10 Birthday Surprises as our Firstborn enters Double-Digits

10 Birthday Surprises for our 10-year old
June 14, 2013
#1....9:00 p.m.-Trip to Jamestown movie theater to see Epic.  It's WAY cheaper to go to Castle Cinemas to see a movie when there's a bunch of you.   I only wish our bunch didn't get so car sick on those whirly roads going to Jamestown and home. 

June 15, 2013
#2...9:30 a.m.- Picnic breakfast at Dale Hollow Lake.  We ate our fruit and muffins then I left and picked up friends, Analese and Sienna to come swim with us.  Abigail was so surprised!  They all swam, played in the sand, then we dried off, ate a snack, and they played on the playground.  Wet suits and sand are ENEMIES in your vehicle.  We felt pretty wise to wait 30 minutes after getting out of the water before loading the bus!

#3...1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.- Jr. Ranger Program to learn a little about Astronomy.  They learned how to make a sun dial.  Our little God-girls were pretty puzzled as to why ANYONE would worship the sun.  (So proud of them for their remarks!) Then they did a little activity demonstrating why stars aren't visible during the day, followed by a talk about gravity.  (Anything using water balloons is sure to be a winner!)  While we were there, Louis was getting our homemade slip n' slide ready.

#4...3:30 p.m. - Putt-Putt and Dessert.  Abigail's friend Emma came to church to play putt-putt.  She brought a gift which Abigail opened right away, and then Abigail gave Emma the friendship bracelet she asked us to order for them.  It was sweet.   The two played putt-putt while little sisters played on various holes.  Afterwards, we sang "Happy Birthday" eating some delicious Chocolate Éclair! 

#5...5pm-ish- Homemade Slip n' Slide.  White plastic, baby oil, water hose...then later a blown up raft= nearly 2 hours of fun!  I'm sure to spectators we looked pretty goofy, but we all had a blast!  Here's a tip:  Denim does not get you much distance.  Another:  Just because you were a pro slip n' slider 20 years ago, doesn't mean you still have it.  If you still insist on trying it out, plan to be VERY sore for the next 5 days!  I think all agreed that this should make another debut.  THEY LOVED it!  They showered and got ready for #6.

#6...7ish- Cookout.  Louis grilled some delicious Johnsonville Brat Patties and Brats.  We scarfed  down the "burgers" then started eating brats.  After about 4 bites, my mouth was on fire!!!  Louis made his delayed declaration, "Oh.  I guess that's why they are called New Orleans style."  YA THINK!!!!!  We laughed and then it hit us: On Father's Day 10 years ago, church friends invited us to their farm for a cookout.  Henry mistakenly gave me a hot sausage instead of a polish sausage.  The next morning my water broke and Abigail was born that evening, 2 weeks early!  So it was some major Deja vu

#7...We gifted her a new bike. We made Abigail go hide out in her room and then Louis pulled it out of the back of then van.  She was led out by Aliza.  You want a good laugh- you should let a 5 year-old lead out your clumsy nearly 10 yr. old who has her eyes closed!  It was hilarious watching them!

#8...8:30 p.m. Ice Cream Treats from Dairy Queen.
Abigail got the new S'Mores mini Blizzard. It was quite good!  Anna got Mint Oreo and Aliza got the M&Ms mini Blizzard.  Adalyn got a Red/White/Blue star, Louis got Heath Blizzard and I got a caramel sundae.  We nervously allowed them to eat them in the van because they started to melt on the way home.

#9...Bonfire and finished our DQ treats.  We love sitting around a campfire!  We talked about the fun we had and what favorites were up until that point.  Anna asked if #10 would be the best and we told her we hoped it would.  Luckily the mosquitoes started biting and we turned in for the night.  I doubt 5 minutes passed before all eyes were closed.

Sunday, June 16, 2013 (her actual birthday)
#10...Birthday Blessing.  After our congregation cleared out of the sanctuary and left for either Sunday School or home, Louis called our girls back into the sanctuary.  It was there, we had Abigail kneel down at the altar and all 6 of us laid hands on her.  Louis anointed her head with oil and we each went around and prayed aloud for her and her life.  Tears welled up in my eyes but didn't fall.  I opened my eyes and saw tears falling from Abigail's eyes down her cheeks while her sisters prayed their own blessings over her.  It was as if mine fell through hers.  It was one of the most precious moments I've ever had as a mother.  It was also one of the closest moments I've felt to my husband.  Sharing parenthood with him and leaning on the Lord in doing so is my biggest honor. 

