August happenings....

We tease around here that August is the month where you eat cake every day; that's not quite the truth, but it's close. Between an anniversary and three birthdays, (not to mention a week of Vacation Bible School  thrown in just in case we were bored), we had a little bit of trouble getting normal life done - you know, things like laundry. And school. :)

Our 11th wedding anniversary and Taylor's birthday were both very nice, but apparently we are not as cute as our kids, because I took very few pictures. However, here are several from Dan's and Glory's birthdays.

I always have to laugh at the differences in these two celebrations so close together. Daniel turned 6. His gifts acknowledged the growing young man that he is; the Very. Most. Important
 gift being his first knife, given to him by his Papa.







 (I also had to smile at the wrapping jobs on several of his other presents; one was wrapped in duct tape; another was tied with a piece of rubber strap. It was altogether a very manly day.

 Daniel was happy to get a bigger bike... he had been expecting it; his old one was so small for him that it made him look like a clown in the circus. :)

The Knife. It is a neck knife...very handy for a boy 

who is usually in athletic shorts, and/or upsidedown.  

 a "coming of age" moment. 

 (one perk of Dan getting upgraded to a bigger bike, is that Nate can learn to ride the little one)

Up till now he has had a "balance bike"; a bike without pedals for beginners to learn on.  

As of this writing, he is riding his "new" bike just fine without help. :)

Ok....enough camo....

Two days later, we crowned our 10 year old princess. :)

 Her knights-errant brought flowers 

and swore  their allegiance to protect, honor,

 and do all the dishes that usually fall to her. :) 

 I had fun figuring out how to make a pink cake

 without easy access to food coloring -strawberry jam and jello powder saved the day!

 In a fun opposite of Daniel's duct tape and weaponry....

Glory and I stayed up late after the boys went to bed 

making "fancy feet" with stickers Granny B sent. :)

Levi started this brainy tradition of offering to play a board game of choice with the birthday-kid. 

It was his gift to Dan; everyone liked it so well that on Glory's birthday

 Monopoly was well underway by the time I woke up. :)

I am so very blessed to get to Mama these kids. Their individual personalities crack me up, and sometimes I think we may all go crazy, but they really are amazing people.... and I am grateful for the part we get to play in all of this. :)