It's Birthday Season

It's birthday season around here. Dave's 35th was on January 26. The girls planned balloons and signs as a surprise for him, and we had a quiet evening together as a family (just the way Dave likes it). 

He picked a great meal: Chik-fil-A copy cat sandwiches, chips, salad and Pioneer Woman's Texas Sheet Cake. 

Will loves birthday candles. He has to take a turn blowing out everyone's candles.

Lucy's 7th birthday was less than a week later. We had a great celebration of our little Lucy's life. She was only an infant when we moved to Albany, so her life definitely marks time for me. She is growing in to a lovely young girl. She has a tender and sensitive and generous heart. She feels deeply and expresses excitement in big ways. She is working hard on school and becoming a stronger reader and doing well at math. She loves to draw and color and paint and make things and loves, loves, loves taking care of her dolls. She still loves horses and can create quite the playmobil fairy village. 

Of course, our dear friends Peter and Myra celebrated with us.

Christmas

 Will has recently decided he prefers to not wear clothes in the house. So he spent Christmas morning without pants on. Luckily, we did get him dressed after his bath for dinner.

 The girls each got an outfit with a matching outfit for their dolls. A big hit! Everyone immediately changed into their outfits, and we have worn them for days. Lucy and Julie looking smashing and party-ready. Jasmin (Anna Kate's doll) generously lent Julie her black tights, so Julie hasn't been too cold.

 Samantha and Angelina - purple is a great color for both of them!

 Samantha went with purple tights, too!

 Anna Kate and Jasmin, looking great in pink stripes and black leggings!

 Everyone all together - such a great family!

 Will had to show off a prized possession, too. A new helicopter.

Anna Kate's Birthday

Anna Kate's school Christmas musical was Friday, December 14.  It was another fantastic musical. She looked beautiful in her Christmas dress. Dave was sick, so he couldn't go.  I tried to take some video so he could hear the performance, but it would make you sick to watch it. Apparently, I don't have steady hands and it is made worse when a two-year-old is standing on your lap. 

On Saturday, we had a birthday party for to celebrate Anna Kate.  It was a blast! We hosted an American Girl Kit Mystery Game. Each friend (and Mom and Nicole our babysitter who just graduated) had a role. The girls dressed up to fit their parts, and together, we solved a mystery. It was a Kit party, and she is the character set in the Great Depression. So, we tried to stick with her character.
Since the house was set for the party when the girls arrived, we needed an activity to keep everyone in the right spot! we made no-sew aprons for the dolls, inspired by Kit.

Then we sat down to begin the Mystery Party. We had name tags and place cards for each guest. 

The snacks were inspired by Kit - carrot and celery sticks, apple and orange slices, and Chex Mix (Anna Kate's request). 

After we solved the mystery, we had hot drinks and cake and ice cream. In the spirit of Kit, Anna Kate chose a chocolate roll cake with whipped cream frosting.

God is so generous and so kind to us. And sometimes we see it. Anna Kate's birthday party and her birthday were times like that for us. We could see God's generosity and sweet attention to detail for her. I knew Anna Kate needed a costume. We had nothing that remotely resembled a 1930s girls' outfit. And what did I find when I walked in to a local Goodwill store? The actual Kit skirt, in Anna Kate's size. What a great memory this will be for all of us! Anna Kate looked just like Kit!

It was my turn to be sick on Anna Kate's birthday. Dave worked hard to make her requested dinner (chicken mozzarella sandwich). Anna Kate was really understanding. For her birthday, she chose red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting. After we sang and she blew out the candles, Will insisted the candles be re-lit and he blew them out a second time

Fall 2012

Well, when I get too far behind, I stop. 

Here's a look at what's been happening this fall.

Samantha tried soccer. She was a little young. Honestly, she's so tough at home, I thought she would jump right in. But, she was the youngest player on the field and she didn't know any of the kids, so she was pretty content to walk up and down the field but never touch the ball. 

 Grandma Sheehan came for a visit. We had a blast. But I didn't take many pictures. :( On Saturday, we went to the Erie Canal locks. The weather was beautiful and the locks were fabulous. Lou, the great Lock worker, was informative and fun - just like a tour guide. he even let Anna Kate turn the knobs to help him operate one of the locks! We watched the locks work twice and walked along the river.

 Samantha's **5th** birthday was awesome (and very busy!). We started the day with a Halloween party with our school group. She dressed as a flower princess but was a little embarassed when everyone sang to her.

 Will was an elephant again this year. This might be the costume I'm most attached to.....it was a hand-me-down from Hillery, and all of our kids have worn it! And each of them have loved it. Will is our child who was most enthusiastic about wearing the hood up, which was super fun! He wore it for days and days.

 Our friend, Brianna, came over to help us celebrate Samantha's birthday!

 And Myra was here too! (Yes, Will is still in his elephant costume!)

 Samantha's birthday was a "5-star" birthday . .. .  because we all agreed she's a 5-star girl!

 And on Halloween we bundled up and headed out to trick-or-treat. Honestly, I expected Hurricane Sandy to have ravaged our neighborhood, but we were spared. So we bundled up, dressed up and went out. Anna Kate was a Mom; Lucy was a hair stylist; Samantha was a rose princess and Will was the elephant!

 He really likes the tail, too!