Easter

After church on Easter, we usually sneak out the back door of the church and take some "hey-we're-all-dressed-nice-at-the-same-time" shots. This year was no exception. Went for polos and shorts for the boys instead of coats and ties. It was a beautiful day! Hope you enjoy the pictures.

Homeschool Group Finished for the Year

Sinatra Turns 5

Sinatra turned five on April 6th. He kept asking me how many fingers he was away from his birthday. We have been counting down from about 25 days and using all our fingers and toes to make the number of days left. Finally, we got down to one hand and he didn't need help from there. It was so fun to count down with him.



His own Nerf gun!



Cash in a card!

This birthday was the first time that it has been a really big deal to him. We had to have friends, a car cake, a remote control monster truck and a fishing pole. Between our friends and us we fulfilled every wish.



His cars cake.


On top of all the rest, we visited the local zoo at the natural science center just to see the tigers. Shakespeare had a Lego robotics class there that day, so it was one stop for two kids. Top that off with a happy meal at McDonald's (Sinatra's favorite) and you have a superb birthday.



Notice the tiger in the background.



And here he is smiling at the meerkats.

Happy birthday, little man!

Six in the Mix

Amazing, but true--I've neglected making an announcement on this blog. Of course, everyone who reads this pretty much knows already, but here goes...I'm expecting #6. So it will be back to just plain "Six in the Mix" for the blog title. Found out on Thursday that it is going to be a girl. So, we're going to have three boys and three girls. Everyone seems to be happy that it is a girl.

We've already made adjustments in preparation. We sold our van and got a Suburban. We're also planning on moving Sugar in with Gem to leave the nursery free. Of course, that doesn't have to happen very soon, but still, it's something to change. Thankfully, the nursery is already decorated for a girl. How nice not to have to change that.

I'm due August 13th. Sinatra keeps asking me if it is time for the baby to come out of my tummy. It's beginning to become something like "Are we there yet?". I just tell him that it is still a long time, but he still asks regularly.

I felt her kick for the first time during the ultrasound on Thursday--two good strong kicks!

Belated Birthday

Happy birthday to my sweet girl! Gem turned 12 on February 24th and I haven't blogged about it until now. She was the one to get the party this year, so she invited 5 friends to go ice skating and spend the night.



We started with presents and cake.



Then we headed to the ice skating rink. Friday night was packed. Open skating was from 7-10:30. We stayed from 8-10:15. I even skated for about 15 minutes. What an experience. I hadn't been on skates in about 13 years. The girls did really well.



They started a chain.



And it grew.



And grew.



Who ever heard of a snow cone at an ice skating rink!

Happy birthday, sweet girl. I'm going to enjoy the last year of pre-teen.

Shakespeare at 10

Well, the boy broke into double digits 3 days ago. Here is the celebration! He had an impromptu party at home with three boys from our homeschool group. We just invited them over for a play date after our group met and had presents and cake and pizza. No one had to bring presents and we didn't have to plan anything extra. Lovely!

It's Gem's year for the party. She's having a slumber party tonight with 5 girls. Pictures will surely follow.

But, here is the boy blowing out his candles and opening his presents. So fun!





Anything Lego and Star Wars is always a big hit. He also got the mid scale Star Ship.

Wheel of My Sister-in-Law's Fortune

Watch my sister-in-law on last night's Wheel of Fortune!

Here's the first part:



Here's the second part:

7 Years Young

Popcorn turned 7 years old on Wednesday. Next Tuesday is Shakespeare's 10th and next Thursday is Gem's 12th. Three birthdays in 8 days. This year Gem gets the friend party, so Popcorn celebrated with us.



This is the cake he wanted. Gem made it!



He and his daddy decorated it.



The birthday boy won!



Some presents were liked.



Others were not. It was a cheap cloth-type frisbee from the dollar isle and the first present he opened. He was thinking grand and got ???? What is this?



We sang happy birthday and clapped as he reached for his first present.



He requested Chinese take-out for dinner. : )



Earlier in the day, he requested brunch at Cracker Barrel. He enjoyed his pancakes and sweet tea (hey, you're only 7 once) and then all the birthday kids blew birthday cash on Webkinz and Mazin' Hamsters (which were buy one get one!).

What a wonderful 7th birthday!

Sleeping Sugar

3 With One Blow

This daddy loves to wrestle his boys...



and pin them down.



Three with one hand is the goal. Jon thinks he still has a couple of years before Shakespeare gets too big, but then he will only have to go to two hands for all three.