Happy Birthday Jacob!

Jacob is 12 - how is this possible?  Jacob had a super birthday complete with a family party and a swimming party with his friends.  He got camping stuff for Boy Scouts and Star Wars stuff to add to his extensive collection.  James made him a super cool adventure cake with a tent, motorcycles and campfire.  Jacob is the finest brother and son anyone could ask for.  He is my right arm when ever I need help and his sisters all look to him for help and for someone to play with.  Now that he is 12 we are out of the 'hiring a babysitter' stage of life - until he has a social life that interfers with my date nights...hopefully Kathryn will be old enough to keep a lid on things at home by then.  We are grateful and blessed to have Jacob in our home.  Happy birthday Jacob! 

Samantha's Wagon

For months leading up to her birthday, Samantha had been asking for a wagon.  We had planned to get one for her and I went shopping the week of her birthday.  Have you priced wagons lately?  Let's just say inflation has hit the wagon market pretty hard.  We looked on E-bay and found a brand new one that was resonably priced.  We ordered it, but it wasn't here in time for her big day - you would think after being a parent for 12 years I would have shopped earlier and ordered it in advance and it would have been here in time, I guess I am still learning...  Samantha had a super day on her birthday, she never mentioned the wagon and I thought she had forgotten all about it.  However, at the end the day she said, "it's still my birthday until I get a wagon".  We agreed with her readily and were amazed at her complete assurance that since she had asked for a wagon she would surely get one for her birthday.  The wagon finally arrived several days later.  Each day she would go around the house singing, "it's still my birthday until I get a wagon".  After opening her wagon and helping Jacob assemble it, she said, "now my birthday is over".  What a joy she is in our home!

Happy Birthday Samantha!

It is hard to believe Samantha is 3 years old.  She is a joy to our family, full of happiness and fun.  It is a blessing to watch her learn and grow.  We love you Samantha!

Happy Fourth of July!

One of the advantages of living in Alabama is that we can set off our own fireworks on the 4th of July.  We spent the day at the Farmer's Market, came home and relaxed, went swimming, ate hamburgers, watermelon and ice cream cones and put on our own firework show.  It was a lot of fun. 

Kathryn and Carol go to Girl Scout Camp

Last week Kathryn and I went to camp with her Girl Scout troop.  We had a super time.  We climbed rock walls, learned to shoot a bow and arrow, went canoing, went swimming, played in a creek, roasted marshmellows and had a super fun time.

Farmer's Market

We now have a booth at our local Farmer's Market.  It is a small market - only 20 vendors or so.  The customers are plentiful and we are having a great time doing it.  Here are a couple of pictures of what our table looks like.  Not too many veges yet, but we should be really cooking in the coming weeks.  We are mostly focusing on selling our beef and chicken.  All the kids help out.  Sarah is in charge of collecting, washing and setting the eggs on the table, she gets to keep the proceeds from egg sales.  Jacob and Kathryn are both selling cookies which they make.  After paying me for supplies they get to keep the proceeds.  It is a lot of fun and since we do it as a family that adds to the pleasure.  Check out the local Farmer's Market where ever you are, my experience is that the vendors are really nice people and it is always nice to buy things locally grown.

Rock 'n Roll Girls

The girls went to a birthday party that sent inflatable guitars home with each girl.  What fun to have our own rock and roll band!