Grandparents in town

Kaye K and Big Daddy came for a visit!  We had a little fun with their trip this time and surprised the kids with their arrival since their flight got in late.  They were able to sneak in while everyone was sleeping, and then surprised the kids the next morning by walking in to the living room while we were reading and asked, "What's for breakfast?!"  It was super fun to watch each of the kids' expressions!

My parents are great at just slipping in to what we are doing; joining us in play or errands or school or whatever!  We spent the MLK holiday at the indoor waterslide pool in town.  Then it was back to our regular routine, except we had two extra teachers to help!  Big Daddy taught math all week and after his excellent tutoring, Gretchen and Rooke can now confidently tell time on an analog clock!  Kaye K was our guest reader, science teacher, and preschool aid =)

When was the last time you got to go roller skating with your grandma?!

Our friends, Sam and Patricia, invited us over to make lefse.  They had already done the tedious prepping, so we got to join in for the last steps of rolling, cooking, and eating!

Gretchen and Kaye K were coloring buddies

Big Daddy and Rooke were sports-watching buddies!

Thanks for coming, Mom and Dad!  We love you!

Happy Birthday Rooke!

Our big guy turned EIGHT this month!  It was a joy to celebrate our son on his special day.  Rooke is curious, boisterous, clever, sensitive, literal, and an all-around great guy.  He loves anything related to the NFL, especially if it involves the Seahawks!  He's still into legos, enjoys reading, is growing in his love for God and His Word, and loves playing with friends outside when the weather is nice.  This year he became a great swimmer, broke both his collar bones, and has challenged himself to read at least six chapter books per month.

He had some school work to do (who is his mean teacher?!), but we shared cupcakes with friends at our PE time, and then had his best neighbor buddy over to play that afternoon.  Rooke has traditionally had very specific food requests for his birthday and this year did not disappoint.  A big breakfast with meat, a unique lunch, and meat pie with mash for the fourth year in a row as his birthday dinner.    

During one of our weekly trips to the grocery store several months back, Rooke locked in on the end-cap display of Easy Cheese.  Yes.  That's right.  Easy Cheese.  Don't ask me why.  He's a curious kid and was set on finding out what it tasted like.  It became our little game that he would try to hide a can in the cart, and at some point I told him he could either buy a can for himself, or wait until his birthday and I would buy one for him.  So the week of his birthday came and Rooke did a little happy dance when he put that can into the cart.  I actually enjoyed buying it for him!  Eight seems like the perfect age to experience Easy Cheese!  

Rooke and his birthday lunch:

Rooke liked it, but no one else in the family followed suit!

He's going to be great at being eight!

He asked for a Seahawks birthday cake . . .

. . . with eight layers!

The birthday boy with his sisters!

Can you feel the love?!

Happy Birthday Rooke!!