July Birthday celebration!

So as normal Bella has gotten a drawn out birthday celebration. I'm not sure how it always happens, but it does. I decided we would go lowkey this year. Last years big party was fun, but very overwhelming for all of us.  I'll almost admit i wasn't sure what emotions i would be feeling on their birthday.
Since the plan for sunday came down to the wire, i had nana and aunt Dar along with Grandpa and Grandma Judy come over on saturday.

Bella out bug catching before the family arrived

WE did cake and ice cream.. her request this year was an eagle or butterflies..so Nana did both

She got some great presents including picture frames for her new room and school supplies

Grandpa helped max put his Legos together. 

Then we ended up in Watertown for a bit before coming home.

Sunday was the big day. 

The kids slept in which was great. Then I made pancakes with sprinkle and bacon for breakfast.  Then they played for a bit until it was time for church. Church was a struggle with Max, but we made it through

.

We stopped at Josh's grave to say happy birthday to him, before heading home. We got home long enough to change and then loaded back up to head to little amerricka. There we met up with our buddies Ms Hannah, Ella and Madeline. 

After Little Amerrika, we came back to our place for supper, playing outside and fun. Auntie Tori, Reed and Abbie came over and we did cake , ice cream and presents. bella loves her gifts. She dove right into her new gel pens and coloring book. 

Happy Birthday Bella

Bella you are 8 years old! You are about 70lbs and 4 ft 5inchs tall. You wear 10/12 shirts and 8/10 pants, size 4 shoe!! Your hair is still a dirty blond with blue green eyes.

You will be a 3rd grader in just a month. You loved 2nd grade. School was pretty easy for you, sometimes too easy that you didn't put as much effort into as you could. You loved all the art projects you got to do, along with the weekend journal pages. Being part of Mass was also a highlight. I think if you had your way you would have a part every time. WE were amazing at any readings you did. You were part of  Cheerleading again and had a blast. If you loosen up i think you would have had even more fun. Daddy was able to come and see more of your performances  this year, and I know you both enjoyed that. I was also proud of you for hanging out with your brother since he was at school with you this year. You were a great friend to all of your classmates and the younger kids too. I know you really looked up to your 8th grade buddy Carrie.
 The biggest highlight of school was your 1st communion. Yours was a bit different then the rest of your class. We held yours a bit early so that Daddy would be able to be part of it. You had a lot of family and friends show up and a big party put on by Auntie Tori, Ms, Nikki and Ms Katie. It was a very special day for all of us. You wore the dress that Elly wore in daddy and mommy's wedding and it matchs mommy's wedding dress. It was a magical day to say the least.
The last year has been a tough one for all of us. Daddy's cancer came back and he had to have chemo again. With that though we found Gilda's and you have blossomed there. It was a place you could go and see other kids just like you, who were dealing with a parent with cancer. You also made some great friends too. We found a lot of extra support for you and i think it's how you have handle everything so well.
My sweet baby girl, you lost your father in the last year, but you handle it so well. You have your moments when you cry and miss him so much like mommy does, but then there are other times that you live your faith and know that he is here with you. You love to look for signs of daddy around us with birds, voices and feathers. You handled your first funeral with poise and grace. You love to visit daddy's grave and continue to make him part of your life.
Since we have become a family of three you have really taken over resposiblity for the animals, but getting up to do chores in the morning, even before school. You love your ducks and chickens. I know you like the cows, but are hoping for a calf to call your own. You helpout around the house and try to keep your brother in line, even though i dont' ask you too.
WE have went a few trips  one to florida and one to chicago. You enjoy both of them so much. We have had a few hotel stays just for fun and stays with the grandparents.

Some of your favorites are :
Fairies
animals (both in real life and her plastic ones)
bugs but not bees , wasps or spiders
Frogs
Books about animals or with animals
Horseland (tv show)
Tom and Jerry , looney tunes, pink panther (tv show)
Mimi and her daddy doll
Bacon..crispy and pancakes with sprinkles
Fruit!

First Birthday to 

8th birthday.. where had the time gone?

A semi Staycation on the farm

So after our short stay at the farm with our friends back in June, i knew that my kids would love to go back. So we arranged to go down for a couple days. Just lazy times on the farm.  We also timed it so that we could celebrate Poppy's birthday with him.  That was our first stop on tuesday.

Giving Poppy his cards. Max even made one. I was so impressed with him. 

Aunt Kara stopped over with a birthday gift for Bella. She loved it and both kids enjoyed a "nap" . 

A very good picture..which Max said he would only take one, well that one was perfect

Sweeper wars happen in this house.. but they don't do that at home, of course ;)

Max loves his new hat from Poppy

Bella got plant lessons from Great Grandma

After we said our goodbyes, we headed to the farm to see Grandma Sheri and Ray. The kids didn't get too much time to play as we had to get ready for family pictures. We went back to Ms Tanya, from Precious moments photography for pictures..both in studio and at the park. 

We  made it back to the farm and i'm pretty sure i didn't see my kids until it was time for them to go to bed. They has so much fun playing with everyone that was at the farm and just being outside with the animals. 

Wedensday we were all up early and outside early. It was pretty muggy but the kids didn't seem to mind. 

After breakfast we hung out insdie for a bit before we headed up to town to go fishing with our fiends. Bella had a blast. My kids fit right in with their Lancaster buddies. 

They caught fish, and frogs. They saw big fishes and turtles. Only one of our group fell in, so that was pretty good. We then went to A&W for lunch. The kids had so much fun and it was hard to say goodbye for now. 

We made a stop at the bakery adnd the the kids store before heading back to the farm. The kids were then in and our of hte house the rest of the night. It was pretty toasty, but the a/c of the house was nice. The kids had so much fun playing and creating.  When most of the farmers were back the kids were outside enjoying chores. It was very relaxing for me. I was able to talk with Sheri which was really therapeutic for me. 

story time

Missing a couple kids.. at any time one or two would go outside to hang out with those who were unloading straw bales

They got to crazy indoors..so outside everyone went

Calf chores

Pretty sky

Farm kids 

I miss sunsets!

I also miss cows

After a ride on the ranger, the kids came in covered in farm..so it was a quick shower and then time for bed. Max just couldn't settle down on his own, so he climbed up on my lab and feel fast asleep. Bella was out shortly afterwards

Thursday was hard.. it was our llast day and the kids knew it. They went outside to play until breakfast again. Then back outside after we ate until Aunt Kim and Xander showed up. 

Which i never got a picture of him with the kids :( But we played until the rain got over.. it rained hard adn then we made an escape to head home. thankfully we passed the storm but we didnt' get to stop for much on the way home. Got home and spent time with our animals and getting unpacked from our trip :)