Merry's birthday

A few things about Merry at 6:

1. She has been able to cross the monkey bars since she was 4- mostly by pure determination.

2. She loves to paint her nails and then go dig holes in the back yard.

3. She is a fabulous sister, she plays baseball and star wars with Jacob, dolls with Grace and loves to read to Adam.

4. She loves school, her teacher lives on the other side of the orange groves by our house and she is always trying to talk me into letting her go visit her or inviting her to our house.

5. She loves to help, cooking, crafting or pretty much anything she is there to lend a hand.

I love her smile.

This is the "Mom, why in the world are you making me do this" smile.

She requested red velvet cupcakes with red frosting for her birthday.

Love the tongue twist. My side of the family are all nervous tongue twisters.

Huff and puff.

Then blow the candles out.

She requested a trip to Busch Gardens for her birthday. She decided that she wanted to ride all of the big roller coasters for her birthday. After about throwing up on the first one, she decided that she would wait to try the other rides. She always wants to get her face painted, so we let her for her birthday. A butterfly wins every time.

Merry turns 6

In a couple of days Merry turns the ripe old age of 6. I wanted to take some pictures in her winter clothes and since the winter in Florida is just about over I had to take these a few days early. (It was 78 today so I think we might have to go to the beach to finish up.)

You can see the sunset in the shiny balloons- funny.

It is a good thing I haven't mowed all the weeds down. They make a great backdrop.

Love the half in, half out teeth.

Merry plays like Jacob- you can tell by the worn knees on her jeans. I am glad shorts weather is right around the corner.

Christmas to New Year's

Santa brought a new trampoline, which lasted about 1 week until a big windstorm blew it upside down on the chain link fence. Now it looks like a Pringle potato chip.

The early morning chaos. Grace loves the stuffed owl, it came with a little fleece blanket. It is now dressed in baby clothes and is named Sally. She takes it for walks in the baby stroller daily.

Adam has been speeding around the house on his plasma car.

Jacob looks angry but he is really saying "Yes" about the nerf gun.

Adam doing some surfing- do you like the massive monitor that we dug out of our garage. I think it is time to get a new one.

Papa came for New Year's Eve. He made the best fried shrimp and my cousin Melissa and family and Brother David and family came to visit.

Our family depicted in gingerbread.

Showing off the decorating skills.

More decorating.

Run, run as fast as you can.

Christmas Eve Festivities

The kids Christmas Eve

Gross

Merry lost another tooth, that makes 7.

Because it was around 80 degrees we took the canoe for a float around the lake.

A herd of ducks has migrated to the lake for the winter. Adam yelled "quack, quack" during the entire trip. So much for taking duck pictures.

The kids opened their Christmas PJs.

Seriously loving this hairstyle.

Who knew PJ's could be so exciting.

Adam tore one little piece off at a time. I think it took like 10 minutes to open one gift.

Cookies for Santa.

The kids acted out the Nativity. Mary(Merry) looks like she ate something orange previous to the performance.

Joseph and Mary.

Wiseman/ Angel.

The shepherd was too fast to have his picture taken.
We tracked Santa on Norad and then climbed in bed.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

The beginning of December

We started December Texas style by making tamales.

Our Christmas tree. We went to a you cut place this year. Brian took the kids to see the animals while I picked the Christmas tree. Any who we ended up with a 15 foot Christmas tree. So if you are wondering why the top part is not decorated, I will just say we do not have a ladder yet.

Brian and I attended Brian's work party. Okay this picture was really from Dan's wedding but we wore the same thing so it will have to do.

Santa visited the elementary school and brought us cookies.

Adam preferred to keep an eye on that jolly old elf from across the room.

Christmas crafting.

More Christmas crafting.

Adam has discovered that Grace is not the boss. Grace's feelings are very hurt.

Brian's work party for the kids had pony rides. Adam loved riding the "tow" or cow and kept saying moo the whole time.

Grace on the pony named Feather Baby. Her rolling horse at home now has the same name.

Merry ran and got on a pony before I could get a good picture. Oh well. Jacob opted for the bounce houses instead.

We had a toysfortots party and made gingerbread houses. Adam found them so this is what they look like now. Only the one towards the back of the counter survived.

Grace was a cow in her preschool's nativity play. I am not sure why she is so sad.

The young acting guild.

Looking forward to napping sometime over the next couple of weeks.

Visiting a billion family members

During our visit to Utah we were able to see all our immediate family.

Brian's family

Beth's family

>Merry and her cousin Sophie

How they really act. I retouched Merry's scab in the first picture. Adam whacked her with a toy school bus.

Me-good job Brian on the photo.
Our family plus Papa. For the record I did brush my girl's hair, this is just how they look after about 5 minutes of playing with their cousins.

Yet another family photo. Yes I am a bad dentist mom and still let Adam use a pacifier, I really like to sleep. He has been my only user so far.

Finally- the reason I do not live in Utah- icicles on leaves are just wrong.