a few more

I had a couple more of the birthday boys, and from basketball. Jordan was in her full cheerleader uniform for the game this past Saturday...SO CUTE!!

My big four-year old!

Zach and Jordan had a combined birthday party with a clown (who happens to be a neighbor), who kept the kids entertained with face painting, magic tricks, balloon animals and swords, and parade out in the driveway. Jordan's official birthday is Thursday, I'll make a birthday post for her then...

My big nine-year old!

basketball and birthdays...

Mychael and Nathan are playing Upward Basketball through a local church, and are just loving it. Already, we have seen such an improvement in how they are playing, and they seem so much more confident. The program focuses on their relationship with God and their self-esteem, which has been such a welcome difference from some of the organized team sports we've been a part of before. We've also had two birthdays in the past week or so, and Jordan's is this upcoming Thursday, here are a few pics from the games and celebrations...

snowball effect

Ok, so we only got maybe less than an inch, but the kids still managed to have fun sledding and having snowball fights. At one point when they were all (my kids and all of the neighbor kids) busy packing snow into little balls, Nathan came around the side of the house with a snowball half his size...he was the first to figure out the snowball effect! Later on they were all headed down the street to sled on a big hill, and when I looked out the door I saw Zach getting onto the sled and Mychael pulled him the rest of the way to the hill, which I thought was so sweet. Jordan enjoyed getting all dressed up to be out in the snow, but once outside she literally did not move from one position, she just stood on the sidewalk (looking pretty, mind you). I sure hope we get just one real good snow this winter, that little bit really generated so much excitement, I'd love to see them in a foot of snow!

bed head

Jordan woke up this morning looking like Edward Scissorhands, bless-her-heart (as we say in the south)...the pictures don't do it justice, though! It defies gravity.

Nathan's new smile

one last one...

One of the previous pics of Zach was blurry, here's a better one...

more aquarium pics

aquarium visit

We made a trip to the Florida Aquarium in Tampa yesterday, one of my favorite places to go when we're here. Jordan woke up on the wrong side of the bed, or maybe she's just beginning to act like a 2 year-old, but we had a nice visit nonetheless. I hate I didn't get a picture, but the jellyfish tank is amazing, and the dwarf seahorses hardly look real. I just marvel at God's creativity with all His creatures...