Jasmine's Birthday

Well yesterday Jasmine turned 6. She's been talking about her birthday for months. This year for birthdays I took the kids to the store to pick out their own gifts. So, ever since Lily and Rosalie had their trip to the store back in March, Jasmine has been waiting for her turn. She's been saying for the past months, "When I go, I'm going to get a kitty just like Lily's, but mine's going to be black." I ran across the black cat a couple of weeks ago, and went ahead and grabbed it up.

Yesterday morning, Jasmine crawled up into my bed and said, "Good morning, Mom. Today is my birthday and I'm six today." She was so excited that her day had finally come. She then proceeded to tell me that she now was much bigger because she's 6. "Mom, I'm getting soooo big. I need new shoes. My feet are so big now 'cuz I'm 6. You have to take me to buy new shoes." Anyone that's been around her knows about her thing for shoes. Last year she'd put on her purple-glitter shoes, and dance and sing, "Purple sparkly shoes! Purple sparkly shoes!" I'd bought her some new shoes less than a month ago...not because she needed them, but because they were on sale for a great price and she begged to have them. I told her that she didn't need new shoes and just because she was a year older didn't make her bigger, that it takes time. She said, "No, I'm am bigger and I do need new shoes. You can buy me some when we go get my toy." Ha! That girl is too smart, but I'm not that easy. I just simply told her that if she wanted shoes that bad that she could get them instead of her toy. Needless to say, she realized that her other shoes still fit her just fine.

I loaded up the kids in the suburban and headed to the store. This wasn't Jasmine's trip yet, but I needed to get groceries for her birthday meal and get a cake. Jasmine decided she wanted shrimp. I'm not a seafood person, but Jamie, and now Jasmine, really like it, so on special occasions, I'll cook it. I made her shrimp and tortellini in a white wine sauce (fancy for a 6 year old, huh?). And I made a separate batch of the same with chicken for us anti-seafood people.

We found the perfect cake. It had a big pink flower on the top of it. It looked like it was specially made for Miss Jasmine.

When Jamie got home, we ate dinner. We gave Jasmine the cat that I'd found for her, and also gave her a Bible with her name on it. She was so excited about the cat. But when Jamie gave her the Bible, she burst into tears. I thought for a moment that they were joyful tears, but quickly realized that she was upset. I asked her what was wrong, and she wept, "I wanted the cat. I don't want to pick one. I asked for the cat."

She thought she had to choose between the two gifts, and when I explained they were both hers, she cheered up very fast. We then went to the store. It didn't take Jasmine long. She picked out a Tinker Bell music box that has a key to lock it up. I told her she could look more, but she said, "No, this is what I want."

Then, we came back home to have cake. I told her that I was going to put the candles on the cake and then get a picture before we sang. She said, "Don't forget to take a picture of me blowing." I told her I would. I got the candles lit and told her to smile. As I took the picture she started blowing. I said, "No, wait. We have to sing then you get to blow out the candles." She said we could do it again. We sang, and this time Iris started blowing out the candles. So, Jasmine got some help, and Iris' head ended up getting in the way of my shot. But at least I got Jasmine's first attempt to blow out her candles.

Here's a few shots of the kids...

I'm glad to have another birthday in the books. I'm also glad Jasmine can only have one birthday a year. All day I had to listen to her bossing her sisters around and saying, "You have to...it's my birthday." She even tried that on me a couple of times, but had no success. I told her, "It may be your birthday, but I'm the mom, and you do as I say."

My sweet Rosalie

Any of you that have been around Rosalie knows just how sweet she is, right? Her little voice, so shy when she talks to you. How she likes to spin and twirl in her dress like any girl does. Her smiles and giggles light up the room. But there's a side of her that only I get to see. Her mood can change at the drop of a hat. Her face shows exactly what she's thinking, and if you're no so lucky, some times she'll go even further to tell you.

Well, this morning she decided to tell me what she thought. Yesterday morning, while I caught myself a shower, Rosalie and Iris got a big bag of Cheetos off the counter and polished them off. This was before I'd fed them breakfast. And of course, once I'd put breakfast on the table, I couldn't get them to eat. So, this morning, Rosalie asked quite a few times to have some Cheetos (we eat a lot of Cheetos at my house, so we by 2 bags at a time). I told her "no" each time she asked. Then she grabbed a stool and attempted to get them herself. I got on to her, and then moved the bag way out of her reach. Oh, you should have seen the look she gave me. I was in the middle of telling her, "I'm cooking breakfast right now, and you're not going to fill up on Cheetos..." She started whining, "But Mom, I'm really, really, really hungry! My tummy is empty. I need to eat. I want to eat Cheetos, PLEASE!!!" I told her "no" again, and her pleading turned to anger, "You're a mean mama. You are so mean!" Normally, I wouldn't let her get away with that, but this morning I thought I'd test her. So, I told her, "You're right, I am mean. That's why this breakfast isn't for you. It's for your sisters. And so are those Cheetos."

