handsful

I know, I know…I’m almost 3 weeks behind in getting Marley, Payton, and Ethan’s birthday blog up. But, despite my continued camera / memory card / photo issues, I’m gonna get it up here. We’ve got plans to possibly trade in our cameras for a newer, better, and easier to use camera soon. And, we need new memory cards badly…as evidenced by the complete LOSS of photos that I took today while on the boat. Trying to let that one go…

I know, I know…I’m almost 3 weeks behind in getting Marley, Payton, and Ethan’s birthday blog up. But, despite my continued camera / memory card / photo issues, I’m gonna get it up here. We’ve got plans to possibly trade in our cameras for a newer, better, and easier to use camera soon. And, we need new memory cards badly…as evidenced by the complete LOSS of photos that I took today while on the boat. Trying to let that one go…

Taken today, with my Iphone. The triplet pics I took ON their birthday were “eaten” by my memory card.

They’ve aged SO much in this last year. They’re all (yes, all…) taller than I am now. Payton is quite a bit taller than the other two.

Are they even the same kids?!? Especially Payton!! Time is flying…

But, they’re still goofy. Always will be, I hope.

For their party, they chose roller skating and then a movie/sleepover at the house afterwards.

Marley, far left. Payton on right. These were taken with…yes, my Iphone. I’ll stop complaining eventually.

Can’t remember how many friends that attended, but we needed our big van, our friend’s mini van, and Randy’s landcruiser to get them all back to the house :)

Marley will just love this shot…

I think that girl in the back is wanted by the authorities. Heh.

Ethan looks miserable, surrounded by three girls huh?

Lainey and Dylan’s first time skating…they were out there nearly the whole time and did great!

Quite a crew

After making the trek back to our house, the kids all crashed in the living room to watch present-opening.

His favorite junk food…someone knows him well.

Yes, we had three cakes. Marley chose marble cake with butter cream frosting…Ethan wanted a cookies and cream ice cream cake…Payton wanted my apple dumplings!

Yes, we sang the song THREE times.

Randy, as usual, took the night shift with the kids and they all spread out to watch a movie until late! Sleepover (not much sleep was had!) and then the party was over as parents poured in the next morning.

Happy 14th birthday, Marley, Payton, and Ethan!

I’m finally getting around to posting about Lainey and Dylan’s birthday last week. After the birthday-palooza, I kinda crashed. And, then got busy with life. Life these days is a tad full. Plus, our camera isn’t functioning correctly and the pictures just aren’t that great. Irks me to death. The favorite pics I took of the trips somehow didn’t even save to the memory card. THAT makes me mad. In the words of Francesca B, “this is the stuff that drives me crazy…”

Like my cupcakes? Spiderman and Hello Kitty (her bow, that is) designs. But, I’m jumping ahead. Their birthday was, of course, on July 4th. We had a somewhat lazy first part of the day, and then broke out the presents.

It’s a shame some of these shots are fuzzy (trying to remain calm…)

Lainey got a Rapunzel Barbie (she requested a Barbie with “very long straight blond hair”…I think I hit the mark on that one), and skates. She wears Marley’s all the time, so she was thrilled. (She even got to try them out at MPE’s party the following night!)

Dylan got his first bike. We attach his prosthesis foot to the pedal with a strap of velcro and he’s been biking all over the house. We might get a pedal clip, but for now this is working. How much do I love watching my boy ride a bike?!?

As is the custom, we then took the family out for dinner, to celebrate. We had a gift card to a certain restaurant, so we talked the littles into going there ;)

Fast forward to July 7th. Which is Marley, Payton, and Ethan’s birthday. But, this post is about the littles! We actually had their party ON the trips birthday. Yes, we asked them if they minded that. They were happy to lounge around the house that morning (after their mega-sleepover the night before…more on that next post).

We met a few of their friends at the local splash park for some water fun.

It was HOT that day. Almost 100. They took turns going in the playground section and water section.

Next stop, our house for more fun…

Back into dry clothes, and added another friend :)

Presents!

Cupcakes!

In the end, we’ve now got a 6 year old and a 5 year old. No more “preschoolers” in the house. I feel like we’ve somehow moved to the next level. Which makes me shake a little in my boots when I think of this coming school year. But, that’s another post.

Happy Birthday, Lainey and Dylan…we love you bunches.

So, where did THESE kids go? Happy 14th birthday to Marley, Payton, and Ethan! I’ll post more pics asap…between all 5 birthday kiddos, we’ve been partying for the last 72 hours! And, we still have a birthday dinner to go. :)

They’re a year older, and the celebrating is still going on. More pictures to come!

We have a special guest in our home for the month of July. We’re the host family for Hayde’, a sweet 15 year old from Spain. She’s been with us for 5 days, so we thought it was about time to introduce her to Lake Norman. Properly.

Payton decides to join the girls…

They declined his request.

Notice that she’s smiling in every. single. picture.

She fell off a few times…they all did. Randy prides himself in being able to throw his kids off the tube.

But, she held on valiantly and kept right on smiling.

It was a great afternoon on the lake. Lots of tubing, swimming, and a little knee boarding. We finally left as the sun was setting behind the trees.

We hope Hayde’ enjoyed her first time out on Lake Norman. It won’t be her last :)