I have a five year old.

It has become a tradition in our family to make fun pancakes on the kids' birthday.  This year Seth requested a tiger .. and I just want to add, look how smashing Seth looks! Can you tell he dressed himself? :)
 Also its tradition to make fun birthday cakes, here are the boys ready to bake in their new chef outfits!

... and this is what Raya was up to while the cooks were busy .... this gift was intended for her babies ....
 Voila!
 Later that day we went to the bowling alley... this picture is outside of the bowling alley. Don't you just dig the purple?
 Raya really liked bowling...

 Seth had so much fun, and by the end he was bowling without assistance. (This was the first time we've taken  the kids bowling)
 The kids looked so cute in bowling shoes.
 Cake time!
 An unusually super silly Seth, he's so cute :)
 A book!
 A telescope!
 Bow in hand from uncle Todd and aunt Rachel. Cute homemade gifts from aunt Amanda and aunt Jessica.  Baby bear has been demoted by tiger.  That's a pretty big deal.
Thanks everyone!

Christmas







I love Christmas! The kids got a good haul too.  Thanks everyone who celebrated with us, and thanks to everyone for the cards and gifts.  I love looking at everyones' cards and reading newsletters.

Oh Christmas Tree....

Before Christmas the fam. and I went and cut down a Christmas tree (Jeff and I don't do fake trees) ... it was a little Charlie-brown tree that cost $10, but hey it was still a real tree.  We went to the Christmas tree farm that I went to when I was little.  It was fun seeing the kids make memories where I had when I was little.  Here's Raya in the hay fort.  One of the owners commented that she was the youngest child he's seen enter it. She's pretty fearless:



 The hunt begins:




 Raya didn't like the dogs or airplanes...
 Decorating!