Family Night(mare)

Want to know what could be the worst thing to happen when you're out to eat?

It's three people dressed as Easter Bunnies making rounds to everyone's table during your visit for Family Night. We averaged about 3 minutes between each rabbit.   

If only Adalyn didn't feel the need to get out of her chair and run over to get hugs each time one passed, we might not have minded the Bunny Parade as much.  As one approached, she'd start, "Here comes the Easter Bunny.  Right here.  RIGHT HERE!!!"  Then it was, "Bye-Bye Easter Bunny.  See ya.  See ya!  SEE YA!"

In her most quiet and soft voice.  Is there such a thing in a 3-year-old?

Bets

You can bet if you put the potty chair in the foyer so your toddler will see it more often and want to go in it, that she'll pull it out and put it in "its place" when company's over.  And she'll want to use it too...when company's over.  Might need to rethink "its spot" a bit. 

Gifting sisters

After Abigail opened the cool slap bracelet watch that she wanted because all the counselors at Cedar Lake Camp had them, she asked Anna where she got it.  Anna replies, "The cash register". 

Gross talk at the table

Yesterday, we were eating lunch after Louis got home from a meeting. While we were sitting and eating, Abigail goes to the kitchen and comes back with ketchup.  After she declared they were for her chips, she asked if Daddy would like to try the combo. 

"That's absolutely GROSS"...then everyone agrees and laughs. 

She says my famous, "Don't knock until you try it". 

He says, "I don't have to try it to know that's just not good". 

So then everyone kinda starts in about weird eating combos of our family members that just don't seem good.   I comment that Louis' and the girls maple syrup and scrambled eggs looks yuck.  Then some interject, "No that's good!!!" 

In between all of us playfully arguing with each other and laughing back and forth, Adalyn leans over and licks Louis' arm two seperate times.  ???!!!!???

Everyone laughs and yells, "That's gross".  

In a whisper- "Ha-Ha-Ha"...she's got her tongue out and she's panting like a puppy. 

She cracked us all up.  In her own way, she's participating in our conversation the whole time...as she puts her hands over her mouth and laughs out loud at things we say (that aren't really funny)...just so she can get a laugh in too, with all of us.  Then we laughed at her for laughing at us.  It was a fun time, to say the least!

I'm always drilling about table etiquette and yesterday we broke all the rules.  It was fun to be a little crazy for a day.  I know I'll be working on table manners with them FOREVER, it seems!

Lost

I had a terrible dream.  We were all at this HUGE Discovery Center on  multiple levels and Adalyn got seperated from us.  As we were frantically trying to find her, the others got seperated from us.  We went up to a desk and reported our missing, and they made an announcement over the intercom and walky-talkies, but it was so loud and full of kiddos and parents, that no one seemed to hear the news.  We looked in nooks, crannies, under staircases, in little play houses, down twisty slides, and tunnels.  Feeling hopeful that they couldn't get outside and we were bound to find them eventually, we then discovered water slide tunnels on every level that went out from the building down to the very bottom.  There were so many water slides and ladders, it reminded me of the game Chutes and Ladders. We kept looking, and searching. We started shouting their names.  Parents started helping us.  After being inside started making me panic in fear that they had gotten out by way of the water slide, a new fear came. What if Adalyn got out and went down the slide and drowned?  So, out we both went down water slides. As I rode down the twisty slide, I looked out at the stairs leading back to the top.

I woke up hearing Alivia squirming. But I had to find my girls. I fell back asleep and the search was on again. 

I was imagining them not even realizing they were lost.  Just bouncing around from one slide to another, from one playhouse to another.  They would be having the time of their lives and have no clue that they were being sought after.  There were all these dangers going through my head as we searched.  They could fall, get taken, they could drown. Maybe they were aware that we weren't with them, and they were walking around crying, "Mama.  Daddy."

I went down a slide and passed Louis walking up a set of steps.  I didn't want to lose him. At least I had my cell phone.  I'm on the water slide- it won't work now.  I need to find my girls.

I woke.  They're here.
I fell fast asleep.  I need to find them. 
I can't find them.

Then Alivia.
They're here.
They're here.
It's just a dream.  A bad dream.