Jason's Birthday, November 3, 2009

Jason turned 6 in November. He, like Amber, had some friends spend the night, played his upwards soccer game in the morning, then came home to a party with more friends and family for lunch. His theme was "Transformers."

Enjoying lunch with friends...for some reason Jason really wanted a "birthday sombrero," so that was his special party hat!

His own "Bakugan" figure.

Just in case you are wondering if kids like cash for presents....they do!

Thanksgiving Party!
Whenever possible my homeschooling friends and I get together to celebrate holidays with the kids. My friend Mary Ann came up with the idea of this particular party and dressing up as Pilgrims and Native Americans. This allowed us to do a little study of the first Thanksgiving at home, then everyone came to the party with some background knowledge. At the party, we read stories about the first Thanksgiving, made our own homemade "Blessing Mix," and shared a Thanksgiving meal together, complete with smoked turkey, vegetables, pumpkin bread, and apple pie.

Reading the Thanksgiving story.

Making blessing mix (a snack mix in which each ingredient symbolizes part of the Thanksgiving story. ie. the bugles represent the horn of plenty, candy corn, represents the new crop the Pilgrims learned to grow from the Native Americans.)

Jacob's feather hat. He looks tough, huh?

Pretty Amber!

Amber's Birthday September 17, 2009

I am so behind the times! Amber celebrated her 8th birthday on September 17th. We celebrated a few days later, as she had a sleepover with some friends, followed by a lunch party the next day. The theme was "Hello Kitty," but we mixed in some other stuff too, like jewelry and a pinata (something she has always wanted to do).

The pinata was tough to break!

Everyone tried, but we only managed some small tears.

Perhaps a better stick would have helped!

We eventually had to tear it by hand and scatter the candy so the kids could pick it up.

Christmas 2009

Jacob turns 4!
August 29, 2009

Kiddos playing on the trampoline.

His second favorite....GI Joe sword and mask.

It's already been taken away many many times for misuse!

Batman cake for my little superhero!

I love this picture. This was by far his favorite present...he'd been talking about a Bumblebee costume for months! This is taken into the mirror.

Myrtle Beach 2009

Jacob...what to put?...I don't even know what he's doing here!

Amber, trying to catch minnows.

The boys had a bucket full of mole crabs (sand fleas) and minnows.

The kids favorite part was the lazy river!!!

I just love this picture of Amber: this is totally her...

carefree and happy, full of life, the wind in her hair!

Family Fun

These are a few random photos from the spring...

Leeds family band - playing Rock Band (in our PJs).

Mark's bedtime kisses still get them riled up!

Jacob's chugging his antiboitic...
don't worry - it was the last dose and I measured it out and put it back in the bottle before giving it to him!

Padme was queen for the day!

Of course, it was April Fool's Day...but she didn't know!

Jason's faux-hawk - he LOVED it!

EASTER 2009

Checking to see what's inside...

Not much gets past her!

Just out of reach....tippy toes!

The kids with their cousins at this year's Eggstravaganza.

Getting 5 kids to look at a camera at the same time is pretty tough!

Family picture taken at Eggstavaganza - it was COLD ...

I may have even seen a snow flurry!

Links to the Southwestern News article on the kids:
http://www.swbts.edu/swnews/index.cfm?Issue_ID=10

http://www.arrow.org/archives/childandfamilyprograms/A-Call-to-Discipleship.html

And guess who got caught in the DOG food bag!

On the ranch with Grandma and Grandpa Leeds.
The story of note here is the dog...this is where you can find Padme during meals, near Jacob, and just waiting and hoping for some food to drop!

One cold night, it began sleeting...Mark in an attempt to stay warm and take the boys out to see the wintry precip, grabbed a pair of sweatpants for his head. The boys, once seeing their dad, quickly found their own head coverings!

Santa Claus visits the Little Gym.

Amber with her Aunt Kirsta and A.C.

Halloween Fun 2008

Jacob's favorite character is Batman.
Amber had her genie moves down.

Showing the classic "Leeds mug."

All kids ready for action (notice Jason's superman "pose")