Happy 4th Birthday, Karson!!!!

February 22, 2012 my baby boy turned 4!!!! (gulp, gulp...) Being our caboose, each of his milestones seem to hit me just a little harder. :-) What a privilege to be a parent!!


I like to let my kids choose what kind of cake they would like. He has been telling me for several weeks that he wanted a monkey cake. Thanks to pinterest, that request was granted!!Every monkey needs a few bananas.

Karson brings so much joy and happiness to our family!!! He loves to keep things very neat and organized; loves to help out around the house with laundry, dishes, cleaning; is his brothers biggest fan; loves popsicles and icecream sandwiches; loves his BB gun; and is just such a sweet little fellow!!
Khara, Kelsey, and Kaden were out of school on Monday, the day we had his party, so they had fun making some cute birthday banners.

Oh, and the air compressor in our dining room?? :-) Well, Mark is working on putting new tile in two of our bathrooms. He volunteered to move his equipment to the garage but I figured the least I could do was encourage him to keep his tools close and handy while the project is being completed. ;-)

The sign Kaden made for Karson.


Karson is at a great age for gifts. I think every gift he opened was met with a very enthusiastic, "AWESOME"!!! :-)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KARSON!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

I just love Valentine's Day; always have-- hopefully, always will!!! :-) So many sweet, fun little things to celebrate!!!

Addressing those Valentine cards!!

Karson really was enjoying it, he just looks like he wasn't. ;-)


Kelsey wanted to make a special treat for her classmates. We made rice krispie treats: cut them out in heart shapes, drizzled them with choc., added a few sprinkles and she had a cute snack.


Kelsey's class party.

Makin' another batch of sugar cookies. Again, Karson LOVES those sprinkles. :-)


Balloons, lots and lots of balloons. These for the church Valentine party,


These, for four extra special children!!!!!

A succulent supper of crab legs, twice baked potatoes, brown sugared green beans, and garlic cheese biscuits cooked with my daughter at my side and shared with the most incredible spouse and children EVER made for a very---

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!!!

Christmas/New Year's in Michigan 2011

Every year around New Year's weekend we enjoy Christmas in Michigan.

Mark happened to be reading the paper and saw that we could get free tickets to the Children's Museum. We gladly claimed that offer.

After we had been at the Children's Museum a little while, Mark and Gene happily agreed to watch the kids while Tina, Amanda, and I went and did a little shopping. Great guys!!! :-)



Then, when Greg and Stephanie arrived it was gift time.





Ryan and Khara

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A great way to top off the holiday season. Then, it was back to Missouri for school and work.

Christmas 2011-- Home

It has taken me a little longer than I anticipated to finish my Christmas posts. I'm finishing them up today!!! MARCH-- is just around the corner!! ;-)


Enjoying one of our Christmas traditions-- visiting the local museum. My kids LOVE this place!! The elementary students make ornaments for the Christmas trees on display. Kelsey and Kaden had fun finding their ornaments.

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Nothing like making, baking, and frosting sugar cookies with four children!!!



I had thought we might share some of the cookies with our neighbors, but when the frosting started being sampled, my plans went another direction. ;-)

Lots of frosting and even more sprinkles-- makes for some oh so yummy cookies!!! :-)
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Our plan was to open gifts Christmas Eve. morning. With a little bit of coaxing, we decided to let the kids open their gifts from each other and one gift from us the night before.
Ready to open the first gifts!!


Karson's gifts to Khara and Kelsey.


Saturday morning.


Karson-- thrilled to have his own BB gun!!


Kelsey and Kit!!

An IPOD touch made Khara VERY happy!!!!

Kaden and Karson wanted their tents to be set up right away. Karson ended up sleeping in his several nights, with his BB gun right beside him. :-)


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Enjoying the day at my parents with Philip and Dana, Elijah, and Tanner. More gifts!!


Karson LOVES!!! games and was showing Elijah one of his favorites!

Cousins!!

Playing with one of Karson's Christmas gifts. Play-dough dentist set!!

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Wonderful Christmas memories-- truly it is, the most Wonderful time of the Year!!!