Ethan's Birthday!

Well, This isn't Ethan, but I got the picture out of order. Isn't Joseph a handsome kid? I don't know why he had a zoned out expression, probably one too many shots of the flash gone off.

Here he is! The birthday boy! He wanted a tool birthday, so his cake is in the shape of a toolbox. Lucky for me that just means a decorated rectangle. At least it wasn't a dancing elephant party.

One, two, three, blow! I dont remember if it was one breath or two, but because of all the little kids, I would not be surprised of it was more on the line of 12 breaths.

Emma had given Ethan this Nerf flying disk thing that is supposed to turn into a football while it flies. What really happens is that as soon as it touches anything with any amount of force, it explodes into a football with wings. Not an easy thing to catch, unless you're Harry Potter.

We went to the park after the festivities, played on the play equipment, etc... Emma decided to show off for the camera. Funny how she can be an utter goof-ball and still be pretty.

Abby. Cute as ever with her main source of nourishment. I am sure that she was on her way to get it replenished when I took this.

At the party we painted bird houses, opened presents, pumped the kids full of sugar and sent them home to their parents. They (the kids, not the parents, except for us) had a lot of fun.

That's it!

Ty

Ode to a camel

Oops. Wrong picture. Not a camel.

Oh Camel! Noblest of creatures! Mighty and strong.

Friend of man, docile and calm.

You who befriends us with a smile.

A rather towering friend at that.

Hey! Do you see what that dirt bag is doing to my daughter!

True story. We found this camel just outside of Grandview. I had to stop and get some pictures, and it seemed friendly enough, so I let Emma out to pet it, with somewhat disastrous results. Luckily, I got a hold of Emma before she got over the fence. Both she and Joseph were hysterical for about 5 or 10 minutes. The camel had claimed her hood as spoils of war, but I drove the van down about 40 feet and the camel stood in front of it, allowing me to hop out of the car and run back, reach my hand under the fence and get the hood.

Now it seems funny. To everyone but Emma that is.

Here is Abby last night (or maybe the night before) sharing a tortilla with the dog. Disgusting, but funny.

The End

Well, This is the end of our break. I know, I know, I shouldn't complain about having to go back to work after having a 2 week break, but it is so nice I could probably weather my way through a bit more.

We had a fun time this week between sledding, building snowmen and snow forts, then seeing them all melted by the following day. We all had a slumber party in our living room after watching a Scoobydoo movie on New Years.

A couple of days ago we went and visited great grandma and great grandpa. I had fun taking pictures of the birds.

Sledding with the kids on the old bridge over the rail road tracks. The bridge, once a thrill for driving, is now open only to pedestrian traffic. The kids had a lot of fun.

Ducks on the river.

This finch allowed me to get fairly close.

But not too close! Here she is taking off!

Finch on the feeder out at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

Okay, so this picture is a bit blurry, but it is a classic Joseph expression

Two of my beautiful children expressing their love for me.

Abby was outside petting the neighbors dogs through the fence.

Ethan posed for me under the tree in our front yard.

It was a great break!