Jennifer's Junky Life ~

The Name Game that Makes me SO Happy

I don't trust myself on this computer lately because I have only one thing on my mind. {I haven't been on Facebook since last week. That's a big deal!} We've been waiting for this for a very long time and it's super early to announce it, and I literally just found out on Friday, but four days is a long time to hold it in when you're this excited about something... We're going to have a baby!!

{Simple paper stars. So pretty. These are from a wedding but wouldn't they be cute above a baby's crib? Photo credit via Pinterest.}

I can't believe I can finally say it again. It feels like the most amazing gift and we're over the moon about it. I feel like we're so excited, it's not even funny. We just keep looking at each other and grinning like fools. It feels like we're love-struck teenagers. And, to be honest, it feels like when we found out we were expecting our first all over again. We're just so happy! But it hasn't fully sunk in because we both just keep saying, "I can't believe it. I can't believe it. Is this real?" :) We've wished for this for so long.

{Pretty dress and scarf. Love the entire outfit here: Photo credit via Pinterest.}

Carter will be 6, next month, and well over 6 1/2 when this baby arrives.

We need a baby.

I love babies! I just keep laughing that I'll get a newborn to cuddle and snuggle again. (And wake up in the middle of the night with -- YIKES. I'm in for a rude awakening. It's been a long time that I've had to lose sleep for any of my kids. Although, to be honest about the reality, it's the anxiety and post-partum depression that can stem from it that worries me the most. If you're new here, I had moderately-severe PPD with my last two.)

{Retro baby chair. Photo credit via Pinterest.}

I literally just found out a few days ago but when you wait this long for news like this, it's really hard to hold it in until you're further along. (I'm only four weeks.) I normally spread the news when I'm only six weeks, so really what's the difference? It was so fun because my sister, Gretchen (one of the twins), was out here when I found out. I just couldn't keep it a secret and called my mom immediately after finding out. Like, as in literally, right after I found out.

{Baby quilt made from vintage sheets. Photo credit via Pinterest.}

Over all these years, I've continued to keep an ongoing list of names. It's one of my favorite things about having a baby, getting to name them. I love choosing names. We're hoping to find something unique and special and it's all I can think about right now. With my other kids, we had a boy's and a girl's name picked out within the first half of the pregnancy. And, in fact, Nikayda's name was picked out long before we were even expecting.

We found out what we were having with Carter, for the first time. We plan to find out again when the time comes for this one, more than likely. I absolutely loved knowing what I was having. It was so nice for shopping and planning.

{Old Navy maternity dress. Photo credit via Pinterest.}

It's crazy! I feel like I just start giggling at random times in the past few days. I can't even believe it. It's such a blessing.

I feel like I don't have any baby stuff anymore. I've given a lot of my baby stuff to my sister, Sara, over the years. And sold stuff at garage sales. So I'm excited to start picking things up over the coming months. Mostly, I just need a car seat and a baby sling and then all the little stuff.

{Beautiful Swedish vintage style nursery. Photo credit via Pinterest.}

I kept my vintage wooden high chair. And, in fact, found another metal retro one this summer garage saling that I couldn't resist. I still have my porta-crib and my small baby crib, my Baby Bjorn carrier and my single jogging stroller. (The baby carrier was always a little big for me. I'm short and have a short torso so it always worked better for Mark than me. That's why I want a sling this time.) But I feel like my views have changed so much as far as the things I need. I feel like so much of the baby stuff is just a product of commercialism and you really don't need much to have a happy baby. I mean, you need plenty of stuff, but you don't need every gadget out there, is what I'm trying to say.

I've also been collecting vintage baby clothes over the years. I always have. And I'm excited to look for more. I collect both boy's and girl's clothes. If I don't use them, they can always go in the junk shop.

{Handmade Sweater Balls. Photo credit via Pinterest.}

I can't believe I'm even talking about all this! It's just so exciting.

{Zigzag jumpsuit. Photo credit via Pinterest.}

I've always loved being pregnant. Once I get past the first twelve weeks. I always get really, really sick from about week 6 to week 12 or 13. So I have a couple of weeks before I'll start feeling anything. I was in the hospital twice for iv's due to dehydration with Nikayda but luckily not with the boys. Hoping for a good first trimester this time but only time will tell. Crossing my fingers! I'm mentally preparing myself for it to be bad...but hoping for the best!

