Birthday's, Boys & Guns

This week started off Monday, with home school group, however, Shawnna went alone to school. Kristin had gone to bed with a fever, so Ryan agreed to stay home with her, while I went to school. They did great, and Kristin was almost back to her normal self by late afternoon. It was a 3 day bug that has seemed to work itself out.



Tuesday, the 26th, we were at the O'Hara's to celebrate Declan's birthday. He turned 9! I called after school to tell him Happy Birthday--and when he answered the phone, I said "Happy Birthday"--he said "thanks" I then asked him if he woke with a mustache being that he was 9 now, and he said "WHAT?" I asked him again "Did you wake with any facial hair or underarm hair this morning?" Dead silence on the other end of the phone---then it registered, and boy did he giggle. He didn't know what to say. I believe this was the first time I've heard Declan speechless!!
We then gathered later for supper (yummy homemade lasagna, courtesy of Declan & Tracey) and instead of birthday cake...Declan requested cream puffs....which he & Tracey had made that morning. The boys then filled them with vanilla pudding, and drizzled melted chocolate over top. They looked SO good! We sang Happy Birthday to Declan, only to realize that we forgot the candles.....so, we did it again! (By the way....those cream puffs were AWESOME!)

The kids had a great fun watching Declan open his birthday gifts. Kimberly received a gift from the VonRuden's since they missed the impromptu party last Thursday. She laid on the floor and colored for a long time....enjoying her new gift. The kids played Declan's new game "HyperDash"---and is it a lot of fun. We had a great time visiting with everyone, and the headed home to bed.



Thursday started with plans of one type, and then changed to other plans....all good mind you! Ryan was scheduled to take a gun safety course on Thursday night. We thought it was in Albany, close to HP. So, the plan was for us to go pick up Bill from work (he had carpooled, so didn't have his truck at work), for us to have supper out somewhere together, and then take Ryan & Bill to the gun club, and Kristin & I would "shop"! Sounded great to us. We then found out that the club was closer to us than to HP...so we called Tracey, and invited ourselves for pizza at their place, since there wasn't enough time for Bill to get to Sean & Traceys, pick up his truck, head home for Ryan and make class by six. So, we ended up with pizza's at the O'Hara's!! Needless to say...we had a fun supper together, I was able to help Alyona with her math (Wow was that interesting--strategy math was what it was called) homework, Tracey & I got to visit, the girls got to play, and Sean & Declan joined Bill & Ryan for the gun class with Mark (who Sean & Bill carpool with). Ryan did a great job with his target shooting, making almost every hit in the black target area. Bill was very proud of him. Declan did a great job too, and came home with a medal for his shooting. He has earned his guns back!!! I'm sure today will be full of targets, boxes, and questions of "can I shoot my 22 now"? That will wait for another day, when Daddy can be with him...after he gets more practice at the Albany Gun Club. Mark, who instructed the boys, was awesome with the kids....a very positive thing for them. Thanks Mark!

Enjoy the pics....courtesy of Sean & Tracey (forgot my camera on Tuesday, and never thought of it yesterday). Thanks for letting us barge in for supper last night...and for the fun visit!

PS> I added a few pictures to Kim's birthday blog....there were some cute ones I have from Tracey. Check them out!