Happy birthday Nathan! (part 4)

Happy birthday Nathan from your favorite closet Sharks fan!

Happy birthday Nathan! (part 3)

Happy birthday from your two littlest brothers!

Happy birthday Nathan! part 2

Dear Nathan, happy birthday! I hope you had a great day and I wish I could have been at your party. I love you. You're a really good brother to me. The Sharks are better than the Canucks. I really like them. I like the Canucks, too, but I like the Sharks better. I can't wait to see you. I hope you come home soon.
Love,
Patience

Happy birthday, Nathan!

From the littlest Littles who love you very much!

Goodbye crib

and hello standing-up nap!

Fun in a big bubble bath

Family fun

The many faces of Patience

Jordyn likes the camera!

Fear not, Jordyn did not get her hair cut like mine : ) She did, however, get her bangs cut and after her bath I pulled her hair into a bun, so you can see a lot more of her face in these pictures than usual. Could she be coming out of her shell?

Happy birthday, Nick!

We celebrated Nick's 2nd birthday in a quiet fashion. He got his big present from Don's parents earlier in the week, so Friday was very laid-back. In fact, we didn't even tell him it was his birthday until dinnertime. And even then he wasn't very impressed. He was, however, impressed at having Haley present, and at having crepes for dinner!

In lieu of a birthday cake, we filled his last crepe with ice cream and topped it with chocolate sauce, and viola! Dessert. For those of you who are thinking we're just getting lazy with our 6th child and he's missing out on important childhood experiences like a birthday party filled with other 2-year-olds, you are absolutely right. Guilty on all charges. : )

But to make up for the lack of non-relative attendees at his birthday party, here are a million pictures of him eating his crepes and playing with his Tonka Lights and Sounds trucks, which he clearly enjoyed.

A bragging post

I try to steer clear of bragging on my blog. The sheer quantity and quality of my children would make it easy for this blog to become one big bragfest, and then who would read it? Only Grandma!

So I might mention little snippets of good news in an "oh-by-the-way" manner, but I probably won't go on and on about anyone's achievements and how it was probably my excellent parenting that helped them to excel to that level.

But on this matter I just can't keep quiet. I'm bursting at the seams with pride. Don't hate me because my flock is so talented. They just can't help it with the great genetics and mindful care they get every single day. Don't be jealous now.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Another tooth bites the dust

Patience has had a very wiggly tooth for the past few days. Thankfully it came out tonight while she was brushing her teeth!

After I took this picture I noticed how filthy Patience's hand is...so I sent her to the bathroom to wash them up really well : )

New guard commander

Last night at cadets, Sean was promoted to the Guard Commander, also known as the Guard DPO (Division Petty Officer). This is the equivalent of a freshman being made captain of the varsity football team, just to give you proper perspective! This position obviously represents a lot of responsibility for Sean, and his commitment level for cadets will have to rise even higher than it already is. It also means that he gets to carry a sword : )
Congratulations, Sean! I am so proud of you and can't wait to see you rock the Guard!

Happy early birthday, Nick!

To make up for the fact that Nick isn't getting a birthday party with balloons and streamers and 2-year-old friends, we gave him his birthday gift early! Don and Waneta came down and brought Nick some birthday money, so Don and Nick went down and picked out this very cool Radio Flyer bike. Don had a Radio Flyer in mind ever since Nick started riding the girls' old pink and purple bike around. That just wouldn't do! There is some growing room and I think he's going to get many years of enjoyment out of it.

Baby pygmy goat!

Have you ever seen a happier Jordyn?

This afternoon my friend Sandra came over to do a "prisoner exchange" and brought one of her 4-day-old miniature goats with her. This is Smoke, and he's the cutest thing you ever saw! The kids all loved holding him, including Nick, and of course they wanted to keep him. Sandra offered him to us for FREE but, alas, Daddy said no. Maybe later, when his defenses are down we'll ask him again : )

Seasick, anyone?

This is the USCGC Sycamore on their trip last year from Japan back to Alaska, so that was Nathan's first real taste of cutter life. Amazingly, he said he never got seasick on that trip!

Sean's 7th day of school

Better late than never!

Sean is now sporting the Hurley backpack that Valarie got Nathan for his Grade 12 year. It came with a nice Hurley hoodie but Nathan unfortunately took that to Quadra and left it there : (. Anyway, after Nathan graduated, Dylan was able to use it for two years and now Sean is using it. We'll see if it lasts for three more years...

As an added bonus I've included pictures of Nick. Nick is sure that no one can open or close the gate without his help. He thinks he's the Gate Monitor.