The Day Has Come

Saggy little diaper butt and all, Josie took the stairs like a champ. She was so excited when she reached the top - she was squealing and cheering and clapping for herself. I called her my little "Rocky."

Meanwhile, her sister decided to do it, too. So, as I was carefully trying to shield Josie from a tumble, I turned around to see Jennie halfway up the stairs.

Then they climbed together, NASCAR style. Each trying to out-do the other - pushing the other away in order to get position. (Grace and Faith were in on it by this time. I needed the extra hands!)

They would get to the top, we'd all cheer and laugh, then I'd carry them back down for another round. It was way too much fun.

This morning, however, I put Josie down in the kitchen and she made a beeline for the stairs . . . ooops.

Father Trucker

Forget the Easter Bunny, it was Grandpa who rocked Easter!

We all piled in the back of Dad's new semi for a Sunday drive, and the kids thought it was amazing . . ."This is the best day ever!!" They seriously never had so much before. Even Nellie got to go.

I tried to get Joni to talk like a trucker, but she couldn't do it. The kids did, though. Apparently truckers talk in giberish.

Tulle Butt

I think this was Josie - either way, I thought it was the cutest little butt ever.

Easter at Home

Mom is holding Josie, and Dad is holding Jennie.

Matt, Kim, Emma 7, Josh 6.
Grace 7, Faith 4, I've got Jennie, and Shane's got Josie, 9 months.

Joni, Ann, Jessie
Matt, Mom, Dad, Mark

All the grandkids - Grandpa, Joshua, Emma, Grace, Josie, Faith, Jennie and Grandma

Easter at Church

Their First Easter

Josie finds her first egg. She was so pleased with herself.
Jennie will NOT be outdone. She was determined to find one of her own, or steal her sister's.

The night before Easter, I laid out all their clothes and bows and shoes and socks. (It takes a bit of time to get five girls gorgeous, you know, and the mornings can be a bit busy, anyway. So organization helps.) It just struck me so sweet when I walked into their room and saw their dresses hanging there the next morning.

Hallelujah

Focusing on the Journey

The journey . . . stellar suggestion, Jessica. That I can do. Explain the unexplainable, I can not.

But where are the pictures of Eddie learning how to maneuver the tricky screwdriver on the shower? And the effort of many people to bath the twins in the sink? Is the tendency to wear green really a subconscious gesture to St. Patrick's Day? Grace says yes. Do people really care about the six trips back and forth from Billy's and Mom's in order to track down a fifth camera, aspirin and a pair of unfindable sunglasses? Or the pink elephant Joni was going to leave me on? Or my begging for McDonald's, and the insurmountable surprise that Dad actual took me? Doesn't it go without stating that no one should order pancakes to go?

Hmmm, why didn't we let Mom get her picture taken by the "Dead End" sign? We should have encouraged her more. Where is the picture of the giant bunnies . . . and other inflatable nods to Easter? Because I know pictures exsist.

And then . . .

Yes, they are twins. Yes, cute as can be. Twins? Heck no? They were simply instant friends in the nursery and we hated to separate them. Blue Goose. Blue Goose . . . if there's a gay bar in Des Moines, Jessie would know about it. So that can't be it. No cargo on weekends? I did not know that. Next vacation is to heaven. No doubt I'll never see you again. To find it, you simply cross the massive ditch. "I saw the sign" "What? So you just chose to not believe it?" Ummm, I'm going to need more pizza. Or Dairy Queen. Yes. Dairy Queen is needed. (Again, insurmountable surprise.)

And then . . .

Again, I don't have the picture of the semi that Richard painted, but I'm sincerely impressed by mom's ability to identify his work by sight. But more impressed by her knowledge of whoolymammoths. I think my car sickness began at the sudden and sharp u-turn to get a closer look. And THAT is why I had to shed the panty hose in exchange for my jeans.

But Baby, I do have pictures of the bridge. And that was an awesome pit stop during the most incredibly odd day ever. Joni, I'm so glad you came.

Oh, what am I missing??

I only wish I had a Sharpie, but what would we have written?

Fact is more moving than fiction? I'd make a movie out of this day, but it wouldn't be believable?

I'm off to rent the Spanish version of the Bridges of Madison County. I hear there's nudity in it.

Sorry You Didn't Make It

I've got to figure out how to blog about this. That's all I have to say right now.

More From the Party

Even the Spaniard was decked out for the party, although I see he incorporated some yellow . . . we are wise to you, Eddie!
Jessie's brilliant find . . . I STILL can not believe it was on sale!

So cute . . .

I Don't Even Know Where to Start . . . We Really Love You, Mark

Seriously, need I say more?

It's been a long time since I've seen the girls so excited, and the fact that the presents weren't even for them, makes it all the more adorable. Missy took the girls shopping to pick out special presents for Mark, and they did a perfect job.


Joni wins the best dressed competition, but Mom's was most original!

The taste of freedom. Missy, Grace and Faith made this patriotic cake, complete with marshmallows in lieu of candles. (Missy was so awesome to keep the girls overnight on Thursday - they had some serious fun.)
This may have been my favorite part. Not a detail missed.



As I pulled these pictures to post, I just had to laugh. The cake, the flag, the outfits, the centerpiece, the gifts, the nails . . . the whole thing was just insane.

And it was fun to talk about the day he was born. It's interesting we call all remember it so well, even though we were so young. You were a joy then, Mark, and you are a joy now.

Feliz Cumpleanos, Eddie!

What's the best part about a birthday so close to St. Patrick's Day? Green dye. You name it, Grace dyed it green. Including the cheese and girl scout cookies.


I'm inclined to tell everyone what the present was, but as Grace said, "You're going to be soooo embarrassed!"


Girls, the picture of us is on my other camera, and I don't have that cord with me. I'll post those pictures later. Last night, though, I was thinking someone spiked my beer with too much green.

I'm sooo excited about Mark's birthday, now. Think green.

My Sweet Babies

My Twins

Jennifer Shayne

Josephine Sychra

Faith Ann

Grace Kathryn Clinton