Our Own Airshow

On the 27th of June my kids were acting especially tired so I decided an early bedtime of 8:30 was in order for that day. So I had the kids come inside around 8:00 and we started getting them ready for bed. Just as I was about to send them downstairs, we heard a plane over our house. On Dan's birthday, the 23rd, we'd had a crop duster flying over the field behind our house and it sounded as though he was back to finish the job. As much as I wanted the kids in bed, I knew they wanted to go see the plane, so I allowed them outside in the PJ's to chase after the plane as it flew over our house over and over.

Ben and Gracie chasing after the plane.

Gracie and Hannah

Adam was in bed asleep, but Dan was terrified of the plane. It flew really low sometimes and the noise scared him. He'd grab on to me and bury his head in my shoulder. Sarah ended up taking him in the house because it was so scared. I guess it's good he was so young last year when we went to see the Blue Angels practice. The kids didn't end up getting in bed until 9:30, but that's OK. They (minus Dan) had fun and really, how often do you get your own 'air show' (as Ben called it) right in your backyard.

Look Who's 2

DanDan with his cake.

Dan's birthday was on a Thursday this year. That meant Daddy was still in Washington and we didn't want to have a party without him. At the same time we didn't want to just ignore that Dan was now 2, so I decided to make a cake and allow him to open Grandma and Grandpa's birthday present. I was stressed, you know single parenting 6 kids, and I had asked the older kids to take Dan outside while I put frosting on his cake. Less than 2 minutes later they all came in asking (more like begging) to go play with friends. I then had a bad mommy moment. After they wouldn't listen, I decided to let them go to their friends. Sarah was the only one who stayed to help me with Dan. Therefore, Sarah was the only one who was able to come to Dan's little party (hence the bad mommy moment.)

When I was done frosting and writing on Dan's cake (it looked really bad, but he didn't seem to mind) I had Sarah and Dan come in. We sang to Dan, which he really liked and then he got to blow out his 1 candle (that's all I had.) It was REALLY lame, but he was so happy and really, isn't that what birthdays are about. After he blew out candles it was time to eat the cake.

Dan's really badly decorated cake.

Blowing out his candle.

I cut up a little piece of cake for Dan and Sarah and immediately Dan put his face right in the cake. It was so quick I didn't even have time to grab the camera. I guess he's learned a little about birthdays from his older siblings. Sarah, who is normally too old to put her face in the cake anymore, followed Dan's lead after he told her to. She really is a good big sister.

I didn't get a picture of his putting his face in the cake, but you can see the cake all over his face.

Sarah really went for it.

Dan and Sarah had a lot of fun and I think Dan really enjoyed the attention he got from us. The three other kids were very disappointed when they got home that evening and discovered they had missed the cake. I told them that because they weren't willing to do what they were told and help me with Dan, they weren't allowed to the party. Ben was really mad and both Hannah and Gracie cried, but after talking to them for awhile they understood why they didn't get cake. Surprisingly after that the kids were much better when it came to playing with friends.

Sarah with a clean face and a cute smile.

Dan enjoying his cake. (Notice Gracie in the background, she was so sad she didn't get cake.)