Evie Loves Birthdays

Evie turned 3 in November.

She absolutely loved her birthday.

She continually talks about her cake and the cake Aunt Mindy made for her too.

In December

Grandma Rohrer: "Evie what so you want for Christmas?"

Evie: "A birf-day!"

Adde: "You can't have a birthday for Christmas!"

Evie:  "I wike birf-days."

___

Aunt Mindy made the wish come true! 

Evie got a play birthday cake for Christmas.

_____

She and her friend H had a great time taking turns singing Happy Birthday to each other and serving up cake.

purely adorable.

Now she keeps asking when H can come again for another "birf-day."

Chopsticks

What do you do when you have friends over for dinner

and one of them has used chopsticks from childhood...?

Learn how to do it yourself, of course!

Kate was actually pretty good at it.

Zane, however, found his own unique methods

which included holding the food and the chopsticks with his fingers all the way to his mouth.

Thanks, Jon and Elyse, for the lessons and the chopsticks!

Don't Fence Me In

At the beginning of May we started working on our fence...

Yes, the fence we've "talked" about building for 3 years.

Should take a couple of weekends.

Should.

right.

Who knew that under about an inch of top soil our yard is solid clay!?!

I think it took us over a month to get all the fence post holes dug!

We've had many great helpers along the way!

Thanks, Ben, Justin, Ethan, Brad...

Kate....

 

our dads!

And today... 

Liam

and Owen.

So far we have two sides finished... mostly.

We're getting there. 

I must have forgotten the golden rule of home improvement...

Take you think it will cost and double it... Take how long you think it will take and quadruple it.

The kids can't wait!!!

Things I Love Thursday — Annalise JOY!

SHE'S HERE!!!!! 

My friend Kristin delivered Annalise Joy Koning at 10:08 this morning! 

6 lbs 12 oz. 20 inches long. 

She is absolutely beautiful! 

My heart is full. 

 What a gift!

______

Annalise, your first cry through that thick door ripped me right open.

I didn't know how healing that beautiful sound would be.

Oh, how I've longed to meet you!

But would it really happen?!

I feel like I've been holding my breath for all these weeks. 

And there you were.

Your second cry nearly brought me to my knees.

and then I saw you.

wiggling and screaming.

and I let out my breath.

You are really here!

14 months to the day after your sister Emilie Elise went so unexpectedly to be with Jesus.

almost 3 years since your sister Joanna Claire's wonderfully stubborn heart stopped beating.

and 5 1/2 years after your brother Noah Scott's miracle 1 hour and 45 minutes in your mommy and daddy's arms.

JOY does not even begin to express it.

____

My cup overflows for my friend today!!!!

Kristin explains her name here.

Rambo and his backup singers

They're Ba-ack!

Our friends the Edwards are back

from Tajikistan!

It was great to see them.

This is

Joy

Long Lost Friends

This weekend the Millers came back to Fort Wayne for a visit.

It was great to see them.

We had a pizza party with the Konings Friday night.

12 kids under 9.


yep.


It was a blast!

We miss you, Millers!

Cops and Potters

Last week our friend Robert brought his police car over to show the kids.

They got to climb in the front seat.  

Zane wanted out immediately.

Then they tried out the back seat.

Kate was surprised.  "It's like a little jail!"

Owen thought the whole thing was hilarious.

But didn't want to get in himself.

Liam loved being in the back the best.

I found each of their reactions rather ironic.

Little Friends

Evie has enjoyed playing with some friends lately.

Although she doesn't enjoy sharing her mommy.

She also tends to get a little rough.

I guess she's used to big kids not minding her little pushes and swats.

These first-borns aren't so used to that... or big kids for that matter.

But they adored watching the older ones

as well as playing with "big kid" toys!

Evie with her BFFs:

Taking turns with Caroline

Necklaces and books with Eden

Funny faces with Georgia

Taking babies for a walk with Hailey

Old Friends

 Just after Liam's birthday

Palmers came to visit!

We've been friends for a long time now.  11 years really.

They moved to Alabama and now are in Illinois.

It was really great to see them.

Konings came over too for some hot dogs and mac n cheese.

Liam somehow thought this was still his birthday party.

kept saying his birthday lasted 3 days. 

sure.  why not

_____

It was a full house.

The Baby:

The Big Kids:

The Little Boys:

The Grown Ups...

 and Tom.

The Party of Parties

Here are the pics from Liam's party.

This was definitely the biggest party we've ever thrown.  But it was a ton of fun!!!



They also played a lego toss game and "pin the dagger on the snake" (Liam's idea).

He had so much fun.

____

favorite quote of the night...

While he's opening presents, Kate says: Wait! I have a really quick present from my heart!

Me:  What's that, Kate?

Kate: A hug.


____

Story behind the cake:

I heard about this organization called Icing Smiles from my friend Carrie (Toby's mom).  They provide special cakes to kids with life-threatening or degenerative illnesses, kids that have been hospitalized, etc.  AND their siblings, around the country.

I originally thought I'd request a cake for Owen's birthday, but I found out about it too late.  They need requests 3 weeks in advance.    So since Liam's birthday was coming up I took a chance and wrote them.  You have to provide a caringbridge link or blog link to confirm the illness (clever). They said yes!

What they do is find a local baker that has signed up for their program to create a cake.  You pick the theme, the baker picks the design.   In a crazy coincidence, it turned out that the baker was the wife of one of Eric's former co-works from Logikos!   small world!   Autumn Carpenter made Liam's cake.  She is a local baker and writes lots of recipe books for Country Kitchen.  It was a really yummy cake!  and as you can see from the pics, pretty fancy!   Liam felt so special.

Sometimes it's really hard to be the sibling of a kid with special needs.  I appreciate that Icing Smiles recognizes that and that Liam was able to have such a special day.

This is for you, Grace

We got together with some college friends in December.

Dave and Coricia Meyer and their girls, Grace and Emma

Grace made each of the kids a special party hat 

(or elf hat, I can't remember now. That's what I get for blogging 3 months later.)

anyway, it was cute.

and really sweet.

We had yummy pizza

and snacks

Enjoyed a baby with a mullet

and many many fashion shows

love and miss you guys.  

lets not let it be so long to next time!

and while I'm at it, why don't ya blog once in a while!?!

yes, yes, you can go ahead and call the kettle black.

Uncle Mark's Visit

After Christmas

Uncle Mark came

and played

and got "worn out"

according to Liam

see for yourself:

Remember

Family

 Time

 Christmas

 Fun

5

Happy Birthday, sweet Noah.

Oh, how we miss you.

 

5 years.

Seems so long ago

and yet

like it was yesterday.

with love, Mrs. Potter


(read Noah's mommy's thoughts today here.)