Thoughts...

As many of you are aware, last week our extended family was stunned with the news that Steve's Mom was diagnosed with a brain tumor. As has been shared in other places, the neurologist Mom saw was quite hopeful the tumor is benign. For now, there are some tests to be completed and then hopefully surgery in a short time. Thank you for remembering them in prayer.

As for our regular family happenings, as you can imagine, it doesn't quite feel right to prattle on about them right now.

Thanks for the love and care you continue to show us.

I'm really far behind and these pictures may not be top quality for color or composition but they all make me smile.

And once again I can say nothing but we have incredible blessings. Thanks for continuing to come back and read.

Edited to add:

We got spoiled with a fantastic birthday party after all. Truth of it is, Tyler (who kindly shares his birthdate with us) also shared his birthday party. Aunty Krista made the cutest barn cake and animal cupcakes. I obviously didn't go through the effort of it because I didn't make it a priority to take pictures. I am remembering I do have a couple pictures on email so I'll go hunt them up.

Carsie Button was at a bit of a loss having missed her nap...

But once she got a few hand fulls of icing she was just fine!

It must have been the birthday song that held this dear boy in shock - "happy birthday dear CaraCodyTyler or TylerCaraCody or TylerCodyCara... there are a few more options and I wouldn't doubt that every one was covered :)

But once that cupcake was within reach, he didn't hesitate for a second!

And like I said these babies were spoiled by cousins and friends alike and all five of my dear children have enjoyed the benefits of the birthday gifts. Thanks to all of you who shared your love with my babies. By the way, did anyone else consider that if there were really 15 kids at the table, 1/3 of them were mine!!? That's when I feel like I have lots of kids :) If Krista has a picture of all the kids at the table and all the moms are okay, I may add a picture like that yet. (Trichelle, the shovels are sitting on top of the pantry waiting for spring days :)

A bit of hims and her

More fun shadow pictures, he just didn't get the idea of stopping so I could shoot just his shadow :)

Our Tiger Kitten.

I spy a dog.

One busy but also incredibly wonderful 1st year

From the first day of it...

with breakneck speed to their birthday. (Man, those make my heart do a great big huge, "awww" quiver every time I look at them.)

I wonder what is in there!

Hope it's not what SHE got, although, she looks pretty happy with that dolly.

Nope, thankfully mine goes "bmm, bmm".

A side note, those cute gifts were from my secret pal (anyone getting the idea that she must be wonderful?!) Steve and I did not get them a gift. Does that put us in your terrible parent book? That does not mean we went without celebrating with MUCH thanksgiving that we have all made it through this first year. We just had cupcakes instead of presents. Cara seemed a little disappointed that her PINK ones didn't make quite the same statement that Cody's blue ones did!

Hey, let me try some of that!

Obviously, though, a cupcake is delicious and fun no matter what the color.

It's 7:30 feeding at the zoo and the monkeys are very grouchy. The zoo keeper is getting a bit short tempered and is considering feeding the monkeys to the lions.

A belated birthday

Seeing as it's more than a week overdue and as we are now already celebrating the next birthdays in our family, thought I better quickly get some pictures up.

This sweet boy helped me get ready for his birthday party. He watched carefully to make sure I piped the icing appropriately and then he took charge of all the sugar chainsaws and laid them carefully mid cupcake.

Then he set the table where he and some of his cousins would devour said cupcakes. Do you know how hard it is for a 4 year old to space 9 plates when there are no boundaries? But we got that figured out and then he added some cups.

He blew the candles at the appropriate time and now that I'm finally looking at the pictures I'm kicking myself for not putting them on the plates and getting better pictures!

Oh well, he seemed to enjoy it anyway. (I chose the picture that doesn't show the burnt bottom. Having some issues figuring out my oven)

He also gave and got some very loving hugs as he said thank you to all who showed him such love.

He ended his day with some special visitors. It was very nice to have Opa and Nana able to stop by!
An I spy book big enough for a couch full of spyers.
So, big thank you's to all who showed this dear boy a special day. Again we can not say enough that we are blessed beyond measure.