Seriously... How do you keep that a secret when you've waited so long? I'll let everyone else (namely the *ahem* older generation) feel cautiously optimistic since it's so early. I'm diving in head first with happiness! We're so thrilled. I told Mark the other night that I feel all sparkly because I'm so happy right now.

Everyday normal is not always normal

While Mark was out in North Dakota, he picked up a Tab so he could have internet while out there. Whenever he'd come home, the kids loved to use it or walk around taking pictures with it.

Nikayda captured this simple moment one Sunday in April as I was making dinner after church. I'm pretty sure I was only stirring corn or something equally exotic but I love how it captures a candid everyday moment around here. And, I also love how not normal it is, because I rarely cook Sunday dinner! (When I say rarely, I mean I've probably cooked Sunday dinner three times in the past five years. And even that's probably being generous.) So, at least the one time I did, it was actually captured on camera.

 

I never even knew she took the picture until later when Mark showed it to me. I'd forgotten about it until today when I found it in my email. Apparently, he'd sent it to me at the beginning of the month but for some reason it only recently showed up.

Me and the bearded guy rarely are photographed together, something which I really would like to change! We also are never photographed with the kids. It's always them or us. I'd love to get a family picture taken someday. I always thought I'd have a friend do it, but now that we have a photographer in the family, I want her to take it. Maybe she'll come visit sometime so we can get one! ;)

Trouble with a capital 'T

The boys have been begging for a skateboard for about two years now. I put them off last summer whenever we were garage saling and would come across one (mostly because they were either way too big and/or junk (real junk. not the good kind)).

But today, we found a child's size one at a church rummage sale and since it was in relatively great shape, I let them get it.

Not a single one of us knows how to ride one. But that doesn't stop them from immediately trying every trick in the book that they've ever seen, or think they've seen...!

I suggested that before they get too carried away, maybe we should invest in some helmets, and knee pads, and elbow pads. Carter was thinking they should also get "metal suits" (a knight's armor).

Maybe that wouldn't be such a bad idea...

at least then it might be impossible to ride the thing. And it doesn't get much safer than that.

Silence is golden... except when it comes to blogging

I alluded to things being a little rough around here earlier this winter... Well, I can finally tell those of you who may not have known, that it was because Mark was working 500 miles away from home (about 8 hours drive time). And he only got every other weekend off (and only Saturday and Sunday) so we only saw him 4 days a month for the past 4 months.

After hunting for work for three months around here, he finally headed out to the North Dakota oil wells right after we got back from being with my family in Michigan at Christmas. He left on January 3rd to look for work, sleeping in his truck and hoping to find a place to stay.

He ended up finding a job working in a shop for one of the oil companies after a couple of weeks. And, for one month he rented an old bomber of a camper at a car dealership with a couple of other guys from our church who were out there (two of them also with spouses back here). After that, he was back sleeping in his truck (with no heat) when the others were put up in man camps by their employers. (His heat hadn't been working for a couple of years. Ironically, he did fix it now but only since the weather has warmed up. Too late to be of much help when it was cold.)

I sent him out there with a bunch of heavy quilts and sleeping bags and he ended up bringing some of them home after a few weeks. So, I was glad to know he was managing to stay warm enough while he slept anyway! (He was able to shower at the local rec. center.)

I can't even begin to say how hard it was having him away from us. The kids and I missed him like crazy. We've never had to do this for this long before. (We'd been apart for work for a month at the most prior to this.) We were all lonesome. But so very thankful for the work. It felt a little bittersweet finally getting a job when we were living under these circumstances.

(And at the same time, I had to remind myself that there are those who do this all the time and especially I often found myself remembering our military families out there who's loved ones are in constant danger while they're away. It just gave me a whole new appreciation for those who have to be apart, under any circumstances.)

We decided to play it by ear when he went out there. If work didn't come up here, he was going to look for a rental so we could all be together. In fact, he had just started looking for a place when he came home one weekend this spring and met with the guy he contracted with last year. Intending to decline the offer to come home and work on one cabin with him, he went to meet him -- only to come home in the afternoon and decide that he was going to come home (even though he only had the one cabin lined up).

(Mentioned on book but not here: Got my blue suede shoes today. I love the color! Photo credit: Ebay seller.)

He came home 'officially' this past Friday night and it's so nice to have him around again! I still keep reminding myself that he doesn't have to go back. Now, we're hoping more work pops up or we'll have to revisit the oil company thing again in the fall or winter. But it also feels nice to know that's an option if we have to do it. We've done it once, we can do it again -- but this time I'd want a place out there so we can go back and forth and see him more often. (We have no plans to leave this area or to sell our house -- we love it here.) For now, we're just very much enjoying our new 'normal' again.

