The rains came down and the flowers came up!

I came across this video a couple of weeks ago, and was laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes. I've forgotten what Ben was like as a little boy..he was almost 5. He was intent on me capturing his singing so that he could watch himself on my camera. Pay close attention to his lyrics! I also love his deep concentration and isn't distracted one bit by Lucas in the background!

Rolling Over!

I took this video of Rachel last week when she rolled over for the first time. I'm glad I have proof, because now she doesn't want to do it anymore! You'll have to excuse my commentary...I'm kind of loud and I hate hearing myself talk. I'll have to remember that for the next time I record a video. Lucas is the other commentator cheering Rachel on. It sounds like we're trying to teach a dog a new trick!

Chuck E Cheese

We braved taking 7 kids to the new Chuck E Cheese for Lucas' birthday party. He was so excited when he found out a new one had opened near our house that he just had to have his party there. It was kind of crazy...but we survived and everyone had a great time!

Scavenger Hunt

On Thursday night, we had a family celebration for Lucas' birthday that would hold him over until he could have his friend party the next day. We'd gotten his present months ago when Zac had seen a really good deal on a new bike, so we saved it for his birthday and stored it at the Jones' house. Instead of going and getting it and trying to find a way to wrap it...I decided to make him go on a scavenger hunt around the neighborhood to try and find it. I don't ever claim to be very creative, but I somehow got the juices flowing and created what I thought were some very clever clues...if I do say so myself! (maybe others won't think the same!) Since they were totally lost on him and he didn't even appreciate my clues...I thought I would post them here....and maybe if you live in my neighborhood you will have fun trying to figure them out yourself. I would have liked to take more pictures on the way....but the boys were way to fast on their bikes for Zac and I to keep up as we walked behind!

1. Happy Birthday Lucas!
Mom and Dad got you a present, but unfortunately it’s not here.
You are going to have to go on a trek, so please put on your gear!
You’ll get to your first stop, just in a quick dash.
A little boy lives there, his name is Nash!

2. Good job Lucas, you are on your way!
Your next stop is close, but please don’t stop to play!
They have a little boy with the same name as Dad.
You like them a lot, and think they are RAD!

3. Hurry along to find your next clue.
They have 4 kids, and a pet dog too!
They have a boy who’s in your school class,
I hope you are having fun, and not giving me sas!

4. Are you getting tired? You are half way there!
Your next clue is at a friend of Mom’s, and she has brown hair!
They also have 4 kids, the only boy is named Nick.
Go get on your bike, and get there quick!

5. You are getting closer to your present, but not done yet.
You need to go another house, for another clue I bet!
This boy went to preschool and kindergarten with you.
You like to play at his house, but not tonight..you still have another clue!

6. This is your 6th clue, for our big 6 year old boy
Do you think your present is a big and cool toy?
The next stop for you is a house with three girls,
They all have blonde hair and sometimes with curls!

7. I’m glad you made it through the neighborhood this far
This is your last stop, you’ve been such a star!
To finally find your present and see what you got,
you might have to ask questions...too cold or too hot!

"I have no idea what this says...but I guess I have to go find my present!"

Jana had to give Lucas a birthday kiss before she would give him his clue!

He thought his new bike was pretty cool!

Impromptu birthday wishes!

The gang at the final stop!

Ronald McDonald

On Thursday, I took Lucas for a little birthday lunch at the new McDonald's that just opened up in Clinton. He's been watching it as it was built, just waiting for it to open. How perfect for him that they opened right on his birthday...and when we got there they had just had the ribbon cutting ceremony with none other than Ronald McDonald! Luckily, I just happened to have my camera and he was willing to take a picture! I'm sure our trips to McDonald's will increase since it is so close to our house!

Happy Birthday Lucas!

Getting together with family!

This past Saturday we went to a potluck and family gathering with Zac's family. We enjoyed the afternoon with Grandma, Grandpa, aunts, uncles, cousins, 2nd cousins, 3rd cousins...etc! It was a lovely afternoon as the weather has been so nice and the kids had fun playing in the huge yard.

Football fun!

Lucas tire swinging with cousins!

Rachel hanging out and enjoying all the attention of being the cutest baby girl!

The mini John Deer was a hit with all the kids!

Lucas could have stayed all day and played on the tractor!

