A Birthday Boy

Well after losing all of this and last years pictures when our hard drive and backup drive both crashed..........I'm thrilled to be able to post these updates, even though they are late.  Kuddos to Ken for retrieving all our info from both drives and getting our computer up and running again.  

   So following the arrival of Katelyn we began Birthday Season in our house.   Yes, it really seems like a season, as everyone but Ken celebrates a summer birthday.   Starting with Caleb. 

He was thrilled to know that on your birthday,  it's all about you....He started his day with chocolate chip pancakes made by Hannah ( a tradition she has started with her siblings).    She made them like a face which he really enjoyed.

Next you get to help make your cake,  well the clean up part.

We went to his favorite eating spot,  Old McDonalds, as he calls it, for lunch. 

Very excited about his completed cake,  one of his favorite  items ~  construction vehicles

Opening presents.   He really enjoyed the construction truck that came with tools, so he could take it apart and put it back together.

He also got his own "worker tools" so he can hang out with Ken outside and help with yard stuff.   He is loving this!

Finally,  blowing out your candles.  He likes this so much, that we had to do it a couple of times.

We are so thankful to have this little guy in our family.  He always has something to say (well at least to us) from the funny to the cute and even sometimes wise.   He is determined, has strong opinions and thoughts on things going on around him. He is very observant and likes to be helpful.  He gets concerned when one of his sisters or brother is upset or in trouble.  He's been known to keep Aaron company while he's in time out.   His fiestiness is balanced with a very compassionate, thoughtful and tender hearted spirit.

Catherine

fearfully and wonderfully made

It's truly an amazing thing.......so tiny and yet so perfectly created.  Little fingers and toes and teeny tiny finger nails,  ears and nose cute little miniatures that remind us of older siblings or even ourselves.   A wonderous, miraculous creation,  gifted to us by an amazing Creator.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  Psalm 139:14

Meeting the siblings.....

Everyone was very excited to meet their new little sister.  Wanting to check out her little fingers and toes and feel how she was so soft. 

*just a reminder that you can click on the pictures to see them larger*

Caleb and Aaron found my hospital bed to be very interesting and comfortable,  they snuck in when I got up. 

Caleb was sitting in front of me looking at Katelyn who had fallen asleep in my arms.  It must have looked inviting, because he soon was asleep too.   I put Katelyn right in front,  it was too cute a picture to pass up ~ the two soundly sleeping.

Little Miss,  thoroughly welcomed and loved on by her brothers and sisters.

She's Here!

We're so happy to finally get to meet......

Katelyn Grace

born May 31, 2010 at 2:10am

she weighed 7lbs 15.8 ozs and was

19 1/4 inches long

just minutes new

Meeting the crew, only hours old.  They were quite taken and excited.

Easter

We celebrated Easter with our friends from NC,  this is becoming somewhat of a tradition since we moved.  It is nice to share this special time with such dear friends. 

This is the best of about 6 takes,  near impossible to get everyone looking and smiling at the same time

Dying eggs is a fun tradition too.  We usually blow them out, so they will last awhile.  

Enjoying spending time with our friends

A favorite activity is doing an Easter egg hunt.  We gave each child a specific color egg to find,  so we could reduce the confusion, ensure everyone gets the same amount of eggs and it also allowed for us to put favorite treats in eggs.

Our church does an Easter drama every couple of years, it involves a wonderful outdoor recreation of the streets of long ago, with storeskeepers selling wares and live animals.  On Easter Sunday the outside area is still up and of course the animals are a huge attraction.  Aaron in particular was totally enjoying himself.

Of course discoverying chocolate bunnies,  is well ....   fantastic.  Unfortunately I didn't get any pics of the totally satisfied, chocolate covered faces,  I was too busy wiping

Pictures of Spring

This is the first of several posts that have been waiting to be posted.  We upgraded our computer and it caused a glitch in my ability to edit my blog,  so they have been waiting......

A full moon coming out at sunset,  made for a low in the sky moon with a beautiful orange glo ~ amazing

Lots of fun animals ~ bunnies, baby ground hogs and brightly colored birds ~ indigo buntings, cardinals, goldfinches, red headed woodpeckers and we've even seen some baltimore orioles

Our flowering trees in the backyard~

We also have an abundance of honeysuckle, wild pasture roses and the blossoms of the wild blackberries.  Walking outside you are overwhelmed with the sweet aroma of spring.

Just a glimps of our yard.