Kids in Pictures Again

 Rosy was just hanging out with a banana and no shirt in the laundry basket. 

 There we go again with the Miley Cyrus face.  This time she is doing it while sitting in a box. 

 Brandon caught Rocky with the camera and she was, of course, taking a selfie.  I'm sure this is a preview of the 100 billion of these to come.  I know that she already assumes that she is a teenager but sometimes she has me almost convinced too.

 Movie night!  Rosy is never cuter than when we have popcorn. 

Daisy wanted to thank her Oma for the jewelry box kit.  After a week of adding a few touches a day she thinks she only needs another month to get it up to the level of bling that she wants.

Putting Names with a few of my Favorite Faces

I have realized that during the past few years I have taken a lot of photos of the kids and their friends but I don't have any of the parents, who are my friends.  It just seems too awkward to ask adults to smile for the camera but the other night, while I didn't get everyone, I did get a few good shots.

 Rosy refuses to sit and snuggle even for a second with her mom but the second Jim enters the room she is cozied up happy as can be.  I always thought it was that she didn't like to cuddle but now I know that it is just that she plays favorites.

Syd and Nick

Jody, Brandon and Jay

Yan, Abbey, Sara and Tucker

 What else would a bunch of kids do when they are finally unleashed to make their own choices, play school of course.  I've never seen them all sit so calmly.

 I did want to point out that the two children that are having wardrobe malfunctions are mine.

Karen (Daisy's BFF), Rusten and baby Helen

 This one is me and even though it isn't a great picture I like it because I am actually holding the baby dragon.  The only reason that she is willing to sit on my lap is because I bribed her with a cup full of Goldfish.

Katie

Selfie with Yan with Karen looking sultry in the background

Oh Daisy

 Our little Daisy girl turned 4 today.  She is such a sweet girl and didn't seem the least disappointed in getting Rocky's handed down bike.  She has been buzzing around on it all weekend.  She had two requests for her birthday.  When I asked what she wanted for a gift she begged for a corn dog.  Part of me just wants her to stay 4 forever when her heart's desire can be purchased at Winco in a box of 16 for $4.50.  She also used the birthday-card (ha ha) and convinced me to buy some of those little sweet peppers.  My girls think they are amazing.  It took me three tries to get this photo because she kept making her Miley Cyrus face, and it just seemed a little too obscene. 

 Since the corn dog and peppers were technically her gift she also got to choose a birthday meal.  She picked breakfast for dinner.  She wanted pancakes and bacon but in the end she basically just ate fruit.  Despite being such a foodie, she has recently gotten quite a bit pickier.  Her favorite thing in the world is a fruit kabob.

 I took a picture of her rainbow unicorn party.  (It was heavy on the rainbow, not so much unicorn).  It turns out that on Pinterest the people who do unicorn parties get really hard core.  We decided to keep it simple and just do rainbows.  And by simple I mean that I went way overboard.  Luckily Brandon spent all morning making little marshmallow clouds and saving my cupcakes.  The surprise of the night was that even with all those cupcakes, the kids all went straight for the fruit.  It turns out that Daisy isn't the only kid who enjoys fruit on a stick. 

 Daisy is an incredible kid.  She tells me that she loves me about once an hour and wants to snuggle all day long.  She laughs with this giggle that comes straight from her gut and is so full of joy that you can't help but join in.  She spends hours drawing, coloring, and sticker-ing things and also loves to cook with me.  She is darling on her new bike and pedals around trying to keep up with the older kids.  She has a tender little heart that is terrified of bugs and eyes that well up with tears at the slightest hint that someone is hurt but at the same time has a stubborn fiery streak that won't put up with crap.
Oh, and she also made this pig puppet and proudly pointed out that it has boobs and a pink tail.

Did I mention that she always makes me laugh?  Happy birthday Daisy.  You are awesome.