Great at 8...and a cowboy

Matt LOVES "shooting" things. A golf club, stick, vacuum attachments all make great devices the shoot things with. He also has a cap gun from Aunt Betsy and Uncle Mark. He even sleeps with it. Here he is all dressed up in his cowboy garb. We are in the middle of potty training so we even have the big boy undies too. "Shoot targets, not people" is frequently heard around our house.

Cowboy Matt

Emma also turns the big 8 years old. We had a birthday bash yesterday to celebrate with Grandma and Grandpa's, aunt, uncles and cousins. We had a great day, even though Matt came down with a fever in the middle of all the celebrating. Figures. Anyway, a big thank you to everyone for their company and help yesterday!

Blowing out the candles...

New flip-flops and toe ring...Aunt Shel would love this pic!

Minnie and Mickey were in the house! We have been all about the mice since we got back from Florida. I think the cake turned out rather cute. Minnie is lying on her blanket watching Mickey surf. Emma helped me with the cake every step of the way.
Better run... a day of work and then I am taking Emma and a few friends bowling tonight for a birthday party with friends. Fun times!

A Chat with Matt

We are on 2 of 5 down with the stomach flu. I had it during the week and Emma was down all day yesterday. Madie is well as of yet so she and I had some fun fixing her hair and make-up. Then we had to take some pictures. Cutie-pie!

Can't you just read her mind?

Matt has been conversing like crazy. We had a 30 minute conversation last night about all he did with Uncle Mark last week. It must have made a big impression. A few other Matthew quotes:

"What's that mean?"
"Hear something"
"Guess what"
"No Madie, not fair"
"Where Dad go?"
"What makin' Mom?"
And many more...

HodgePodge

As I sit here listening to the sound of the winter winds howling, the snow is flying and I am dreaming of 2 weeks ago when we were sunning ourselves in the fabulous Orlando. I am sure most of you already know...the reason for our Grand Gathering Celebration was Mom and Dad's 40th Wedding Anniversary. Quite a feat and well deserving of a Magical Celebration!

My most favorite picure!

The troops, who enjoyed every minute of the trip. They were very well behaved considering how utterly tired we all were.

What is Disney without a little fireworks above the castle. Here the castle is blue, but I have it in many other colors as well. Very cool. At one point Tinkerbell even flew away from the castle. True Disney magic!

We saw the charaters. Everyone loved them...except Matthew. He was skeptical from the beginning.

I can just guess what is going through his mind here "Touch my food duck and I won't be responsible for what happens!"

We monkeyed around at some of the rides...this was Toy Story...fun stuff!
The Disney Magic ended way too quickly. The second half of the trip was spent with Brandon's parents who flew down to spend a couple days there with us. It was truly a vacation from our vacation. The most strenuous thing we did was drive to the beach. I know, hard work, right??

Here are Grandma and Grandpa R. with the kids at Daytona Beach. The girls LOVED everything about it. Matthew kept saying "no big water", but he loved the sand and birds.

If you have been keeping up with bsktgirl, she has more pix posted there!