Luke’s 2nd Birthday

On August 3, 2011 Luke turned two! He spent the morning shopping for his birthday party on Saturday, then in the afternoon we had a cake for him with our family. He did so good at blowing out the candles. He loved that we were singing to him. Here he is enjoying his birthday cake on his birthday.

 

Then yesterday, we had a party for Luke with all of our family. I think Luke had a good day. We did a Super Why party because that is his favorite show right now. He always asks for “Ooper Aye, Ooper Aye.”

 

Here is his cake that I made for him.

Sissy and UmBubby got Luke his first toy gun for his birthday.  Here he is shooting Isabelle. He learned how to say, “Hands Up” and play dead when he gets shot.

Here he is enjoying his new Buzz hat and his Finn McMissile car that Aunt Sarah, Uncle Josh, and Connor got him.

 

Here is a video of Luke blowing out his candles at his party.

 

Thanks to everyone who came to his party and thank you for all of the presents.

Rushing/Stevenson/Zuhlke Family Canoe Trip - 2011

So last year we all took a canoe trip and had so much fun that we decided to do it again this year.  We picked a date months ago in hopes that everyone would be able to go this year. And until last week everyone was going to be able to make it. Then, due to a funeral and some work things, Mike, Uncle Bill, Aunt Debbie, and Billy couldn’t make it. They were all greatly missed; but we still had fun! And let me just apologize now for somehow (even with ALL of the photos that Will made me take) not getting any good photos of Donna and Kelly.

Will and Steve took forever to blow up the floats that they all brought from home. Then we all had to sit around and wait for Will to take Steve, Angela, and a couple of kids to the drop off point. And after seeing them drive off with Steve in the back of the truck holding down the tubes….

we were a little scared that Will had lost his load.

He eventually came back and we got on the bus to go to our drop off point with the Adventures Unlimited employees. Then it took forever for the other large groups to get unloaded and out of there and then to get our canoes (because Will and Steve wouldn’t help unload stuff). After a slow start to our day, we were FINALLY canoeing and tubing down the Coldwater Creek.  Here is our group picture.

Here are some random shots from throughout the day…

Graci and Lydia in a float.

Logan posing for the camera.

Kayden enjoyed digging in the mud.

Grandma and Parker…

Steve and Angela…

Will and Isabelle…

Matthew and Carter raced the whole day to stay out in front of the group. Several times I heard them saying that they were seeing alligators.

Anna spent most of the day floating down the water in her tube.

Shannyn had the only kid that had to ‘potty’, so she got to stand in the woods and hold the toilet paper.

Here is Shannyn and Hannah lounging their way down the river.

For awhile, Scott had this rambunctious group ‘battling’ their way down the river.

Jessica and Parker were just enjoying the down time during one of our stops.

We did see at least two snakes, a couple of turtles, a dog, and people that kept floating into trees. No one tipped over and everyone made it back safe and sound. It was an eventful day I guess. Can’t wait to do it again next year.

Camping with Grandma!

Last week, all of the grandkids (except Luke) went camping with Grandma.

 

Grandma and the kids arrived on Wednesday and had a fun night of playing, swimming, unpacking and getting all set up.  Will and I came up on Thursday with the camper to be there just in case Grandma needed mean ole Aunt Kate to show up. Here they are eating their spaghetti in the cabin.

On Saturday, Grandma had planned a family day get together. Aunt Judy showed up first and made pancakes for everyone (I think it took three hours with all of the batter that Will mixed up).

Then we had a ‘fun’ day of hanging out, eating homemade ice-cream, and swimming [and some of us, whose names shall not be mentioned (Jessica and Mike) took naps ;) ].

During this time all of the kids made tie-dyed t-shirts and we of course had to pose for a few (or a hundred) pictures.

Also during the day Lala took all the girls to get pedicures. I think Grandma was a little embarrassed by how dirty their feet were when the lady lifted up their feet.

On Sunday, Grandma packed up all of the kids and brought them up to the church for our family day cookout and games. Here they are enjoying the fun-jumper.

