Relief!

It was a VERY hot and dry day.  But it was one of the first days in a while that I ventured out into the heat in a WHILE.

Mom and I took the kids downtown to  play in the water.  They think the cascades coming down the steps are so cool :)

Clyde doing what he does best....kicking!

Lucy relaxing and lazily examining the bubbles....

Iris taking a Chex mix break with Nena...

Clyde and Lucy created ambiance for Iris by making sure water droplets continued to fall upon her while she took center stage and danced.

It was so nice to get out of the house!!

Over the River & Through the Woods...

...to Grandad & Grandmom's house we go!

Lots of adventures this visit...

Grandmom taught Iris ChopSticks.

Clyde taught Grandad about the great marvel that is Hex Bugs.

Iris "helped" Stephen work.

Grandmom tickled Iris.  (this is not unusual)

Clyde helped Lucy when she started getting light-headed.

Grandad gave Clyde and Iris tractor rides.

Sherry and Lucy smiled. (This is not ususual either.)

Lucy and I napped.

Clyde hugged me goodnight. (Common, but appreciated occurance!)

And Lucy discovered she is ALMOST Grandmom's height! (Big news!!)

Iris Graduates Kindergarten

Look out, First Grade, Here she comes!

Only, in purple.  Because when she looked at Lucy's & Clyde's Kindergarten graduation pictures she thought their outfits looked really weird.  Lucy mentioned that maybe Mommy could find it in purple.  Would that be better??

Apparently it would.

We had her choice of dinner, sesame chicken & baked beans with chocolate chip bars for dessert.

We played some more headbandz and taught the visiting adults how to play ;)

Showed off all of her Kindergarten work and opened cards and presents.  She showed off her mad reading skilz by reading her cards aloud.

Money from Nena and Papa...

Money and a card that sings "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" from David and Sherry...

Lalaloopsy Car from Mommy and Daddy...

Then we moved the festivities to Grandad's and Grandmom's house.  Only Mommy FORGOT to bring the cap and gown.  Fortunately, it wasn't missed!

Grandad and Grandmom bought her some iris earrings and an iris brooch, of which she is VERY proud.

Here's Grandad pretending to take the money they gave her back, but he can't seem to get her goat :)

*Sigh*  Wow, once your baby is in 1st grade...it's kinda weird!

Headbandz!!

We have a new favorite family game!!!  Headbandz!!

It was inexpensive, as far as games go.  They have a standard version and a Disney version.  And really, you've probably played a handmade/teacher-made version of this that cost nothing.  We opted for the Disney version.

You put a card on your head and take turns asking yes-or-no questions until your timer runs out.  The first person to figure out 3 cards wins.  It takes no hands, of course, so we often play during dinner.

Here's Stephen teasing Lu about not being able to guess who she is, even though she knows she's a green animal in Pinnochio :)  She got it about 2 seconds after I took the picture.

Clyde guessing who he is while eating.

Stephen as Wall-E...

Ugh...I took a HORRID picture of myself as Captain Hook, then when I looked at the camera to see how it turned out, I realized I had inadvertently cheated and had to get a new card!

Iris.  She's figured out she's a princess, but which one?

Stephen doesn't believe us when we tell him he's in a CLASSIC Disney movie, but not any of the ones he's guessed.  He's certain he has named ALL the CLASSICS.  So he starts looking up classic Disney to prove us wrong. ;)

 Lu asking questions about Boo.

Very fun game, but could certainly be created for the cost of a pen and paper.  But for those of us who are tired, low on time, and enjoy pretty pictures....it's worth the money!

Party For Daddy

I'm running behind on blog entries, so this one is more than a little late!

For those of you who don't know...my Dearest is a math major.  He loves numbers and patterns and thinks they are among God's most beautiful creations. 

Thus, on his first birthday after we married, I started a tradition of putting an equation on his always-chocolate birthday cake that would equal his age.  Well, it is SUPPOSED to equal his age.  But since he married an individual whose poorest subject was always math....sometimes it equals some other number.  I may have gotten it wrong twice....or thrice.

The kids and I have been in great anticipation for Daddy's birthday this year.  Iris has had her eye on a back messager for Daddy for about 3 months.  

They all got more into the decorating than normal.  Clyde did a fabulous job on the streamers!!  I was VERY impressed!  Lucy hung the banner on the wall and did a little extra wall art.  Iris tied red yarn around every cabinet handle and decorated the "birthday boy chair". 

Iris helped me mix and bake the cake, Clyde did the chocolate icing, and Lucy did the writing of the already-worked-out-by-mommy-and-boy-does-she-hope-it's-right equation on top of the cake.  It was her first time writing on a cake.  It was very tricky, but she did a nice job and was very proud to be allowed to do it.

They also helped me make Stephen's birthday dinner...spaghetti.  And then they set the table.  Around this time...Iris started taking pictures.

We present Daddy with our efforts and happily eat dinner.  He is thrilled, of course, and very impressed at all the work the kids put into everything this year!

 Here, Clyde set the timer on the camera and took a group picture!

After dinner we all watch breathlessly as Daddy checks Mommy's math.  Yay!  She was successful!!

The kids help him light candles before we sing :)

Then he opens cards...

Then presents :)  notice Iris's face :)

As he's admiring his new LED light...Iris decides to show him the merits of her back messager ;)

It was a great party...probably one of my favorites yet!

Happy Birthday (late) Babe, I love you more than EVER.  You're the best husband I could imagine!