Pumpkin Patch 2011 by Anna as dictated to (and edited by) Mommy

This is me and my Daddy and my brother in front of my pumpkin.
It was raining outside. This is my mommy, my brother, my daddy and me in front of the pumpkin I picked out in the rain. The umbrella is next to me.
I picked out a pumpkin and Jonathan didn't. Nanananabooboo. I had an umbrella and no one else did and I never shared it. Daddy came out to the pumpkin patch because it was too heavy for me.


Daddy took a picture of me and then they stuffed hay in me and they turned me into a scarecrow.
I was giving money to the pumpkin helper for the pumpkin.
I am taking a picture with my tiny pumpkin.
This is Jonathan with his pumpkin.

Happy 8th Birthday to Our Jonathan!

Happy Birthday, Jonathan! The past eight years have been SO much fun. As my firstborn, you have made my job easy. I have to admit, when I held you for the first time in the hospital eight years ago, I was in awe and wonder that you were a REAL BABY! I don't know quite what I was expecting? :) I was also terrified... Could I do this? What if I messed it up? But you made it all so happy and even the rough times were so rewarding. You have taught me every bit as much as I have taught you. I adore you and I can't imagine a better son. If I could have custom ordered a baby boy straight from God, I could not have possibly come up with something as unique and wonderful as you. You have made my life so much more joyful and rich. I think you are so handsome and funny and brilliant and wise. But the part of you that makes me most proud is your character and your heart. Just a tiny example of this? What you wished for when you blew your candles out on your eighth birthday... your buddy Isaiah to get better. You thought of this ahead of time. To you, it wasn't a big deal. But to me, it was. I am very proud of the ways you empathize with others and think about the world. I cannot wait to see what you are going to do with your life. Whatever you choose, I will be cheering you on, and I will always be proud that you are my son. Happy Birthday, JonJon. Love always, Mama.
Pokemon everything. Anna and Jon selected Pokemon clip art which we printed on card stock, cut out and used to decorate cupcakes. Nona made a chocolate sheet cake.
The pinata tradition. Jonathan said, It actually pains me to have Piccachu beaten on! :)
In line waiting to beat on pinata. We had some technical difficulties this year. Eventually Dave had to just hold the pinata. When it was Anna's turn, she kept saying to him, as she clumsily brandished her large pipe, "I don't trust you." It seemed a little mixed up to me! (No one was injured, thankfully.)
On Jonathan's actual birthday, the 13th. We made his favorite dinner, chicken and dumplings. Plus, the traditional ugly cake. It is a from scratch chocolate cake with caramel frosting. It started with me accidentally messing a cake up, but it was super delicious. Jon dubbed it Ugly Cake, and has requested it ever since. Now, I have to work at messing it up so it looks like an authentic Ugly Cake. It is actually way more fun than the crazy making and carpal tunnel inducing Spongebob Squarepants cake of years past. :)
Anna, Trystan and Jonathan checking out some presents.
These two are going to be some fierce teenage boys someday. Heaven help us. :)

Thank you to Nona for hosting Jonathan's birthday party! We appreciate all of the work and hospitality!

Mickey's Halloween Party

Trystan and Anna (a soldier and Super Girl!)
Not just happy... DISNEY happy!
They like to call this pose fabulous-fierce! :)
Jonathan, (has just turned 8!) Anna, 5, and Trystan, 6. They had such a great time! I am so glad we went.
Trystan and his Mom, Janenne.
Anna and her Daddy on the way in. Their wigs were both looking pretty good at this point.
Super Girl with her purse!
Three cousins!
I had so much fun with my Jonathan! We went on Space Mountain together. He did happen to mention something about me being the worst mother in the world when the ride ended...? But he recovered and we had a very special time that night. :)
Anna went off with her cousin T and her aunt Janenne most of the night. I couldn't believe after a full day at school, all three kids were going strong till 1 in the morning!
Crazy cousins!
Tired out, waiting for the ferry.
About to go on Pirates of the Caribbean. (Jon and Anna found it scary, which I always did as a kid also.)
Of course, we had Captain Jack with us, so I don't know what they were worried about!

Jonathan's goal of the night was to seek revenge for Space Mountain and try to make me sick on any ride he could control. But he did not succeed. :) We had such a good time, and I think we actually fit more of the Magic Kingdom in than we normally could during a day at the park because there weren't as many people there. Also, it was not hot-- the weather was PERFECT! AND free candy! And adorable costumes everywhere!