Convention!!

I am so excited about going to Convention. It's Close To My Heart's National Convention for their Independent Consultants, of which I am one. It is about a week long - June 26th until June 29th, with my birthday in there too! Not to mention the extra day for flying to & from Utah.

All this to say, I won't be updating the blog this up-coming week... unless my dear hubby decides to do something awesome with the boys and feels a compelling need to share with the world. Most likely, he'll wait to show me pics and I'll do it when I return. Funnily enough, I tend to be the more tech-savvy person in our marriage. I know I don't update often, but... just had to share I'm going to Utah!

Have a blessed week!! .. and for those of you scrappin' or stampin', create something! :-)

Happy Birthday, Ethan!!

We celebrated his birthday early, though this posting is late! He had a party with friends from school. He hasn't had a party with friends since he turned 1! It was nice to have his friends over & VERY entertaining, both for the children & for the adults! :-) We had a nice turnout from the total of 13 kids in his class.

Here is his cake - he requested homemade banana with this specific picture on it. Ethan drew out his design & Brian decorated it.

Here he is waiting for his friends to come!

Jonathon, Ethan & Daniela listen to ...

Gram-Gram talk about toys she had when she was young.

Alisha is on the other side of her.

Here are Kristen, Isaac, & Brian enjoying hot dogs, strawberries,blueberries, & chips; menu picked by Ethan.

Jonathon waiting patiently as Ethan looks outside wondering, "Is it time to go play games yet?!"

Finally!!

Isaac, Daniela, Alisha & Kristen enjoying time on the "big toy" as it
is called at our house. Seeing all of them on it now makes me
realize just how fast the kids are growing up and
the "big toy" isn't so big anymore!

Jonathon & Ethan playing in the "turtle-that-once-held-sand-but-held-water-and water-balloons-for-the-party." Is that a long name or what!

Will the boys or girls win? How fast can they fill a 2 L bottle with
water from a sponge? Do 6 year olds know how to cooperate and follow
directions? Not so much! They did have fun and
enjoyed getting their feet inadvertantly wet!

Let's try some more!!

Okay, enough of that -- I forgot to take pics of the water-balloon toss,
or should I say, all-out water-ballon fight! Soooooo.....

Let's move onto cake!

Here are Jessiann, Ethan, & Daniela sitting next to
Ethan. Candles lit, blown-out, sitting happily, and waiting for cake & ice cream!

A little sugar never hurt anyone! See what kind of smile some sugar does? Of course those that know me know this "sugar-thing" is a rare occurance in our house! The Sugar-Nazi let up for his birthday. ;-)

After presents were opened, they gathered around for a group photo. Top row, from left to right: Jessiann, Daniela, Alisha, & Kristen. Bottom row, from left to right: Jonathon, Ethan, Brandon.

Happy Birthday, Ethan!

Let's play catch-up: Man in Brown!

Dance Praise finally did arrive.
Below is a pic of myself & my sister when I was first introduced to it. Ah, happy memories!

Below is my Dad & Sister, with her husband watching.

Let's play catch-up: Ethan's Last Day of School!

Well, it's actually been awhile since his last day of school and unfortunately, no pics yet! I'm sending the cds, Amy, I swear! He ended school on June 1st and boy, is he happy to be out! He's been enjoying playing in the sun, drawing, playing inside with cars, sleeping in (he's finally learned how, I think!), reading, playing school - teaching Isaac about weather & science (oddly enough), eating just about non-stop, and playing some more in the sun! I'm really enjoying having Ethan at home. :-)

Let's play catch-up: Great-Grandma's 90th Birthday Party!

Here is my grandma with her friends, waiting for their food. :-)


Below is my sister Jennifer with Grandma.

Here are Brian and Isaac.

Here are Clint & Jennifer.

Here are Brian, Ethan & Isaac, before eating dinner.

Here is a dinner picture -- my boys with various uses for chopsticks: Brian can eat (very well) with them, Isaac tries using just one at a time, and Ethan is trying to ... stick as many as he can into his mouth! I am talking to Terri, a close friend of our family, and apparently something with my hands or wrist. :-)