Happy Birthday Isabelle!

This day was long awaited by the special girl, beginning the official count down 20 days earlier.

It was definitely a day about "me" ~ but that is what a birthday is about afterall isnt it?

 

 Yoghurt parfaits to start the morning off thanks to the little umbrellas

 that came from our drinks

(what I am saying? I mean Uncle Shannon's drinkS)

in Hawaii.

 

 

The "decorating committee" had a grand time with the left over crepe paper from a previous birthday.

 



 

 Sausage, Uncle Ben's "hot" sausage, Applesauce, Bread and Carrot sticks for dinner.

 

My Flower Cake!

 

Isabelle: where are my new boots Mom? I didnt even try them on.

Around the corner stomped Louis, quite proud!

Isabelle still has yet to try them. Louis even had to wear them outside yesterday. 

 

 

I wanted to have the perfect moment and sit down altogether and look at Isabelles baby album and remember ~ but alas this was more fun to watch. 

 

(The next day) Isabelle kept prodding: We have to go get the mail, Grandma said she sent my pkg and it would be here on my birthday! We had got a fresh new 4+ inches of snow so off Drew and Isabelle went to get the mail and awaited pkg.

Of course Isabelle insisted they take the sled to bring the pkg home in 

(she knew as soon as she told Drew she couldnt walk he would pull her in the sled).

He ended up pulling her all the way up and back.

I rocked Louis to sleep as we watched their 1/2 hr trek. I loved it.

Isabelle I hope you realize what a hero your brother is to you!

You could put your hands in the sled Isabelle to make it easier!

 

 

 

Reading Grandma's card to Isabelle.

 

We love pkgs from Grandma. Thank you Grandma, you're the best!

Making the best of the highchair.

Normally....or should I say 4 kids ago, I would have gotten upset!

I am glad I saw this as cute.

I can always throw the curtains in the wash now can't I? 

 The funny thing is he didn't know anyone one noticed him;

nobody did, except me and the camera.



Perfect Sunday Moments

Today was just a great Sunday.

Children, near angelic in Mass, displayed no whining upon return

that they were starving, and we had breakfast set and on the table

all prepared to sit down: scrambled eggs, fruit and the kids favorite: sausage from Grandpa in MT.

Then as we enjoyed Christmas music on this last Sunday of Christmas I noticed the kids all busying themselves in their own way. How pleasant.

 

 

Helping make cheese bread for Aunt Jaclyn's baby shower.

 

Isabelle's favorite past time: drawing, this time a card for Drew that he feels better.

 

Once again....Dad, I think you are concentrating too hard!

 

Hawaii

Almost every day we would end up at the same place on the beach to sit in the sun, read and snorkel.

 

 These big turtles were right below our hotel in the water.

 This was almost a nightly ritual also.

 For A. Allison and U, Shan it started one morning with breakfast!

 Watching the whales.

It was really exciting looking out and seeing the blow holes

then the flip of the tail.

 Smelling the flowers,

Dinner on the beach. What good memories!

I remember this night especially because U. Shan and A. Allison said it was a

toast to our new litte bun in the oven. .

So, little one: #5 you were the "lucky one" to be able to enjoy Hawaii with Mom and Dad!

 

 

Grandma's visit!

 

Leading up to Christmas...we had building excitement: only 4 more days till Christmas, and only 5 more days till Grandma comes! 

Day after Christmas she arrived!  ------ with a suitcase packed with surpirises. 

 

Louis was enamored----but I guess not quite as much as Pierce----after about 1/2 hour

he thought he'd test how far he could throw the animals.

 

Dress up girls ----- all her own! 

A tea set that Mom is going to enjoy using as well.

We found lots of reasons to have tea partys!



Goggles for everyone.



Even Mom!

 

Getting outside and enjoying the snow while it lasts!

A push from Isabelle

Enjoying our own "backhill"

A push from Hannah

 

A push from Dad!

Does anyone see I lost my mitten?  

This will make up for it! WWheeee!

Anything to spice up the short hill! 

 

Back inside-----just what Isabelle has been waiting for:

drawing with Grandma.

Though Grandma is not in the pic, she had the girls singing beautifully by the time she left,

even Louis is exaggeratingly trying to participate.

I believe they were singing Allelulia. 

Thanks Grandma for enjoying our Christmas cookies with us.

 

After Sunday Mass----- Grandma always gets us to take a good family picture together.

Thank you!

 

Thank you, thank you Grandma. We love you!