Happy Birthday To Me!

I've just completed my 38th lap around the sun! I'm feeling good, like I'm just getting into stride. I hoping I'm not even half way there yet. Thank-you Mom and Dad for the amazing send off and thank-you to these people who make the journey fun and interesting!

Pops knocked it out of the park in the birthday treat arena. 

He baked a cake, made frosting, and lit 38 flaming candles!

That cake put off some serious heat!

Then after we sliced up the cake for the kiddos, he pulled out the cheesecake for those with discerning tastes. Superkid is a major fan. And it turns out Tadpole is too. We were gobbling down the remaining portion of the cheesecake later on and Tad walked by and snagged a bite. He said in astonishment, "What is that?! It is DELICIOUS!"

What a great birthday!

I'll take as many more as I can get!

Cape Escape

Tadpole hooked us up with an awesome weekend. 

His kindergarten buddy Matteo invited us to his grandparent's beach house and we got a taste of how the other half live. I only wish I snapped more pictures, but with five energetic Toads, lot of delicious food to devour and friends to socialize with, it was a wild ride!

Of course the biggest hit of the day were the water balloons!

Lots of friends and lots of shells!

Beach naps.

Sister snuggles.

And then there was the 3:00 lobster and crab trap pullings. It was quite the event, everyone scrambled to the edge of the pier and waited with baited breath for the traps to be heaved from the sea. The score was 0 lobsters, 4 crabs, 1 water ballon (okay, that was tossed in later).

Next time we are adding sea kayaking to the mix. I promise Abizella!

So Long Kindergarten Baby!

Last week I went to Tadpole's Kindergarten Breakfast Share. 

I got to see all of Tad's great work and progress. 

We watched a slide show of Tad's fun Kindergarten year. 

We got to say good bye to Mrs. Carey and all of our Kindergarten friends.

Tadpole bid farewell to his little cubby as well.

Mrs. Carey made everyone in the class a little year book too! 

Seriously, where does the time go? 

This kid is now fully matriculated into the school system. 

Sigh.

Welcome to SUMMER!

Pops had to go to court on the last day of school, so it was up to me to get these kids, up dressed, packed, fed, brushed, combed and on the bus for their last big day. 

Pops is a tough act to follow. 

He is so good at it that the day before he had everyone to the curb a whole hour before the bus arrived. 

Go Pops!

All of the kids were busting with excitement. Superkid said that when the last bell rings he was going to take a water bottle out of his bag, stab it with a knife and christen himself a 4th grader. I thought that was a pretty good idea, and it inspired an even better idea. 

So after the kids climbed onto the bus for the last time...

Little Chief, Jaws and I put our plan into action. 

First, to create a diversion for the kids when they first step off the bus...

Then to fill up a laundry basket worth of water balloons...

Then to giggle and chortle with anticipation...

Then to take the christening into our own hands. 

Pops got home just in time to lob the first water balloon at our unsuspecting vacationers!

Introducing the newest 3rd grader, 1st grader and 4th grader!

...but not so fast, we have some summer to live first!

Sweet Summer Solstice

Celebrating the White Nights of Summer in the Hot Tub!

We lowered the temperature so that Jaws could take his first dip with the family. 

He must be a Toad, because he is a major fan!

4 Months!

My sweet baby Jaws is 4 months old! 

He marked the occasion with a visit with Dr. Beebe. He is now plumped out to the 50th percentile. 

14 lb. 10oz. All snuggly yumminess. 

He rolls, he giggles, he blows raspberries, he chats, he melts my heart. 

I love you baby boy!

The Big Winners!

Seriously, when it comes to the Dad department, these kids win BIG. 

I gave them the best one.

He is this kid's personal burp cloth, diaper changer and snuggler.

He makes this kid about 2 dozen chocolate milks a day, 

intercepts hundreds of tackles and distributes many tickles.

He chats about cute girls, ghost busters, angry birds and batman. 

He draws pictures, shares Cokes and listens to, "little books". 

He downloads dance tunes, boogies, drills spelling and times reading. 

He shares his office with her sewing machine and 1,000s of craft projects.

He chats Pokemon, dog fights and battleships. 

