Conv!!

We just got back from conv...it was wonderful! A very special one for us, and for Trent and Kendra!!! Need I say more?

The kids so enjoyed being together, and they also made some new friends, too! Our trailer was a hub of activity! Lots of games were played! At one time I counted 10 kids playing at one time! They had such a good time...so nice for them to make these friendships!

Unfortunately, Lauren came down w/ stomach flu Wed. night, so he didn't make it out of the trailer till Friday morning...and then Kyla got it Saturday morning and stayed put all day that day! So far so good for everybody else!

The weather cooperated as well...was warm, but not too hot, and we didn't even have to break out the jackets.

Kendra loved 20 questions! It was a big hit w/ all the kids! They also played a lot of Go Fish, Battleship, Sequence, and Life!

Today we are busily cleaning, washing, and getting things put away! Hope you all have a happy Memorial Day!

Jared's birthday party

There's a big cheesy grin from the birthday boy!
Jared had his cousins in for his birthday party Sunday night. His choice of meal: hamburgers, hot dogs, cookie salad, and a cake from the local grocery store. He had his heart set on one that they make, but guess what, they don't make it anymore in their bakery! So he settled for an Oreo one instead! He got a lot of fun presents, but mainly, he got a skateboard! He was HOPING for one and has been asking for a long time! He's the only boy that hasn't had a broken bone....let's keep it that way!!

I love the serious eyebrows....ever since he was a baby, he's really "worked" his eyebrows and has always had a face full of expression.
Kendra made him this card. It is a volcano w/ a pull tab that when you pull it up, it says "Happy Birthday!" The girls often bring home made cards or little gifts that are so fun to receive...lots of thought and time have been put into them!

Jared is turning 8!

What a sweetie.

Here are some pictures we took of Jared today before his birthday party. Can't believe he is already 8!!! (or will be on the 22nd). He has the honor of sharing his big day w/ Grandpa Howard. We wish we could spend the day together! Happy Birthday Grandpa!!!

Interests:

animals...any kind, any type! I would not be surprised if he goes into some career where he'd be working w/ animals.

piano!!!! He started taking lessons in October, and is loving it! I never have to tell him to practice, in fact, I have to tell him to get off the piano and do whatever it is he is supposed to be doing!

computer of course! Games are always a fun way to unwind!

sandbox...he spends a lot of time out there imagining things and playing.

art: He love to create, whether it is in artwork or writing stories. He has trouble verbalizing things, even to us, but when it comes to writing, it just flows out of him. He says he's going to be an artist when he grows up!

Last but not least: Chloe...one of the main reasons we got our dog is b/c of him. He "needed" a dog, and she has been so good for him. He loves her to pieces. He's the only one of the five of us who has never shown any frustration w/ her...and he is 100% devoted to her.

Personality:

He's still very shy, but has come out of his shell a lot this year. He is making great progress in "being brave" and in participating in more activities w/ other kids. He's found some buddies at school, now, so that makes going to school fun for him. He plays farm baseball, and for Jared, that takes a lot of courage to go out there and play. He's also a real laid-back kid.

Stats:

Height :55 1/4"

Weight: 76 lbs.

Clothes size: 10-12

Shoe size: 5 1/2

And here he was at 9 months old....look at all that hair! He'd already had a major haircut.

Mother's Day

Here we are! Mom and her 3 sweet boys! We are in such a good stage of life right now. We are enjoying "doing" things w/ them so much now. I got the traditional breakfast in bed. Robert started doing that some years ago, and the younger kids still think I"ll be "surprised". Then we open gifts, and everybody eats up in our room, on or around our bed! The reason I love it so much, is not so much the "pampering", but the delight it gives the boys! And they always make cinammon rolls! Yum!

We have started taking a "line-up" picture on Father's Day and Mother's Day. I want to remember to do this every year to see how the height changes thru the years...won't be long and I won't be the one in the lead! Notice we all have our shoes off for this picture. In the first picture I had heels on so it still "looks" like I'm quite a bit taller than Trent, but he's really not too far behind.

These are the flowers I received...the 15 roses are from my dear hubby and boys, and the flowers in front were left on our doorstep by our 2 neighbor boys! They are all so beautiful!

Kelsey's 14th birthday

Kelsey and Byron are buddies

Kendra and

Kyla

Friday was Kelsey's 14th birthday! She actually got to celebrate her party on "the day". We went out for dinner and cake and ice cream. Hard to believe she's getting to be so old!

Byron in the sand

Byron was just sitting on his pail in the sandbox, sifting sand...it was just so cute. He was getting tired, but didn't want to come in. The kids spend a lot of time in that sandbox. It has been the best thing, especially since we live on such a little lot. I have to admit, I've had a love/hate relationship with it! But now that the kids are older, they don't bring 1/2 the sandbox in every time they play...they totally know to get cleaned up, etc. Their favorite thing to do is to get the hose and make it like a pond out there! Then the sand castles begin! It was just built with wood slats, but last fall Robert put in the blocks to match the retaining wall. Now that it's getting warm, we need to get the beach umbrellas up so they have some shade in there!

Dog Kisses

Jared is not one who likes human kisses. Especially "squishy" kisses. That's what he calls my kisses that squish into his cheek. He doesn't mind "raindrop" kisses, however. That's what he calls soft little kisses that are more like pecks. And he ONLY accepts kisses from Mom!
HOWEVER, when it comes to dog kisses, that's an entirely different story. He LOVES Chloe's kisses, however disgusting that may seem to you and me! He invites her to lick his face and nibble his nose! And she's happy to oblige, especially when he arrives home from school, or if he has food on his face!

Pictures of Trent

Here are some pictures of Trent on his 11th birthday.
He's looking so grown up!
Stats:
Grade: 5
Height: 5'5"
Shoe size:11
Favorite activites: Sports (Baseball, basketball), Need for Speed computer games , kickball at school, reading, swimming, camping
Personality: He's very outgoing, a real leader (does that translate into being bossy sometimes?), and interacts easily w/ all ages. He's happy to play w/ the youngest toddler or talk to the oldest lady. He's a very "black and white" thinker, quite competetive, and is very sensitive to other's feelings...



And when he was 6 months old.

Trent's 11th birthday

These 2 are buddies...I thought Kyla looked so cute w/ her hat on backwards!

Here he is! The big birthday boy! I still remember vividly bringing him home 11 years ago. Little did we know the journey of parenthood we were about to embark upon would be so wonderful!

Here are the cousins all lined up. Ages are: Kelsey 13 (ok, almost 14), Trent 11, Kyla 10, Kendra 8, Jared 7 (almost 8) and Byron 4.

Chloe

After much begging by 4 males in our house, the lone hold-out relented and we got a dog. And after having Chloe for 5 months, I am as smitten with her as they are! She has been a "best friend" (Jared's words), playmate, and companion. We are enjoying her so much! She was supposed to have a "fancy" name to go w/ Chloe, but she's turned into a Chloe Louise....it just fits her!




Jared loving up his puppy!


Guess we must have another child...we take lots of pictures of her!

Byron and Chloe spend a lot of time together! With 2 brothers in school, he has another playmate!

And one w/ Trent, too!

We'll try it out...

Thought maybe I'd try my hand at blogging....mainly so our far away friends and relatives can see our kids grow! Here is a favorite picture of mine. It was taken last year....they were completely unaware. But I thought it was so cute seeing them sitting together looking out at the water. I always tell them, friends come and go, but you'll always have your brothers!