Birthday Party Weekend!

Spring birthdays are a big deal around our house. Joel is the only one in our immediate family who doesn't have a Spring birthday, and MANY of our kids' good friends have birthdays around this time too! Yesterday Maddy got to attend an ice skating birthday party for her 'longest' friend Alyssa. Alyssa's parents were in birthing classes with us when we were pregnant. Joel and I didn't go (still feeling a little guilty about that...), but hopefully Mary will email me some pictures!






Today was Diana's 'Ladybug' birthday party. Diana and Maddy have been in playgroup together since they were about one, and I just can't believe they are turning 7! (Maddy's birthday is in a couple of weeks.) The girls made tissue paper flowers and butterflies- so cute. Diana even had a ladybug pinata, and a carrot cake with ladybugs on it. They played and had a jump rope contest! What a bunch of HAPPY little girls.

If I'd ONLY had my camera today!

Ahhh. Today was Madeline's last soccer game of the season. The clouds broke a little, so we had some sun (YAY!), but the field was OH SO MUDDY! By the end of warm up, Maddy and all her buddies were COVERED in mud. It was a true spring soccer game. And THEN, Maddy was put in the position of goalie. She's never played goalie before, and she did GREAT! All season she has wanted to make a goal so badly, but has had many near misses. But the smile on her face today when she saved the ball, was PRICELESS. She was so excited about it, and loved the congrats from her (goal making) buddies. I didn't have my camera, but I just HAD to share! Soccer camp, here we come....

I love living in Oregon.

A beautiful spring day in Oregon cancels out several days of rain for me. Today was one of those. Maddy had a soccer game, and then we decided to head to the outlet stores in Woodburn to get a few things for our upcoming trip to Florida. We decided to go a 'new' way (new to Joel and kids, but I traveled it a lot as a child with my dad), and took the ferry. The kids LOVED it. I am sure other places have quirky things like this, too...but still- pretty fun!

Here comes the ferry! Joel said, "That is NOT what I was expecting!"


We had to take pictures QUICKLY- the ride is only a few minutes. No time for shoes, Garrett! But really, how goregous is the scenery? I love where we live! (My kids are pretty cute too!)


Joel just loooooves the minivan. ;)

P.S. Yes, Carter was present...but he was asleep in the car!

He doesn't walk, but...

he sure does CLIMB! Carter is pushing 13 months and has not taken a step. He is NOT interested...at ALL. He crawls all over, and is so fast! He knows how to get up and down stairs pretty well. (We still use the gates though!) And lately he has taken up climbing...in a MAJOR way. I have found him in some pretty 'compromising' positions the past few days! Eeek!

Molly is mad because she WAS there first!


He is actually climbing DOWN here. A couple times I have caught him on the table playing with the lamp! (Didn't take time to snap a picture of that.)


"Look what I found, Mom!" YIKES!


I finally moved the rocking chair and slipped the rockers underneath this big cushy chair. So far, so good!


This is one of the first times EVER that he has let people help him walk. Usually he just goes all noodely on us and crawls. He was pretty proud of himself today though. I think it may be because he had a big audience at Maddy's soccer game!

I'm ready for SNORRRES!

That is what Garrett yelled on his way down the stairs this evening. My super fun Auntie Bec got us a smore maker because she knows my love of marshmallows, and fun things in general. It has been sitting on the counter for a week because life has been hectic, but tonight was the night! So 'snores' it was!

As an added bonus to the evening, Miss Maddy (whose freckles popped out today in the warm April sun), lost her 6th tooth while munching on her 'snore.' She has a LOT of holes in her mouth. Finally those big huge front ones are coming in. I am going to be sad to see the big huge holes in her mouth fill up- it has been her 'look' for most of first grade. Just another sign of how fast she is growing up.

Happy, Happy Easter!