It was especially hard for him to be away from the kids so long. He was gone for his 30th birthday (Jan.), for Nikayda's (Feb.) and Abram's (Jan.) birthdays and for our 10th Anniversary (in April). For the kids, he called and we put him on speaker phone so he could sing with us while they blew out their candles. But he was home for Mother's Day, and my birthday is tomorrow (Thur.) and as small as it may be, I'm just so, so happy to be able to spend it with him! I'll be 30 for the fourth year in a row. Looking forward to it. :) The kids want me to make a cake. I never have before and haven't decided if I will or not -- but I might just to see their smiles.

(Also mentioned on book but not here: my new summer sandals that should arrive tomorrow! Thanks to a link from an old school friend on book, I couldn't stop thinking about them and got them for now insead of these ones because they're brighter and more colorful. Purchased for half off thanks to Swagbucks gift cards! Photo credit: Amazon seller.)

PROJECTS: I've been working on a couple of projects this week. The cabinet I mentioned last time I blogged is almost completely primed (I just need to contend with the rusty bottom section) and the bookshelf is now ready for a couple of coats of paint. It's upside down in the second picture because I just finished priming the bottom.

It was covered in oil in spots near the bottom (first picture). I tried getting most of it out before priming it with Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3. It should be fine with a couple of coats of the primer. It'll house some of our homeschool books. They're all in wire fridge baskets in the living room. It'll be nice to have them on shelves finally.

I haven't decided on colors yet. I'll have to dig through my stash and see what I've got or go pick out more. I'll be using some vintage wallpaper inside to pretty it up, too. I'm anxious to get them done! It feels so great to be painting again. It's been far too long!

The Games People Play

I love Christmas time. It's a special time for reconnecting, visiting, and playing games. For many years in a row, we were on a Speed Scrabble kick at my family's. Then it fizzled out and we haven't played it for a couple of years. I love Speed Scrabble. And, in fact, I'm not sure if I've ever actually played the original Scrabble game. (Below, Gretchen, Danny, and Brett.)

This year, we played Outburst Remix and Guesstures (both, electronic editions). Guesstures is such a blast, especially when my brother Danny's up. It's amazing how many of the words he knows how to act out and he's hilarious to watch! Gretchen had to monitor his words because he wouldn't always get them right...

He had 'communion' during one turn and kept standing in place, repeatedly opening and closing his mouth. (Not unlike a fish.)

He thought the word was 'communication'. We got a laugh out of that one!

Below: l to r, Jean and Molly (front left corner of photo). Paul and Mark behind Kaitlin on the couch. Heidi, Gretchen and Danny.

It's so fun when everyone plays, even my mom and dad. My mom worked a bit this time when we were home (she got a new job this past year), so I feel like we missed her a lot this Christmas.

My family draws names every year for a gift exchange. This year, the girls and mom exchanged handmade gifts. It was so much fun to finally do that! I made a little aqua and white pom pom garland for my sister Emily out of white vintage seam binding, an aqua vintage dinner napkin and embroidery floss. I'm hoping it doesn't fall apart(!) as it was my first pom pom garland. (I forgot to take a picture of it.) My mom had my name and made me a cute oatmeal colored slouchy beret. I love it and have been wearing it almost every day. My mom got a really pretty patchwork blanket throw from my sister Sara. My sister Sara got a chocolate brown fleece blanket in a pretty print from my sister Molly. Amanda got a hook board (for hanging things) from Emily. It's really cute with patterned paper on the back and silver hooks. Heidi got a pretty pin cushion and wrist band pin cushion from Amanda. Kaitlin got an assortment of cute button magnets and flower magnets from Gretchen. Gretchen got a cute green vintage apron that Heidi had upcycled and modified to fit her. And Molly got the most adorable hand sewn felt turquoise dolphin from Kaitlin (who needs to start putting things on Etsy!). (Our sister-in-law and our youngest sister didn't participate this year -- but hopefully they will next year!) I wish I had pictures of everything.

The boys and my dad exchanged gifts, too, but not handmade. Danny wanted Brett's name SO bad before Amanda drew names. And he got lucky! (Here he is (above) so proudly waiting as Brett (below) was opening his gift.)

My mom decided it would be more fun to let him pick out whatever he wanted for Brett... He just knew that Brett needed a Detroit Lions' fan mask in the worst way. And when he had money left over, he knew Brett would just love the baseball pop can holder he found while waiting in line at the check out. He was one proud kid when Brett went to open that gift, let me tell you.

