34 years young

Jeremiah Daniel Shakespear turned 34 last week. Oh man he's gettin' up there folks (but I'm really not too far behind). Hyrum had the great idea while we were decorating that he should decorate a birthday chair for Daddy. I thought that was the cutest thing! His present surprise this year was a griddle! I know, how exciting can you get right? But seriously it is so very cool & we've used it almost everyday since & he has told me many times over the last few years how great it would be to get one. I mean we do eat pancakes for dinner a lot, a lot, a lot.

Stole the number made out of pictures thingy from Suzanne's blog. Thank you Suzanne!

How could I have lived about 24 years of my life without knowing anything about Texas Sheet Cake???

I'm so glad we're so well acquainted now!

This has nothing to do with birthdays but this is a picture Hunter drew. I am the big face & he is the littler one to the side & the line is my arm saving him from falling off somewhere very high up. Oh Hunter you are so cute. (Even when you're throwing huge screaming fits I still love you) He's also started the habit of filling a cup of water for me & bringing it to me with a big kiss & I don't even have to ask.

Thank you!!!

Some baby cuteness

And the second birthday surprise was that Nana came to visit! We love Nana! We didn't do much due to crummy weather & sick, coughy, snotty, fevery, achy people around the house but it's always nice to have Nana around.

I finally put Em's hair in a side pony tail type thing. Hello Deb! Despite the sunny smile on her face she hated it so I guess we'll stick to clips for the most part.

Happy Birthday Babe!

Wearing green for Patrick

It is getting increasingly difficult to get a good picture of all of my kids together!

Wednesday I was singing a song 'we're gonna have lots of fun tomorrow' & Hunter said, 'Because we're going to Patrick's house?' And I said 'Who's Patrick?' And then I got it. HaHa Hunter!

We had green milk in our cereal and green Mac n' Cheese for lunch. It took Hyrum a while to get up the nerve to eat it. He kept saying 'But it looks like there's spinach & moco's (Spanish for boogers) in there!'

We had friends over for dinner to enjoy green pancakes, green eggs, ham & green frosted sugar cookies...YUM!

The best part was we became the lucky ones to provide a backyard for our friends' new FREE swing set with exchangeable big kid & baby swing seats. So for the next couple years my kids can't complain that there's nothing to do out in the backyard!

Some other things we've been up to-Emma sporting her Western ballerina style

The boys learning to cast & catch sticks with their new fishing poles

(while Emma got muddy & Justin tried to eat goose poop)

Being cute

Playing a little bball (isn't this a cool picture w/ the lighting?)

And a very big difference in the Shakespear home: The big boys sharing a room! I know some people think I'm crazy & weird for having each of our kids in a separate bedroom (if you count our closet as a room) but we have the room for it & I'm just a big believer in good sleep for everyone & figure your own room is the best way to stay asleep the best & longest. The boys sleep in the same room every time we have visitors or visit someone & they always do great so we thought we'd give it a whirl. We put Hyrum's bed in Hunter's room & rearranged the bookshelf & they're very excited to be together. The first thing Hyrum said when we asked him if he wanted to share a room with Hunter was 'Yeah! And then we can tell jokes all night like I did with Levi' But I'm happy to report there has been no joke telling or getting up or staying awake, YET. Em sleeps in the playroom at night now & in the closet for naps & Justin is still in the other bedroom.

Here is Em's belly laugh. We don't hear it too often so I had to document.

Graduation

Big congrats to Buggy for graduating from Poop Camp with flying colors!!!

The first two days of camp were awful, made me shudder & I'm trying to forget it. BUT...after those initial 2 days Hunter has been awesome (as Hyrum would say). He is completely potty trained day & night & may I say how much I'm loving:

1. To pick up Hunter without feeling a soggy bottom

2. Having only TWO kids in diapers!

(I know that may sound kind of weird to be excited to only have 2 in diapers but it is exciting! I'm hoping Emma potty trains herself by 18 months...right...)

We went to Wacky World to celebrate & there has been a small influx of new cars to our household.

Here is Hunter's support team. These 3 literally lived in the bathroom with Hunter those first 2 days. They didn't want to miss out on anything exciting I guess. Thanks for the help guys!

I think Emma may have a future as a plumber, gunslinger,

taste-tester,

Or someone who likes to climb into any sort of basket/cupboard/smallish space

I have been baking bread lately-the boys like to help me by making themselves flour beards & mustaches

We've been enjoying reading stacks of books together (the babies are showing they're quite the fans of reading)

But, especially, especially, ESPECIALLY enjoying the sunny days in the 50's & 60's that we can go outside & play in the sunny sun! Oh I love the sunshine. I thought I would have to sit the spring/summer out this year with two toddlers to chase after but as long as the park is not too crowded, I've been doing well keeping track of everyone. (so far)

I caught both babies reading at the same time in our "library" (Hunter's room)