Ana's 8th Birthday and Our week w/The OHara kids

Our good friends Sean and Tracey had asked us to go on a cruise with them last November for this October. Because of my "love" of the water and boats after watching movies like Titanic and Jaws, they just couldn't persuade me to go. It turns out the Lord allows me my paranoia for a very good reason. Jer and I needed to be here to watch their five kids. Unfortunate circumstances prevented Tracey's parents from being here with their grandkids so we were more than willing to watch all 5 kids why they enjoyed a much deserved vacation. Since we don't have enough space in our home, I stayed at the O'Hara's. Jer and the kids stayed with us on the weekends and then slept at home during the week nights. It worked out great. We loved getting to know all the kids more and establishing bonds that will last for eternity. We've known Declan, Alexis, and Kimberly since they were born. But we hadn't had the chance to get to know Alyona and Tanya, their adopted Ukrainian sisters, at least as well as we'd like. This was the perfect opportunity! I'm not an early bird but a night owl and getting up to get them ready for school seemed a little scary, but I did it and even had time to do their hair on occasion. They are all very self sufficient and really didn't need me except to drive them to school. I'm not at all like their mom, though oddly enough we do get asked often if we are sisters. Lucky for them they all have a little of her in them (and a little of their
dad, too. HEE HEE)!

We wanted Sean and Tracey to be there for Ana's party so she had to wait for her main b-day party this year. I have a hard time not celebrating on the actual day but this year we had a great reason for waiting. We did take her to Red Robin that night and embarrassed her fully when the whole restaurant broke out in their own version of "Happy Birthday"! It was awesome and she's young enough that she enjoyed it. Ana really wanted to go roller skating this year but our local roller rink closed weeks before her b-day. Jer came up with a great alternative- to go ice skating. Neither Ana nor Jorryn had been before. I knew Ana would pick it up quick, but I was a little worried about Jorryn. We reserved a few tables and took some decorations. The O'Hara's, and the Don's, Tonya and Kurtis, Jacoy, Acacia, Kutler and Amy and Dallas Griffith were able to come celebrate with us. Two hours of ice skating was not enough and telling all the kids it was time to go eat cake and open presents still didn't make them want to get off the ice. Unfortunately, they didn't have a choice since the rink was closing for a hockey game. All the kids and parents did really good skating and I don't have any fun stories to tell about crashes on the ice-but I do have a pretty good one tell about the trip there. A week before the party I was feeling pretty ambitious about making Ana's cake, but as the week progressed and I realized how busy I was going to be over the weekend I really didn't have time to do it. Friday I went to the grocery stores to order a cake and ran into some problems. I was going to have to make a cake. I stayed home from church Sunday morning to decorate it and was felling pretty good with the results. I wrapped it in tin foil and we very carefully put it in the back of the Yukon. Jer said it would be fine and I nervously left it the way it was. Juice that was in the back started to slide around and even though Jer said it was fine, I asked Ana to crawl in the back and get the juice. We were at a stop sign and Jer needed to go so he stepped on the gas and Ana fell into the cake. I unbelievably laughed but Jer and Ana weren't to happy. We all agreed it wouldn't be worth it to be upset about it and quickly we were all having a good time again joking about Ana taking out Cinderella. I had this little feeling before I had gotten the cake all ready to travel that it wasn't going to make it so I had the forethought to take pictures. We had fun retelling the story when it came time to blowing out the candles. Over all it was the best birthday ever and she can't wait to go ice skating again-with everyone of course!

I'm still homeschooling. Much to my surprise. I have wonderful teachers to help me out when ever I need it and Ana and Jorryn are great students. Jer made us each a little space of our own in our 10x10 office. It's cozy and helps keep us all focused.


The animals are all good and muddy! The goats are getting big but they are still super cute and affectionate. I had to take Bella to the vet this week and she was better behaved than any dog I've ever owned or had to handle while working for a veterinarian.

We have one more birthday dinner planned for Ana with her family here in Lebanon. I'm hoping she doesn't expect a 3 week celebration every year.