Mikey is Nine!

Well Mikey is 9.  I say it every time but I don't know how it happens!  His birthday was on a Saturday and we had sort of planned a sledding day at ConePark with the Herrick's but Mikey and I were both down with the stomach flu (booo!) during the week so we just had a day at home and then went to Godfather's with the Pick's and Koester grandparents last minute.  Mikey really wanted a dessert pizza so that's what he got!  The morning of his birthday we had cinnamon rolls and opened presents.  He got a big spiderman Lego, a stuffed giraffes (I will never get over how much they love and play with stuffed animals!), a spiderman shirt, a terrarium from the Swindolls, and some birthday money from grandma and grandpa Ridenour.  We got to show my family around our addition after pizza that night.  It is really coming along and Travis built the "library" above the living room this week.  

The following Thursday I had parent teacher conferences and Michael came home to spend the night with Mikey.  They played outside, Legos, and a TON of Nintendo Switch!!!  The next morning I brought Michael home and we had Friday off so we had another nice day at home.  Then Saturday morning Jude had his last Jr. High basketball game in Winside.  So he went to that and Gil and grandpa Lindy took Mikey and Cora to 4-H calf weigh in.  After that we raced over to Winside and met the Herricks and grandma and grandpa Ridenour there.  They won the game and Jude had a good season playing point guard (!).  Next we ate lunch at Runza and following that we stopped by the Muellers to see their 21 (!) Australian Shepard puppies (2 litters).  We have been thinking about getting another bigger dog and they must have won us over because we left debating between a male and a female.  Spoiler we picked the male and named him "Bubbles" or "Bubba" for short (much to Cora's dismay!).  Finally, we headed home for a quick house tour and some Spiderman birthday cake.  

Mikey, you are such a cool kid.  You are inquisitive and always trying to figure out how things work.  You are becoming a very good student and have been very responsible with your school work this year.  You love animals and all the pets and are a great chore doer!  You have a great sense of humor and are always laughing.  You have grown so much over this past year.  I can't wait to see what the next year brings for you.  Love you so much Michael Johnnie!!!

I should also mention that the week before Mikey's birthday we lost Grandpa Gilbert at age 99.  His services were such amazing times of reflection on his amazing life and lead to some great discussions between Gil and I and with the kids.  We were so grateful to have gotten to see him at Christmas.

These pictures are in really random order!

Mikey's cake and kids

Mikey holding Bubbles, the first one he held!

Birthday morning

Party time

New Warriors (Curry) Jersey

Cake:)

Puppies

Godfather's

Lego

Dessert Pizza!

Family Service

Jersey

Godfather's

Cake

Cheesecake Factory on the way home from the funeral

Thomas and Luke looking at Grandpa

popcorn balls

candles

Terrarium group project 

Boy's car

Gil turned (that which shall not be named!)

 So Gil turned...a certain year...on the exact day that we started harvest this year.  They were over by Dixon so dad threw and impromptu birthday party and bought us all Euni's for supper and we had a field day picnic.  I got him a ping pong paddle (the table we'll get when the addition is done...oh yeah, our new addition got started!  I'd say that's a pretty good 40 year present for both of us...ooooops I said it!), and an Iowa State shirt, oh and a "40" beer mug.  I'm hoping our family can go to an Iowa State basketball game this winter.  Gil got himself another piece of the Lego Ninjago Movie set.  Oh, and he got us tickets to Hamilton along with Katie and Russ!!!!!  "I wanna be in the room where it happens!!!!"  That's in 3 weeks so I'm getting my anticipation ON.  

Gil, I know you hate birthdays and you especially hated the idea of this one perhaps, but I think it was a pretty smashing day.  And also 40 looks good on you.  And also 1981 was a pretty terrific year.  And also I'm so glad you were born!!!  Love you always!

Thomas Turned 4!

 

It occurred to me the other day that I hadn't blogged about Thomas' birthday yet.  This may be the most out of date birthday post to date!  But in my defense school started along with a full time job (my first in 7 years!!!), and then we had family pictures, a zoo weekend, a birthday, a trip to Estes Park, an emergency trip to Arkansas for my mom's heart issue (maybe I'll get around to posting about that sometime but for now I'll just say I'm so thankful, but still quite shaken), and then and then and then...until tonight.  Today it rained and so we got Gil home and it was Sunday and we had the loveliest day going to church, running errands in Wayne, eating lunch at the Mexican place we love, doing a little house work and then watching Cora finish up her volleyball season.  So tonight football is over and volleyball is over and it rained and it feels like I have all the time in the world (I'll pretend I don't need to get basketball organized like yesterday!).

Back to Thomas.  He is quite the Tommy Boy.  Like I said we did a zoo weekend as that was on my bucket list for the summer and so I made it Thomas' birthday theme so we (i.e. Gil) had to go!  We ended up dragging Grandma and Grandpa Ridenour and the Herrick gang along for the fun.  And got to have a birthday party at Grandpa's house on his birthday.  Then on the day of the actual birthday my parents came over for cake and ice cream.  They had been over the night before telling us all about their trip to Alaska so we got to hear more about that.  Sounds like it was quite a trip and they loved every minute of it!  

Thomas was very spoiled.  I really can't remember all he got right now, but it was plenty!  We got him some toy animals, a stuffed elephant and t shirt from the zoo (his choice), a safari lego, and probably a few other things.  Herrick's and Swindoll's both got the rocket launcher toy, but those are a definite win.  He got a Bluey car from I think Pick's.  Bluey is such an awesome Australian show that our whole family enjoys!  Oh and my parents got him a sweet Danali National Park ranger vest.  Whenever he wears it is says "Ranger, Danger!"

Thomas started preschool in August as well and he LOVES it!  When he's at home in the morning he's always begging to go to Miss Brooke's and school.  He has told us about the spine of a book and how we have a spine, about building blocks, drinking chocolate milk, nocturnal animals, a few of his new friend's names (Titus and Marcus are faves), and about red choices and green choices.  He even rides Toby's bus home.  Tommy loves being outside and is loud and proud and in charge around here, although his teacher tells me he is still quiet at school.  He loves you tube videos of all the random things and CocoMelon songs.  He loves farming in the attic with Luke and reading books on the couch with mom.  He loves sitting in my lap on his floor at bedtime while I sing him songs and having me lay my head on his pillow for just one more minute.  He loves to be tickled and to give me kisses on the cheek.  

We love you Thomas.  Can't believe you're a big ol' four year old!!!