I got the breakfast set on the table, and called the kids to come eat. Rosalie followed them, and I didn't serve her. She said she was hungry, and I answered with reminding her that I was a mean mama. Her attitude quickly changed, as I'd expected. "No, mama, you're not mean anymore. I'm really hungry." I gave her her plate, and told her that I expected her to finish every bite. I'm careful to serve all the kids the same amount of food, and try not to give them too much. Well, everyone finished all of their breakfast, with exception of Rosalie. She told me that her tummy was soooo full, "See, it's too big to finish my food." I told her that she had to finish like her sisters did, and I regained my title of being a mean mama.

She makes me laugh. If you upset her, her most common response is "You made my heart melt." She expresses herself very well for her age. I just have to watch out for what mood she's in at the moment. Right now as I type this post, she's telling Iris, "I'm not your friend anymore Iris!" I guess I have to go be a mean mama, and put that girl in her place.

Webcam

Nothing new to report. I just wanted to post some pics. We got a laptop to make things easier on us, and it has a webcam. The girls (and I) have been having fun with it. Jasmine asks me all the time, "Mom, can we take a picture on the computer?" So, here's a few pictures of me and my beautiful girls...

Jamie's New Girl...Dyna

If you look back at one of my earliest blogs, I mentioned Jamie buggin' me about getting a bike. He's wanted one for years...even before we got married. We'll his birthday came again, and just like every other year, his itch for a bike flared up. I simply told him this time around that the decision was his. He knew my feelings about a big purchase, but it was up to him. This wasn't an attempt of reverse psychology on my part. Jamie works very, very hard to provide for us. He does a good job of it, too. He's a wonderful husband and father, and if anyone deserves it, it's him. And I told him that. I want him to have what he wants, after all, it's his sweat that earns that paycheck every week. So, here she is. He got a 2007 HD Dyna Wide Glide. The girls are already talking about who gets to ride it first. I guess our next purchase will be helmets...

My baby is 1!

Levi turned a year old on July 1st. This birthday was difficult for me. He's our last, so I want him to be the baby as long as possible. But that obviously can't happen. I've either been pregnant or tending to a baby as long as Jamie and I have been married. I look forward to the next chapter in our family story...kids a bit older, bigger, more independent...but frown with the knowledge that it will inevitably happen. I'm going to really miss having a baby in the house.

My children, from their pregnancy to where they are now, are highlights of my life. I wanted to share pictures of Levi from the past year, but also his birth story. This is an edited letter written by my midwife, close friend, and second mom, Betsy. Hope you enjoy...

Dear Levi,

Your mom and dad have had your name picked out since before their first baby was born, and that was over six years ago. It's a blessing to have you arrive so that you can appropriate your name. Your name Levi means "attached," or "joined." The first boy who was named Levi in the Bible was named that because his mom Leah thought that because she had him, her husband Jacob would now become attached to her. The family of this man Levi became a tribe in Israel. The tribe of Levi was very important to the Lord...

A few weeks before you were born, one of my friends was praying for you...she was thanking God that you would be like the thumb is to the fingers on the hand of a man. It is very hard to grasp anything without a thumb, so the thumb is very important, but it is different from the fingers. They work together beautifully. Because you have four sisters, they are like the fingers, and you are like the thumb. You need each other, yet you are very different. And you wouldn't be as useful or good without each other. In the same way, you and your sisters will work together even though you are all different. You won't tear each other down or work against each other, but you will learn each other's strengths and be stronger together.

One morning before you were born I was still lying in bed when the Lord spoke a word to me about you...It was the word "Yours." I believe with all my heart that God was telling me...you are His. Then the day after you were born, I was reading Psalm 4, and the 3rd verse spoke to me of you. It says, "But know that the LORD has set apart him that is godly for Himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto Him." You, Levi, have been set apart by God for Himself. You were dedicated to the LORD before you were born. You will be a godly man...

Your birth was much anticipated. Your mom and dad and I thought you would be born 21 days before you decided it was time. We had two dates that were estimates for your arrival, June 10 and June 23. And you went past both of them. On the evening of June 30, your mom lay down about 11pm to sleep. She was tired and ready to rest, but you were finally ready to come, and as she lay down, your labor pains started, and wouldn't let her sleep!

Your sisters all slept through your birth...In about a couple of hours, after you had been weighed and checked and you had your first meal, your sisters all woke up and came in to see you. They surrounded you on the bed, and they were full of wonder and amazement at you. You mom and dad love you very much, and so do your sisters...

I don't know if you will be your parents' last child. It looks like you might be, but even if you aren't, Levi, I want you to know that there will never be anyone else just like you. You are special to me because I've been at four of the five births of you and your sisters, and you are like a little grandson to me.

God bless you richly, Levi. Love Him deeply and above all else.

Betsy