthday singing all day. 

This was one of our snow days for the kids and Spencer was home, too! We were all able to take it easy. 

I wish this picture were better, but we were watching Sleeping Beauty as a family (Anne's favorite) and Anne just loved it. 

The other spectators:

After the movie we made party hats! The kids love these. It has been a fun, if sporadic, tradition. 

The roads were clear enough that we went to Chicago's Pizza for their lunch buffet. The kids love it! We had a great time. 

Most of us had our party hats on still, and at one point the manager came up and wished the birthday kids a happy birthday. Then he told us we could go to the adjoining frozen yogurt place and request free frozen yogurt! He came back a little later and said he already talked to the owner/manager over there so we could just head over. It turns out we all got a free frozen yogurt! It was very generous and we all. Enjoyed it.

Anne's birthday dinner: quinoa with beans, peppers, cilantro lime dressing, and I think we even had avocado. Delicious!

And here she is wearing Lilia's Snow White dress – Lilia's birthday present to Anne. 

The group. 

Still don't have the camera pictures yet, so the cake pictures will come later. Here is Anne with her favorite! A Sleeping Beauty dress with some necklaces. She has worn that dress most days since her birthday. Luckily grandma and grandpa's present that came a little late had a duplicate dress! She has been able to trade and occasionally even share with Lilia!

Our February birthday kids!

Happy third birthday, Anne! We love your many faces, your smile, your laugh, and all your different mannerisms. One of my favorites is your love of a dancing dress and all things princess. We love you, Annie Banannie!

July Birthday catch-up: Faith

To start things off right, on Benny's birthday I found my first grey hair!  I definitely feel like I have earned it.  For better or worse, however, I have not been able to find it since.  I am sure I don't have much to worry about on that score, though.

With a birthday on Sunday, we had to celebrate on Saturday.  I had been wanting to go out to Cataract Falls and enjoy some family time and have a picnic.  The weather had been just beautiful and we were so enjoying what everyone told us was a mild summer (we did not complain!).

We took sandwich makings and after a slight detour (we ended up at Lieber State Recreation Area and had to be re-routed) were able to find a picnic table.

What we were not expecting was the complete downpour that started minutes after unloading our supplies!

We ended up spending a lot of time in the van.

The kids had a good time, though.

This doesn't show it all that well, but the rain was just pouring down.

Finally things cleared up enough to get out and check out the lower falls.

Then we went to the upper falls and checked out the bridge.  There is something significant about this bridge (the only one of its kind left in Indiana?), but I don't remember exactly.  We will just have to go back and check it out again!

That night we got to go on a date!  This was our date night sunset from the Target parking lot.  We had gone to pick up a few things, one of which was a new journal for me.  The really great thing is that I have just about filled that journal up already and in the next few days will start the next one.

That night we went to dinner at the chinese buffet that has since been closed.  We have a moment of silence every time we drive past. :)  And we also got some frozen custard - my favorite!  We may have done something else but I am too lazy to look it up in my journal.  At least it is recorded somewhere!

My annual strawberry shortcake that Spencer makes from scratch.  It's nice to change it up after Benny's birthday just a few days before.

Last year I read on a friend's blog that she set the goal of thirty miles of exercise the week she turned thirty.  She was training for a triathlon, so between the running, swimming, and biking that worked.  At one point after reading that I thought I would be able to run thirty miles the week of my birthday (at one point in time I was running that much - and I did not yet have a working bike, so biking was out).  That became less of a reality with the way our schedules were after the move.  I ultimately decided that my goal would be thirty miles the month of my thirtieth birthday.  It may not sound like all that much, but it was good for me to have something to aim for.  Here I am after completing my thirty miles!

And it was fun getting my workout summary emailed to me from mapmyrun.  I did it!

Unfortunately I really have not run much since then at all.  My foot was hurting, schedule got worse, then the winter came.  In the past I never wanted a treadmill, but since I have not been able to get out for so long, I have started wanting one.  I think there may be one in our future.

Thoughts on 30:

Honestly, I have never had a problem with getting older.  If anything, I feel like it gives me credibility.  Spencer always says "Age is but a number."  Last week in our ward adult religion class we talked about President Eyring's talk from priesthood session, "Bind Up Their Wounds."  I can't remember exactly what it was in there that got me thinking this way, but it started with the idea that those who are prepared should not fear death.  I realized that those who are doing the best with what they have and improving the best they can on their situation have no reason to be ashamed of their age.  It is, in fact, something to celebrate!  I have done a lot in my thirty years.  I earned that grey hair and I am just surprised there aren't more!  And I am really looking forward to the next thirty years.