The Celebration

 It took MANY tries to blow out the candles!

A while back Evan was given a Buzz Lightyear Pez dispenser that he delighted in.  Derek went shopping for him this year, and chose Buzz.  I thought it was a little crazy to get the real toy when the $1.50 Pez worked perfectly well.  

After Derek went shopping, I had asked Evan what he wanted for his birthday, and he promptly exclaimed Buzz Lightyear.  He had several gifts, but I do think Buzz will be a big hit (until the batteries die).

Happy Birthday, Evan!

Evan is FOUR today!!  Amazing!

This past year Evan has grown and changed in so many ways.   There is no toddler left in him.  He is such a big boy!  He's become a real thinker, asking what things mean and why.  He also knows our (ten-digit) phone number.  He learned that on his own-just from hearing us say it (like when we are talking to the doctor's office and such).  Evan can count well past 20, knows his letters (and many sounds), and spells his first and last names.

Collage of Evan 9-11 months.

Time is flying!  

Esther is ONE!

Esther Carol is one year old!

 Meghan and Evan helped blow out her candle.

 Initial thoughts:

 "Mmm.  Good."

 Overall, I think she liked it.

 Opening gifts wasn't nearly as much fun despite the fact that she loves to rip paper in books...

At 12 months of age Esther...

• takes many steps at a time and stands on her own.
• eats whatever we are eating.  She has a great appetite for "real" food.  (Until now we did not give her eggs or peanut butter.)
• used to sleep through the night, but no longer does.  (Teeth?  Illness?)
• Signs "more" consistently for more food, bottle, songs, and books.
• jabbers a lot, including mamama and dadadada, but not specifically for us yet.
• enjoys rough-housing with her siblings.  
• has an eye for mischief.
• knows to clap for the songs "If You're Happy and You Know It" and "Pat-A-Cake."
• weighs twenty pounds.
• has four full teeth and another has broken through the gums.
• has a lot of opinions, including dislike of her car seat.
• has not had any life-threatening health problems.  (Unlike her siblings by age 1.)  Thank you, God!

A Birthday Party with Friends

(Please do not link to this site or pin to Pinterest.  If you are interested in our Little House party, please visit www.ThisSimpleHome.com where I wrote in detail about our party.)

Meghan had her first friends birthday party for her sixth birthday.  Over the past two years, she has really been enjoying the books in the Little House on the Prairie series, by Laura Ingalls Wilder.  When Derek said she could have a small friends party, I immediately thought of a Little House theme.  I offered it to her, along with two of her other passions: hearts and rainbows.  She quickly became excited about the Little House theme, and I got to work figuring out what to do to make an old-fashioned party fun.

A few pictures from the party!

 For those who didn't know about the Little House series, I read Winter Days in the Big Woods.  They enjoyed popcorn while I was reading.  (The stumps also made a great playground during down time.)

 Then Meghan gave them their aprons so we could get to work.

We made butter and gathered vegetables from our garden (flower bed).  See how the apron holds vegetables so well!

We washed our laundry.

 

 Instead of cake, Meghan chose to have apple pie and ice cream.

 We also danced to some fiddle music.

We we were doing the ladies' work, Evan and Derek did the men's work.

 They planted two trees during the party.

I will be sharing a lot more about the party in detail, over at This Simple Home over the next week or so.

Happy 6th Birthday, Meghan

Age 10 months to 14 months

(And yes, two days after her first birthday she had her hair pulled back into a ponytail, as seen in the center photo above.  Actually, it's a poor picture of the hair, so you can't really tell.  That is why I explained it.)

Where has the time gone?  Our little girl is not so little any more!

During the past year Meghan has really grown up!  We are so thankful for Meghan! 

Esther

Did you know baby formula is tasty, even in powder form?  

 Did you see those finger tracks through the formula?  She couldn't eat it fast enough!  (ICK!)  This is actually the second time that Esther pulled the formula off her changing table, opened it, and had a feast while the Big Kids were being tucked into bed.  Mama has finally learned...

Mom and Dad are both thankful that we are no longer spending about $10+ a day in baby formula like we did during her screaming days...It would have felt like we were vacuuming gold.

Esther has volunteered to visit you...via the USPS!  Any takers?

That smile is not as innocent as you'd think.  See picture above if you need any clarification!

And in case you didn't already notice, Esther looks WAY TOO GROWN-UP in the top picture!  I keep asking my children to stop growing, but they just tell me they can't help it.

In other news, we dedicated* Esther at church two Sundays ago.  Derek's father took the picture below.  I had my camera with me...but I was busy.  Evan was standing in front of me, though he is not visible.  (I guess it is a good think I was wearing heals that day.  Disguising shortness is not the easiest thing to do...)

*What is an infant dedication ceremony?

Child dedication is a voluntary act in which believing parents publicly present their child to the Lord as an outward expression of their gratitude to Him for the child, as a formal appeal to God for His assistance in bringing up the child, and as a consecration of the child to the Lord for His purposes and glory.  It is done in the context of a worship service of the local church with the family of God present.  And I will add that a dedication does not provide salvation for the child, that is through faith!