Life comes at you fast

 This little life came faster than we ever planned, but we are so grateful for it and are excited for our family to be even more complete in March.  Nothing is better in life than raising these sweet kids.

Beetle's Garden

This is Beetle's Garden. It looks tiny, but you will be surprised to find out how much he is growing in this tiny garden.

 It all started with a five dollar pear tree he bought at Ridleys last year. I didn't think it would make it through the winter, so I bet him $100.00 that his pear tree would never produce a pear. He was up for the challenge. To my surprise the pear tree made it through the winter and it even started growing little flower buds in the spring.

I think the thriving pear tree sparked Beetles interest in growing trees and other things. He added some mint to his little pear tree box and then before I knew it there were 2 oak trees , 1 maple tree and he allowed Annabelle to throw in some peas.

 

She grew TWO pea pods, we all shared them over dinner one night (:

I better be working on earning my $100.00.

NiNE

Can you believe this girl is NINE years old!

She is growing up so fast but thank goodness she still begs for a giant lollipop at the store and enjoys playing with all her stuffed animals, playmobile and pretending like she is a dog or some other type of animal.(she asks to wear shorts to school everyday, because her and her friends pretend like their animals at recess and she doesn't want to get holes in her knees).A few more years and that might not be so cool anymore.

 She asked for an "Under the Sea" cake, and "Under the Sea" is what she got. Beetle definitely didn't disappoint. The coral was edible and delicious if you like air head candy.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Annabelle had her first friend party this year. She invited friends from school and some of her local cousins.

 They played the newspaper/gift/dice game, ate pizza and sno cones. Annabelle requested to play tag, because it is her favorite. I said "okay how about we play TV tag" and they all yelled "NO, toilet tag!" A new kind of tag for this generation I guess. I was a little worried about it but don't worry it wasn't a crude game, Annabelle will be more than happy to show you how to play sometime.


 Annabelle loved all her presents and after she opened them she said "friend parties are really fun Mom".



Sydney, Annabelle, Kysa, Charlie, and Izzy.


Her brothers are also her friends and her biggest fans, lately she will hold her arms out to Simon and he will reach for her (even when I am holding him). It really does make me happy and she has been helping me out SO much lately, she is the boys entertainment and can entertain for a LONG time. Happy 9th Birthday Annabelle, We love you!

One year Sweet

It's amazing the changes that take place in a baby in just ONE year. Can you even believe these two pictures are both our sweet Simon? He really is just as sweet as his pictures make him look. He is such a good baby and has the cutest little personality. Just last week he started bobbing his head to music, it is my favorite thing to watch and can instantly make us all laugh.













We had so much fun celebrating his birthday. He was spoiled with lots of gifts,


And lots of Love.




*Sorry to those of you who aren't pictured, next birthday I will be more on top of things and take everyone's picture, including my own.

We can't forget baby's first cake.
Simon was really anxious to get his chubby little fingers on his cake,

but when it was his time to shine, he was a little intimidated. All the kids kept yelling at him, "come on, dig in, destroy your cake!" But no reaction, I have really never seen anything like it.

As soon as we all left him alone and the kids went away, he started eating his cake in peace.

Thank goodness, because you can't have a 1st birthday without a picture like this......

HaPpy FiRst BiRthdAy SiMon! We all love you!