smile

I should be proofing. NO, I should be sleeping.


Today I was driving to Costco, and Talia from the back of my van said, "I REALLY REALLY want Jesus to come to our house."

I simply said, "Why?".

"Because I never get to see him," was her sad reply.

I was a little teary, and then my wise six year old said, " We can have his spirit in our home when we choose the right."

SO true. Smmooooches on both their little heads.



Little cherub on my bed. She boycotted her binky for about 3 weeks. It has not been a good thing. She is loud.

Tagged

4th Folder and then the forth picture---and then TALK about it!

Wow. This was a long time ago. 7/7/06 Wyatt and Talia were watching Lincoln work on his impala. Geez...she is in a diaper and BALD that seems like ages ago. Wyatt looks so short here. Good memories. I remember this day, but I always use photographs as a springboard for memories. I remember what Lincoln was wearing, even though you can't see all of him. I remember the clothes I put on Talia. I remember her almost stepping in the can of touch up paint on the ground. I will say it....I HAVE A BAD MEMORY. That is why I love photography so much, with out it I don't know if I would be able to remember the little things.

I don't think I ever told the story of Lincoln's impala on here. He bought it to work on, and he was so excited. A 1965 Impala Super Sport. Well, as he registered and started to order parts we found out he had purchased a car with stolen vin tags. It was a NIGHTMARE to get this problem fixed. We both developed a hatred for this car, okay it was more me. It think it took a full year to resolve the problem.

Luckily I can say that this story has a happy ending. The car was purchased for a woman as a gift for her 60th birthday. Her husband proposed to her in a blue 1965 impala, and she always regretted the day they had to sell it. Sweet story, happy ending to the yucky car situation.

i'll tag kayelynn, kaylynn, christie, and penny for my four.

Happy Birthday Natalia

This time of year is so busy, it is so busy I never made a birthday post for Talia's birthday last year.

This year was a make up for all the birthday flops we have given Natalia. Her first birthday- Lincoln was in England. My Mom was here visiting and we made Talia a cake and gave her a baby doll. Her second birthday- We gave her a play kitchen and took Lincoln to the airport. Her third birthday I took her to build a bear by myself. I knew I needed to kick it up a notch for this birthday.

(No her hair didn't catch fire, but it was CLOSE.)

Her birthday was Wednesday, and Lincoln was going to be in Virgina all day and late into the evening so we celebrated early. Tuesday was the family party! We had BBQ pulled pork sandwiches, coleslaw, and baked beans. Talia helped me make cupcakes,

(This is how Talia does sprinkles.)

and she blew out her candles FOUR times! Then she got her presents. Yes, "got"....I didn't wrap them. She picked them all out, so there were no surprises. She got a lovely Snow White dress, a baby doll that swims, a princess tea set, and a crown. That evening she was lying on the couch in her Snow White dress eating an apple when she began to dose off. Snow White- apple- asleep...... it was funny, but no picture...this one will have to do.



I got to be the co-op parent at school on her birthday. We brought birthday cookies for the class. I held the tray and Talia would say, "Would you like one?" in a proper little voice.

(Talia watching for Daddy to come home.)

Then Lincoln's work plans changed and he got to be home on Wednesday! =) We went to Chuck E Cheese. We get crazy amounts of tickets, because Lincoln goes around and wins and the jackpots of all the games. He is just like another kid! We had over 1700 tickets to spend on prizes. I love taking my kids there because I sit and hold the tokens, and they just keep running back to me for more. I hadn't seen Talia in a while and I was straining my neck to see over a large monster truck ride when I saw her. She was scared to death and running in my direction. She would glance back in the direction she came, and then back at me over and over. She blurted out, "HE'S coming out! He is coming out!". She pulled my hand to come and see, when she saw HIM again. She let go of my hand and hid under the table. It was Chuck E Cheese, you know the guy dressed up in a costume. She was terrified. She thought is was one of the robots from the music stage gone haywire. She stayed under the table for a long time, and later told me that she hated "Chuck E Cheese.......you know, the mouse". I love her so much, she is a hoot!

