"Now We Are Six"

By the time Independence Day is done, well, we're all pretty much done around here. Three big birthdays, three days of camp, a wonderful visit with family and Father's Day within the space of about three weeks is quite an undertaking. But it sure is fun!

The weekend before Jonathan's birthday, we had Bop and Giggie here. We were all VERY happy that they were able to make the trip up, but the kids were ecstatic! It was like Christmas morning every day that they were able to wake with the knowledge that Giggie and Bop had spent the night just one floor below them in the very same house. 

Moving around like we have has brought us "family" everywhere we've lived. But when you first arrive somewhere and all the way to the second or third year, you can't help but feel a little lost so far away from the people who know you best and love you anyway. It's hard to put into words how good it was to have family with us for a few days. It was the shot in the arm we didn't know we needed. It's a wonderful thing to watch your kiddos enjoy your parents and your parents enjoy your kiddos.

Opening gifts with Giggie

Giggie's birthday falls on June 6th and Jonathan's on June 14th (Flag Day), so we had a combined celebration. However, Jonathan came out a little ahead in the gift department. Sorry Giggie! Melanie received gifts as well to celebrate her birthday back in May.

Giggie and Bop left on Sunday afternoon. We were all a little low the rest of the day, but didn't have time to stay in the doldrums for long. It was time to get ready for Jonathan's big day.

 

Birthday presents!

After presents and Giant doughnuts with bacon, we all set out for Harper's Ferry, WV. Jonathan loves nothing more than about two feet of water, a rocky or sandy shore and lots of bugs, fish, snakes and crayfish. We didn't even go into town except to use the facilities. We spent three hours just hunting for wildlife and watching the birds. We took a hike over the train trestle to the Maryland side, and then headed straight back for lunch at the Charles Town Chick-Fil-A.

This is serious business!

Sissy enjoys this stuff almost as much as big brother!

 After Chick-Fil-A and a trip to the dollar store for some birthday money purchases (Both kiddos had money burning holes in their pockets.), we all headed home. Jonathan's birthday dinner request was watermelon on the front porch.

waiting for birthday cake

"Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you!"

 Jonathan--

Mama and Daddy are so proud of you. Your inquisitive spirit, your humor, and your sense of justice challenge us every day to become better people and, with God's help, better parents. We love you so much and we're so thankful you've been placed with us, on loan from our loving Father. You force us to seek wisdom and you keep us humble. We love how you love creation. We love how you search for beauty and truth and how delighted you become when you encounter something new and wondrous to you. 

Mama and Daddy love you more than you will ever know Sweet One. 

"But trailing clouds of glory do we come
From God who is our home:
Heaven lies about us in our infancy!
Shades of the prison house begin to close
Upon the growing Boy,
But He beholds the light, and whence it flows,
He sees it in his joy;
The Youth, who daily farther from the east
Must travel, still is Nature's Priest,
And by the vision splendid
Is on his way attended..."
 

~William Wordsworth 

from 

"Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood"