Over the Interstate and Through the Traffic

To Grandma Miller's house we go!  

Yep I am still covering Thanksgiving weekend... don't judge. ;)

Friday afternoon we got to go over to Grandma Miller's house for hot chocolate and an afternoon of play in the back yard. 

A classic tire swing will just never go out of style! 

 

It does tend to get more uncomfortable the older/taller you get. Just ask Ayi (aka Aunt Kristi). There is a reason she is standing in this picture. Not to comfortable on your tushie. Oh the joy of trying to become a child again. 

The kids especially love playing in the tree house.  

Maylin getting a push from Kylie.  It is so much fun to watch the kids play together. Thanks for having us over Grandma Miller.

Back Yard Baseball.

Or Drive way baseball? With Uncle Ian as the pitcher the boys did really well hitting the ball. I think Pierson is going to really like baseball. I will admit that I tend to like watching soccer better (and he was really getting good at it as the season ended) I think baseball might be his "thing". Maybe... you never know what a month will bring... or tomorrow for that matter. :) He really gets excited when he hits the ball and he hits it 70% of the time. Granted the ball we play with is larger than normal and the bat is a little fatter but in my book that counts! 

Caleb does really well too! Especially with one eye patched. I know that messes with his depth perception so in my book that makes his ability to hit the ball that much more awesome! 

 This is what Pierson making contact with the ball looks like.

 This is what Pierson looks like while laughing hysterically.
 Why was he laughing hysterically you ask? And why is that picture crooked? Because he hit mommy's camera with the ball while she was holding it up to her face trying to take a picture! The angle is because I was laying on the ground. Good thing the ball is soft and light weight! Talk about being surprised! Wasn't expecting to be thwacked by my own son. If that was an intentional hit he has AMAZING aim! Well played son, well played.

Darcy wanted in on the action! She did well too! She is cute to watch because she is so dainty and proper. 

Maylin... well not many people have ever accused her of being dainty and proper. She goes for everything she does full force. It doesn't matter if she misses and misses... she is going to swing herself nearly to the ground each time she tries. She is going to be a force to be reckoned with as she grows up!

Wordless Wednesday.

 Christmas Photo Shoot with 6 kids age 6 and under! Cute right? If only you could see the outtakes.

Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving day was just plain awesome. There was no rush, for anything. We slept in... well what some would consider sleeping in... Not necessarily what I considered sleeping in prior to kids. 

We climbed swing sets

 We caught rides like royalty.

We sat in trees.

 We flipped... and we flipped!

We got on board the Grandma train.

We slid down slides.

 Climbed magnolia trees.

 Cooked, and Cooked and Cooked!  Oh boy did we cook!

 We straddled fences.

 And posed for pictures.

We went for walks... or runs depending on who you were. 

 We climbed the "curly tree". And if your name is Maylin you fell out of the "curly tree". :o

We walked and walked.

We climbed downed trees and took pictures.

 WE ATE! Oh boy did we EAT! What is cuter than six Asian born children celebrating an age old American tradition of stuffing themselves.

 Finally the kids ate fudge cycles.  I present to you Princess/bride/fairy Godmother Darcy Q

 Monkey Maylin

 Hokie Daniel

 Heartbreaker Caleb

 Puma Pierson

 And Cutie Pie Kylie.
 Don't you remember the joy of fudge cycles?

We ended up the day with setting up our gingerbread houses. It was a beautiful day filled with beautiful children. It was a bit chaotic but wildly fun! I just love it when family comes to town!

Maylin's 6th Birthday!

Yeah I am a little late. Her birthday was November 23rd... life has been crazy busy recently... that's my excuse anyway. :)

Since her birthday was the day before Thanksgiving she had her birthday off from school. We got to play outside and swing on the swing set.  

 My little acrobat has no fear and is always trying new tricks. Sometimes my heart is sinks to my toes but most of the time it is fun to watch her try new things. My thoughts are that she doesn't want to fall worse than I don't want her to fall. Oh I can't wait to see what she will try when she starts gymnastics.

It is hard to plan a birthday party around holidays. So.. I didn't. I know, I know I am a terrible mom. But she didn't seem to care one way or the other. I took cupcakes and treat bags to her class at school earlier in the week. That seemed to make her very happy. 

That afternoon we celebrated as a family. She was playing outside when I called "Maylin come quick!" She came running in to find a pile of presents with a cupcake and candle. 

We sang "happy birthday"  

 And she blew out her 6 year old candle.  Gulp... my baby girl is 6 years old!

 She has no hesitation ripping wrapping paper. She got a bathtub Ariel barbie. A notebook and pen and a princess tracing kit from us.

 From Grandma Ann she got an awesome cupcake baking set along with a 

very cute apron!

 From Grandma Shultz she got an art set.

 From friends Kate and Andy she got this awesome cardboard castle! That she gets to color herself! There was much much more to come like a unicorn pillow pet from Ayi, Uncle Ian, Kylie, Caleb, Dracy, and Daniel.  A beautiful dress and cutie pie outfit from Grandpa Mickey and Grandma Claire. And a Tinkerbell doll from Grandma Miller. Oh to be six again! It was an awesome birthday celebration with lots of love to go around. Thanks again everyone for all the wonderful presents!

The day just wouldn't be complete without having made her own birthday cake. We baked a two layer sprinkle cake with strawberry icing and sprinkles GALORE!

That evening we ate diner with Grandma and friends Kate and Andy at a local Thai restaurant. If there aren't rice and noodles on my child's plate she isn't totally happy!  Later we were blessed to be able to cut the cake with Ayi, Uncle Ian and her cousins! Here we are all singing "Happy Birthday!" I think she kind of liked it!