My Birthday 2012

 With the most wonderful man in the world. 

The most wonderful dinner in the world, made by that wonderful man. 

Peter and the kids picked out a new serving bowl for me.  They picked out several other things as well, including a large baking stone to bake bread on. 

 I got some really fun and thoughtful gifts from a myriad of people.  I loved this bucket of granola from one of the young wives at church.

Another young wife gave me some of her precious canned goods.  I can't wait to make a pie with her apple pie filling and something Italian with her tomato sauce.

Now becoming an "old friend," my previous pastor's wife brought these to me.  Aren't they beautiful?

There were several other sweet gifts not pictured:  Mom's favorite classical recordings, picked out for me,  a gift certificate to a Taiwanese restaurant and babysitting from a teenager at church, and a hand-crocheted table runner from my sister.  I might have to post a picture of the table runner when it gets here (coming in the mail).

I got many lovely birthday wishes in all forms.  Thank you to all for thinking of me.  :)

Calvin's Number 7 Birthday

He picked his traditional Spaghetti and Meatballs for his dinner. 

Calvin's expressions really say enough.  Here he is opening a ring-pop that Millie picked out for him.  She really did pick good.  He was very pleased.

Samuel took a really neat, large crank bait (fishing bait) that Peter found out fishing and had given to Calvin, and fixed it up, adding the missing hooks, etc.  As soon as Cal saw it, this was his expression.  He threw it down and jumped up to hug Sam.  It was truly sweet to see.  They really know how to please each other.

Sam is showing him what he did and how to use it.

Matchbox cars from Will and Ben.

Something Peter and the girls picked out...

...a set of construction vehicles.

A gift from Aunt Leslie...

...a Make-a-plate Kit.  Cal is the only one of the boys who hasn't done one of these.  The others eat off of the plates they made often and now he will be able to too.

Birthday number 7 means that he is big enough to have a sling shot.  It's wonderful to see the children reach even small milestones.

He loves his cards.  :)

Being carried in to see his cake.  Man, he's very expressive!

Hurray!

Being sung to.

And last, but not very last, blowing out the candles.  Very last is eating his piece of cake.

In Which Will Turns 11

The Birthday Breakfast

Decorating his cake.

Pipecleaner glasses.

The boys all wanted to make Will a cake that looked like the game board of the game Stratego. 

Sam made trees and flags and arranged all of the game pieces.

Will chose to have a variety of appetizers for his birthday dinner.  We had deviled eggs, buffalo wings and other good things.

Gifts from brothers. 

Fishing baits from Sam and Amelia.

That's some crazy face.  He thought this puzzle of a rainforest scene, from Aunt Leslie, was super cool.  :)

Opening his gift from Grammy.  He had already guessed what she would get him and was much anticipating it.

A lot of goofy faces in this photo, but here it is:  The newest book by Christopher Paolini.  Grammy was originally the one who got him interested in this fiction series.

And from us, a scooter.

Happy.

Lighting candles.

Un-lighting candles.

Checking out his cake.

Sam's slice.

Cal's slice.

Feels good to be 11.  Love you, Wills!

Elijah's First Birthday Part II

Eli's First Birthday

Waiting for the festivities to begin.

Very serious about his Chicken and Brown Rice Casserole.

Same serious, contemplative face about the cake and candles.  He was pretty tired, which I think contributed to the lack of animation.  But he is fairly serious and very interested in anything new to him generally.

Yummy carrot cake.

Gifts.  But let's be honest.  There's really only one gift for this boy. 

Oh yes.  His ball.  That certainly would have been enough.

Checking out the cute toy from Grammy and Papa.

That's interesting enough to relinquish the ball for a moment.

We also got him a little piano that plays a note and an animal pops up when you press the keys.  It's a very *quiet* piano.  I made sure.  :-)

He'd really like the animals to STAY up and not disappear when you take your hand off the keys.  Trying to figure it all out.  That's what it's all about.  

 

His birthday was January 29th.  He started walking just before that.  He's doing just great.  We think he's just great.  Happy to see you accomplish your first year Eli-man!