Fireworks

We did the fireworks quickly this time and I must say, with a bunch of little kids in tow, it was the perfect way to see them.  We arrived down at the Greenway just before dark, had a little birthday cake thingy for Dan, and then watched the fireworks.  We were able to get a pretty good seat and the kids were so excited.  Too bad the fireworks lasted too long.  I loved it, but about 3/4 of the way into them all the kids were bored and wanted to go home. Really!  My kids are so weird.  I guess I'll have to work on that.

Gracie enjoying the show.

Fireworks!  Pretty!

Sarah and I watching the fireworks.  Adam enjoyed them as long as someone was holding him.

Because the kids weren't too interested in watching the fireworks, we decided to pack up and be ready to leave just at the end.  It's amazing the difference it made.  We had very little traffic problems and were able to get home in record time.  All was going so well until about 5 minutes from the house when Kenny realized he no longer had his phone.  He was sure he had it at the fireworks so, he dropped us off at the house and I put the kids to bed while he went back to look for it.  Amazingly enough he found the phone, unharmed, right where we had been sitting.  It must have fallen out of his pocket or something.  We were so happy to have it back and though the kids claimed boredom during the fireworks show, they all loved it and want to go next year.

Dan's (Other) Cake

The cake from Walmart.   Had a rough ride to the fireworks.  :)

Because it was the 4th of July when we celebrated Dan's birthday, we decided to take his cake to the fireworks.  Life's been so crazy lately with Kenny being gone and the uncertainty of everything that I just decided this year to forgo making the cake and go ahead and buy one at the store.  It was a hard decision, I don't know why I care so much about the cake, but I think it was best for me (and everyone else.)

We didn't want to sit and wait for the fireworks forever because we knew the kids wouldn't enjoy that so we purposely went late to the fireworks.  We still managed to get a good seat, but it didn't leave us much time for Dan's cake.  We sang to him, he blew out the candles, and everyone took about 3 bites before the fireworks began.  It turned out to be just enough time and a lot of fun for the birthday boy.

Dan couldn't wait to blow out the candles so he started picking at the frosting with his fingers.

Blowing out his 2 candles.

Gracie enjoying her cake bites.

Cute little Hannah eating cake.

A great picture of Sarah enjoying her cake.  :)   I think I caught her off guard.

Presents For Dan (Finally)

We finally got around to having Dan's party on July 4th.  Kenny got home from Washington on the 1st, but Dan wasn't feeling really well so we decided to wait on his party.  Finally, on the 4th, we decided to have the party whether he has feeling good or not.  As you can see in the pictures, he wasn't feeling the best, but hopefully he enjoyed it anyway.

Dan with his gifts.  We're such bad parents this year, we didn't even bother to wrap them.  Sorry Dan!

Daddy helping Dan open his tunnel.

Dan liking his tunnel, but not quite sure what to do with it.

Adam showing Dan how to use the tunnel.

Now he gets it and enjoys it.

Dan was very interested in his water toy until Ben wanted to be "helpful" and squirted Dan with the ball.

This is what Dan thought of that.  Poor kid!

Adam (on the other hand) LOVED the new toy.  Then again, he LOVES water of any kind.

Daddy trying to help Dan learn to love is toy.

That wasn't too successful.  He really just wanted to play in his tunnel.

The other kids, on the other hand, loved the new toy.

Dan and Gracie enjoying some Chicken in a Bisket while the other kids played with the water ball.

I'm happy to report that after Dan got some sleep and became less grumpy he actually did enjoy his water ball.  The tunnel has been a huge hit and he even plays with his cars.  So even though the opening of the presents didn't go so well, they were good choices for him.  Man I love this little guy.

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.)