Saturday was the friend party! A Princess Party. For lunch we served all of Talia's favorites; peanut butter and jelly tea sandwiches, macaroni and cheese, and chicken nuggets, pink party lemonade, and fruit. The little princesses were so happy, because every one loved SOMETHING on the table. We played rescue the princess, with the boys at the party as our knights in shinning armor. We made princess necklaces, and ate cake. I made goody bags with sunglasses, lip gloss, ring pops, and tiaras (or a sword), and bubble gum, (Another favorite of Tai's)....oh and I made the most adorable cupcake name tags for the bags!

So cute. I decorated three tables with table cloths, wrapping paper runners, pink roses, and pink polka dot ribbon. I found a5 foot castle and stuck that on the wall, and it made a great place for the princesses to gather and take pictures by.

I was waiting for Talia to tell me it was wonderful, but all she could say was that one guest didn't come. Finally, as I was tucking her in bed, she said "My party was FANTASTIC!". I am so glad she loved it! She requested another one, and thinks a year is too long to wait! =)

Natalia you are such a bright spot in our lives!

You are sweet, and silly. Your laugh is one of the happiest sounds on this earth.

I love your blonde bob, and I know you want to grow it long-but I think you are absolutely adorable with short hair.

I love how observant you are, if I lose something I usually ask you...or if Daddy loses something I say, "Ask Natalia if she knows where it is." You usually do!

You are my greatest helper!

You are the best big sister to Simone and she adores you!

You whine all the time.

I still love you when you whine, but I hope you stop.

You love play dates and ask for them constantly.

I still love you when you constantly ask for play dates.

Natalia your eyes are simply gorgeous, and I love to look into them. You lucky blue eyed girl!

You love your ballet class, and I love to watch you while you dance. (Please listen to your teacher and no more somersaults!)

You love preschool and your teacher.
You love kitties, puppies, and horses.
You're REALLY good at jigsaw puzzles.
Sunday is one of your favorite days, you love to go to church and to Sunbeams. You asks you wear your red dress every time.
You MUST give Dad a hug before he leaves for work, or anywhere for that matter. If you don't hug him, you cry. Dad LOVES these hugs, so he reminds you most of the time!
Every time you pray you begin by saying, "Dear Heavenly Father, Bless us when we be so good."
I can't believe you are four.
I am so happy I get to be your Mom!
WE LOVE YOU!

Simone fix

I love this dress. I had to take picture of her in it, and then I had to post them. I couldn't pick just one image, so here are two. That's all.

Seventeen...

Well, I was called "a kidney stone makin' machine" today by my urologist.

I have my ct scans. I can count 17 stones in one image. SEVENTEEN STONES! Some of them are HUGE. I have to get an xray done to get the final count on the stones, but there will most likely be more than the 17 I counted today.

A bit of bliss:

I was giving Simone a bath, and my little shadow (the blond one) was helping. Natalia is my greatest helper. She gets the washcloth from the drawer, lays the towel out, and washes Simone's belly during all her baths. Today Talia was dumping water on my arm and then it would spill on to Simone. Both of my girls got the giggles. It was so funny. We all kept laughing, until I had tears in my eyes and my cheeks hurt from smiling. The little giggles from Simone kept us all in stitches for a long time. Gasping for breath Talia said, "I guess I got the giggles out." Oh, bliss at its best!

6 months

Simone is six months old. She weighs 12 pounds 12 ounces, and is longer. I can't remember her length! =) Good thing I have it written down in her baby book.


She is such a noisy thing, especially during priesthood when Daddy is trying to listen. I took the kids to Back to School Night and someone said, "I can't hear!" behind me. Simone was just talking and screaming happily. Oops sorry. Who complains about a happy baby anyway? =)

She loves to chew on her hands, and her toys.
She hates rice cereal. I don't remember my other two gagging so hard on rice cereal. I hope it stops.
She loves the bath.
If I pin her legs down in the tub she does sit ups. (She lays on a foamy incline.) It is the funniest thing.
She loves the sound of my shutter on my camera. She would laugh every time I pushed the shutter on the pictures below. I just keep pushing, she was being so cute!

