Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Max's Birthday

Max's birthday is May 23, but we decided he'd celebrate with his friend's the 16th. Here's Max with the same ice cream cake he requests each year, and his same best friends.  Just like last year, Randy brought home a projector for movies on the living room wall.

Making a wish.

Max with his buddies, Ryan and Jason.

While many video games were played, they did make it outside a couple times.  They even had a little scavenger hunt.  Everyone had fun being together.

Luke's first painting

Henry, Timmy, Sophia, and Max made homemade Mother's Day card for Grandmas and Great Grandmas this year.

This is the first time I gave Luke a loaded paint brush.  He did a nice job!

A nice day outside

I don't remember the exact date but this is a nice day in April.  Randy is instructing Alex how to help him make stilts for Randy's cubscout group.  Henry is also paying close attention.

Timmy watches Alex work.

Henry learns how to dribble!

Lukey always needs to be part of the action, anytime, anywhere.

Henry wanted a turn with the camera.  He got a shot of Lukey and I relaxing in a lawn chair.

We discovered Lucas likes iced tea, a lot!

Henry is our very own Robinhood, and we didn't even know it. He wanted a turn shooting the bow and arrow, that Randy and Alex had out, and Henry did really well right away.

Good job, Henry!

Sophia's Dance Recital

Sophia took ballet again this year.  April 9th, she had her recital.  This is in costume at home before the big event.

A pose of Sophia's choosing.

Sophia with her good friend, Madisen, who lives in our neighborhood.  These two girls scooter, ride bikes, and play as much as they can together.  So we were all glad to have Madisen come see Sophia dance.

During the recital.

Also during the performance.

Alex's 13th Birthday

Alex officially became a teenager this year! For such a milestone, he got to go with Randy and pick out his own tools.  Randy helped him choose the right saw, hammer, tape measure, square, screwdriver, matte knife and bag.

I told Alex (and Henry) on his actual birthday he could have cake or ice cream, but not both.  Alex chose cake (Henry had picked ice cream).  I also warned him, he had his cake so I would just use whatever frosting I had in the fridge.  When he, Kathy, and Dale saw it, they thought I chose that frosting on purpose, even though I hadn't.  They thought, it was a yard with green grass and mud, and the lettering was suppose to be "poop".  Which makes sense, because Alex ( and our other kids) are obsessed with poop and the like.

Having cake after dinner at Smokey Bones. (l-r Max, Sophia, Kathy, Timmy, Alex and Dale).

March Birthdays at the Steffen House!






This year we were blessed with the company of Oliver, Parker, Julia and Aunt Sara and Uncle Eric, as well as Grandma Steffen to celebrate the March birthdays in our house.  Henry turned 5 on March 13 and Alex turned 13 on March 31.  We had a little family get together and took sometime to celebrate the boys.

Oliver watching Henry open a gift, while Julia leans in to get a better look.

Alex opening a card with a nice gift included.

Henry really wanted a pinata, so his Aunt Sara as the wonderful Aunt she is built him one.  There he is taking a whack.  All the kids took turns trying, even little Lukey.

Henry's big gift was a new bike! (Alex got tools, but not until his actual birthday.)
Here are the birthday boys, making their wishes. With Timmy and Parker trying to help.

Their combined birthday cake. Mincraft on the bottom, Skylanders swap-force on top.