Happy Birthday to You - Jacob Dear

September 14, 2008 and Jacob is 5 years old.

Friday, Jacob invited his friend, Porter to the pool for a mini b-day party. They got yogurts and mini cupcakes. We tried to light the candles but the breeze kept blowing out the flame. So we sang Happy Birthday and pretended the candles were lit and then Jacob and Porter pretend blew out the candles. They played in the pool for about 20 minutes and then with the gift he got. This was all done inbetween their preschool pickup and the older kids school pickup 45 minutes later. Little kids are fairly easy to please and I think Jacob was happy.


Sunday, after church we gave Jacob his gifts from the family. Jeremiah gave his gift first. "Sweet Skittles" as Jacob calls them. (They're really sour skittles, but I think its so cute so I don't correct him.) As soon as Jacob opened his gift, Jeremiah was crying for "his skittles". He went with me to the store when I bought them for Jacob's birthday and was sleeping right up until I was half way thru paying at the register. Darn it. He saw them and kept asking for his skittles all the way home. I told him he could get some for his birthday too and in the meantime, Jacob was sweet enough to share some.



I think I'm stuck because now my kids are all expecting some treat for their birthday since we gave treats for David's birthday. Oh well, it's a no brainer, easier than picking toys. Here we are just finishing singing to Jacob and he's ready to open gifts. David gave Jacob some chocolate cookies. (The same kind Jacob gave to David.) And between Joshua, Aimee and I, we gave Jacob a Cars game for the gamecube. He is currently on it, though tomorrow I'm going to crack down again and not allow games until the weekend. Aimee, also gave a handmade card and batman pen to Jacob on Saturday because she just couldn't wait. Its really cute to see her get so excited for birthdays.





About 8:30p.m. Jacob got a special phone call from Grandma Reidhead. She and Grandpa and Benjamin sing Happy Birthday to you. How perfect, since we are just about ready to eat cake.

David got a picture of all the family members anxiously awaiting the serving of the cake.

Jacob is READY. Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday dear Jacob, happy birthday to you.

Time to blow out the candles. It took 3 times and the candles were out. Yeah Jacob.

And now, the best part . . . . Jacob wanted a pokemon cake (something I got stuck with clear when Aimee was little and I took my cake decorating class - they all think in terms of theme not flavor when I ask what kind of cake they would like for their birthday.) . . . .The best part - each child had one of their pokemons on the cake for decoration (like my creative design for theme - ing it with not a lot of ambition:) . . .oh yes, the best part- taking the pokemon off and licking the frosting off. Do you see Jacob's smile of anticipation?
So Jacob's 5 and I realized that his birthday is on a Sunday, just as he was born on a Sunday. I did prayers with him before bed and was talking to him about when he was born and he told me he just wasn't ready. I asked him what he meant and he said he just wasn't ready to be born. I asked why and he said cause he liked being in my tummy. He missed my tummy and loved it and then just cuddled up to me to be close to my tummy. Because he is a mommy's boy. I really love Jacob. Heavenly Father really blessed me.

Happy Birthday to You

David's one year older and still as cute as ever.


A few days before his birthday I was driving home and asked the kids what we should do for daddy's birthday. Right off, Aimee said, "I know, we can get him chocolate." Then Joshua said, "I could give him a letter or make a poster." Jacob said, "We could get him another remote control helicopter." And Aimee said "We could invite some friends too." Well with a bit of their brainstorming and my thoughts, we gave David his birthday. Aimee made him a card and picked out some chocolate - Twix.(David really likes Twix.) Joshua made a paper airplane and a poster and shared giving some more chocolate with Jeremiah. Jacob picked out some chocolate cookies. I picked out a new pair of shorts. So while David was sitting on the couch, the kids and I picked out gift bags and paper and "wrapped the gifts" and then like a parade came from the bedroom singing "Happy Birthday to You...." to David. Here is our moment as family before opening gifts.


















Here is Aimee showing David her birthday card. She always makes great cards. Very thoughtful and creative.

After presents, we ran to the movies - something we never do- and watched a movie "Kung Fu Panda". Cute show, but not a keeper strickly for the fact that my kids would be wild re-enacting. Then we came home and had dinner. Chicken nuggets and peas for the kids and Alaskan Salmon and rice and peas for David and I. Splurge on the salmon - another of David's favorite. Afterwards we had chocolate cake and icecream. Its so fun to do the whole candle scene.




















So all in all, We celebrated our favorite "Man of the day". Happy 34th birthday David!

Back to School

August 18, 2008

Joshua and Aimee are back to school.

We are starting the year right and walking.

Joshua starts 4th grade today with Mr. Belcher.

It's amazing to see how together he is.

He is one sharp kid.

He's going to have a super year.

Aimee is ready to go.

She starts 2nd grade with Mrs. Korts.

She gets to sit on the front row.

She is going to learn a lot this year.

Notice Aimee got a haircut. Doesn't she look cute with the shorter look. She has a good amount of curl we never knew she had. Her hair is lots easier to brush through and do now too.

Joshua lucked out and got the most wanted 4th grade teacher. He is really "funny and fun" as Joshua tells us. He also has a handful of friends he knows from previous years in his class.