Through the Years

I recently had a birthday and while I was looking at pictures to post it occurred to me that there's something of me in each one of my kids. So, here's a little photo essay on me through the years.

Here is what I might have looked like if I had been a big baby boy. He's something else. Every time I look at his cute face I am so happy he's actually mine!

It is nearly impossible to get a good picture of Donald and Charlie together. If one of them is cute the other one looks goofy, or they just look goofy all the time. I think Donald must look like me in some ways, although I can't figure out how. He really is his Daddy's twin, but I decided he can represent me when I was two, although he's much bigger and a boy as well.

Charlie is my twin so he represents me when I was 6. We even share the same proclivity to yell even when the person we're talking to is standing right next to us. Also we both have very strong opinions and they are usually right.
Here I am as an 8 year old. Again, as far as looks go I don't see much of me in this kid, but there are so many times that he reminds me of me. Especially when he takes it upon himself to boss everyone in the house around, including me. It's precious.
Here I am as a 10 year old and an 11 year old. Now, I wish I could say I'm just like Shari, because she's so sweet, but I'll have to just be thankful she looks a little like me and likes things to be organized. Rebecca is also sweet, and she likes things to be a certain way or she gets frustrated and she is very cautious. She also loves being a mommy to her younger sisters and brothers, which is so much like me.
Here's the 33 year old me and man does it show!! That's why I prefer looking at the younger versions of myself. They are all so beautiful, no wrinkles, and sweet as can be!

Birthday Party

For Shari's friend party we did a Scavenger Hunt. I have never been good at thinking of ideas for scavenger hunts but for Shari I would do anything. Plus, she has such a sweet group of friends. I wanted them to have lots of fun. They started out with a little pizza party and then the fun really started.

First they went outside and rode around on bikes for a little bit.
Then they had to each find a stretchy pet and name it. It sounds like an easy task, but not for my girls. They have to choose just the right name whenever they name something. It turned out that most of the names chosen were from Harry Potter.
Then they went inside and put on a piano concert. They all did so good. Even the girls that had never played had fun.
For one task they dressed up in costumes and took pictures of each other. This was really entertaining and I have lots of pictures but this gives you an idea of their crazy costumes.
For my sake they had a task where they broke up into groups and entertained a little brother. Here they are playing ball with Adrian,
playing battleship with Charlie,
and playing Star Wars/Indiana Jones with Donald.
Their last task was making up a dance to the song Shari Baby. It was so cute. I was super impressed and they had lots of fun. I want to post their dance but for some reason I haven't been able to get videos up on the blog. Anyhow, it was a big hit and I was just so glad it turned out.
Her cake for her friend party was cinnamon rolls. They were yummy. After that the girls played for an hour and somehow they still thought the party ended too early. It was definitely a night to remember.

Birthday Girl

My Shari girl turned 10 last week. It really is amazing how fast it went by. I still look at her face and see this sassy little girl. (Actually she's really not sassy at all, but sometimes she pretends she is.) Here she is right after Rebecca took scissors to her hair and then blamed it on Shari. Shari didn't even tell me until this year that Rebecca is the one that cut her hair. She was only 2...

I had to include this picture of her very 1st birthday. Since her birthday is right after Halloween I really didn't want to make a cake so she had a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup. She was thrilled. I could even fit 1 candle.
Now she's 10! Here she is before opening presents. We gave her a collage of pictures of herself and some snow pants. Dan also made a nice CD cover and we gave her a blank CD so she could burn some songs that she likes from our Itunes. Charlie gave her the American flag and some stickers.

The biggest present was a new bike! Thankfully the weather was beautiful on her birthday. Since that day it's turned cold and snowy. It's hard to give a bike for a November birthday but she really needed one.
Her favorite cake is coffee cake. She's so adorable. It sure makes my life easy.
Here she is picking out songs with her Dad. She picked Shari Baby and Oh Shari for her first two songs. Then went on to C&C Music Factory, The Smiths, Barry Manilow, The Clash, Shania Twain, no wonder I couldn't figure out what songs to put on for her. She has crazy taste in music. It's pretty entertaining to listen to her CD.
I love her so much I can't express it in words. She's an angel.