Baby Giggles

I have been trying to get a video up of Eden laughing, but for some reason it won't up-load. Hopefully, Nae can figure out the problem. In the mean time this is a video of Mya at four months old laughing at Gabriel. We didn't have a blog then so most of you have probably not seen this. It makes me laugh every time. I've never heard a baby so little laugh as much as she did this night and I don't think she ever did it again. Enjoy!

Chattanooga

We enjoyed a trip to Chattanooga earlier this week. Nae was invited by one of his previous professors to speak to an engineering class so we made an over night trip out of it. We had talked about taking the kids to the aquarium for a while now so we finally got to do that.

It was a lot of fun and what a perfect day to be there - we practically had the whole thing to ourselves.

Gabe had a great time using his new camera and he wanted to take a picture of almost everything we saw; while Eden either slept or cried the entire time. She did not find the fish, turtles, or penguins very interesting.


Alena was very happy to have this view:


although it didn't take but about 15 minutes and she was sound asleep.
Since there was less than $20 difference between us joining the aquarium for a year and going one time, we went ahead and joined so we'll probably be taking another trip to good 'ole Chattanooga some time in the near future.

Birthday Party

This will be the last post about birthday parties until at least this summer, but I wanted to be sure and get a few pictures of Gabe's party on here. His party was this past Saturday and with a Lego theme it was pretty easy to think of activities.

The boys all built their own Lego cars and raced them down this ramp that Nae constructed. We've actually left the ramp up because this was such a hit.

We played "hot potato" with a jar of Legos and some Star Wars theme music.

The Lego brick cake which was a cute idea but very difficult to ice so don't look to closely.

We actually caught Alena and Sam playing nicely in the sandbox together. I think this picture is really cute because in the corner you can see Sam's "Bun-bun" that he's laid down while he plays.

And, I'm finally getting around to posting the answers for Gabe's little survey questions. Better late than never, I guess.
How old are you today? six

What is your favorite color? blue

What is your favorite food? potatoes

What is your favorite book? Star Wars: I want to be a Jedi

What do you want to be when you grow up? a scientist(but not one that goes deep in the ocean. Just to discover things that people have already brought up.)

Where is your favorite place to eat out? Subway

What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy? school

What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy? just go and figure out things; like if he helps me do things

What is the best thing about having Mya for a sister? I can play a game with her

What is the best thing about having Alena for a sister? I can help take care of her

What is the best thing about having Eden for a sister? I can hold her and look at her

What is your favorite thing to do with your friends? play swords

What can't you wait to do when you get bigger? do cartwheels

Where is your favorite place to visit? every aquarium

What do you love about going to Mathu and Pathu's? playing with all our cousins

What do you love about going to Grandmama and Grandaddy's? finding big wild flowers

What is your favorite thing to play? Star wars and nature

What thing do you most dislike doing? having to wait

What is your favorite part of the day? evening when the sun is shining bright; it's a good time to play

What would you do if you could stay up all night? I might not want to stay up

Where would you go if you could go anywhere in the world? one of those hot places like Laos and Asia...

What makes you happy? when I get stuff under my pillow

What makes you sad? when I want something and can't find it

What do you wish you could do? just go out in the world and find nature

What made this the best birthday ever? I got a camera and we got to roast marshmallows

Picture practice

Eden is usually a fairly willing subject for me to practice my picture taking on. I laid her on a pillow on our kitchen table one afternoon last week when the sun was shining in the window just to see what shots I could get. I probably took 150 pictures in the 10 minute time and got a couple that were pretty good. I like all four of these but for different reasons.

This was my favorite - love her little hand up at her mouth

Love that sweet baby face.

Love the silly tongue sticking out.

And this one. I could take pictures all day and not catch this expression again. Love that little lip sticking out but it's not going to work miss priss :)

Leaf play

It always seems that the best pictures happen when you least expect it and so I was very happy that I had my camera handy on Monday when we stopped at a rest area coming back from VA. There were lots of leaves which Gabe managed to rake in a good size pile using a stick. He and Alena then had the best time running, jumping in and throwing the leaves.

Mya only wanted to go home and was in no mood to enjoy the leaves which is why she isn't in any of the pictures.

More birthday

Gabe has decided that celebrating your birthday at Grandaddy and Grandmama's is pretty fun. We've been here this week while Nae was out of town and working the weekend.

We started the day with opening presents and Gabe was very kind to Alena who really wanted to help.

Nae thought of getting Gabe a camera off ebay and it's been a real hit. We had cake in the evening when Robbie and Carrie RuthAnne, Will, and Sam and Chrisa were visiting.

The highlight of the day was marshmallow roasting in the evening where Mommy got to try out her night setting on the camera.

The day ended with a little book reading from Chrisa.

I think he enjoyed his big day but more celebrating is to come this weekend with the "real party."

Birthday boy

I feel that I closed my eyes for just a second and we went from this:

to this:

We have been so blessed to have Gabriel as our little boy and are very thankful God chose us to be his parents. We love you, Gabriel William. Have a wonderful 6th birthday!

Guest post from the D-A-D: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOMMY!

Happy Birthday Day, my dear. Here are some pictures from your four loves!

Hope you will have a great birthday and hope we can help with this too. We love you lots!