Birthday Boy

Nathan counted down the days until his birthday on Wednesday. I told him Grandma and Grandpa Rogers would be here on Friday, so we could do a family party then, but he excitedly told me he wanted a "friend party" on his birthday. I like celebrating on THE day as well, so he gets two parties (plus his two parties at school from two different schools -- wow, we did spoil him this year).

Nathan really wanted a chocolate Mario cake, like the one Grandma Drake made him last year at the family party. Unfortunately, he lost that Mario, but my Mom saved the day by ordering another one for his cake. Nathan cheered when he saw it. (It's hard to see, but he's there by the candles.)

Once you start buying Thomas the Train toys for your child, it becomes an addiction. Nathan already has quite a few trains, but Dan found this online deal from Toys R Us a few months ago with trains and DVD sets that we couldn't pass up.

"More than meets the eye": Nathan got two Transformers from friends.

Nathan liked everything he got, including his Mario pajamas from Mom and Dad. Grandma and Grandpa Drake got the basketball hoop behind him; Nathan wanted to "shoot hoops" with friends and family. It's on the lowest setting, 4 feet, and it goes up to 6 feet. Dan's parents are coming for the Fourth, so this kid is getting a truckload of parties. He is a special kid, and his excitement is infectious. He's gearing up to play Mario Kart with Gramps and Gram, whether they want to or not!

A few weeks ago the kids and I satisfied my curiosity about the signs for "Wild West Texas" store along a country road. I passed it a few times when I went to a play group, and I wondered if they sold a bunch of toy guns and cowboy hats and sheriff badges. So we pulled in and were greeted by these large metal statues of a cowboy and an Indian. Then we parked in front of this rusty old car, and I said, "Look, it's Mater!" The kids were happy to pose by this Mater lookalike (from the movie Cars). The structure behind us is where they have a weekly Farmers' Market. We went inside a few cabins where they sold everything cowboy and country style, from furniture to paintings of horses to cowboy hats to iron letters for branding cattle. But it didn't come cheap, and while the kids liked the little benches and rocking chairs, we just browsed and moseyed on out.

We decided to crack the whip and have Sophia mow the lawn. Just kidding, this is the kids' bubble mower.

She really does like to clean though. She held on to the Swiffer for dear life when I told her it was Nathan's turn to use it. I'm impressed that a cleaning tool is so cool that my kids fight for it.

Our kids get plenty of down time, don't worry.

I passed these cows every morning as I took Nathan into school. See, we really are in the country.

I had this beautiful view of Pine Valley Mountain and the red cliffs, not to mention the giant sand pile, from our home in St. George. I miss the mountains.


Quotes of the week

"I ate your brains." -- Sophia to her Mom, who is so proud that her daughter aspires to zombiehood. If you've played the video game "Plants vs. Zombies," this will make more sense.

"Here we go!" -- Nathan, copying Mario's chipper voice.

Grateful moment

I'm thankful for family and friends who stand by us when life doesn't turn out as we planned.