Caedmon Turns Two!!

Happy Birthday, Little Man. I'm so proud to be your Mama!

Snapshot of Caedmon at Two:
Favorite Drink: Chocolate Milk ( He would prefer to drink chocolate milk instead of eat!)
Favorite Foods: Chocolate Milk and then Avacado, Hot Dogs, Mac N Cheese, grapes, and any kind of nut
Favorite Sayings: "Hulk...smash!" "Can I have sum?" "Ok." "Can I watch Dora downstairs, please?" "Basketball hoop" "Chocolate milk, please."
Favorite books: The Diaper David books (He can "read" the David books to us word for word) He also really likes a Dora book, and just all around loves being read to-any book!
Favorite playtime activities: Loves to play outside, playing basketball, with blocks, cars, playdoh, trains, and enjoys watching Sissy play on the computer
Dislikes: Riding in his car seat, not getting his chocolate milk fast enough, going to bed at night
How he gets in trouble: throws his food, hits his sister, screams really loudly, and runs away when you say "come here"
Is great at: throwing a ball, naming most sports correctly when he sees them, and stealing his mommy's heart
Funny things he does: pretends to be "sleeping" in his car seat when Mommy goes to get him out and will peep out of the corner of his eye and start smiling when I go to pick him up, yells "Shoo. No Goggies!" at the mean barking dogs behind our fence, runs while swinging his right arm across his chest, jumping Kamikaze off the couch
Endearing things: Says, "Good morning, Mommy." every morning when he wakes up. Snuggles. Sings "Jesus Loves Me"and other songs randomly.

Happy Birthday Josh!

Well, when I posted Leah's birthday wishes, I realized that I never got a post up for Josh! Sorry Josh. It is simply that I am forgetful and not as organized about doing this as I had hoped I would be. I've forgotten a lot of people...if that makes you feel any better,hehe.

Anyway, I'm so glad Leah picked you! And, that you picked Leah :) And, Happy (blog) Birthday!

Happy Birthday, Leah!

Today is my sister in law, Leah's birthday. I just wanted to take a moment and send lots of love and warm wishes her way. Leah, you are an amazing woman and Mom!! Happy, happy, birthday.

A Party In Pictures

Here are a few pictures from Celeste's Sugar and Spice birthday party. We took some video of her opening several presents (Aunt Leslie, Elisha, Great Grandma Bootsma, etc) and will try to post that up soon!

Celeste, My Firstborn is Four!

Dear Celeste,

I am amazed that it's your fourth birthday already! The past four years have gone by too quickly! I've seen you transform in so many ways. I remember first holding you in the hospital and looking at your tiny body. I was so glad to meet you for the first time. I rememeber the first steps you took away from me, and the times you came running back. I remember your first tantrums as you started to develop a sense of self, and your first "I love you's." I remember you being afraid you would get sucked down the drain during bath time! This year you have transformed from a lively toddlerhood and have become a beautiful young girl. I'm looking forward to this next year with you.

Some things you might want to remember about being four:
You enjoyed playing dress up in princess clothes, loved stickers, drawing on your drawing pad, playing with your My Little Ponies, exploring games on Nick Jr., watching Dora the Explorer, waving goodbye to your Daddy out the garage door every morning, starting to read your first words, dancing along with Dancing with the Stars, and playing with your brother.

There is so much more that Mommy could write. But, most of all, I want you to know that I love you more than you could ever imagine. I'm so glad God entrusted you to me as my daughter. We are a great pair, me and you.
Love always,
Mommy

Happy Birthday, Nita!!

Novemeber 12th is a VERY special day! And, a day that happened in the midst of stomach bugs...We're sorry Nita.

I have to take this moment to tell you how important you are to me. :) You have given me inspiration in so many areas...You are the best Mom in law a girl could ask for, a wonderful role model for us all, and I love you very much.

Seriously, I can't ever join in those conversations about bad mother in laws.... I just can't relate! I'm soo lucky!

Riley turns 4!

Dear Riley,
It will be your big four year old birthday tomorrow! I rememeber it like yesterday- you being born. Even though I was all the way on the opposite end of the United States! This is partly because I was very pregnant and your mommy having you meant it was closer to time for your cousin to be born, but it was also because you were just that special. It was so fun getting to meet you, my very first niece ever! So, I hope that you get to experience on your birthday, as much joy as you brought into all of our lives on an October day four years ago. I love you Riley B! Happy Birthday!

Your Aunt Danielle

Happy Birthday Father In Law!

We hope you a day filled with wonderful desserts, good tv, family phone calls, and presents. If we can't get in touch with you on Skype, we will call you tonight when Caleb gets home. We can't wait to see you at Thanksgiving. You are a great father in law AND grandpa! Happy birthday!

Happy Birthday, Jared!

Thought this little guy was seasonally appropriate to wish my brother Happy Birthday. His best present is going to be getting to see us!

