Becca's 4th Birthday

I love, love, love birthdays! Love birthdays of the people I love and even love my own birthday. Becca Sue's birthday was on a Saturday this year, and it was so much fun to celebrate it ALL day.

We had a party at the local donut shop that morning. Here's Becca with her BFF...I love the relationship these two have that she doesn't mind that he helps her blow her candles out. Dawson can help but her sisters better not even breathe anywhere near her candles!
Sam found friends with the Warta boys and was entertained all morning. They're teaching him how cool it is to be a boy!
This is her blowing another candle out after our lunch that day...or rather with her eyes closed wishing before blowing it out.
Ok, who gave the boy a cupcake? He's such a mess and so proud of it!
And the birthday girl lounging while we sing to her yet again at supper!
Becca Sue, You are such a big girl. We have had so many changes in your little world over the last six months and you have just gone with the flow...evidence that you are still the easy going little girl I first met four years ago...underneath the stubborn exterior of course! You're still the best surprise God has ever given me. Love you so much...Happy #4 Becca Boo!

Pumpkin Farm Trip

We love the local pumpkin farm here. This year it was huge. They did have a large area of overpriced activities, but still had a large enough area of free and reasonably priced activities too.

Here are the girls trying to negotiate the hay mountain.
...and success!
Say cheese Emily.
Mara coming down the huge slide.
Emily on the tire swing.
Emily and Sam on the huge teeter totter.
Sam hanging on for dear life in the slippery straw.
And getting help from big sis to figure out the rope maze.
Hmmm, don't get lost in the corn maze big boy!
"Sam, blow Mommy a kiss." Love it!

Emily and Becca playing peacefully in the sand. It really is a rare occourrance....these two can argue like pros.
I did unbelievably well letting them get dirty.
All four next to the huge pumpkin.
And now the boy doing what he does best...getting dirty and making a mess.

And finally picking out pumpkins. I think this is my favorite picture of the day.

Photo Booth Fun

Who'd have thought one simple little macbook program could be so fun?

Many, many, many pictures of faces trying to squish into the shot...
Crazy faces....
Random body parts... like hands....

...lips...
...and eyeballs!

Tough Girls

Good thing these attitudes were put on for the camera cause this scares me!

Curls!

The girls love rags in their hair cause they know Nana used to put rags in my hair all the time when I was little. And the curls the next morning are just a plus.
And I totally forgot to take an after picture of all the curls.

Sam's O-N-E

The little booger has been with us for over a year now, and it's so cool to know that the girls are all still as crazy about him as when this picture was taken!
He was so sick the entire week of his birthday which included not only turning the big O-N-E but also his first haircut.
I do believe this was his only smile the entire week. He loved the attention of everyone singing to him.

He wasn't too sure about digging in to his cake...
...but still managed to make a huge mess!
My sweet boy,
I can't believe that you're already a year old. Mommy, Daddy, and all three of your sisters are crazy about you. You're so fun and will do anything for a laugh...including making a mess or getting into trouble! You've never met a stranger and just love life. We love you so much and can't wait to see what God has planned for you crazy boy!

First Days of School

Mara Lin...six years old...First Grade
Becca Sue...three (almost four) years old...last year of preschool.
Emily Elizabeth...five years old...Kindergarten
Emily had like three "first" days of school with the Kindergarten phase-in and I totally dropped the ball and didn't get her picture holding a sign like I do every year. Oops!

Here she is with Mara on her first half day of the phase-in.
This is when she looked at me and said, "Ok Mama, now I'm really nervous."
And my big girl at her desk in her classroom.

Emily's Preschool Graduation

I'm still totally in denial that Emily is five let alone in Kindergarten. This girl has grown and matured SO much in the last year, it makes my head spin. To say that I'm proud of her just doesn't seem like enough. I'm so very proud of this little booger who always manages to push my buttons every single day!

Here she is at her preschool graduation last May...
Showing off the stone she made for the garden...
Walking in to "Pomp and Circumstance" with her characteristic head cock...
And Becca Sue singing a few songs at her end of the year program early that same day...
They're growing up so fast, but there's no rule saying that I have to admit to that fact!