Q is 3

We celebrated Quentin's 3rd birthday with the Mullins side of the family. Emerson also turned 3 and Grandma had a birthday too, so we celebrated together. Elijah & Melissa and John & Erin were here. It was the first time we have all been together. Quite fun.

Robo Avery

Avery is amazing. She is so smart and quick to learn in almost everything she does. Almost! She seems to love the sound of her training wheels scraping on the side walk because until Saturday, she had refused to take them off. I bribed her with a trip to Starbucks for her and whoever teaches her. Notice Uncle Elijah holding on. He did that most of the time after we removed the support, but did go about 20 feet (at once) solo. We'll keep practicing, and maybe get more Starbucks.

Cole's first birthday

Well, first party. We painted wooden train whistles and ate hot dogs. Then the kids played on the new slip and slide and the sprinkler. After everyone was freezing, we ate the train cupcakes and opened presents. Cole has wonderful friends who helped him celebrate. We can hardly believe he is 5!

Cole's cake and cookies

A wonderful friend and I decorated goodies for Cole's birthday party. We frosted the cupcake cake and painted the cookies. It was a great lesson (and Amy and I had fun, too). If anyone doesn't know, when Cole turned 5, he got to have his first friend party, so we were planning for his buddies. Pictures on that will be next. In the evening, after we decorated (Tuesday), I came down with a 104.4° fever and a sinus infection that wiped me out until Sunday afternoon.

Our new family member

Introducing Mila (long I sound). Avery picked her out yesterday from a litter of kittens her teacher's cat had. She is a sweet little girl, she even snuggled up next to me today, and warmed me up- by peeing on my lap. She'll figure it out quickly. Avery is in love with her and hopefully it will help Avery miss Cortez a little less. He disappeared over a year ago, but Avery still cries for him.

Cole's first bike ride

Cole was given a used bike a few weeks ago. On Saturday we took off the training wheels and pumped up the tires. He had never been on a bike with pedals until Saturday evening. Sunday after church Cole came running in to me and told me to come watch him. He said he couldn't go far, and couldn't turn, but wanted me to watch. And he did this:

More camping

I just couldn't fit it in one post, so deal. We rode the train which was fun for the kids. At camp Amy's new talent came out as "Pancake flipper extraordinaire". The kids ate in the bed of their truck most of the meals. The final morning Amy and I ran back to town while the dads took the kids hiking at the quarry in the campground. We cam home wet and soppy, but all the kids did a great job and hopefully we can do it again.