Rachel has ALMOST got it

Our sweet girl has been working on free standing. She has taken a step or two but then realizes that is exactly what she has done and sits right down. It won't be long now, but my aching back is ready for the challenge. She laughs so hard when she tries to stand. She sure cracks us up. You have to watch to the very end to get a good feel for her standing. Enjoy!

The grass is greener over here

We spent the last week watching our yard transform! It was so fun for all of us to watch the workers get everything done. The kids would literally walk back and forth thru the house to watch each step along the way. Jacob did not want to go to school and miss out on the action. Anna wanted to be out there digging alongside them all day! But, after all this time, we finally have some grass! We are so excited. Thank you Bart for working so hard and working overtime so we could have the nice yard that Bart mostly designed. Am I a lucky girl or what?

The BEFORE picture

Getting stuff delivered---we loved watching the big dump trucks

Getting the rock wall in place

About half way done--looks better already!

Rest of the wall and some plants in

Flagstone to help fix the builders stupid driveway mistake

The left side of the house completed

Closer up of left side

The AFTER picture-we love it!

Quotable Quotes along the way from Jacob:

"I think I want to be a landscaper now. But I only want to drive the Bobcat and put in the grass. I don't want to do all that rock work." Smart boy--pick out the fun stuff.

And my favorite was the day it was done, he woke up the next morning and said,"We aren't white trash anymore Mom! Well, maybe just a little since we still haven't done the backyard." I almost peed my pants. Do you think he heard us joking around. Oh I love that mind of his!

We can't wait to play on that grass once we are allowed to walk on it. Then anyone is welcome to join us on our tiny patch of greeness!

"Shut up, who do you think you are?"

My big girl who wouldn't put down the beloved sippy to smile. She looks so grown up to me

Rachel with her first ponytail

Just chillin on the step. Pick a step, any step, they are all her favorites.Her incredibly tiny toes and her stylish shoes.

Anna FINALLY let me take a picture of the hat Aunt Kiki made her. And she has cute hair this day too. Seriously, 2 miracles in one.

Another picture of the hat--it is seriously amazing. We get stopped when the girls wear the hats Kiki made for them.
Anna can't stand Rachel having her own pose session, plus they are cute sisters. Check out Rachel's first pigtails in this one!What cute girls....and alas, this led me to borrow my favorite saying of stylist Stacey London, "Shut up, who do you think you are?" It seems fitting. When did these girls get so big and so cute?

Happy 7th Birthday, Jacob....twice!

Jacob's original birthday party got canceled because of this: and this:

A few hours, 18 inches of snow, 4 wheel drive and some bravery brought
Nana and Papa to our house that evening. We couldn't let the Yoda cake Mom
spent 3 hours making go to waste. So we had a mini party.



The kids had a chance to sled beforehand, hence the crazy hairdos.
The cake is a little Shrek meets Yoda, but hey, it was free hand.

So I did what any good Mom would do.

I rescheduled for the next week and spent the very next Friday

night making a NEW Yoda cake. I think this one turned out a little bit better.

More Yoda and less Shrek looking.

The following Saturday we had rain, but it would NOT stop us.

We got "Planet Williams" all ready for our Jedi Trainees.

Jake desperately wants me to be done with pictures because his friends are arriving for the big day.

And at long last, the party begins:

Today you have been asked to come to Planet Williams in order to finish your Jedi training. You will be asked to complete a series of missions in order to obtain your reward and your full Jedi Knight powers. Who's ready for our first mission?

Master Yoda has lost his light saber. The person who can best use their Jedi senses will receive an extra reward. But, you CANNOT use your eyes while taking the light saber to Master Yoda. (We played Pin the Light Saber on Yoda--note the excellent drawing of Yoda!)

The winners of the game:

Now you must learn to use your speed AND your ears as you circle around the enemy, waiting for an order to attack. As you circle the enemy ship, you must not touch it or the other Jedi X-Wing Fighters (sorry if this is technically incorrect). When the music stops, you must attack the chair and sit on the enemy. If you do not have a chair, your ship will return to base. (We played a very rowdy game of musical chairs). As a Jedi, you do NOT work alone, it takes a team to be able to outsmart and destroy the Evil Empire. You will now learn to work as teams to guard the Milennium Falcon as it journeys across the galaxy. (We had a little relay downstairs)

Our next team event will teach you how to drive so you can get away quickly and safely when the enemy comes. You must take turns and help your partner. This is a serious Pod Race. The team that gets their pod and Jedis back first will become excellent racers. (We have a before picture, however we had a small head injury and therefore no after pictures. Note to self make sure everyone is hanging on tightly before you yell go.....oops.)
The suitcases were the pods. One sat on top and the other pulled. My assistant Obi-Wan helping the kids out.

Not only do you need to be quick in your pod, but you must be accurate. You cannot be hit by asteroids for they will destroy your pod. Do you know what an asteroid looks like? You must each search upstairs where you will find asteroids. Bring them to me! (We had a little treasure hunt for foil wrapped *asteroids*)

Once they all had even amounts, we opened them.

Now it is time to see if you are brave enough to fight off enemies. As you do not yet have full powers, you will not be able to use your light saber, so you must use only your feet. Each foot will have a balloon ties to it-you must try to pop everyone else's balloons and not let anyone pop your balloons. Once both of your balloons are popped, you are injured and must return to base for medical assistance. (we played the old school balloon stomp, but the only pictures we have include my butt while tying them on, so no pics here--sorry!)

Excellent work Jedi trainees. You have done well. Because of this, Yoda has sent you some refreshments so that you may regain your strength. Once this is done, we shall praise one special Jedi Knight, Jedi Jacob.

Here is the cake and ice-cream event. He was so proud, but wouldn't look at me!
Make a big wish, buddy.

Jedi Jacob thanks you for coming to Planet Williams and has a special Jedi bag to help you travel home safely. Thank you Jedis!

One sorta calm picture:
This is how they were most of the time, but hey they had fun!

Happy 7th Birthday, big boy. Only for you would I re-do a Yoda cake. Only for you would I have this many boys to the house without your Dad there. Only for you would I walk across the world. I love you big guy!