Brett was just bursting with enthusiasm which made him all the more proud of the awesome gift he'd found. What a riot! (Below, Carter wanted a shot at that super cool mask. He and Abram thought it was the coolest thing ever, right up there with Danny.)

Brett all set for the next Lions' game.

I didn't take very many pictures when I was home. Only 369, and although that may sound like a lot, it's really not. Many are the same ones, trying to get the right shot. And many of them are flash photos or when I didn't use the flash, they're fuzzy. Someday I'll read the manual...once I figure out why my printer won't print. It's on my computer and I need to print it out. (Below, Papa Freddy with Kendall. She's such a doll.)

Printer tech stuff: My printer quit working before Christmas. Ironically, right after I reloaded it with a refilled ink cartridge. Mark thinks the cartridge affected it...I'm not so sure because it printed once or twice right after I loaded it and then quit. It's as if there is no 'connection' between the pc and printer. The power works on the printer but everything stays in the queue when we print. And when I open the cover of the printer, I don't get the usual message on my pc stating it's open. I took the ink cartridges out and put them back in and I don't get the standard message asking me to realign the printer. (And I get those message every time, normally.)

We tried a new cable but still nothing so we returned the cable. I downloaded all new drivers and updated all of the software...still nothing. If anyone has any suggestions to try, I'd be grateful! I'm hoping to figure it out soon so I can start doing my postage at home again for The Junk Shop!

A New Year

A new year, a new beginning... Mark went out job hunting this week. We're hoping something comes up soon as he hasn't had anything since October. He applied with a bunch of oil companies on Monday and we're both crossing our fingers as we've heard these companies are usually hiring.

There is so much more going on behind the scenes with this whole work thing. The past couple of months have been difficult and we still have a rugged road ahead of us, but I know that everything will fall into place eventually. It always does. It's just easy to lose sight of that, and to get discouraged, sometimes.

Living this self-employed lifestyle always has its ups and downs. It's a part of our life, every day, every year. Sometimes the work is steady. Other times it's a struggle to find it. And sometimes we don't have anything. But when unemployment goes on for more than two months at a time as it has this time, it gets all the more stressful. We can't collect unemployment like other people who work for certain companies are so fortunate to be able to do.

We're praying for something, anything at this point. I'm trying to stay cautiously optimistic as he's out there hunting for a laborer position. Knowing that other guys have found jobs out there, helps me to feel a smidgen of hope that work is on the horizon. It will come eventually. (My thoughts and prayers are with all of those husbands and families out there that we've been hearing of who are out there looking, too. God will provide.)

On another note, we had a great time in Michigan for Christmas! It was so much fun spending that time with my family, visiting at all hours of the night with my sisters. I treasure those moments and feel so lucky that I got to hang out with them twice in about two months time this past year.

Normally, when I'm there, I don't want to leave and want to keep prolonging the inevitable because we see them so infrequently. This year was different in that I kept thinking we should come home early so Mark could start job hunting. I was able to relax while I was there so that was nice, but it was always in the back of our minds.

I hope your New Year is off to a good start!

(Photos: Playing Outburst. And, one of Danny opening his 'name' gift. My mom got new curtains for privacy. In all the 20-some years they've lived here, they've never had privacy curtains. I think they look nice. (She still needs to hem the one on the door.))

All is Merry & Bright

Wishing you and yours a very Happy Christmas!

We didn't do Christmas cards this year but we did a little impromptu photo shoot today. Thank you for all of your cards and Christmas wishes this year -- it's so fun getting them all. (Many of you still have our old (Main) address -- probably because in the four years we've lived in this house, we've only done cards once.) I miss the tradition when we have to skip it!

I'll be taking a blogging break until the New Year. Wishing you the Merriest Christmas and safe travels for those who are traveling over the holidays. Warm wishes from our home to yours!

Saturday Night :: Sara's House

We crammed a lot of visiting into last weekend. Technically, we only had Saturday together as Friday night was the shower. Sara made lasagna and Caesar Salad for everyone for supper so we all headed over there around supper time and hung out for the evening. It was delicious! Below, the kids coloring in all the coloring books (with the big box of crayons) that Auntie Jeanie (my sister) had given them for Sara's shower.

These two are so cute! I just loved watching them play all weekend. Too bad they're at the stage where they're so busy! Although, that's exactly what makes them so cute! It just meant no time to sit and snuggle with either of them.