Happy Easter everyone! It has been a nice day here at the Gibson's! After church (which we got to on TIME with no fights or major meltdowns!), we went to a brunch here in town with my mom, Joel's parents, Jenell and Dakota, and our good friends, the Ryan family! I tried to snap some pictures this morning- the kids looked so cute in their Easter finery, but it was pretty tough to get a good picture of all 3 at the same time, much less all 5 of us! Garrett is part cartoon character, I think- he was VERY wiggly today, and he INSISTED he did NOT look handsome. "These shoes are NOT handsome! This shirt is NOT handsome! This is NOT HANDSOME!" Then we get in the car, and in his super sweet little sheepish voice, "Maddy, you look really handsome." Funny kid.

Hunting Eggs in Oregon

This morning there was a big egg hunt at Linfield College here in town. It was in the gorgeous oak grove...in the POURING rain. Of course yesterday it was sunny and 80, but today it was W-E-T. But there is something about the joy kids bring to situations...they did not care. Even Carter seemed to know something festive and fun was going on.


Even though Garrett' isn't quite 4, we put him in the 4-7 age group so we could watch Maddy and Garrett together. He is SO tall- he blended right in. And he got TONS of eggs, so it turned out fine. Madeline had great 'strategy' and instead of being in the crowd at the front of the field, she ran FULL SPEED ahead to the far reaches of the field and cleaned up out there. It was over so quickly, but even several minutes afterward Garrett was looking high and low for eggs still- he LOVED it. (Joel spotted one in a tree for Garrett!)



Look how wet Joel's back is! Carter is happy anyway...(Also, you know it is wet when a native NWern is using an UMBRELLA!)


The rain makes the spring flowers all the more beautiful!

Silly!

Carter is such a ham lately. He loves us putting funny hats or glasses on him, he just laughs and laughs! Early this morning he was crying in his crib, and Joel went to get him. When they came back into our room, Carter snuggled into bed with us and started 'talking' and 'singing.' Joel said, "Shh!" to him, and Carter replied, "SHH!" right back to Joel and started laughing! Back and forth they went and pretty soon we were all laughing and Joel took Carter downstairs so I could go back to sleep. Nice hubby, huh?

Ballet

My friend takes Maddy to ballet on Thursdays, and I arrive after it has started and pick her up. Today as I approached the ballet room, I heard the Cinderella music that I know they are danicing to for the recital in June. I was looking forward to watching Maddy dance to it- she knows the entire dance by heart and practices all the time. Well, imagine my delight when I open the door and all the girls are in the recital costumes!!! We'd ordered them in December and they are more beautiful that we imagined. Madeline was so proud when she saw me, and I must say all of her practicing has paid off! I didn't have my camera with me, so I made her try on the costume once more when we got home. Her smile is a bit forced, but she is still beautiful. When did my girl get this old?????

Spring Break in Nampa

My mom and I took the kids to Nampa for a couple of days over spring break. Traveling with 3 little ones is pretty wearing, but we had a nice visit anyway.

Maddy made potholders (herself!) for Auntie Bec and Aunt Minnie. She was so proud! Auntie Bec loved it, of course!


Madeline can't put down a book once she gets going! (Just like her mama, Nana, Auntie Bec, Auntie Minnie, ect....!)


Garrett in Green at Auntie Bec's.


Grammy Jackie and Carter became fast friends. (Notice the throw my mom made Grammy on the couch!)

Maddy putting up with Uncle Thom's antics at Grammy and Papa's for dinner.

PEDICURES for Maddy, Nana, and Grammy J! Pretty toes, ladies!

Ooooh la la!


My big kids (aka The Bigs) were trying on sunglasses and dancin it up at Old Navy! Nana of course had to buy them a pair each.


YUMMY lunch at Bardenay. MMMM!


YAY! Bissy is back from Nationals! Her Dance Team are National Champs! Good job Bis! We were glad to finally get to see you though! Carter went to Berkley right away- he's no dummy!


"Please don't let Aunt Minnie feed me to the dogs, Mom!"


The BIGS loved the trampoline. I think I see one in our future. They played on it most of the day- and slept goooood that night!


Long faces- time to say 'Good Bye' to Grammy and Papa.