Birthdaypalooza

Ryvre's Ben 10 Cake (Dale's artistic rendering of Diamond Head in the center)



Psychadellic Rainbow Cupcakes! 



Swimming!



Coloring!



Ryvre's favorite gift...



The Omnitrix!



Probably one of Ember's favorites...but hard to tell by the expression.  She was really tired.



Blowing out the candles!



Ryvre's turn




I am still tired.

Updates

Ryvre is reading to his sisters.  He still has to sound out a lot of words, but he's confident and rarely gets frustrated anymore. Of course once one kid realizes you're taking a pic, they have to look at you weird. Willow is taking on more responsibilities; she retrieves items from the dryer, keeps her little sister's cup full if water, and helps her in the bathroom.  She also helps prepare and serve lunch.  Willow has a very nurturing personality, but it often comes across as...um...bossy.  So i'm trying to play up the positive by giving her things to do that are helpful. Ember is about halfway potty-trained.  There are good and bad days. Random learning moment: Prisms!  Brought to you by pirated WoW CDs on the endtable. And one more random thing: kids at a local grape stomping festival. The police department did fingerprinting, which was probably the coolest thing there

Silver Dollar City

Our trip to Silver Dollar City, earlier this month: Kids posing by a "pumpkin tree" just inside the entrance Ember "helping" with the basket weaving.  The others wouldn't try it, but the lady was very nice. They love the rides, of course, but the bigger two are getting bored with the "baby area." Note the look of fear in the third cart.  The next time around, i caught Ryvre's arm tight around his little sis to comfort her, but that one came out blurry. Frozen Lemonade.  Guess what?  We all shared it.  I kid you not. Possibly the most fun she had all day; running around the rock wall i probably shouldn't have let her run around on. Scratch that, playing in the fountain i probably shouldn't have let them play on was most fun. It IS fall!  PROOF! For some reason this young lady was running around with her friends (two pirates and a Dorothy) in costume.  Ember was absolutely enamored.