He drills more spelling, more math facts and marvels over piano skills. 

He is there in the morning to feed them, clothe them, and get them on their way. 

He brushes teeth, makes breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner. He scrubs cabinets, mows lawns, does laundry and vacuums. He holds puke bowls, blows noses, wipes tears and places band aids. 

He is the first line of discipline. He laughs, he hugs and kisses. 

Then, he goes upstairs and works a full time job. 

He is our glue.

We love you!

Bampa's "Re-arranging" Gene

She's got it. She is always looking for a new place to move her doll furniture. As she put it this morning, "I just love to find new ways to arrange my furniture." Sometimes her doll furniture lands in her closet, to create a new club house. Sometimes her mini dresser is next to her dresser, to maximize efficiency of getting everyone dressed. Today everything moved out to her desk, reasoning that everyone was ready for a new house. She is totally Bampa's little girl. I don't know anyone else who feels such utter satisfaction in shuffling furniture around. We did it all the time growing up. I slept in 4 different bedrooms in our house on 300 East, and I wasn't even on the 3 month rotation schedule that Cincha and Mindurs had. The furniture shuffling wasn't just isolated to the bedrooms either. The dining room moved rooms a few times, couches rotated about the house as well. My guess is that Bampa thrilled in a clean sweep, and what better way than to relocate a room.

My guess what fuels Abizella's furniture shuffle is 20% genetic predisposition, 30% creative outlet and 50% exercise in dominion. Whatever her motives she is 100% satisfied about a fresh move, for at least 20 minutes.

Waffle Preferences

Speaking of how we prefer our waffles...
Superkid, "I'm Fluffy Man'"
Abz, "I'm 'Crunchy Girl'"
Tadpole, "I'm 'Already-Ate-Breakfast-Man'"
Little Chief, "and I'm Superman!" as he powers one fist threw the air and flies away.

Totally worth the effort to make the waffles.

So Call Me Maybe

It's all Carly Rae Jepson all the time. She music bombs the Mo-tab on Sunday morning

and starts a major dance party! 

She gets our feet jiving and our hearts pumping for Saturday morning chores. 

Next to the Bangels and their, "Manic Mondays", Carly Rae is the best thing going.

I love it when she sings, "And all the other boys try to chase me!" and this little lady tears through the house with her brothers close on her heels.

She has all the style and sass of a second grade super star!

I just wonder when her mother's best moves will become laughable and embarrassing instead of truly majorly awesome.

Memorial Day Soup

Pool's Open!

The outdoor dining room is serving up the Summer's best (steak tips, a Toad fav),

and the firepit is serving up the oooeeeiest goooiest treats!

While the yard continues to showcase spectacular blooms!

Some of us like our marshmallows flame kissed, while Pops prefers to wait for the steamy coals.

But we can all agree that every marshmallow should be stuffed with chocolate!

Sticky goodness!

Welcome to Summer!

Summer Job

Pops hired some help for the back 40 this summer.

It's hard work, they both agree.

Best part is, they both think they got the better end of the deal.

But at $5/acre, I'm thinking Pops has come out on top!

Matters of Matrimony

This kid is always taking stock of his pool of eligible ladies. 

I recently got this update, 

"Mom, I'm going to ma-wy Gwace. She's the only gi-wl I believe is a vampirah." 

And then after scratching his head he optimistically added, 

"And she can become a Mow-man wheneveh she wants!"

When Trouble Comes To Town...

When Trouble comes to town, watch out, It has to mess with these two first!

This dynamic duo has patrolled the halls of this palatial estate defending truth, justice and the dignity of this family. It has been quite the honor to be graced at the dinner table with THE Batman and THE Superman, and has made for some interesting dinner conversation. And maybe they have done a little too good of a job because nobody has seen a villain around these parts until Tadpole went out and bought the villain pack at Walmart with the money he has been saving. It might seem like a traitorous act, but it has raised the level of drama around here!

Tadpole would like to add, 

"And ever since the villains came, it came to pass, that I haven't played with my superheroes, just the villains. I love the villains."

His favorite, "Da Widdawah". 

Of course. The Riddler.