Spike turns 7!

Since Spike's birthday was on a Saturday this year, we got to do a few extra things! It worked out that his "partner in crime" could spend the night Friday into his BIG day Saturday!

The plan was to pick up the troops after school and head to Dave and Buster's for dinner!

So that's where it starts...

Of course, we MUST race while we're there! You know the trip would not be complete if there were no vehicle (of any kind) involved!

After dinner, we TRIED to get a "family picture" but...

They obviously had NOT had enough playing time! So they had to squeeze some more in! (Yep, that's them all the way over there!)

Oh, here it is! PAUSE for a quick picture. (Some one isn't happy!)

Now here we are BRIGHT and EARLY birthday morning!

Birthdays are NOT complete with out a donut for breakfast, you know!

Oh, pause for a picture with daddy!

Now FINALLY comes present time!

Then cake time! Thanks to Gramma Dale for another FABULOUS cake. He wanted a "Blue Ford Tractor"! I'd say he got it!

Ah, FINALLY a quick picture with Mommy before bedtime!

What a BUSY day! Happy Birthday Buddy! We love you!

PS. We took 72 picture in 24 hours! These are just the highlights! WOW!

Baker?

This boy is growing up fast! He's learning "new" things every day! Today it was taking the cookies off the pan!

"No big deal" you say! Well to this mommy it is! 1. I LOVE to bake and to have a helper in the kitchen with me, well what more can I say! 2. Spike's never been interested in "learning"! He's very independent, but to ask me to show him how to do something, that's a different story!

Today, I'm thankful for the "little things in life".

YAY for...

1. 51 degrees! (which means...)
2. A nice brisk run OUTSIDE for mommy! (No, there are no pictures of this!)
3. No snow on the ground.
4. Playing outside!
Such a trickster he is!

5. Playing "Slick's Surprise Birthday!" (which included loading up the gator and pretending all the goodies in the back were Slick's birthday presents! Only to have to load them back up to put them away! Fun times when you're 5 and 6!)

6. Best Buds!

Paper Work?

The scene in my house tonight while dinner was in the oven!

Like father like son! The only difference is the "level" of paper work! To some, coloring is important. To another, it's the spelling word! And yet to others, it finances! To each his own! I love it!

Playroom!

The rule is, "The playroom should look like this (see below) every night before you go to bed"!

However, this is how it looked this morning, and probably every night for the last week! (Which is why we have the playroom UPSTAIRS! So I don't have to look at it in the living room! I never go in this room!)

So I spent about an hour while the boys were outside cleaning it up! Vacuumed, threw out or donated some toys (sh! don't tell the boys!) and put toys where they belong! I'm not really sure why I do this, because not even a half an hour later, this is what I found...

And...Oh well!

And for those of you who are wondering, it IS CLEAN tonight! Daddy did a good job getting them to put away the things they got out!

The saying, "Please excuse the mess, my children are making memories!" is put to life in this room!

The world's BEST babysitters!

This is how we left the house last night!

I have the world's BEST nieces (AKA babysitters!)

Thanks girls!

SNOW DAY (finally)

"Hurry up already!"

YAY!

Snow Angels, of course!

OOPS! Hahah!

Look at this hill! Spike FINALLY got to go down this year! He's been waiting for this for a LONG time!

This one's my favorite!

YAY!!!!!!

This is the scene I came across at 6:45 this morning! "What the big deal about that?" you say. Well, I do believe this is the FIRST time ever that he sat down ON HIS OWN and started reading! He's been "reading" for homework and when mommy makes him for a year and a half now and it's been TORTURE on all of us! I think it's starting to click! YAY! I'm so thrilled! Everywhere we go he tries to read signs or pick out words he knows! It's so fun! Can't wait to watch him grow!
(Too bad daddy doesn't get as excited as I do, I could count that as his birthday present! Oh well, good thing I planned ahead and got him one already! More pictures to come of the birthday boy!)

Package!

The day has arrived! Spike's been waiting for this day for about a week! He's still got 8 days till his birthday, but he IS my PLANNER! He just KNEW it was coming! And yes, he was right! Grandma Vawter (and Grandpa too!) came through! Spike and Daddy's birthday package arrived today! Do you think he's excited!

Of course, even though his birthday is NOT today! There was still a little something in there for him for today! And Slick too!

Now to hold him off on his real gift for another 8 days! Wish me luck!

Thank Grandma and Grandpa Vawter!

Today's Running Buddy(s)

Spike had no school today, so Slick HAPPILY "allowed" brother the chance to take his place as my "running buddy" today! Of course Spike can't go with out HIS "running buddy", good ole' faithful, "Mr. John Deere Gator"!

What a great run today! Looking forward to the next one!

Today's Activity

Bowling...

With Friends!

Baking cookies!

Spike asked to make cookies today! Daddy is the cookie maker in this house! So they decided to make White Chip Chocolate Cookies! (I'm happy too! I don't like them so they're no temptation to me! Good thing since I just registered for a 4 mile race! No cookies for me!)

Of course, while Spike and daddy are MAKING their cookies, Slick is eating the REAL stuff! Double Stuff OREO'S! Now that's tempting! (Gotta love OREO teeth!)

Oh wait, pause to take a picture with mommy! And yes, SPIKE took this picture! I can't believe it! All the self-portraits I try to take, never turn out. I really think this kid's gonna be a photographer!

Ok, back to the good stuff! Licking the beater! Do you think he enjoyed it?

Proud little baker!The finished product!