Happy Birthday Calvin

Calvin celebrated his third birthday (actual 6-21-06, party 6-24-06).

He loves Frog and Toad books and he requested a Frog and Todd birthday party.

Mama even read his favorite Frog and Todd story about the lost button.

Hudson on the lilly pad.

The frog squirters all lined up and ready to fire.

Two frogs sang happy birthday to Calvin as they sat on this angel-food and ice cream lilly pad cake.

Waiting to blow out the candle.



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Here are two pics from his actual b-day.

Our warrior - protector.

My Baby Girl

Lydia is growing up to be a beautiful little girl.

Even with a really cute pouty face.

Some of my favorite moments.

Cousins and Frogs

Down in DE we decided to see how many cousins we could fit on a couch. Now remember that Abby is the oldest in this picture at four-years-old! From Left to right: Abby, Lydia, Hudson, Calvin, Emma, Isaac, Justin, and Danielle. We were just happy to keep them all on the couch!

Calvin, Isaac, and Abby eating fruit and hot dogs from our cookout.

The revenge of the frogs. The kids have little rubber frogs that squirt water from their mouths. They had a blast chasing each other down.





Gotcha!

Let's go Fly a Kite!

We had a really good windy day a while back so we flew a kite.



Last year Abby wasn't really more interested than just chasing the kite around for a little bit, but a year makes a big difference. She did a fantastic job flying the kite herself.



Calvin here is engaged in an epic battle with blade locked with blade (of grass). We weren't exactly sure what he was doing since he wasn't really interested in the kite, but he was having fun anyway.

Hudson had a blast chasing after the kite and just having the freedom to roam.

Lydia was kept warm and waiting for future years when she will be able to join her siblings in chasing after the kite or battling the grass.

Ben & Jerry's Factory Tour

While we were up in Vermont we swung by Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Factory. Not withstanding there marked liberal stance on just about everything they do have good ice cream and the children enjoyed the tour - and the free sample ice cream at the end. No pictures were really allowed inside the actual facility due to the secrecy of their ice cream making process.





One cool part was a cemetery where all the "dead" (or better - killed off) flavors were buried. Here are some of my favorites.

Girls aren't supposed to do that!

We were visiting a church in Vermont last week where I was to preach and before the sermon my wife and I had the opportunity to share our testimonies. I began by introducing the children and sharing a brief story about them. The younger three were in nursery but we had our four year old Abby up with us on the platform.

I proceeded to tell about the time we were going to the hospital after Hudson (our third) was born and how Abby was reciting the Hebrew vocabulary perfectly after me as I listened to it on tape. She was probably about three at the time. She is very curious. Then I talked about how I took Calvin to the hockey game and how he got hit in the head with the puck as it flew of from the ice and how he was fine five minutes later while I was still recovering from my parental heart attack. Next, I shared about how Hudson is our wild man at 18 months who never sits still and is constantly on the move. He is a combination of the Energizer Bunny and Timex watches. He just keeps going and going and he also can take a lickin’ but keeps on tickin’. He is our bruiser. Then I talked about how Lydia is – in the words of my wife – the sweet observer of chaos. She passively (for now) sits and takes in all the chaos of our family in. And she always seems to spit up on me.

After sharing briefly about the children I introduced my wife of seven years and the one who truly holds the six of us together. Sarah spent a few minutes sharing her testimony and the greatness of God’s mercy upon her life in how he saved and redeemed her from a life of sin and misery. All the time while she was sharing Abby stood by her side at the pulpit listening and holding onto our hands.

After Sarah finished Abby blurted out: “Papa, girls aren’t supposed to do that!” referring in horror that her mother, a girl, would be behind a pulpit speaking. That’s my girl!