Sophie's Third Birthday

Someone is having a birthday!


How old are you, Sophie?


Morning presents


She asked for "a Bitty Baby and stuff" over and over again. We had fun making this wish come true!


Modeling her birthday dress from Nana


Out for Chinese food, yum!

Jacob's 5th Birthday

A little late, but here are the pictures from Jacob's 5th birthday. We made the day count and filled it with good things (especially good things to eat)!

Presents before breakfast




and the special plate


trying out one present before church


at church, he says, "Mama, take a picture of me and my girls!"


dirt cake


yum!


jump rocket fun


out for Mexican and the fake smile

Long Weekend at the Beach

we spent our 9th anniversary at the beach


with the whole crew


and Bebe and Papa Rick joined us


why are people always asking me if they are twins? ;)


Nora and Bebe on the beach


sandscastles with Papa Rick


kite flying


Dada, pretzels are so good!


Annie, rocking the beach since her first trip at 5 weeks old


Jacob having the time of his life


Sophie will sit and build sandcastles all day


Nora learning to be a beach bum


more sandcastle building with Jacob


so glad Nora loves the beach, too!

Trip to Nana's House

Last week the munchkins and I went to Nana's to celebrate her birthday! We took a pineapple upside down cake and a birthday crown and she took us to Chuck E Cheese. :)

It Is Well

Here's a link to one of my family's current favorite songs, It Is Well by Bethel. Happy Friday! I have a sick baby and a dirty house and five loads of laundry to do. But the sun is shining and we're going to the library (books!!) and the park (run off your energy while I snuggle with Nora!!!) and we're going to have fun today!!!

Annie's Ballet Recital

Annie's ballet recital was last weekend. Her class did so well; they had practiced diligently and it paid off. Annie loved her recital and I am thankful it lived up to all her expectations. ;)

first time wearing makeup (eek!)


getting ready backstage


Honey and Poppa came to watch


she loved the roses they brought


the munchkins had fun celebrating with their sister

End of School Year Pictures

Jacob


oh, boy!


Annie


This girl is always telling me a story.


Sophie wanted her picture taken, too




We finished our 4K program last week. Overall our year went very well! We used a curriculum called God's World from A to Z; 26 units for each letter of the alphabet along with a theme for the letters (T-turtle, A-apple, etc). We are using Phonics Pathways for reading. Annie and Jacob know all the consonant and short-vowel sounds, so they are reading three and four letter words which lets them read the early Bob books on their own. We practice sounding words out all the time. They also like to write the letter sounds I say and see what it spells and play "true or false" (House starts with H--true or false? Jump starts with K--true or false? This is a game they came up with on their own and it is a favorite car game). We have done lots of reading aloud, field trips, and played with math concepts. It has been a fun year for us all and we are excited about kindergarten next year!

Nora: 15 months

Nora has started walking for real this month. Very cute and wobbly and oh so proud of herself! She can sometimes be persuaded to leave her shoes on. She is shaking and nodding her head for no and yes, and has added some new words like bubbles and diaper. She definitely knows what she wants and if you don't understand and comply she will protest mightily. Good thing she's so adorable. ;) Her siblings love her to bits and I love watching them all play together. Some favorite toys are baby dolls and the play kitchen, and her favorite book is still Freight Train. No matter where you hide it she will find it. Nora is wearing 12-18 month clothes and is about to move to size 4 diapers.