Mario's 9th birthday (Captain America themed)

After having completed a kitchen renovation last year and our house being a total disaster, Mario had to have his friend birthday party a few weeks late.  But, God rewarded him this year, and his actual birthday landed on a Saturday, so he was able to have his friend party then!!  What a lucky guy!

Here are a couple pictures from earlier in the day on his birthday....

And, now for the friend party.  Mario LOVES Captain America and requested that theme.  So, for goodie bags, we filled it with Captain America and army-related trinkets (pencils, tatoo's, candy, etc...).  

A game of air hockey as the boys were all arriving....

A perfect dinner for a bunch of boys:  cheese pizza, sausage pizza, dilly beans (as per Mario's request), cheese puffs, pirate's booty, jello jigglers, and root beer...  

Red, White, and Blue/Captain America cake (thanks to Hy Vee)

It's always hard to have a pinata for those winter birthdays.  Neil did a fabulous job figuring out how to hang it up in the garage, but the kids and I loaded it up with too much candy - doh!  After a couple swings, it fell down without completely breaking open, so Neil had to sprinkle the kids with candy! 

 Cake time!!!!

Sit-up contest (Neil timed the kids to see who could do the most sit-ups in 1 minute).  I think the winner did 65!!  

And, they closed the party with Disney Apple to Apples....

Since Max and Mario's birthdays are only 13 days apart, we had a combination family birthday party.  There are a couple pictures of the two of them at the bottom of this post.  My sweet little M&M's!

6 Blessed Years!

Our St. Patrick's Day Eve birthday girl, Ariel, is turning 6 tomorrow.  Where has the time gone?  Our sweet spunky monkey, our biggest baby (who weighed in at 9 pounds 9 ounces) is now a Kindergartener with a joy that is truly contagious.  She's always willing to lend a hand.  She LOVES to talk.  She has the cutest giggles!  She is also good at bossing and screeching.  Here's a look at her last 6 years and how much she's changed and grown....

Actual Birthday

Melody meeting (and latching onto) Ariel for the first time

Mario meeting Ariel for the first time (and Melody still mothering/being latched on)

Fone meeting Ariel (and Melody still mothering/being latched on)

our sweet newborn girl!!

1st Birthday

2nd Birthday

3rd Birthday

4th Birthday 

5th Birthday

6 YEARS OLD (actually minus one day - the pic was taken the day before she turned 6)

**As a side note, I admit that I am not the perfect cake decorator lady, as most of my cakes are fairly simple (box mix and baked in a plain 9x13 pan with maybe a touch of color added to the canned frosting) or even store-bought, but the smile on Ariel's face says it all...  it's not about how fancy your mom makes your cake.  It's all about being loved and I think we can all agree, the love and joy is just radiating from her in these pictures. 

(Pictures will follow soon from her circus-themed cousin party and family party!!)

Happy birthday, Ariel!!  
Your smile and joy come directly from the heart of God and remind me on a daily basis that I am loved by Him!

May God continue to shower you with His graces 

and love over the next year!  

We love you sweetie!!!!!

The many faces of Pookey

Our little Pookey is such a character!  He makes the silliest faces ever and can do them on the spot.  His latest is his grumpy face, which he announces "grumpy" and then performs.  Of course, it is followed with "Aww, he's so cute!".  Here's a look into our fun world with our goofey Pookey....

 These silly, goofey moments are the ones I want to always treasure!  What a riot our Pookey is!! 

February freezer cooking menu

In a little over 3 hours of freezer cooking, I came home with 8 freshly made meals and a gigantic fruit salad to feed my family.  My sisters, sister-in-law, parents and I have been freezer cooking at a local grocery for many months now and absolutely LOVE it.  We don't have to go shopping for groceries, pre-cook any of the meat, nor do we have to do any clean-up.  All we do is pick out our meals, send in a grocery list, and show up to assemble meals.  What a breeze it is!!!  

Here is our February menu....

BBQs

Crockpot Chicken Burritos

Breakfast Burritos

Taco Pasta

Meatloaf

Goulash

Salmon Patties

Dijon Pork

Fresh Fruit Salad

I now have a full freezer waiting to feed that crew of mine.  Thank you God for freezer cooking and the blessing it is to my family.  

Here's pictures of our fun night, cooking away!  .....

My dad opening up cans

A smiling sister of mine

One of my sweet nieces cracking eggs for the breakfast burritos (and one of the amazing helpers at the grocery store)

Another sweet niece of mine cutting up fruit for the fruit salad

the "trick" for getting marinades to stay in bags and not spew all over the counter as you pour them in

Viola!  and not a drop spilled! 

my sweet niece again beating the eggs

My sister and her husband making taco salad

My dad with FREEZING cold hands mixing together the salmon patties

Another one of my sisters and her goofey husband (making BBQs)

Another amazing helper at the grocery store, reading to my niece as we finish things up

8 meals and a giant fruit salad = $105 and no clean-up!