Emma at 20 months

 She has some head of hair!  It seems to get curlier and fluffier with each day.

 She is putting two and three words together and says simple sentences. 

 Emma loves her siblings, loves her babies and loves to play outside.

 She enjoys laughing and getting silly, which she does on a regular basis.

Emma brings alot of joy to our lives.

Ellie at 13

Elizabeth Adrian Dziadul turned 13 at 8:16pm this evening.  It seems impossible that little Ella Fella is now a full-fledged teenager.  But on the other hand, it seems impossible that she is only now becoming a teenager.  Ellie was one of those little girls who always seemed years older than she really was.  I have commented before that she was a teenager from the moment she was born.

She has had a great birthday celebration.  It started yesterday with lunch out with her Nana and then clothes shopping, one of Ellie's favorite things to do.  She came home and had a package from Grandma to open.

Then this morning, she had her birthday breakfast with Dad, a Dziadul family tradition.  She wasn't home very long before she left for her birthday lunch, treated by her future brother in law, Joseph.  Anna, Paul Jr., Kristin and Garrett also went along for lunch and an afternoon together.  Then tonight, she, Anna, Paul and Kristin went to the Air Force Reserve Band concert, followed by cake and ice cream.

Tomorrow, Ellie, Kristin and I are going to see The Hunger Games movie and then hopefully Saturday evening, we'll have the extended family celebration.

Whew.  That's alot of celebrating!

But she's worth it.  Ellie has worked hard this school year in her classical school and has learned so much and done so well.  It has been a challenge and at times a bumpy road, but through it all, she has done well.  She also helps out with the little kids, changing diapers and giving baths and playing.  She is a wonderful part of our family.

Ellie, have a wonderful 13th birthday and may God bless us abundantly this year and the years to come.  May He give you a servant's heart and a submissive attitude as you strive to serve Him.

I love you more than you know.

(Pics will be coming when I get a decent Internet signal)

Around our House Today

 Breakfast . . .

 . . . with Elmo

 Blooming Azeleas

 Fun on the Trampoline

 A closet clean out

 All this was in there??

 A plethora of suits

 A job finished

 Goodnight #1

 Goodnight #2

 Goodnight #3

Benjamin Robert Anthony at 4

 Birth 2/22/08

 1 year old 2/22/09

 2 years old 2/22/10

 3 years old 2/22/11

 4 years old 2/22/12

Random Thoughts

• I've been very slack in blogging. I'm afraid that's going to continue for a while, until we get Internet back at the house, or maybe until my children are all grown. :) Just kidding.  I think.  Maybe.
• It seems like someone hit the fast forward button on my life back around Christmas and it's still going.  Seems like it goes faster and faster each week.  I remember as a kid my parents commenting on how fast life was going.  I thought they were crazy.  I get it now, and they were not crazy.
• Paul is going to CA for a week to John MaCarther's Shepherd's Conference.  God worked it out miraculously, just like He did for Paul's cruise.  All expenses paid, even spending money.  I'm thrilled for him and a little sad for myself.  I'd love to go to CA.  Sigh.  Sometimes it's hard being the one left home.  Again.  sigh.
• Even though it is 30 degrees cooler today than it was two days ago, I think Spring has sprung.  The grass is turning a lovely shade of green and alot of trees are budding and blossoming.  I love this time of year.
• No big projects planned for the week Paul is gone.  I'm just going to focus on cleaning out closets and drawers.  I do have one "project" in the works and we'll see if I make any progress on it.  No dear, it does not involve paint. :)
• We are in full "birthday season" at our house.  We just had Paul and Ben's, and now Ellie's 13th is coming up.  Can't believe Ellie is going to be a teenager.  Actually, I can't believe she is only now becoming a teenager.  She's been a teenager since she was born! Those of you that know her understand exactly what I mean.
• School is going fine.  We're hitting some spring fever- well, maybe I'm the only one with spring fever.  It hits every year around this time.  We just have to plug on through till June. 
• Sam is doing great and reading like a champ.  He is a joy to school- he hasn't learned to dislike it yet.  He is so like his brother Paul.
• Ben was looking at a picture of me as a little child.  I said that's Mommy when I was a little girl.  He said, Well, Mom.  I used to be a big mom.  haha
• Life is never dull at our house and life is never slow around here.  We are trying to enjoy every day.

Benjamin's 4th Birthday

Ben woke up bright and early on the morning of February 22nd, his fourth birthday.  He was sooooo excited!  First off, Dad gave him a present- a cool Mossy Oak deer tee shirt and then took Ben out to McDonalds for his birthday breakfast.  (Everyone gets breakfast out with dad for their birthdays!).  Ben wasn't so happy in this pic because I made him stand outside so I could get his picture in his new tee shirt, and he was cold.  But, he recovered very fast.

 After breakfast, we loaded up the van, made a stop to get Ben's cousin and very best friend, Andyman, and headed to Chuck E. Cheese.  We love going in the morning because it is usually empty.  We weren't disappointed this day- only 2 other people were there.  It was so nice and so much fun to have the place to ourselves.  We got some tokens and were ready to play.

 Emma was very unsure about everything.  She did not like any of the rides and only tolerated this big spinning cup for a few minutes.  She liked walking around, by herself, the best.

 (Doesn't she look cute in her new cowboy boots??)  Andyman and Ben, on the other hand, couldn't do everything fast enough!  They had a hard time staying on the ride until it was finished before running to the next thing.

 They sure did enjoy themselves!

 After we got home, Ben opened his gift from Andy.  He loved all the cool toys and he, Sam and Andy played with them all afternoon.

 A birthday lunch of the birthday boys favorites:  hot dogs, mac and cheese and green beans.

 More gifts!

 A tool  box from Dad.

 This is how he fell asleep: flashlight on and tape measure on his chest.  So cute!

 In our small church, we have four people with birthdays on the 22nd of February.  We had a party for them after church.  The cake was so pretty.

Ben with all the other birthday people.

Happy Birthday Ben.  Your birthday is a bit bittersweet for your mom.  I'm thrilled you're growing and learning and exploring, but my heart is somewhat sad that you are already 4.  I'm going to miss the 3 year old Ben!

Love you buddy.