The Birthday Boy

Yes, he is now 5 years old. Yes, he is wearing 2 ties.

Thanks for coming to celebrate, guys!

Nathan overheard Brig and I talking about the cake as I was decorating it. Then he asked, "what does ghetto mean"?
So this year Nathan requested a "green turtle" cake. Remember the "green Q" cake last year? It wasn't until after I started to decorate it that he told me, "I mean I want a Ninja Turtle cake." Oh, great. Like I know what that looks like. Brig helped me with the logistics. If only I'd had a few more minutes maybe the eyes wouldn't be so lopsided and the rest wouldn't be so ghetto. In my own defense, that afternoon we had someone coming to see the house, Mia had to go to the doctor, then that someone who was coming to see the house while we left it vacant for an hour (with the beginnings of the un-decorated turtle cake stashed in the oven) decided to come late. While we were all home. While the baby was in the bath. While we were making dinner. If only they'd offered on the house it would have been worth it.

Happy Birthday big 5 year old. We love you!

Haircut

Scarlett has needed a haircut for a LONG time, but every time I mentioned it she would burst into tears. Then one morning I asked her if she wanted a haircut and she said, "and I will turn into Cinderella?" "Oh, yes" I agreed, "and you will be a beautiful princess." Then I didn't waste any time. I cut it immediately. Couldn't give her time to change her mind, which changes as fast as her moods.

Now she has a haircut. Now she thinks she is Cinderella.

Praying for dreams

Tonight Nathan said prayers before bed, "......and please bless me to have cool dreams and Scarlett to have pretty dreams."

"Dress-Ups" (for boys)

(Stoker family riding in the car, on the way home from Chick-Fil-A)

Nathan and Scarlett are jabbering about going on another play-date at Lilly's house. Scarlett wants to bring her dress-ups (Lilly has lots of dress-ups at her house) and Nathan says he wants to bring his only dress-up, his doctor hat: "I only have one dress-up to bring--I mean I only have one 'pants-up' (I'm a boy) to bring." Glad we got that straightened out. "Dress-ups" for girls. "Pants-ups" for boys.

In November...

Happy 1st Birthday Mia!

Thanks again to Sarah for the great birthday photos!

Sweet Mia--we just can't get enough of your: kisses and hugs, walking and running, talking and singing, and you tolerating pushes and pulls from two older siblings

We could do without: you getting out of your crib (falling or otherwise).

Still, we love you to pieces.

Do NOT break the rules

Tonight we were at a friend's birthday party. You know the game where you roll the dice and if you get doubles you get to try to unwrap a huge candy bar while wearing oven mittens and two knives for utensils? Well, Nathan rolled doubles, but then he flat-out refused, "I'm not supposed to play with knives."

Preschool Dropout

So in the car tonight, Nathan is rocking some fantastic air-guitar when he loudly (and excitedly) announces, "Hey guys! Guess what?!?! I'm not going to go to school OR work! I'm going to play the guitar in a band!"