Happy Birthday Parker

Today was our Parker's 6th Birthday! I know I say this every time one of my kids has a birthday, but man I cannot believe that he is already 6 years old. The kids did not have school today so, it was kind of a long day that was filled with arguing and fighting. However, Parker was so excited that it was his Birthday. He kept saying, "I'm 6 now" it was so darn cute.

For his Birthday we decided that we were going to go to the movies. I knew it would be easier then a Party at home (not necessarily cheaper though). He has 2 little friends in his Kindergarten class that he just loves and he always talks about them so, I told him that he could invite them. Also, he has a friend Lucas that he loves playing with and Lucas has a brother who is good friends with Bradyn so, he invited both of them too. It was my brother's weekend to have his boys Jackson and Wesley so, luckily they were able to come too. The boys have been so excited all week for this and I was too. I knew that we were going to have a ton of fun. We decided to make a goody bag for each child to have during the movie. We had paper lunch bags with some candy, each boy got their own pop and we also had lunch bags that we filled with popcorn. It was great!

The Birthday Boy with his Buddies

Bradyn with his Buds

Even Logan had a friend there (his cousin Wesley)

The Whole Crew After the Movie

After the movie we brought all the boys back to our house for cupcakes and presents. However, as we were getting in the car to go home Parker had been complaining that he ate to much and that his stomach hurt. While I was loading my car (we took two cars since I can't fit 9 boys in my van), I could tell in Parker's face that he wasn't doing well. I asked him if he was going to throw up and he nodded yes. I hurried him out of the car as quickly as possible and just barely got him out before he totally threw up. I felt so bad that this happened to him on his Birthday, but I was just so thankful that we weren't still in the Theater and that we hadn't started driving yet. After he threw up he felt much better and said that his stomach didn't hurt anymore (well of course not, since the contents of it was now on the ground in the parking lot).

When we got back home he perked up for presents. Grandma was there because she was watching Audrey (Thank You Grandma) and Grandpa was there because we had him come with us to the Movies (this way there was one more adult amongst the sea of boys). Uncle Jason and Aunt Crystal came to pick up Jackson and Wesley and Melissa and Jim came too because they just plain love Parker. We had a great group there to sing Parker Happy Birthday and I think he loved it. I am so happy that his friends, brothers and a couple of his cousins were able to come with us tonight and help Parker have a very fun Birthday (except for the whole throwing up thing).

For anyone that may be wondering, the boys were awesome during the movie. So well behaved!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PARKER!!!!!!!! WE LOVE YOU AND ARE SO HAPPY THAT YOU ARE PART OF OUR FAMILY!

BLUE SKIES!!!!!!

WHOEVER SAID THAT IT ISN'T SUNNY IN MICHIGAN DURING THE WINTER!!!!

New Preschool!!!!!!

Happy Boy!!

Today Logan started a new preschool!!!!! The week before Christmas I went and had him evaluated for a speech and language program with the school district. During the evaluation they agreed that he qualified for one of their speech and language preschool classrooms. Last week we took a tour of the school and then on another day we meet with the teach and speech therapist and talked about some goals for him.

During the evaluation they tested other things like his comprehension and with that he tested average, if not slightly above. So, we know that when he is talking to us he is answering appropriately, but the problem is he can't articulate very well. So, our goals with this preschool setting is to work on his articulation. As his mother, I can understand him I would say at least 85-90% of the time, but I know that other people have a hard time understanding what he is saying. We really want him to start Kindergarten in the fall and I want to give him the best advantage possible. My good friend Penny has always said such wonderful things about this school because her daughters have also gone there. (However, they did not participate in the speech and language program.) I feel really good about this and I am excited for Logan to get some more help with his speech. It is funny because even with the amount of times that we say "What?" to him, he very rarely gets frustrated with us. I feel he has really been blessed in that aspect. We just love him so much and are just so happy that he gets to be a part of this preschool.

By the way, he really loved his first day. Today was gym day and he got to ride some bikes and go on the obstacle course. (His brothers are jealous that his gym has bikes that you can ride on.)

It's That Time of Year Again!!!!!

Well, it is that dreaded time of year again. Wrestling Season has begun!!!!!! Actually, I'm really not dreading it like last year. Last year, Les worked with the High School team which meant starting in November and ending in March. Not to mention the fact that they had tournaments every Saturday all day.

This year he is coaching the Middle School team (the kids he actually teaches during the day).
This means they start in January and finish at the end of February. No practice during Christmas break and only like 2 Saturday tournaments. Horray!!!!!! He gets to do something he loves and I don't have to give up too much time with my husband. Works for me!!!!!!!

Go Team!!!!!!


****The picture above is of Les when he was wrestling in High School. He is the stud in purple. If you click on the picture you can see the detail much better!

IKEA.....Yum Yum!!!

Me and a small group of my friends decided to meet at Ikea this morning for Breakfast. One of the ladies is going out of town for a few weeks so, I wanted to hang out before she left. Not to mention, I knew that they were serving their $0.99 breakfast free. It is free because a week before Christmas they had some water problems that caused them to shut down the store for a few days. To make it up to their customers they are offering free breakfast. I am not sure when that ends, but I think it is still going on for the rest of the week. Anyway, so me, Logan and Audrey each got a free breakfast and then when I ordered a side of french toast they told me that it was free too for the kids. AWESOME!!!!! We got 3 $0.99 breakfasts, 2 orders of french toast sticks and a drink for Logan and it was all FREE!!!!! That is just the way I like it.

When I was up at the counter ordering our food, the worker told me that kids could eat free ALL DAY (from their little kids menu). So I told him that I would see them at dinner time. Sure enough, I packed the kids and Les into the car and we headed to IKEA for family night and dinner. The kids were excited and I didn't have to make anything (yes mom, I do cook). Whoo hoo!!!!! Not to mention, Audrey did awesome and ate all her food (something she hasn't been so great about lately).

Sometimes its the little things that can really just make your day!