Wyatt and Simone. He loves her so much. We all do.

Rainbow

Simone thinks I am so silly.

The light was absolutely glowing outside, so I asked Lincoln if he would come out and hold up Simone so I could take her picture. A big storm had just passed, and we looked up to see a beautiful rainbow. It was so big, and so bright. I ran inside to get my wide angle lens, and by the time I came back out it was starting to rain and get very dark...so I didn't get much. I haven't seen a rainbow in a long time.



We are healthy. I am still feeling a bit sleep deprived, and Simone is not sleeping well at night anymore. We are happy though, and my house is CLEAN! What more could you ask for- health, happiness, and a clean house....we are set.

Natalia had her first day of preschool today, and her first day of ballet class. I don't have ballet pictures yet. I got her pink tights, a pink leotard, a black leotard, pink ballet slippers, and she picked out a cute dance bag. Her clothes cost as much as half of the entire class! =) It is so worth it! =) You should have seen her! I was impressed with her teacher, she had so much "fluff". They stretched with flowers in their hands, got to put big stickers on the floor to stand on, wore fairy wings and tutus, and had a ballet story. (Excuse me, I am paying you to READ to her? Just kidding.) I loved watching her, and I get to go back and photograph ALL the classes in a few weeks! I am so excited!

Oh, back to preschool. Natalia has two really good friends in her preschool class. She loved her class today, and keeps talking about it. She is fun to talk to about it, because she remembers everything that happens- UNLIKE her older brother. Wyatt doesn't tell me anything unless I ask a very specific question.


Here she is with her duck bag. I spent way to long working on this silly bag. My sewing machine went crazy when I was half done. I don't know what is wrong with it, but it probably something so simple that I would be embarrassed to pay someone to fix it. "Miss, This is on backwards. That will be $80."


Yes, Hello Kitty is holding a camera. Yes, I picked out this shirt. YES, she wanted to wear it! =)

Kitchen Ballerina

Wyatt had his first day of first grade. He went a whopping three days, and has been home ever since. His tonsils are so large the doctor gasped and said, "OH MY GOSH WYATT!" She said she hadn't seen tonsils that big in a LONG time. They almost touch each other, and are covered in pus. Great. His quick strep test was negative though, and so was Talia's. Talia was the one complaining about a sore throat though...Wyatt never even mentioned it. They still have fevers, and tonight the coughing has started. Talia already threw up from coughing so hard.

Simone has an ear infection. We have had two really hard nights, and now that she is on antibiotics I hope tonight is better. (She weighs 13 pounds now.)

A mystery small kidney stone showed up. Huh? My back hurt last week. Maybe that is when this one left my kidney. Fun times. =)


A funny story- I was doing ballet in the kitchen. Our table is the perfect height for a barre. I have an entire ballet class cd on my ipod. I can't get through a whole class, because I am usually cooking, or have to do tendus with a baby in my arms. Tonight was a little different because I was telling Talia everything I was doing. She is starting a ballet class next week, and I am so excited!!! She is too, but I am more excited than she is. (She'll probably hate it. =)

She'll run to the ipod when a piece of music ends, and look to see what is next. I do the same thing, and I will say "Oh now it's glissades." She always makes up a crazy word. Today Talia said "Oh, now you get to do Kung Fu."

Back to the story, I was doing jumps in first position, and would have her watch my feet as they would come off the floor. I was telling her how I land toe-ball-heel, and that I can land very quietly that way. I would jump, and say look at how I point every time I get into the air. Jump Jump Jump. Then Talia said, "There he is! There HE is!", and pointed at a mosquito buzzing around my jumping feet. We tried smashing him a few minutes prior, but he got away.

