Helping Shovel the Snow

We have gotten more snow than we have in past years,

which has given a lot of opportunities for the kids to play 

in the snow and for these three young men to help shovel.

Happy Birthday our FOUR YEAR OLD

Our youngest (for another 8 weeks or so) turned four over the weekend.  

Helping mom make his cake.

Both boys licking the batter

Since we did not have an official party this year,

we took a couple cousins out for lunch the day before his

birthday.  This cousin below he calls his "best friend!"

Farmer J with Cousin B about his age.

The actually morning of his birthday - 

opening presents from his siblings.

We made his cake later in the day 

and I let him stick some construction vehicles on top.

He still loves excavators, back hoes, diggers

and really any construction vehicle.

Big sister found some decorations from past 

parties and decorated the table for him for dinner and cake.

Mom and Dad with birthday boy.

Love his smile below!!

Opening presents...

This guy went with his dad to get the presents, so

I love his expression below as he watches his brother

open the gift he knows his brother will love.

He is SO excited for him.

A few cousins stopped by to wish Excavator Man a 

Happy Birthday and enjoy cake with us.

Blowing out his candles

Playing with his new Star Wars

lightsaber

It was a nice birthday.

We are so thankful to God for this little man.

He brings so many smiles to our days.

He is a thinker - always asking a lot of questions.

He loves wrestling with his brothers, playing

with his Magna Tiles, playing crazy eights with whoever

will take him on, and listening to anyone read him a story.

Love this guy SO SO MUCH!

Date night

It was finally this guys turn to go out with his dad.

I think they just ran some errands, but I know some chocolate candy was 

included in their evening, so he was QUITE excited and came home all smiles.

Art

Date night

Dad and I have been enjoying our weekly date nights

with our kiddos.  We have a rotation going and one night a week, 

one of us goes out with one child, the other stays in with another,

and the other three usually watch a video or play the WII together.

This night it was Tiger Lilly's night in with dad. 

They were making homemade popcorn and going to play some games.

Fancy E and I were scheduled to go out, but

when we left the roads were a little too slippery for this 

pregnant mamma to be excited about.

So we stopped at HyVee close by, grabbed some

ice cream and came back home and enjoyed our time together.

We painted toe nails and she tried on some fancy jewelry

And of course enjoyed our ice cream!!!

Basketball

A few pictures of BIG J playing basketball.

His season ended the end of January.

He is shooting shot on right corner below 

(he made that one!)

Puppy

His big sister knows he LOVES puppies,

so she made him a puppy mask and

puppy claws out of construction paper.

I am Growing

Over 30 weeks pregnant now,

my belly is growing...

baby is moving more and more

This guy has a lot of questions...

"When that baby going to come out?"

And 

"When will your belly be flat again"

And

"How that baby get in there?"

And

"How that baby going to come out?"

And

"Why we having that baby anyways?"

So LOVE all his questions and am thankful he

is only 3 (almost 4!!) so simple answers satisfy his curiosity.

Buddies

It is fun to see these two enjoying playing more

and more together.