During the time that Grandma and the kids were hanging out, me and Luke were in the air-conditioned camper watching tv, playing, and napping. He found quite a few little hideouts without the girls there to get in his way. His favorite was on the ledge behind the couch. He liked to watch tv up there.

He also liked to lay down under the table. This is what he did when he started to get tired.

And when he was good and relaxed he was piled up on all of the pillows with his arms behind his head just chillin’.

 

After a few days, all of the cousins were getting on each other’s nerves, but they had a good time nonetheless and can’t wait to go again. I do think though that Grandma has decided to shorten it to a few days instead of a week next time.

 

And we won’t even mention the broken towel rack, generator, awning, camper, truck, and computer that this same week resulted in.

Isabelle’s 8th Birthday Celebration

My baby girl turned eight a couple of weeks ago. I can’t believe how much has happened and changed in those eight years. Isabelle’s looks and personality is changing so much at this time. We definitely have our moments of stubborn defiance, but for she is the sweetest and most tender-hearted kid. She loves everyone and though she is a follower and easily led by other people, she loves everyone!

 

I pray that she continues to love and share with everyone and doesn’t lose that sweetness as she enters those ‘difficult years’ as I have heard so many other parents call them.  Please join with me in praying that she trusts God and lives to serve him and share him with her friends.

 

For years now I have told Isabelle that she couldn’t spend the night with anyone until she was in the third grade. Well…now that Isabelle is in the third grade, what do you think she wanted for her birthday party? Yep! A slumber party.  In an effort to not go crazy with the parties this year, I told her that she could have two friends over.  She was so excited.

 

The morning of the party, she and Anna spent the whole day at the window looking for her friends to show up.

Here are the cups that we did instead of goody bags this time.

Leave it to my child to pick these simple cupcakes for her party. With all of the fancy cakes that I do for everyone else, Isabelle just chooses plain old cupcakes with Squinkies sitting on top of each one for her friends to take home. Here is the cupcakes.

Before the ‘slumber party’ began, we had the cake and presents so that Anna could be there. Here is a group shot of the kids at the party part.

Isabelle got a new toy box and room décor for her birthday. Here is Isabelle, Skylar and Jada in her new toy box.

The girls had fun playing dress up.

And here is the girls in their matching shirts that Jada gave Isabelle and Skylar for their birthdays. They loved these.

And here they are all snuggled up at 10:30 at night. They didn’t go to sleep until around 4:00 AM though…

They all had a good time and Isabelle can’t wait to do it again. Now…what can I tell her to make her believe that she only gets one sleepover a year?!?!

Styx River with the Baileys

A few weeks ago we spent some time at Styx River Campground with our cousins Joshua, Sarah, and Connor. The girls love spending time with family, especially little cousins that they can mother (a.k.a. boss and not be bossed).

 

Here is Joshua grilling hamburgers.

The kids journeyed down to the creek and wanted to make a sand castle. Will called it a mud castle instead. Looks really gross if you ask me.

Here is Isabelle’s Little Mermaid pose.

Here are the three kids standing in the creek. At this point Isabelle noticed the algae floating down the river and wasn’t real thrilled with being in the water.

Aunt Sarah brought bubbles…

Here we all are hanging out in the heat in front of the Bailey’s pop-up.

This is what the grown-ups did to occupy our time while the kids watched movies at night.

We also attempted a nature hike…I forgot how much I hate bugs, woods, and being hot. I regretted it five minutes in. Joshua taught Luke how to say “Yah Snake” so when we walked through the woods Luke repeatedly said, “Yah Snake!” It was cute.

 

We had a great time being with family and can’t wait to do it again next year. Oh, and thanks Joshua for the beautiful sight-seeing tour of Foley that you took us on in search of a Wal-Mart. I am sure there was one right down the road if we had just kept going a little bit.

Luke Reads to Isabelle!

Luke has watched the girls read enough books to figure out how it is done.  Here is Luke reading to Isabelle!