"You got him!"

Jump-- Jump

What? I glanced down. There were two spots of blood on my wood floor.

"NO WAY!" I shouted, and I lifted my heel to see a black mosquito smashed on the bottom of my heel.

Wyatt died laughing. We all did, as I washed my foot off in the kitchen sink. I don't think that story is that funny unless you were there to see it. My children will never forget it, and every time I see a mosquito I will start jumping in first position- it will surely get a laugh from them.

B.Y.O.P.

You know, I am so sick of pooping dogs and children throwing up I thought I would make a little lighthearted fun. It is also funner to complain if you are being silly.

#1. Chinook (dog we were dog sitting) pooped on the floor. Lincoln stepped in it because the power was out, and he couldn't see it. I thought it was so funny. I laughed. I laughed even more when he told me he got out of bed and put a little of my deodorant in his mustache so he could get the smell out of his nose. Funny.

#1.5 Chinook didn't want to poop outside, so he didn't. (No worries Christie, no worries....but it is a part of this story.)

#2. Cyrus got a bad bad bad stomach bug. First he pooped on one of my tops while we were at church. It was the only thing on the floor. Then Lincoln went out of town, and Cyrus got worse. He woke me up at 5 am, to go out. He never does this. Simone was awake so I carried her down stairs with me. Then I stepped in a huge puddle of dog diarrhea. In my pajamas, no contacts, crying baby in arms, hobbling to sink, washing foot, gagging, cleaning, and more cleaning and gagging. I have such a weak stomach. KARMA!

#3. The next night he did it again. In three places on the carpet. Can I just say that Lincoln has a stomach of steel. Really, he can clean anything and it doesn't phase him. I am the totally the opposite. Natalia watched me stare at the mess for 5 minutes. Then she started to cheer me on. "What are you waiting for? Why are you staring at it? Just...bend down Mom. Wipe it like this. Stand right here. Go Mom. Just do it. What are you waiting for? GO!"

#4 . Wyatt got sick. High fevers, and a stomach bug. Lovely. He missed two days of school last week. At least he can make it to the potty.

#5. Simone got it too. She threw up in my bed last night at 4 am.

#6 Natalia woke up with a high fever today. No puke from her YET.

Will it ever end?

Fortunately I know that it will. =)

Goodbye Summer

Goodbye summer hate to see you go
I wasn't ready for autumn wind to blow
So lonely
We had a fine time holding hands in June
Warm in a sunshine watching love in bloom
Where are you now?


My heart is frozen in this place
waiting for another summer's day
to bring you back my way


hello winter, watch the swirling snow
I didn't have a blanket for the cold
So lonely now

My heart is frozen in this place
waiting for another summer's day
to bring you back my way


I'll be waiting under the poplar tree
anticipating when you'll come back to me
in the spring


Hello summer kiss from my old friend
been such a long time, tell me how you've been
so lonely now


My heart is frozen in this place
waiting for another summer's day
to bring you back my way


Goodbye summer hate to see you go

Summer ~ India Arie

(I'm trying to figure out how to post the song. I love it!)

I have been singing it for weeks, and had this little project in my mind. I just wanted to capture the end of our summer in photographs. I am so sad to see Wyatt go back to school. Summer passed way too quickly. Natalia starts preschool in a few weeks.

I was feeling down the other night. Lincoln was out of town, and I couldn't sleep. I can make videos on my phone, and I watched a bunch of them and it cheered me right up. I had movies of the kids dancing outside Rita's, going down the slide at the park, swinging side by side, petting George, Walking in the fall leaves, Simone smiling in her car seat, catching a lady bug, riding the carousel at the mall....just tiny moments of the last year together recorded.

Anyway, here is my end of summer project....goodbye summer.

Nothing can cheer you up....

like a baby in bunny ears.

Wyatt is getting pretty good with the camera....well sortof. I am not showing the really out of focus ones.


