The Kids!

Animals

Conor, on his very best behavior at Northwest Seed & Pet.

Conor helping Gabrian follow suit.

Gabrian, needing very little encouragement, joins right in.

They were cocker spaniel puppies - cute as can be!

Long-Overdue Halloween Pictures

I have to work Monday nights, so Michael drug all the kids to my office to get ready for Halloween.  We only got grainy camera phone pictures before Andrew and Mandy were anxious to go join friends and we went trick-or-treating.  (Wynn declined to wear "silly garments.")

The "Big" Birthday

Gabrian admires the personalized sign.

He's so BIG!

Ari

Gabrian

Can you hear the giggles?

Preschool BFFs

Gabrian

Cameron

Andrew!  

Mikayla, Ari, Heidi

Gabrian, Oscar, Cooper

Olivia, Megan, Gabrian

Thomas, Cameron

Ice cream cake

Regular cake

Finally, the presents they've waited so long for.

Did I mention that he is BIG?

Presents, presents.

Wynn asked to not be photographed.

Denise snuck one picture.  She got caught.

Gabrian's "Little" Birthday

Dignified Pooch

Conor's 12th Birthday

The never-old multiply-wrapped present trick.

Conor took 3 dozen glazed donuts to class for his "little" birthday.  Since he decided that the evening in advance, I had to go to multiple stores to collect them.  He wanted Krispy Kremes, but um, no.  Too expensive and nowhere near us.  

He's reached the age where he wants "big" presents, so he only gets one from us!  Enjoying his iPod touch -wishing he had an iTunes gift card.

Ari's "Little" Birthday

With Wynn home, four of our children now have birthdays within 29 days (9/30 - 10/28).  Because birthdays fall on weekdays and soccer days, and there aren't enough weekends to fit everything in, we handle the birthday marathon like this.  Each child has a "little" birthday on the calendar date of their birthday.  On this day, they get to take treats for their classmates, choose the dinner menu, have a small treat and birthday song with the family, and open a gift.  On some other day that fits in with the hectic family schedule, they will have their "big" birthday, which includes friends, more cake, and more gifts.  Gabrian and Ari are still young enough they don't totally hate sharing their "big" birthday.  That will be tomorrow.  Ari gets birthday cake, Gabrian gets ice cream cake, and they both get rowdy friends to jump with them at Jump N Party, an inflatable playground.

This is Ari's "little" birthday.  Stylish hat courtesy of Sunshine Daycare.

Conor, 6th Grade

23rd Consecutive Year Enjoying the Spokane Fair

I have some of the cutest kids in the world.

I really do.

I had to count that twice! Yep, 23rd year. The first year, Denise was Ari's age.

Andrew, Mandy, Conor, and (Conor's friend) Troy all avoided the camera and disappeared to "big kid rides." It was beautiful, hot weather and a wonderful day!

I almost forgot the obligatory "sleeping Ari being wheeled around" picture!