Some Serious Spring Fever

Yeah...so I guess my kids are desperate to get outside!! Gordon came up to the sliding glass door and plastered himself against it lamenting, "I just have to go outside today, MOM!!" I conceded but with some reservations...it's starting to "look" like spring...as in there is actual sunshine...but it sure doesn't feel like spring-so everyone had to have hats/hoods, coats/sweatshirts, and gloves...it did look a little odd with the kids coloring with sidewalk chalk in gloves but they had a good time so I didn't complain!

My boys love to draw...Gordon's pictures get very detailed and I am just glad that I can sometimes make out what it is Otter is drawing...Ellie just loves to come around and "help" the boys with their pictures...needless to say she got pushed down a lot-we're working on that but I can understand how frustrating it would be to be in the middle of something "great" leave to get a different piece of chalk and come back to it "ruined"!!

Gordon's a whole hand!

Our oldest boy just turned 5 in February...and he is loving flashing his whole hand at anyone who cares to know how old he is!!

Here we are en route to the discount movie theater where we were taking the family to enjoy "Bolt" then we headed home to have some Pizza and Birthday cake! We didn't do anything too fancy since really he didn't care...he just wanted chocolate frosting and "candles to wish on....and presents!!"

WELCOME COWBOYS & COWGIRLS!
So I was pretty excited about this party and really didn't stress about the fact that I had 12 5ish year olds being dropped off at my house...I thought, "No big deal!" What I didn't count on is that Gordon invited all the friends he liked which meant they probably had a lot in common including activity level--right--that's where it hit me in the rear. I had some of the most adorable wild funny and LOUD children over....most of my cute games and acitivities were vetoed by the boys who were intent at waging all sorts of battles in the basement and spilling out into other areas of the house but they entertained the girls quite well...Everyone had a blast and our house was trashed but it was all worth it! One other thing I didn't count on was how much other kids eat...my kids are birds but dang those boys went through almost 4 large pizzas on their own...we had to send Steve back for some more for the few adults that stayed to help out!
(THANKS to Steve, Melanie, Allie, Laura, and Anthony for all your help!)

Steve the "cattle hand" told cowboy stories around the "fire" while the cooks got the grub ready!


Some of the girls and younger children playing..."there's a snake in my boot"

We had a little after party that night before bed...Gordon in hindsight was really sad he didn't get to "win" all the games so we played all of them and had a lot of fun doing it!000

I just want to say how much we LOVE our oldest son...he is true treasure in our family--A diamond! We are so proud of him and just LOVE LOVE LOVE him! He is so talented and really tries to do what's right even when it's really hard! We are so proud of what a good boy he is becoming. Thanks for being our boy Gordy!
Love, Mom & Dad

Here is our little sweetheart through the years!