I am feeling better. Still sore, but I can't tell if it is from the previous stones or news ones coming.


I have a new love. It is a bad bad thing. Anthropologie. (Thanks Holly!) It is a clothing store with the cutest clothes and stuff from your home. The prices are crazy, so it is good they have a big sale section! =) Sharon and I went shopping and I got some really cute things, but I made it home with a stupid censor on one of tops. Oh DEAR, I have to go back. =) I also finally went grocery shopping.

"Natalia what should we have for lunch?"

"Don't you remember MOM? We are empty!!" She opens the door of the refrigerator and points to the empty shelves.

Sadly it was like that for a long time. We had some very creative meals.

I went a new store our area, and they have the tiny little shopping carts for kids. Talia loved pushing it around. She looked so cute, and people kept telling her that! She loved it. We sampled strawberries and cantaloupe in the produce section (i love when they do that!), and enjoyed the time to together. When I got home I realized I left our dinner, a rotisserie chicken, there. I also left a big jar of peanut butter and some wild caught salmon. (Lincoln will not eat the farm raised salmon...it's because of the amazing Oregon salmon!) Another place I have to go back. I didn't get out much this week, and now I have to go back to two places! At least I will have a place to wear my new clothes! =)

Quotes and such from my day.....

9:00 "My side really hurts, but I am going to ignore it."

9:15 "Jeri, this is Barbara do you want to go to the park?"

9:16 "We would love to go to the park!"

10:00 "I am dying!"

10:15 "Wyatt don't rub my back your hand is so hot."

10:16 "Sorry Mom, I was trying to give you some comfort."

10:17 "Mommy are you okay? Can you walk? I thought you were going to take us to the park." This ended with Talia crying.

10:18 "Lincoln, I am dying. Can you take me to the doctor."

10:19 "Can you wait an hour?"

10:20 "NO!"

10:25 "Do you need me to take your kids?" (Barbara, Bless her!)

11:15 "Ouch!"-Me
"That is your appendix. Go in for a CT scan to rule out appendicitis." -Doctor

11:35 "You will need an authorization code,and a negative blood pregnancy test before we can do the scan. Can you come in next Thursday?"

11:36 Bawling. "I will die by next Thursday."

12:00 "Lincoln can you get off your (million dollar) call, and drive me to the emergency room?"

12:01 "Can you wait 20 minutes?"

12:01 Shaking head, tears.

12:02 On our way to the emergency room.

2:00 Triage- IV in my hand...so annoying.

2:15 Feed Simone in the waiting room....that IV was so annoying.

2:50 "Look at that giant Texas cinnamon roll!" (Lincoln) I ate a granola bar in the morning, and I was starving. They said I couldn't eat or drink anything. Lincoln thought it was funny to talk about food.

3:00 "I took my friend in to the ER in college. We thought it was her appendix, but it was just gas."-Nurse

3:02 "Please Heavenly Father don't let this be just gas."

3:25 "Does this hurt?"- Doctor punches me in the back.

3:30 "If this is just gas, I am going to tease you about this for the rest of your life. When you are 80 I will still tease you about it."

4:00 "Take a deep breath and hold it."
"You may breath." CT scan machine....aka the big doughnut.

4:50 Feed Simone in ER.

6:30 Nap

6:50 "You are passing two kidney stones. One 5 mm stone, and one 7 mm stone. You have several more stones in both kidneys."

7:00 "I missed my flight to Florida, but I am not going to take a later one."

7:05 "On the way home let's stop at JCW's and get you some food." Still starving...and this is in UTAH! How cruel.

7:15 "Look at my sleeves, they are covered in baby drool." (Lincoln)

8:00 "Thank you for watching my kids all day!" It rained while they were there, so Barbara had to put up with Scaredy Cat Wyatt.

9:00 "I am so full! I am going to die. Thanks for getting us food sweetie!"

Good things about today.

*I didn't have to drink the contrast. That is the dye they have to use to see the appendix. I was told by a nurse that it tastes like rotten skunk. Yummo.

