How old is Lucy? Five!!!

Here's Nanny with the kids and their animals. I took this in the same place I took an earlier picture. (I'd link it, but I can't find it.)

This summer was an exciting exploration of wonderful diseases, like scabies and roseola, so we had periods of great fun interspersed with periods of withdrawal. Lucy's birthday party fell on the Wednesday during Kid's Kamp, and since I was busy decorating the North Chapel at the beginning of the week and putting together the carnival at the end of the week, I wasn't too upset that we had to move her party back a week because Miles was ill.
My mom offered to take Lucy to Disneyland or Legoland or SeaWorld, and Lucy chose SeaWorld-not the best choice for a little girl that hates to go to shows, but since Josh once told me that he liked SeaWorld best of all, I decided to let it go. (I should have changed her mind- I think that she wanted to go to Legoland.)
It was awesome. It was crazy and hot and there were tons of people. My mom and Josh and I had very different ideas about how to make our way around, and I ended up getting frustrated and nearly ruined everyone's good time. (I could not admit that, but it happened.)
We started out with the Shamu show, which we've heard is the worst show to go to, and Lucy didn't want to go to any other shows after that. We hung out for a long time in the super-duper play structure, complete with a happy little bouncy pad for all the little kids. If you can work around me, it was a great trip for the kids.
Lucy and I watching the killer whales. Josh kept saying, "They don't call them Save-Your-Lifer-Whales!"

We were pretty far away, but those guys are BIG.

Bowden and Lucy waiting in line to go in the biggest bounce house ever.

The nets above,

the bouncer below. Jack was just small enough to go on the little kid bouncer.

There we are in the cups!

Bowden loved the rides! We played games and won stuffed animals, and went twice through the shark tunnel- sharks swim over your head! We had cotton candy, and got to hang out with Nanny and Josh all day. It was a good birthday for the Goose.

Let me 'splain.
The computer, she does not want to work. You turn her on, and she's blank. For every twenty-five to forty times you try her, for every two or three days you attempt to start her up, she may come on once.
It's not exactly good for the blogging.
But we all know that I haven't been as faithful at blogging as I should be, so I'm sorry for that. I hope to improve.
But this thing is going to have to work with me. Tonight she came on, so here are Miles' birthday pics.
A new computer may be on the horizon for us. Who knows?
Maybe God will answer our need with another, or maybe this old girl breaking is an answer in itself!

My baby is ONE! Miles was born a year ago on the Monday just before Family Camp started at Camp Maranatha, and it seemed fitting to have Family Camp sing him Happy Birthday this year.
I was planning on making a carrot cake, but the day flew by...so I ended up buying an organic, all natural pound cake from the crunchy Organic Food Store up here in Idyllwild, and decorating it with whipped cream and raspberries.
Miles has had things that are not good for him before- french fries, chips, a chocolate-chip cookie two weeks ago at church...but still, the cake was an exciting food adventure.

He wasn't at all sure about the mound of food in front of him, and first just removed the raspberries, finally putting one in his mouth.
I had to put some whipped cream in his mouth before he'd try it himself, but once he realized that it was so delicious, he used the candle to scoop some in his mouth.
Eventually, even the pound cake, now softened by the whipped cream, was consumed. As I was putting it together, Jack had a little melt-down when I told him that the cake was for Miles, and that Jack would have to wait until after dinner to get a piece. He got over it...mostly by being ignored and then punished, once reason was found to have no home in his heart over such matters as goodly cakes.
Jack needn't of worried...Miles was very willing to share his birthday cake with his big brother. (Lucy and Bowden had run off long before to play outside with the other kids here- they are running wild this week...there are so many kids their age and we know them all...there are crafts and Bible stories and all kinds of fun that they don't want to miss...Bowden begins every meal with, "I don't want to eat. I'll just play.")

When we got home, Jack said, "I DID get some cake tonight! You said that I couldn't!"

(Or something that translated to that. Jack says "Me" for "I" about half the time, and my brain does an automatic translation. I have to be careful that I don't answer back in Jack-speak...it happens, especially when I'm distracted.

For example:

Jack- "That deer don't like him tail. Him eat him tail."

Mom-"Why did he eat him tail?"

Jack-"Him don't like him tail. Me deer. Me no like my tail."

Mom-"I like your tail. No eat him tail!"
We had this conversation after Jack came down and told me that he had two dreams, one happy and one bad. They were both about deer. I don't know which one this was.)

(But back to Miles...it was his birthday, after all!)

Finally, after the cake was eaten, the whipped cream absorbed, and the raspberries scattered, Miles was finished. I'm glad he liked it, although he won't remember it.
Jack might.
Miles' completion of a meal sometimes culminates with a finger point, telling me that he's "all done."

What can I say? He's adorable. What a blessing he's been- a joy, a pleasure, and a wonder. God's goodness is evident in the gift of my children. I am undeserving, but thankful to have my four.

Aunt Lisa got Bowden a super-awesome rocket for his birthday- powered by vinegar and baking soda- and EXCITEMENT! We took it for a test drive one afternoon last week. The crowd stands at a distance.

The scientist measures the volatile chemicals.

The rocket, half-full of vinegar.

Awaiting blast-off.

Aunt Lisa knows what 7-year-olds like!

We celebrated two birthdays this week- Jacky turned three on Tuesday, and we had a dragon birthday party for him.Bowden turned seven yesterday. We brought a cake to school shaped like a seven and then went down to the desert for hours of Boomers fun. We also just finished the Camp's Work Weekend, had John staying with us while he visited Lisa, and had three different couples up visiting over the weekend. John left Wednesday, and we went down to Hemet to get Bowden a few goldfish for his birthday. Lucy "graduated" from preschool yesterday, and we have been straight out this week, and last week, too.
We're camping this weekend with more friends, and then next week?
Next week I am sleeping IN.

Beet eating!

You may not have realized that beets make your face do strange things. (This is the evidence.)

We went down to Hemet with John and Lisa tonight to get groceries and pick up some goodly provisions. We ate at Red Robin.

We had the best server ever. It was great times- and the weather, right now, is perfect in Idyllwild and Hemet.