Quiz

I saw this fun quiz on my sister in law's blog and thought it would be fun to try with Ben (8) and Lucas (5..almost 6). They were both not too thrilled to be answering these questions and thought it was weird that I was asking them. Ben also didn't want them posted on my blog. I had to coach them a little but these are their true answers.

1. What is something that mom always says to you?
Lucas: go clean your room
Ben: empty the dishwasher
2. What makes mom happy?
Lucas: When I clean my room and do things the 1st time.
Ben: I don't know....Reese's Peanut Butter Cups?
3. What makes mom sad?
Lucas: fighting with you
Ben: When I hit my brother.
4. How does your mom make you laugh?
Lucas: tickling me
Ben: tickling me
5. What was your mom like as a child?
Lucas: cried a lot
Ben: smart
6. How old is your mom?
Lucas: 55
Ben: 35
7. How tall is your mom?
Lucas: 6 inches
Ben: I don't know...how tall are you?
8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Lucas: go to the store and eat ice cream (he actually said steel ice cream but since he was just being silly and it's not actually true I changed it!)

Ben: Read...play volleyball
9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Lucas: play with Rachel
Ben: clean the house
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Lucas: to be a rock star!
Ben: nothing (thanks a lot Ben!)
11. What is your mom really good at?
Lucas: Running on the treadmill and running
Ben: Volleyball
12. What is your mom not so good at?
Lucas: soccer
Ben: mowing the lawn
13. What does your mom do for her job?
Lucas: clean the house
Ben: work at a hospital and make dinner
14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Lucas: Ritzy chicken
Ben: Hawaiian Haystack...wait that's my favorite. I don't know...ice cream?
15. What makes your mom proud?
Lucas: when I unload the dishwasher
Ben: us helping out
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Lucas: John and Kate plus eight (I informed him that they were not cartoon characters...but it is his favorite show.)..No....Phineas and Ferb
Ben: Isabel from Phineas and Ferb
17. What do you and your mom do together?
Lucas: go shopping
Ben: make food
18.How are you and your mom the same?
Lucas: we are both wearing blue
Ben: we have the same eye color
19. How are you and your mom different?
Lucas: we have different hair
Ben: born in a different state
20. How do you know your mom loves you?
Lucas: she gives me kisses
Ben: she gives me hugs

Great...now my husband wants to buy a paintball gun!

Our friend Kevin just celebrated a birthday and his only wish was to get all his friends together for some paintballing fun! I normally would never subject myself to that kind of torture and call it fun...but I guess that's what you do for friends! Here's a run down of the evening:

It started out just lovely when we got there and I went to put my shoes on (I of course was running late and walked out the house with my flip-flops) and I realized that I had grabbed 2 right shoes. I wanted to grab some old shoes so I went to this bag that had D.I. shoes in them and was excited to find my old running shoes. I didn't realize that there were 2 old pairs in the bag (I always buy the same running shoes and just get rid of them after 6 months!) So...my choices were flip-flops or 2 right shoes. I guess you can tell what I chose and clumsily ran around and hurt my big toe in these shoes. At least I provided the comic relief for the evening!
This was our girls team.....we totally rocked! Who would of thought I would secretly like shooting people....as long as I didn't get hit!
I think the girls had more fun just hanging out, talking, and eating while the boys had their fun running, hiding, and shooting!

Do I look scary or what?

What is it with guys and guns? They think they are so cool!

I'm sorry I didn't get this guys name....but check out the wound on his neck...that is REAL blood! That is why I didn't want to play with the guys.....they are out for the kill!

So all in all it was a fun night. The funnest part was ganging up with Nicole and watching her back while she took out 3 of the other team! I only got hit once and it had hit something else first so the blow wasn't too bad. I secretly liked shooting at other people....I was just afraid of getting hit! Zac of course already wants to buy a paintball gun so he can make it his new hobby. Thanks Kevin for a fun night and Happy Birthday!

It's a curse!

I swear I have the curse of Thrush! I have gotten this awful infection while nursing all 3 of my kids. It is the most painful thing I've ever experienced....next to labor! And..the medicine that's prescribed by the doctor doesn't usually seem to help me. The only thing I've found to work is the purple staining Gentian Violet...too bad it's so messy and stains everything it comes in contact with. Anyways...I somehow will get through it and hopefully will get rid of it soon. In the meantime...I feel like I have a part-Smurf child and am afraid to take her out it public!