Hanging Out

Jackson Tesfaye set up a hammock in the backyard as a perfect spot for relaxing and reading . . .

He was a good sport, sharing his spot with cuddly, giggly sisters - and letting mom have a turn too :)

FOUR

 "I not Dabney, I birthday girl!"

Our sweet girl is silly with a light-up-the-whole-world smile, princess dress wearing, tiptoe walker; necklace wearing, princess coloring, banana eater; cute, whiny, consonant dropper; big sister tag-along, easily excited, snuggler; happy, happy, happy; fancy dancing, eager school student, princess book collector; tea party fan, big hugging, giggler; runs to her room in tears when upset, bedtime delayer, kitchen helper, mealtime lap sitter; stuffed animal lover, "that's so tute! (cute)," pointed toe prancer; song singing, twirl spinning, ballerina . . . and she's FOUR!

Happy Birthday Dabney Hazel!

She is so darn cute and gives us such JOY!!!

Favorites:

food:  pizza

drink:  lemonade

dessert:  cupcakes

restaurant:  McDonald's

fruit: banana

vegetable:  carrots

color:  pink and purple

princess:  Belle

superhero:  Wonder Woman

story:  Peter Rabbit

movie:  Aurora (Sleeping Beauty)

toy:  Belle doll

with sisters:  do a tea party

with brothers:  I like to play with Kolpin's Legos with him

inside activity:  dance

outside activity:  pay(play) a game  

with daddy:  go out with dad and when daddy hickles (tickles) me

with mommy:  sit on the couch

clothes:  hirly (twirly) dress

outing:  libary (library)

likes: picking (and eating) berries, necklaces, painted nails, stickers, ballet, baby dolls, tea parties, tree house forts,  pink iced donuts, princess books, sleeping in Maclaren or Maegli's bed, baths, coloring with markers, anything with her big sisters, helping in the kitchen, princess dress ups and fancy crowns, drinking water (she's always "hirsty"), daddy coming home from work

 

dislikes:  going to bed, nap time, Bavarian cream donuts, being left out, broccoli, sitting a long time at the table (she moves to mommy's lap), being alone, Addy messing with her stuff

Four-year-old Birthday:
*We celebrated a day early :)

pancake breakfast

pink balloons

princess tea party in an outdoor tent

dinner out at Pizza Plus

arcade games

strawberry cake cones with strawberry icing and "Princess Jasmine" sprinkles 

Belle nightgown, ballet bag, princess coloring book, crayons and markers, Belle doll,

stickers, tutu, pretty dress, Wonder Woman pjs

Sleeping Beauty movie

We had so much fun celebrating our 4-year-old Birthday girl with special "birthday pancakes," "birthday cake," "birthday balloons," "birthday tea party" . . . everything was "birthday" and oh so special and exciting!  Her siblings were wonderful helping to celebrate our Birthday girl all day! 

Dabney is a special little one.  We love our Dabney!

Boone Lake

We finally made our much anticipated summer visit to Boone Lake beach!  We have been so spoiled the past many years having our own beach in our old neighborhood - we love a sandy lake beach! 

This year, we waited til after school began to visit the beach and avoid crowds.  It's easier to watch 11 kids in the water when there are only 11 kids in the water!  Plus, we were able to pretend it was our own beach for just a few hours. 

The kids all love the beach - the littles like to sit at the water's edge filling buckets; the big kids played an impressive hide and seek capture game, chicken fights, and swam laps from shore to boundary. 

We plan to return next week to enjoy the beach one more time before September! 

EIGHT

"I am Kolpin.  I like playing with Legos and Hotwheels.  If you want to know my favorite food, it is cake.  I'm the seventh kid in my family.  I'm eight years old.  I'm really cheerful, sometimes.  And, I'm fun to play with."

Happy 8th Birthday Kolpin!

Kolpin is our wiggle worm, cartoon talker; briefcase carrying, Lego battler; bike riding, comic book reader, space battle doodler; play sword fighter, stooge; funny face, silly sounds, repetitive talker; early riser, cot sleeper; toy car crasher, math wiz, cartoon fan, battle sound effects, noise maker - our Kolpin is a character!
. . . and he's EIGHT!!!

Favorites:

food:  Hawaiian pizza

dessert:  ice cream cake

drink:  Dr. Pepper

fruit:  bananas

restaurant:  Five Guys

sport:  baseball

superhero:  Batman

color:  orange

book:  Fly Guy

story:  Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief

show:  America's Funniest Home Videos

movie:  Kung Fu Panda III

music:  classical

school subject:  math problems

toy:  Legos

inside activity:  playing with Legos

outside activity:  riding my bike.  I can ride right to the second green mailbox and sometimes farther and back to our house.

with brothers:  play with Lego.  Sometimes we have battles and sometimes we build cars and helicopters

with sisters:  we play Legos too

with daddy:  Latin stuff, I like that

with mommy:  going out to dinner and I like doing school and I like to cook with mommy

outing:  I like the Library - there's a bunch of books I can read and Legos to play with   

vacation spot:  the Beach (OBX)

my talents:  building Legos, of course, math problems, making funny Lego people, making funny faces

future careers aspiration:  I'm going to be a scientist, but if that doesn't work out I'm going to be a Lego builder.  

dream vacation:  I do want to go to the candy shop.  I also want to go to Hawaii.

my life in 25 years:  I know I'm going to be a Lego collector and buy a house.  I want to be right here in Tennessee.  I like it because the Library is big and there's a bakery here.  I will have a job.  My family will be with me, I don't know who.  

likes:  Legos, Hot Wheels, apple juice, swimming, the beach, sandcastles, bouncing at a bounce place, ice cream, lollypops, drawing pictures in my notebook, scooters and bikes, birthdays, playing in the basement.

dislikes:  kids being loud during school, brothers hurting me, balloons popping, purple and pink, onions, going to bed early, hard chores, brothers bossing me to clean, losing Legos, falling off my scooter, hot water (but I do like showers in hot water), sun in my eyes, not being allowed to watch big kid movies.  

We've had a great eight birthday:

decorated house (balloons and signs)

pancake breakfast

scavenger hunt

swimming at Boone Lake beach

McDonalds (budget) lunch

America's Funniest Videos

Lego battle

family dinner at Five Guys

Legos, PJs, Sum Swamp game and Clumsy Thief game, HotWheels track

Vanilla and Berry layered Ice Cream Cake

Happy Birthday Kolpin!!! 

*Kolpin is always toting around his little blue briefcase filled with treasures - mostly stuffed with an assortment of Lego pieces.  He sets up everywhere, building new creations and staging battles.  

 Kolpin has been especially excited for this birthday, counting down the days for a while.  Big sister Maegli has done a wonderful job building anticipation and helping to make it such a special day.  She worked hard the night before decorating the house with balloons and signs and setting up a personal scavenger hunt for the birthday boy.  She is very good at helping others to feel special - what a wonderful talent.  Thanks Maegli!