Happy Birthday to Miriam (and Kristy too!)

Miriam and I just celebrated our 836th birthday. Or was that our 368th?
That's what the cakes said, anyway.

Miriam LOVES sharing a birthday with her mother. She wanted to get the number candles this year.

We stretched the celebration out over two days. My Dad came to visit the day before and he brought my grandparents, my sister Michele, and my sister, Jenny.

So, here is the glimpse into our special day...

Miriam helped me assemble our first cake - made the day our visitors came to party. This cake was yellow, with pudding/Cool Whip frosting, with strawberries around the edge.

Miriam spent some of her birthday money on a tiara, earrings, and a ring!

Miriam says, "If you are a princess and you are going to a mascaraed ball, and you don't have a mask, you can just turn your tiara upside down like this!"

Jenny and Michele at the birthday party

Michael, my Dad, and my Grandpa

Miriam hugging her Great Grandma

The gift (from aunt Lori) that got the biggest reaction from Miriam! We even had Cheetos for dinner that night. Miriam got lots of chapter books too. She is almost done with the first one already.

Grandpa with his "Favorite fishing princess."

Here's the close-up:

See that! 368 years old!

Here is our 836 years old version the day of our birthday - it's chocolate with chocolate fudge frosting. (try to ignore the odd wad of tinfoil in the background.)

And this cute shot is after Miriam blew out the candles without me. I re-lighted them so I could have a turn too.

One of my presents was this strange looking whisk. Why do I need another whisk?
well, it's not a whisk. It is a head massager.

see how it works on Adam?

There is no way to describe how this head massager feels. You just have to experience it. It feels really good, but really ticklish at the same time. Michael can't handle it. The kids were hilarious!

Ok, a random photo. Couldn't resist taking a picture of my cute boys and their really long car train.

And when did Olivia's hair get long enough for pigtails?

Four of my silly kids. They are wearing some favorite new socks from Grandpa's DI box.

Anything strange?

Can you see anything strange about this picture?  Something that is not right, and shouldn't be there?
It's just a little boy on his bed, right?

Now look closer.  What does Adam have with him on his bed?

MARKERS!
that's almost as bad as scissors!

Curious George

We rented the Curious George movie this week.  Joshua loves George.  He could watch George all day long, over and over if I let him. 

 I have to admit, that monkey is really cute.  Especially since George reminds me of:

Joshua

Yes, I can definitely see a resemblance!

Same big brown eyes, tiny nose, adorable dimple grin, but most especially the curiosity and knack of getting into trouble!

When I was pregnant with Joshua I used to tease my older kids that we were going to name their baby brother George.  Of course we didn't, but little did I know that the creators of Curious George (way back in 1941) modeled that little monkey after my own 3-year old!  

Visiting Dad

I took my kids to visit my Dad last week.  All my sisters were there too.
Here are some of the pictures my sister, Lori, took of us.

Dad with my sweet boys. (my boys desperately needed a haircut)

Dad with my silly girls. (or should I say my silly Dad with my girls?)

Great picture of Dad and Miss Olivia.

Me, Dad, and my sister Michele and all my kids!

Miriam had her picture taken with everyone with her like this:  

mouth open, tongue out, and arms flying.

Me and my Dad.  

This last photo was taken the day of Mom's funeral.  It is My dad with his five daughters.

ABC Macaroni Boogers

Joshua is learning his ABC's. He usually gets A,B,C,D,E,F,G correct, and then it is all over the place after that. Sometimes I think the ABC's will never end as he repeats H, I, J about a hundred times and adds in the rest of the letters randomly.

For some reason, he started adding the phrase, "macaroni boogers" in the middle of it all. I don't know where he even heard it. Of course the laughter and attention he gets when he says it only encourages him to say "macaroni boogers" more often.

Mom

I have put off making this entry because I don't quite know what to write.

My mother passed away on January 22nd.  

I miss you, Mom.  We will see each other again some day.

The following is a slideshow my uncle put together about my Mom:

or watch it on youtube here.