Actually, I bet he would contend that it is getting a wife. He will be married on Saturday, so a big congratulations to him. Welcome to the family, Rebecca!

I want to share a story about Jared, but can't decide what story to post exactly...how he killed a bird with bb gun (accidentially on purpose of course), about his first 5 yr old crush, about blowing up Dad's car engine...Jared, any preferences? :)

Happy Birthday Brother! I love you!

Danielle

Happy Birthday, Leslie!

Well, I have been searching for a few weeks on the internet for an image of a poster that Leslie used to have on her ceiling above her bed, but I can't find it anywhere! I intended to put it up for her on the blog today, but this will have to do instead.

Leslie, maybe you can help me out! And, even more importantly, do you still HAVE the poster??

Love you lots and happy birthday!

Happy Birthday, Grandmother Nina!

This past weekend we had a wonderful time celebrating the birthday of Caleb's Grandmother Nina. She was 81 years young, and says she is now going to be 79 and begin to count down after hitting 80 last year. Caed got a real fast swipe at the cake right around the time this picture was taken. He was a quick one, and fortuanately no real damage was done. It was so nice to visit you Grandmother, and we will see you again soon!

Dad's Birthday

Top Ten Things To Know About My Father

10. He can tell a great story. (I want to record him reading Unlce Remus!)

9. He is a sore loser if you beat him in Monopoly. HAH! Good luck.

8. He is a work-a-holic.

7. He is a sure shot-just ask the neighbors!

6. He played the part of Jesus without being sacriligious. (Who manages that!)

5. His FAVORITE past times are plumbing and mechanical work. (hehe)

4. He has great fish stories about other people's fish. (Mostly my brother's)

3. He makes great cobbler and plays corn toss like a pro. (They are both about food-sorta)

2. He can teach people how to waterski on their first attempt!

1. He is a really swavvy internet user, so leaving a comment will be a breeze for him!

Happy Birthday to the best Dad ever! Love you, Dad!

Happy One Week Old!

I'm thinking of my dear friend Jenn and her new son! He is one week old today, and I sure hope that they are doing well. I'm halfway across the country and can't be there like I want to be. You sure are a cutie pie little guy.

Cat story for Caleb's Birthday

Today is my middle brother, Caleb's, birthday. So, this story is for you!

When my brother Caleb was around 6, my brother Jared was 11, and I was 14 we owned an outdoor cat. Because of this, the cat was quite filthy. He was completely white when he was clean, but he had become a sort of North Carolina, clay brown color from being outside all of the time. Well, my brother Jared and I decided to give the cat a bath one afternoon. (I don't know where our parents were!) Our plan consisted of soaping up a dry cat and then filling the bath tub up with water real deep and tossing the cat into it. Sounds good,doesn't it? Well, even we knew at the time, that something didn't seem quite right about our plan, so we decided that it would be best for our younger brother, Caleb, to stay outside the bathroom during this cat dunking process. Of course, he didn't want to be left out and was making such a fit over it, that we finally gave in and let him come in. All three of us, and our cat, were crammed into our bathroom with the door securely shut so the cat couldn't escape. We somehow managed to get the cat all soapy, but he did escape once or twice and jog around the bathroom. The cat was definitely not feeling good. It had come time to "rinse" the cat in the tub which was left up to me since I was the oldest. Now mind you, at this point in time, I was cloked in my heaviest, puffiest winter coat which made me look like the Michelin man and my thickest gloves thinking to protect myself from the claws of the cat. My brother Jared had followed suit. Come to think of it, that is probably why the bathroom felt so crowded! It was dead middle of summer and my brother Caleb was just wearing a pair of shorts trying to keep cool. I manage to get the soapy, wriggly, nervous cat gathered up into my hands. My brothers and I clearly intend to bolt out of the bathroom and close the door real fast after throwing the cat into the tub. We wanted to make sure the cat stayed shut up because we were pretty sure that the cat would at least need a double dunk. I slowly crept over to the top of the tub and suspended the cat above the water. I am issuing a warning to my brother to stay back, but they are way to curious to listen to that advice. They are peering around me creeping in on either side. I drop the cat into the water. As fast as I could drop that cat into the water, it rocketed out faste. It had gone WILD! It seemed like that cat leaped right off of the surface of the water without even getting wet. The cat bounced off of the toilet, onto the vanity, and then promptly to the next highest place it could find- which happened to be my youngest brother's bare back. You have never heard so much racket as three kids going crazy, one screaming from having a cat stuck by it's claws onto their naked back. Caleb was hollering louder than the cat was screeching. We managed to get the frozen cat off of my brother's back, but needless to say, we didn't finish bathing the cat. We learned our lesson...always dress up like the Michelin Man when bathing a cat using the soap and dunk method! We never bathed our cat again.

Caleb, do you have any scars from this or just a scarred memory? Fun memories, fun times...at least for me and Jared! Happy Birthday brother! We love you, really.