Parker's 6th Birthday

Parker has had a birthday extravaganza week! His actual birthday was Tuesday, May 12, but we tend to make birthdays into week-long events around here. That's just how we roll!

The festivities started last Sunday. We celebrated first with Brian's family at lunch, then with my family later in the day. Parker decided his wanted everything about his birthday to center around a Halloween theme. He calls it "enhaunted". I'm sure we'll look back one day and laugh at a Halloween birthday in May, but that's what he wanted!

We had Halloween cupcakes with family.

On Monday, Parker was out of school so we went to lunch at the mall. We also spent a couple of hours trying to spend some birthday money on a shark. We searched four stores, but lo, we could not find the shark. He found a viking dress-up kit to be a suitable substitute. You know that they always say, "When no shark is available, buy a viking suit" (or something like that).

On Tuesday morning, he had pancakes for breakfast on our traditional birthday plate.

Then later in the day he celebrated with his friends at school. They had more Halloween cupcakes of course!

For his birthday dinner, he chose McDonald's.

Then home to open his gifts from Daddy, Mommy, and Claire.

Today was the grand finale. Parker had a bowling party with his friends from school. Of course, everything was "enhaunted". He loved his balloons and his cool haunted house cake. All the kids had a ball bowling! It was fun and exhausting for all!

Parker and Ashley

Claire liked the "sitting and rolling" technique.

Check out Parker's tongue! That's pure concentration, friends!

Emme

Dawson

Jack and Madison

Zachary

Happy 6th Birthday Parker!

My Pumpkinhead

To my sweet Parker on your 6th birthday,

I clearly remember the day I found out I was expecting you. I was so overwhelmed with joy! I had always wanted to be a mommy, and my dream was coming true. I remember my pregnancy was wonderful. I loved feeling you move in my tummy and couldn't wait until I could meet you. Finally, the big day arrived. You were born on May 12, 2003 at 6:07 pm. You weighed 8 pounds and 2 ounces and were 20 inches long. The biggest surprise of all was your red hair. I don't know why I was so surprised since red hair definitely runs in my family. I just expected you to have dark hair like Daddy.

From the day you arrived, you have been loved by so many people. Your sweet personality and humor win people over right away. Your personality is best described as extreme. You are either extremely happy or extremely sad. You love things to be planned out perfectly, and then everyone must follow the plan. You don't like change at all! You are super organized and always keep everything in it's place. We recognized your artistic abilities at an early age. You draw exceptionally well for your age. Your imagination continues to blow me away! Your drawings are so detailed and well-planned. You are definitely gifted in that area. You are also so musically talented. You sing well (which you don't get from me) and have a natural rhythm. You are intense and keep me on my toes. You challenge me every day!

I thank Jesus every day for the privilege of being your mother. I love you with a love I didn't even know existed six years ago. As I always tell you, if I could pick any little boy in the whole world, I'd pick you! You are my precious pumpkinhead, and I will always adore you!

Love,

Mommy

Let this be a warning to the rest of you!

If a tree falls on my parent's house, and you're one of the other trees in a 30 mile radius, you'd better be shaking in your trunks!

A week or so ago, a HUGE tree fell on my parent's house late one night. Fortunately, no one was hurt, and the house had minimal damage. Unfortunately for all the other trees in the yard, this situation set off a series of events that proved catastrophic (if you're a tree).

You see..."they" say that the three or so trees standing next to the fallen one were old and "could possibly" fall too. They must come down. Oh, and while we're at it, far at the other end of the yard, there are five or so MORE trees that need to be cut. What's that? There's another one out back that is getting up in years too? Off with his head! I watched my childhood memories be hacked down one branch at a time! These were BIG trees that have been in my parent's and brother's (next-door) yard all my life! I was sad to see them go to say the least!

One tree fell....ELEVEN more gave their lives.

And you'd better believe all the other trees who barely made it through the "cut" by the bark of their teeth are standing a little taller these days. They are hiding their age and imperfections the best they can after witnessing the massive slaughter.

Still Catching Up!

I'm still catching up on blogging since I got so far behind!

Here is a picture of Claire and me at her preschool mommy breakfast.

I also took the kids to see Llama Llama Red Pajamas a couple of weeks ago. We love all the books, and the play was so cute! The kids even got to meet Mama Llama after the show!

Claire also had her end of year preschool program. Here she is getting ready for the big performance.

Claire with her teacher Mrs. Kim