Our Favorite Animals

While at the library the other day, a friend and librarian, showed Alex a book titled, "I Miss Mom". Our friend asked Alex, "Do you know why I picked out this book for you?"

Alex: "no, why"

Friend: "because it has a monkey and monkeys are my favorite"

At this point all of my kids chimed in with their animals...

Maddie: "my favorite animal is unicorn"

Will: "DOG!!"

Alex: "mine is a panda bear"

That leaves Katie...

Katie: "my favorite animal is the horned dung beetle!" "I just learned about them at school this week and did you know that they are the strongest animal?" "That's why they're my favorite".

Even now, I laugh...I bet you don't know many kids who's favorite animal is the horned dung beetle!

A Day of Fun - Rockford

We went to Rockford last weekend to attend a letterbox gathering "Dead of Winter II". Our plan was to stop in at the gathering for a bit and then head into Rockford to play at the children's museum for the afternoon. We enjoyed seeing many old & new friends at the gathering, found a few boxes downtown and then had a blast at the museum. We've visited our share of children's museums and this was the best by far! We look forward to heading back there once it gets warm again - they have an excellent outdoor play area!

Here the girls are with their handmade (by Becki) cornhusk dolls. Will chose not to be in this picture...but he placed his cornhusk man on the floor by Alex.

Twins - 5th Birthday

We celebrated Maddie & Will's 5th birthday this past weekend at Happy Joe's Pizza. It was a family party of about 20 people. We all enjoyed our time together and everything seemed to run very smoothly - thanks in part to a wonderful waitress!!

Some of the crew - all 8 kids (minus Alex), Steve, Barb, Brad & Teri.

Becki made 2 cakes (one with a tea party and the a train) as well as cupcakes for everyone to enjoy.
First was ice cream...obviously we'd already had pizza (judging by the messy faces of Maddie & Will!)...we sang and listened to the honking horns and Happy Joe's siren...
Next we brought out the cakes and sang again! Here Will is angry with Emma who was helping him blow out the candles (of course, he has NEVER done that!)Last (and most anticipated!!) came the presents!

Will received a remote control car, the Bat Cave, Bat Mobile and some airplanes.

Maddie opened up a few dolls - including this super cool set! She also received some dress up items and a Barbie car (that she kept saying "I have my OWN Barbie car!").

Another year, come and gone! I just don't know where the time goes.