Sunday, June 26, 2016

Happy 11th Birthday Annika!

You're so special,
Oh, so special!
God gave you to us.
It's no wonder that we love you so!


Annika ~ you are priceless.  You love being a little mother to your little cousins, especially Lauryn. Your brothers aren't so excited to play tea party and Playmobil with you, but you enjoy playing rough-and-tumble with them and can give them a run for their money!  You love hanging with your older sisters whenever they are around, and more often than not, have your nose buried in a book.  And pretty much any book will do.  

I love you, Annika!
Mom


Cupcakes with Katherine ~



Annika & Anna ~ special friends.



Josh organized a special present for you ~ a treasure hunt.



You must have criss-crossed the pasture ten times!
It just made everyone enjoy dessert all the more.





No stone unturned ~



You and your little buddy (ies) ~



          

Thursday, June 9, 2016

Funnies

Texting conversation with Shannon.
"Nickles knows what you want for your birthday present."
    "Fantastic.  What?!?"
        "A Spider-Man costume!"

Dom was lying on the floor pretending to be dead to avoid math.  
Nickles says, "I know you're okay! I saw your finger moving!"

While eating German pancakes one morning, Dom asked if when you order pancakes in Germany they bring you a German pancake.  Nickles answered, "Yes, they bring you German pancakes! And in Chinese they bring you Chinese pancakes!" 

Nickles during lunch, "I wish I had a zipper on my mouth." 
Shannon's reply, "You have no idea....."

I was accusing Shannon of not remembering people's names.  Nickles says, "Mommmmm, you don't remember names either.  You call me Dom and my names is Nicholas." 

Driving one day, Dom asked when he'd be old enough to get a wallet.  Without missing a beat, Kath responded, "You're old enough to have a wallet.  You're just not old enough to have money in it."

For those of us that have listened to Brian Regan's monologue on crank calls nine thousand times, the following is amusing.  Leaving an antique store, Dom mentioned that we should call them and ask if they had Prince Albert in a can.  Kath snapped that those things just aren't funny any more.  Dom replied, "Well, that store DID  have Prince Albert in a can, so we could ask them that." 
At least Dom now knows what Regan is referencing!

I help teach Religious Education to Dominic's 2nd grade class.  One would assume if I'm helping that my kid would be more educated, shall we say.  Today they were talking about the sacraments and the ones the students have received thus far.  After discussing which ones they had received, the teacher asked what the other sacraments are.  One kid contributed Marriage and another Confirmation.  Dom had been sitting there seemingly half asleep when his hand shot up in the air.  
"College!" he offered. 

Nickles wanted to get a swimsuit for Katherine for her birthday. We were looking through a website, trying to choose one when he said, "You know....I really don't like looking at these. Pick something out that's beautiful and nice and I'll give it to her."
Spoken like a true male.  


Grafting cacti...who came up with thatidea for a science project?



He fell asleep in the naughty corner...but he wasn't tired at all!



He liked Max's onesie, so he put it on, but couldn't figure out 
how to connect the snaps at the bottom.

A Few of My Favorite Things


Hikes with my cherubs...



....and reading with kiddos....



.....boys with dress-up glasses.....



......and peering through windows.....



.....little boys helping with ironing,
these are a few of my favorite things!



Discovering creatures on my kitchen counter......



....girls getting ready for a dance til all hours....



Beautiful girls all smiling...
These are a few of my favorite things!



Brothers and sisters that are friends with each other....



Sunsets and little boys, with kisses I'll smother....



Damp, springtime, glorious evenings...
These are a few of my favorite things!



When my children sass,
When the house is a mess,
When I want to run away,
I'simply remember my favorite things
And then I want to stay!
Okay, that was really bad ;o)



Some more happy moments...
...finding selfies on my phone...



A full kitchen....



Open meadows and little boys...



Sleeping babies...even if they are 16...



Boys hard at work and happy...
the finished product is amazing!