Amazing changes

Thought I would post a quick snap shot of our newest Miss Personality. Cheyanne has made enormous changes during the past month and it is hard to believe that she is almost a year old. She is mobile and loving life (as long as I am close).

Dante's 11th birthday

Dante decided he wanted to make his own cake. I was a bit hesitant to let him have at it, but was so glad that I resisted taking over. He DID a fabulous job designing and decorating his own horse cake.
We had a super day celebrating his life. We all went to church and Dante decided he wanted to have brunch at Cracker Barrel. He received quite a bit of money from friends and family and just had an all around great day.

Pulling Up

I feel like I should start Cheyanne her own blog. She has just amazed me over the past couple of weeks with her growth. She started crawling and sitting and yesterday began pulling up to a full standing position on anything she can reach. A bit nerve racking, but she is just totally content toddling around pulling up. The other children think it is fabulous. She is complete entertainment for them. "Look at Chey!"

Snaps of smiles

I wish I had NOTHING better to do all day than take snap shots of my babies. They are just the funniest little people. Rich wanted to do something alone with the littles and decided to take a walk to the local market to grab lunchmeat and cheese for school on Monday. I walk out into the carport and they are all wearing there little hats so that their heads do not burn. As you can see, Isabella was picking a snack for the road. (sorry, had to say it.) I have had a super long 2 days and these pictures have me belly laughing at the computer. Thought you all might get a kick out of them, too. I also included 2 of baby Chey growing still into a big girl. She is sitting on her own and she LOVES pat-o-cake. She will laugh a thousand times over.

Giggles

Elijah is just tickled that Cheyanne has gotten big enough that he can hold her. They were having a super time playing together on the kitchen floor while I was getting dinner ready the other night. It makes him feel so important to be able to "tend to Chey." Doesn't look like she minded either.

Resurrection Sunday Celebrations

I wanted to share a few of the traditions that our family enjoyed on the beautiful Resurrection Sunday. Just a few pics of our annual egg hunt that the kids look forward to. We had such a super time talking about all of the significant and heavy things that happened in this world so long ago. It is always nice to talk about the "sweetness" of what Jesus did for us and opportunity he has given us. The kids think it is great to "celebrate the sweetness" with candy.

We were given a recipe for Resurrection Cookies and it truly was such a fabulous way to make real the story of what we are celebrating on Resurrection Sunday. Dante read each corresponding Bible verse while helping to prepare the cookies.
All of the children beat a baggie of pecans that was symbolizing the Roman soldiers flogging Jesus. They tasted the salt representing the salty tears that Jesus shed, They smelled vinegar that was given to Jesus to drink and watched intently as Rich beat the eggs for 15 minutes to turn them white as snow. I could never cover all of the aspects of these cookies, but if you ever have the opportunity to do this, believe me that it is well worth it.
After mixing the batter and dropping mounds onto waxed paper, the children put the cookies into a warm oven and put pieces of tape over the oven door to show how Jesus' tomb was sealed. I told them that it was time to go to bed and you should have seen their faces. They were so sad that they were not going to get to try their cookies. I explained that this is how the Jesus' followers felt when his body was sealed in a tomb. They were so sad that they were never going to see him again, or so they thought.
The next morning, the kids removed the tape and were filled with joy at the idea of being able to eat cookies for breakfast. As they bit into the hollow cookies it was a great time to explain, once again, that people were very confused about finding Jesus' tomb empty. Although rejoicing was soon to come, it was still a challenging time.

The kids and I have had a wonderful week preparing for this Holy Weekend. We always enjoy opening our Resurrection Eggs and reading the story of how much Jesus sacrificed for us. Even the little ones willingly participated. Justus was so confused to find the last egg empty. It only made for the perfect opportunity to explain the confusion of those who loved Jesus so much and found his tomb empty.

Bicycles, muscles, cribs, and hair

Since having children, I don't think my life has ever gone so fast. I look around and wonder how these little people got so big without me agreeing to it. A quick update...
1. Cheyanne is in her own room and sleeping mostly through the night in her big girl crib...YAY, CHEY! She is even waking up with huge smiles for anyone who greets her.
2. Isabella decided last week that she was ready to ride a 2 wheeled bicycle with training wheels all by herself. Easy enough.
3. Justus and Elijah spend much time together flexing and comparing who is stronger, faster, smarter, braver, more handsomer... and also telling the most ridiculous knock knock jokes known to man. They both think the other is absolutely hilarious.
4. Dante has been working on growing his hair long enough to put in a ponytail for a few months now. Rich and I have decided to change his name to Hair. Gosh, he is a cutie with long hair or no hair at all.
5. Baby #6 thinks the best time to do his water aerobics is at 3am right after mama goes potty.

FUN TIMES FOR ALL!!!

Funny little things

This morning, Elijah went into his bedroom to get dressed. He starts this crazy belly laugh and runs into the kitchen and said, "My shorts flew up onto the bicycle picture in my room. I'm serious." All the kids run back and it is the funniest thing. They all think it is totally hilarious. Sometimes it is the little things. Shouldn't we all be so easily entertained?

AHHH....the little things

It is always so nice when the children are old enough to bath in the kitchen sink. I know that sounds funny, but it is such a great time saver. Right after dinner, when they are just covered in food, I can put them in the sink and still clean up dinner. Most often, I bath the children after I clean up dinner. 2 birds with 1 stone. I LOVE time savers.
Couldn't pick the cutest picture, so decided to share all 3.
Love,
Amy

Did Justus mention it is his birthday?

YUP...like 4 gadzillion times in the past month and another 4 gadzillion times today. What fun it is to have a 4 year old who is so thankful and so easily excited. The highlight of his day? The $1 bag of red balloons from Walmart, the $4 muscle shirt from Target, and oh yes, the crocodile cake. He has put away his "marny" blanket in a "baby blanket box" to give to Cheyanne when she needs it because, "big boys do not use blankets, right mama?" "You're right baby, *sob*, *sob*, big boys don't need blankets...sniff, sniff."
It was an all around terrific day. Smiles and smiles and laughter and fun. Everyday should be a birthday for a 4 year old.