Ellie's 4th Birthday Party!!

Ellie had a great 4th Birthday! It helped that her older brothers did the birthday count-down starting the week or so before. "6 more days until your birthday, Ellie"..."2 more days until your birthday..." Like most 4-year-olds on their birthday, she was completely into the cake, presents and having a party exclusively for herself. She whipped through the presents in no time. She'd open one and almost before she saw what it was, she was on to the next one. It might have been better to spread the gifts out to one an hour, but then again, birthdays really don't come that often...

Ellie wanted a "Pink" party again this year with a Princess cake. The little princess cakes she helped me make for her and Grace we pretty darn cute, if I do say so myself. It was almost sad having to watch the girls eat them. :)

Elizabeth Rae is growing into a beautiful little girl. She's still sucking her thumb. I am half convinced that it must be cookie-flavored for as much as it's in her mouth. We struck a deal about 6 months ago that when she turns 5 she'll stop sucking it and she can take some sort of ballet or dance class. That is right up her alley, so we'll see how it works out... She is really good at coloring and using scissors (unlike any of her brothers at her age). She loves to dress very feminine and likes her "bling" or anything with sparkles.

The day before Ellie's actual birthday, which was on the 17th, we headed to Grizzly Jack's Indoor Waterpark near Starved Rock. We stayed overnight and the kids had a blast playing in the wave pool, lazy river and waterslides! When we got home, Daddy took Ellie out for a special dinner with just the two of them. (It happened to work out that the other kids were sooooo crabby and tired that we decided that a sit-down restaurant was not the best place to have a melt-down) The waitresses at "R Place" in Morris sang "Happy Birthday" and gave her a cute little cupcake. And, Oh, yeah, can't forget the homemade "fried" ice cream that was waiting when they got home! I think Ellie had a pretty special 4th birthday this year, not to be out-done for a while :)

Our continuing prayer for Ellie is that she becomes as beautiful in her thoughts and actions as she is on the outside. Saying, "Ellie, you are such a pretty girl" comes so easy, but I'm finding the need to be more mindful in emphasizing the thoughtful and kind things she does. Lord willing, we will get this parenting thing right eventually... :)

He's workin' undercover...

I have just discovered that my beautiful baby boy is actually working undercover (or shall I say under the covers)! While he's awake, Nathan imitates a sweet, innocent baby, but as he sleeps, he slowly morphs into a.....

...Thumb-sucker!!

A hiking we will go...hi, ho the dair-e-o...

Wow! What a difference a day makes. You never would've guessed that it could be 60 something and sunny in February. We took advantage of the great weather and went hiking at Mattheissen State Park near Starved Rock. I prefer Mattheissen because it is less touristy and you feel like you are actually following trails instead of paved bike paths.
Anywoo, we managed to hike for a whole 3 hours! I am soooo proud of little Gracie. She deserves an award for all of the walking she did especially since has to take twice as many steps for each one I take. Nathan was content in the baby carrier on my back. We packed a lunch and Caleb and Seth both sported packs to carry it. We all had a lot of fun finding a spot in the woods to have our picnic!
Since the snow was just melting, there was mud and puddles all over. Many of the trails we went down were waterlogged or to icy and we had to turn back. We spent the last hour before sunset trying to find a decent way out without having to go back the long way we came. We did make it, and if I look exhausted in the picture... I was! Grace and Ellie were worn out in that last half hour, so Caleb and I carried them part way. Walking with Nathan on my back, and Gracie on my front was no easy task. Actually, the extra 50 pounds was great exercise for my legs and back... I can feel it today... Even so, it was worth the effort. We had a great time.

A New Nephew!!

He's finally here! The first baby in the "other" Larson family. Welcome Jay Patrick! He is a tiny little peanut, weighing in at 6lb 6oz and 18.5 inches! It was different going to see John and Carrie with their newborn (in a good way)... usually, it's the other way around. He's another beautiful baby in the Larson family, where the boys now outnumber the girls by about 4 to 1!

Nathan's Dedication

We dedicated Nathan yesterday. It was, in a way, a public declaration that we are going to do our best to raise him in the way that the Lord would want us to, and we have family and friends in the church to witness it. We prayed that God would watch over him and give us wisdom in raising him (we soooooo need His wisdom, that's for certain!).

Each of the kids have been dedicated when they were a few months old and we really consider this a special day. We pray often that God would draw our kids to Himself at an early age, and give them a hunger and thirst for knowing Him.