Joint Birthday Party

Yesterday we had a joint birthday party for Brooke and Clayton with family and the Seiler's (who qualify as family on so many levels.) We had a spaghetti lunch - a room full of presents - and a the coolest bulldozer cake (that no, I did not make and probably would never even attempt to...it came complete with edible rocks!)

I love that we can laugh at each other as a family. Someone (Grandma Nancy) decided it would be a good idea to capture my mistake in the assembly of Clayton's ride on motorcycle. I thought I'd "help" my dad assemble it while he was at the store buying my last minute grocery list - pretty sure it's not the kind of help he was looking for. I didn't know my own strength and put the back wheel on slightly too tight...okay...it wouldn't roll. So here I am trying to break it in so that it would roll. The vote of the house was that I should just ride home (3 miles) and that would loosen it up just fine. Ha, ha, ha. Dad ended up having to rip the back tire apart and go buy some new parts to reassemble it...definitely not the help he was looking for!

Thanks Aunt Laura and Uncle Eric for the "gear" that matched the motorcycle - we're sad you couldn't be here to celebrate with us.

Caution - Birthdays - Some Assembly Required!

Is it a train? Is it a boat? Is it a lion's cage? No..it's a laundry basket!

Brooke, Clayton and I had more fun with a laundry basket on Sunday than we have with any of their toys in a while! Brooke and I were reading books and then Clayton brings in the laundry basket, sits in it and starts chanting "boat, boat." Brooke and I acknowledged him but kept reading. He then got out, put the basket on his head and started chugging around the living room yelling "choo, choo." Brooke and I joined in the fun and the basket became a lion's cage, the mail truck, etc. AND...I even got a great picture of them together (that's rare!)

Clayton's Date with Daddy

Clayton went on his first official date with Mike last Saturday morning. They went to Monches and walked the Ice Age Trail. Clayton was in a great mood and all smiles for their morning adventure. (Which was fortunate because he's been getting his 2 year old molars and oftentimes less than fun to be around over the past week!)

Can you tell?

Several of our friends have recently posted pictures of their children at similar ages and noting the similarities between the siblings. Here's ours - Brooke was a lion when she was 2 and Clayton was a lion this year. Can you tell who is who?

Brooke is on the right - Clayton is on the left. I don't think I would have known if it weren't for the difference in their eye color.

Trick or Treat

The kids had a great time trick or treating tonight with Grandma Nancy, Grandma Denyse and Grandpa Mark. I'm sure we'll be on a sugar high for the next MONTH!

Brooke was the blue velvet princess and Clayton was a lion. He screamed as I tried to put his eyeliner whiskers on, so we did what any parent would do - we pinned him down and drew whiskers on him. Boy was he happy with us for that - oh well, he recovered quickly back to smiles!

Brooke Turns FOUR!

We had a great day celebrating Brooke's birthday today. I love that this year she was able to count down the days to her birthday and maybe for the first time understood what a special day her birthday is. The day started with Mike and I greeting her in her room singing "Happy Birthday" - she was beaming! Our tradition is to have birthday cake for breakfast on birthday mornings - Brooke had requested a banana cake, so that's what we did. After breakfast she opened part of her present from Mike and I - new socks and a train ticket for Chicago tomorrow. We then headed over to Grandma Denyse's to drop off Clayton so that Brooke and I could go to BSF. She, again, was so excited to have all her BSF friends sing "Happy Birthday!" to her as she walked into the classroom. After BSF we headed back to Grandma Denyse's for a birthday lunch and a cupcake. During Clayton's nap, Brooke and I played Candy Land...she won! (fair and square) Somehow we ended upstairs in her room and I don't know what events transpired that we ended up filling bags and bags for Goodwill. I was so proud of her as she willingly put many of her toys in the bags so that kids who don't have any toys can have some of hers. All said and done, her toy room and closet are completely cleaned out - and we had a lot of fun in the process. Grandma Nancy, Grandpa Ken and Uncle Kenny came over for Chinese food (Brooke's request - I know, weird!) MORE cake and a couple presents. (Clayton and Brooke are having a joint family birthday party on 11/8.) She got a fun bag from Aunt Laura, new boots and purple footed PJ's from Grandma Nancy, a Dora watch from Grandma Denyse, and the neighbors were so sweet to bring over some bath soap and a coloring book. She went to bed a little early so that she and daddy can head off on their date taking the train to Chicago to visit the Shedd Aquarium. What a blessing she is to us - and how amazing it has been to watch her grow! My favorite moment yesterday was when I had her sit down for quiet time in her room. She says, "Mom. I have to be silent right now so that I can hear what God wants to tell me." How amazing it is that someone so young has such a love for Jesus. I pray that never changes.

Grandma Denyse's & Dedication Trees

When Brooke and Clayton were dedicated to the Lord we planted a tree for each of them in remembrance of that day. Each year we try to take a picture of them next to their tree. I also got a cute picture of Grandma Denyse heading up the hill with the kids.