Josh White turned 30 this past Sunday, and his ever-lovin' wife, Emily, threw him a surprise party. Here we are waiting for him to come home from work.
In fact, all of the pictures I took were before the party got going...i.e. before we started eating...and once the party started, I was done with pictures.
Some of the kidlings entertained themselves at the table.
Hidemi, with baby Maddie.
Josh came home, we yelled surprise! He was actually surprised...it was very fun. Happy birthday, Josh. We love you!

Jacky loves baby Abbey White. Lucy loved babies, too, but generally, Jack doesn't love babies. Just Abbey.
It could be because he sees her more than any other baby.
She really tickles him, though.
How could he not adore her? Abbey is adorable. All of the Tates are fans.

We came home today from picking up Bowden to find the Forroux children playing on our play set- the social equivalent to finding buried treasure.
Becky and Lucy were playing in the toy room, and Phillip and Bowden were outside on the play set. I overheard the boys talking.
They must have been discussing birthday parties, because I heard Phillip tell Bowden that he would invite Bowden to his birthday party."What is it going to be?" Bowden said after a happy little, "Ooohhhh."
"I don't know. Maybe pirates."
"I had a pirate party and it was awesome. I got a pirate puzzle and all kinds of pirate stuff."

I don't know what the crash was outside- when I looked out, there wasn't anything down that had been up, but it made the boys crack up.
After they laughed awhile, I heard Phillip say, "Hey, Bowden."
"What?"
"I like you."
"I like you, too."

(I always like people better after we've laughed together- the harder we laugh, the more I like them.)

Becky and Lucy in the playroom, just so you know I'm truthful.

I haven't taken many pictures, but today was picture day. Soccer pictures for Bowden, and preschool pictures for Lucy.
The most chaotic and tiring part of the week has ended, and tomorrow should be nice and relaxing and maybe even fun since we have planned a date...other than that, I haven't posted much because not much has happened.
I took a nap on the floor today, just so you have SOME picture in your head.

Lucy Gates and I have a Mommy-and-Me dance class on Wednesdays. She gets on her gear...
It's really a movement class, and it's really, actually, a lot of fun,

Bowden took some pictures, and put his fingers on the lens, but I love her body in this one- she's about to jump!
Lucy, ballerina.

This last Saturday, Bowden asked me, "Mommy, do I have kindergarten today?"
"Nope. It's Saturday. It's the weekend. There's no school on the weekend."
He grinned, and said to Lucy, "Lucy! I don't have school tomorrow!"
Lucy ran into Bowden's open arms. Jack, seeing the love-fest and not wanting to miss out, ran in and also hugged Bowden.
"You should take pictures, Mommy!" So I did.

They sat down, together.
They ate ham, together.
They looked at me, together.
I just could not get them to smile, together.
Jack, the shrimp.

Bowdo, the clown.
Lucy, the Loop.
Oh, Jack wanted the camera...sooo badly.

The shoot had to end.