Tired Little Leprechaun

He loved the corned beef, Irish soda bread and cabbage but at the end was just too, too tired.

St. Patrick's Day Party

Yesterday I threw a St. Patrick's Day party for Linnea to invite friends to.
Two of her brothers had birthdays and she needed something.Isn't he a cutie?!

I tied a balloon to a wooden spoon for Micah to play with. He LOVED it!

Gavin eating his delectably decorated cookie. Sorry the picture is blurry.

Linnea has such nice friends to share her party with.

Linnea and her friends decorated shamrock cookies.

Linnea and her friends made St. Patrick's Day Charm Bracelets.

I bought these cute hanging decorations at Oriental Trading for like $3. Very festive!

Micah with the Army Guys

Micah was SO excited about these army guys!
Too funny!

Birthday Dinner for Jacen

Jacen always tries to hide when we take a picture!

still hiding....

not too happy about all the pictures Tera is taking...

gotcha!

Chilies brought him a cake and sang... everyone wanted to dig in!

goofy girl!

Carter and Dallin

"Now We Are Six"

Gavin is 6!
This is what he chose to do upon first waking up.

Cinnamon bread French Toast and cocoa for breakfast.

I put in a trick candle so it kept re-lighting. Very fun!
We finally had to put it in water so the fire alarm wouldn't go off!

When I was One,
I Had Just Begun.
When I was Two,
I was Nearly New.
When I was Three,
I was Hardly Me.
When I was Four,
I was not much More.
When I was Five,
I was Just Alive.
But now I am SIX,
I'm as Clever as Clever,
So I think I'll be Six now forever and ever!
A.A. Milne (author of Winnie-the-Pooh)

I would be happy for my sweet boy to be six forever and ever.

Gavin was born at 4 a.m. 6 years ago in Clovis.
He was my hardest baby to have but that was because
he was a whopping 9 lbs. 13 oz. and 22 1/2 in.!

Gavin is so much fun! He loves to play and laugh.
Gavin is so very affectionate. He loves hugs and kisses.

I recently came across a letter that Jacen wrote to Gavin when he was a baby--close to 1 year.
Jacen says, "Me and you love to play with each other. I am interested in what you'll be like in the future. I hope you're a lot like me when you're older. I love you so much! You're the best and the cutest. I love you!!!!"

Isn't that sweet?
I need to read that when they are sometimes at odds with each other.

Gavin is such a blessing to our family.
Happy Birthday!!

Whole Wheat Banana Blueberry Pancakes

These are super good for you with no added oil or butter but the bananas make them really moist and fluffy and the blueberries make them sweet. Try them!

1 c. whole wheat flour (I use whole wheat pastry flour)
1/2 c. flour
2 T. sugar
2 t. baking powder
1/4 t. salt
3 ripe bananas
1 c. milk (I use rice milk)
1 egg
1 t. vanilla
1 c. blueberries

Heat griddle and spray with cooking spray.
Mix dry ingredients.
Mash bananas and mix wet ingredients. (I put these in the blender)
Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients until just blended. Some lumps are okay.
Ladle batter into griddle and then add blueberries on top of pancakes.
Cook 2-3 minutes--turn--cook 1 min more.
I spray cooking spray again between each batch.
Enjoy!

blueberry

We are at the Verizon store (which I think is the most boring store EVER).

Gavin says in a very serious voice, "Mom, I really need a blueberry (means blackberry)." I ask, "Why?" He replies, "So that when I'm at Owen's house and it's time to come home I can call you." Then he adds in an effort to convince me further, "Or if I'm at church and get lost I can call you."

He really, really thought I might get him a cel phone. I don't even think I really need one.

A night with 20 teenage boys

We threw a surprise party for Jacen!
I couldn't have done it without Mitch.
I made flyers for Mitch to pass out to Jacen's friends and then Mitch helped me arrange things so that Jacen would be gone and then home at the right times.
Jacen invited a few friends over after school to play x box and then close to 6 o'clock I sent those boys to the store to buy ice cream. The other boys arrived and when Jacen came home, SURPRISE!
It was a lot of fun!
Jacen was really surprised. He didn't have any idea.
The guys played capture the flag in the forest and field across the street (hopefully no one got poison oak) and then came home for pizza and soda and cake and ice cream and some x box.

Gavin invited them all back next week for his birthday party. (:

Jacen's famous hand in front of his face (not wanting a picture taken).

Happy 14th Jace!!

My bouncing baby boy is turning 14 today! He was born at 2:47 p.m.
I can't believe how the time has flown!
We are so grateful for Jacen and that he is part of our family.
He makes me smile.

I will post more pictures of the party later!

What we're doing now...

This may be my favorite purchase ever.A break in the rain and a warm sunny day calls for some good bouncing.

30 sec. set up.
2 minute put away.
2 hours of exercise for them.
2 hours of free time for me.

Micah even likes it.