Emily and Kirsten and Heidi and Adrian ended up heading back to my house around ten with Nikayda and Abram. I stayed at Sara's and Kaitlin and Gretchen came home with me a little later sans kids. Mark had left early and taken Carter home with him because he had had a peanut allergy reaction. Below, Amanda had the box on her head for Kendall, but I missed the shot.

 

L to r: Amanda, Gretchen and Emily.

While we were there, he broke out in hives on his face. It started with a super runny nose and sneezes. He kept blowing his nose and I initially thought he was getting a cold that just came on super fast. But a while later, the right side of his face had red blotches (hives) and his right eye was all bloodshot.

L to r: Gretchen and Kaitlin (the twins), Heidi with Adrian and Emily.

I gave him Benadryl as soon as I saw the hives and red eye and it cleared right up but since we didn't know where he had contact with it (a toy possibly? But, it could have been anywhere. Sara said they'd had peanut butter this past week when a friend was visiting), I thought it safest for him to go home. It was almost ten anyway. But it was nervewracking to say the least. He hasn't had a reaction in a long time and nobody had peanut butter in their bakery or ate it while we were around this weekend.

 

 

L to r: Mark, Heidi, Molly with Adrian, and Amanda with Kendall.

 

He woke up about 4:20 a.m., that night, wheezing and coughing, a risidual effect of his allergic reactions so I ended up bringing him up to our bedroom and giving him his nebs to clear it up. And, he's been a little wheezy off and on for the past few days. The usual stuff he gets after a reaction. He's been fine, just needing nebs here and there. (Thankfully.) Below, l to r: Amanda, Sara, Mia, and mom.

 

It's disappointing because he hasn't had a reaction in quite some time and of course, naturally, you hope that it will get better (even though, I feel like I don't allow myself that hope because the statistics are pretty grim when a child has had this much contact (this many reactions) with their allergen. Subconsciously I still do). Below, Adrian is such a little pun'kin!

Orrin (Sara's).

Kirsten (Emily's).

On the other hand, I know we're so lucky. We take him everywhere we go and he's only had reactions in other people's homes and once at church. I know it could be a lot worse! Below, taking pictures with their cameras of the kids and showing them. L to r: Gretchen, Orrin, Jeanie, Lori (Sara's) and Emily.

Kendall (Amanda's) and Mia (Sara's).

Sleepy Adrian.

Emily has an i-phone and we were laughing at all the kids crowding around  her and watching videos of her boys and, I think it was Sara who said, "Only in America!" because it looked like a picture from the back of a Reader's Digest.

The whole weekend was fun but the best part were moments like these...at 2 a.m. when it was quiet and there were no little kids interruptions around. (Maybe there was one, but he was sound asleep!) So, it's only fitting that this was the last picture I took this past weekend. L to r: Heidi with Adrian, Gretchen and Kaitlin.

There are 8 girls in my moms family (and 3 boys) and they have an annual sisters weekend (plus my grandma) that they've been doing for many years. They always have a blast.

We've been talking of doing a sisters' (and mom) weekend for a couple of years now but financially most of us haven't been able to do it yet. So, this was the perfect get together. Although, we've all said it makes us more excited for the time we can start doing annual sisters' weekends without kids. I can't imagine how much fun it would be with no interruptions from all of our little ones!

Saturday Afternoon :: A Sisters' Picture

My mom wanted to get a picture of all of us girls since we're never all together at one time. Here are the outtakes from that...

First, we had to shoe all the nieces and nephews out of the area.

Our house isn't big. It's just a regular sized family home. A lot of people have commented that it looks so big but it only looks that way in pictures. I've never wanted a 'big' house. The outside especially looks big in pictures because it's up on a hill, although very little, and we have too small (second-hand) windows on the front. I thought I'd post this because I think a lot of people have this misperception that our house is big. In fact, my sister, Emily, upon walking in the door exclaimed how 'cozy' our house is. That was one of the best compliments I've ever gotten. I want my home to be cozy and welcoming. She was surprised because, like everyone else, she had thought it was really big from the pictures I've posted, but it's not at all. It's an open floor plan so it definitely appears larger in pictures than in real life. I think it's just right! Below, adjusting clothes in preparation for picture taking.

When we went to try to take a sisters' picture inside, we had a hard time finding a spot to stand. Originally, we decided to try this corner in front of the computer for the best indoor lighting.

