Combined Birthday Party

We had a combined family birthday get together with the family that lives close for Tim and Big J. (who is now 11!!) It sure is nice to have family close by.

Isn't this the cutest little kid. He has a really adorable fake smile that he'll do if you ask him. This is actually a normal smile.

The kids and their cousins had fun playing together outside. We were glad to have good weather (it's always a gamble in March).

Good Grades Tradition

Each semester when the kids get report cards they can earn dinner. Ok, ok, I mean a special dinner . . . we do feed our kids dinner each day. If they have all A's and B's then they get to choose to go to dinner wherever they want. Tim and I are glad when they choose the same place because then we don't have 3 different dinners to go to. Not the case this time. Big J. chose Round Table, Little J. chose Olive Garden (mmmm . . . good food), and Big T. chose Pizza Factory. It takes a few weeks to get those all in but the kids enjoy it and so do we. It's good motivation for them.

Birthday Time

My oldest had a birthday and he is now 11!!! Since his birthday was Sunday we did some celebrating on Friday. He and I went on a sort of "date" and we had lunch and a treat and did a little shopping. Saturday night the family went out to Olive Garden because that's where Little J. chose to go since he got good grades (I'll do another post about that) so after we had the employees sing and bring a cake. We had a great time and I always enjoy getting compliments about how polite my kids are in public. Sunday we opened presents and had another cake. He got money, clothes, a book, a puzzle, hot wheels tracks, and his new Boy Scout Handbook. He'll be starting 11 year old scouts this Tuesday and so we're excited to start that grand adventure.