*My kids were so worried about me, and were so cute about it.

* I am grateful that is wasn't just gas.

*I am grateful that Babara called me to go to the park, and was so willing to take my kids for the entire day!

*I am glad Lincoln was home, and got to stay home. Next time he has to fly out, I may be tempted to fake a kidney stone.

*I am glad Chinook (Christie's dog- I am watching) didn't have an accident while we were gone ALL DAY.

*I am glad it wasn't my appendix. That would have been too much right now.

I needed a photograph of all three.

AND I GOT ONE! =)

& a good one of Wyatt to frame.

He looks so big, and so handsome to me here. I love his chin! =)

funny? yes.

A few months ago Lincoln made a bet with a co-worker. (yes, a bet!) They were competing to see which of them could lose weight and make it to 190 lbs. first. The loser had to pay the winner $190 dollars. Lincoln watched what he ate and went to the gym every night. He began to lose weight immediately.

Then we went on vacation and his diet went out the window. Three letters....JCW. (The yummiest hamburgers in Utah.) He still lost, but not as quickly as his opponent...I mean co-worker.

Then Lincoln got the news from his buddy that he was just two pounds away from the goal. That night I got the best idea to send the skinny friend a box of baklava from Harry and David. Where did I get this idea? Well, a year ago his friend sent US some baklava and fruit for our anniversary. (nicest people on the planet.) After we received it he said, "Isn't the baklava the BEST? It is so good, I ate the whole box in ONE day." *insert evil laugh here* We even paid extra for next day delivery.

His friend was walking up the path to his home when he saw and recognized the box on his porch. He began to yell, "Nooooooo, NO, NOOOOOO!" as soon as he saw it! He and his wife couldn't stop laughing after they read the note - "To my friend slim, from Lincoln". He jumped on the scale and he was still .8 pounds away from his goal. He told us he didn't eat any that day. He also wouldn't take the $190 a few days later either, and said the baklava was enough. Silly!



*****************************

I forgot to mention that Aug. 1st was the best day ever. I got four tickets to the So You Think You Can Dance tour. I can't tell you how much I love this show, and seeing them preform live is so great! My tickets are so good. They are really close to the stage, but on the side. My seats were not great last year and I don't have good eye sight. I am really looking forward to being able to SEE them! Joshua won the title of "America's Favorite Dance-a" (repeat in Kat's voice), but I voted for Katee as many times as I could! She was my favorite from the beginning. The Pas de Deux with Katee and Will was the most amazing dance on the show, but if you ask me my favorites I probably name them all! I really enjoyed this season. Watching was always the highlight of my week, and Lincoln had to travel a TON in June so I was glad to have sytycd as company! =)

I went to the gym with my new friend Sharon on Friday. She is from Australia and is such a fun person, she loves sytycd too. Anyway, we did the soul grooves class, which is many different dance types turned into a aerobic workout. The teacher did a little African, jazz, salsa, Broadway, and ballet to name a few. I enjoyed it so much. I noticed all these teeth in the mirror, and then I realized they were mine....I was smiling ear to ear the ENTIRE time. The teacher must I have thought I was nuts. =)

good.

On Saturday we took Lincoln to Medieval Times. We had a blast as usual. We really go way to often, but Wyatt thought this would be the best present for his Dad. Lincoln was knighted, and has requested we all call him Sir Dad...(or Sir Lincoln) from now on! I love being married to a knight. =)

We cheered for the black and white knight, and he won (sort of, until he was hit in the back with a lance!). He kissed a flower and tossed it to Natalia! She was trilled. The story is a new one, so it was a nice change! Simone slept in the sling for the first part of the show, and then watched it with us. She never cried...who is this child? She is so happy now. I am so glad!