But, first things first, everyone had to check their hair! (Priorities.) Check out Molly's big baggy green sweater. I laughed because she bought it from Salvation Army and, apparently, I'm dreadfully out of fashion... These big sweaters that some of us older girls wore in the '90's are a huge fashion hit right now. I'm pretty sure I had that same sweater back in 1992 when I was about her age!

 

 

I made the mistake of standing on the end and slightly in front (instead of behind Amanda). Not flattering! :) Needless to say, I made sure to find my way into the middle during the next round! I may be halfway to my goal weight but I still need to suck it in when I'm with all of these little girls. L to r: Me, Amanda, Heidi, Gretchen, Jeanie, Molly, Kaitlin, Emily and Sara. (Amanda and Sara are both expecting.)

For better lighting, we then decided to try an outdoor shot. But, boy, was it freezing! Our winter heat source was the chosen spot for the perfect back drop.

Here is my mom telling me to get my butt in the picture because it's so cold. But I was having more fun taking pictures of everyone getting into place.

 Someone has always gotta be talking when they're trying to get a picture!

 

Then we decided to try some all crouched together, except we forgot to tell Mark just to get our faces so he had full shots of all of us crouching.  It was hilarious. I tried cropping them but they didn't come out quite the same. haha.

Below, I love this one.

Mom wanted one of just us girls for a Christmas card (and then she'd take one of all the boys) but I'm not sure that she got one! I just realized these close-ups, that turned out the best, have her in them.

When we started, we were laughing how when we were younger someone would always start bawling when it was time for pictures. With so many kids, it never failed! So we were waiting to see who would cry this time. And, you know what...? We weren't disappointed! I'm pretty sure one of my sisters started crying. But now I can't remember why... Maybe it was just because of the cold. Or maybe not...

Saturday Afternoon :: Sisters and mom at my house

Friday night, Kaitlin, whom none of us ever hardly refer to as 'Kaitlin', and I stayed up until almost 3 a.m. visiting in my kitchen. (We all call her Keeks and sometimes Kiki.) We're both night owls and she's the sister I feel is most like me. We have a lot in common. Below, Making lunch. I stole this one from Keeks.

I love that I got time to actually visit with my younger sisters this weekend. I treasure those moments.

I talk to all of my sisters on the phone or by texting from time to time, some more than others, but there is nothing better than night time visiting when you can have a conversation face to face with no interruptions (little kids around). Those moments when you're building bonds that will bind you together for the rest of your life. Those moments mean so much. Especially when they happen with a sister who is fourteen years younger than you. I love getting to know my sisters as they get older!

I have, and probably always will have, a soft spot for the twins (Kaitlin & Gretchen) and Molly. They were the 'babies' (along with Danny) when I moved away from home for the first time. I cried the whole twelve hour drive to Minnesota when I left Michigan because I was so sad to leave them. My sister, Amanda, rode with me and probably remembers that. I've always loved babies and little kids and my little siblings were the hardest to leave behind knowing they would change so much every time I saw them.

We can still get emotional when we say our goodbye's, or like this weekend, even our hello's. I love my sisters. Every one of them has their own personality and with so many, naturally some of us are a little closer to one another than others but we all get along well and have so much fun when we're together. And, I know we're lucky in that respect. Below, Will (Sara's) talking to Danny on Keeks' phone.

And, now I'm all sidetracked. Where was I...? Saturday...

Saturday afternoon, everyone came over to my house for the day. My mom, Amanda and Kendall, and Molly all stayed at Sara's house this weekend. Emily and Kirsten, Heidi and Adrian, Kaitlin, Gretchen, and Jeanie stayed at my house. Sara's Jane stayed the night Friday night so the cousins could have a slumber party. (Nikayda, Kirsten, and Jane are all close to the same age and they had a blast.) Below, Adrian with Nikayda.

 

Mom made Maurice Salad (my Aunt Maria's recipe on p. 52 in the Magnolia Lane cookbook) for all us and I made a White Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese for the kids for lunch. All of the girls had brought bakery so there was plenty of that to go around. Below, talking to Uncle Danny on the webcam.

It was my nephew Paul's 6th birthday on Saturday so we celebrated that along with my sister Jeanie's 12th as hers was also this past week.

I was busy snapping shots of everyone around and missed the part where they blew out the candles.

For supper, we headed back to Sara's. I'll post those pictures tomorrow. Below, Gretchen with Kendall who had just woken up from a short nap. These poor toddlers didn't get much for sleep this weekend! She wanted her mommy when I was snapping this one.

We took a sisters' picture while everyone was here. I'll have those outtakes this week as well!