After we left Medieval Times we went to Books A Million to get Breaking Dawn, and a birthday book for Lincoln. As we were walking to the store I saw ONE book sitting on the stand in the front. I said "Lincoln, RUN!" He laughed at me...and we all walked. I was so excited to get the LAST copy in the store. I really think they had hundreds hidden behind the counter. They probably place one book at a time on the shelf so each woman that claimed that book as her own would overreact like I did. I would like to work at a book store just so I could do that to people.


Here are a few photos from the week.



Lincoln just got home from work. He was playing with the girls, and then realized he was now part of a photo session! Ha HA!






My new blue bed. I used to hate blue. Really, I hated it. It was my least favorite color. After I had Wyatt I started to love blue. It is slowly sneaking its way into my decor, and now it has taken over my bedroom.

We also got a sleep number bed for our anniversary. Do I love it? I have no idea! What is my sleep number? Your guess is as good as mine. I have tried 35....no. I tried 50....okay. I am trying 80...a little better. I guess I just need to sleep in it more.




The power went out....so we had ice cream sundaes for lunch. I know I could have made sandwiches, but now when ever the power goes out my kids will be excited instead of scared. The weather here is crazy. Tons of rain and thunderstorms. Wyatt is terrified, and it is starting to get on my nerves. If he sees ONE rain drop he starts hyperventilating, and whinning. If we are going out the door he says, "But what if it rains while we are gone? What will we do?". Seriously, he gets so worked up. I have told him every calm, sweet, wonderful answer....and I have been blunt too...."We'll get wet Wyatt!"

Do you see this lovely iron? Do you see it? Yep, that is lavender! Lincoln came home with my new iron and new ironing board. (I asked him just to get a new cover, but they didn't have the right size.) He said, "I am mad. I thought I bought the white one." I love it. I have never enjoyed ironing so much. So to all my friends that don't iron...you are ironing with the WRONG iron! =) The best part....automatic shut off. Oh, I didn't mention before, the previous iron was left on for OVER 30 hours. Lucky. Blessed. Whatever you want to call it.

Happy Happy 30th Birthday LINCOLN!

Lincoln turned 30 on Friday! We were going to start his day off with a stack of 30 pankcakes, but he had to be to work early so that didn't happen. We decorated the inside and outside of the house with balloons and banners, and a couple of fancy "30" signs. It is really hard to decorate with little kids, they kept accidentally popping my balloons. Then we tied thirty ribbons around thirty bottles of soda, and made a giant 30 on the ground. We placed a giant party hat on the ground in the foyer that said, "DAD, put this on!"

When Lincoln pulled up we all hid in the stair well....even Cyrus. Simone gave us away by babbling happily! We jumped out and yelled SURPRISE ( I know, not much of a surprise party!), and he was so happy!

Then we all went to the drive in movie theater! We took advantage of Lincoln's rental car, which is a brand new F150! We saw Wall-E again. We bought dinner (hamburgers, wraps, corn dogs, fries) and lot of treats (popcorn, snowballs, homemade lemonade, candies) at the snack bar, and had a really good time. Simone was so quiet the whole time. I was shocked and relieved! Natalia fell asleep, but Wyatt didn't so we had to leave. (The next movie was the Dark Knight.) It was a fun drive in, I recommend it anyone. It is just four miles from Gun Powder Falls state park, so it's close.

Natalia gave Lincoln a note that told him she wanted to take him to the book store for a new book.
Wyatt gave Lincoln a note that told him he wanted to take him to Medieval Times. (I post about that later.)
Simone gave Lincoln a note that told him she wanted to take him on a Disney Cruise when she was three years old.
I have Lincoln a note that told him about an upcoming 4 day trip to Florida to stay at the new Marriott near Disney World. We will go this next spring or fall.

I made the cake he requested. His family calls it "yum yum cake", but the rest of the world knows it by a "different" name. I think the real name is the name of several cakes. Our versoin is yellow cake with pineapple, vanilla pudding, whipped cream, and coconut on top. We ate it for breakfast the next day, and we lit 30 candles too.

Happy Birthday Lincoln! We love you so much.