The Celebration

We celebrated Ryan's birthday with a party with his friends last Saturday.  Of course, it was a baseball themed party!  He had such a great time playing with his friends.  It was simple, sweet and fun!

Getting silly!

Auntie Melanie showed up just in time to get the games going!  She played Hide and Seek, then I Spy, then had them do some jumping jacks to burn off that extra energy!

After cake, there was a big baseball game in the back yard!

And when the guests left Kendall insisted Ryan open his presents!

The Birthday Boy!

Ryan and Aunt Melanie

I loved this idea!  Too bad I didn't remember to have all the kids sign it.

Our nanny, Hanni, gave this to Ryan.  He absolutely LOVES his Seahawks  pillow pet.

On Sunday, his actual birthday, Grandpa Bill and Grandma Karen came up to celebrate and go to the Seahawks game with us.  Grandma Karen stayed with the girls so David, Bill and I could go the big game with Ryan.  We had so much fun, and Ryan was so excited to be at the game.  They played the Minnesota Vikings so we had fun rubbing it in to all our Minnesota family that the Seahawks won the game!

Birthday spankings!

Gifts from Grandma and Grandpa!

TV Time

Love these two!

Baumann Memories

Natalie pulled out the little dolls the other night and thought it was so funny when I started talking for them.  It also caught Ryan and Kendall's attention so we sat and the kitchen and played with the dolls.  Initially there were three girls so naturally I named them, Jenny, Gina and Katy.  Ryan and Kendall loved this.  Bossy Jenny made us dinner, and made Gina clean up while Katy went to take a nap.  OMG.  So funny to me.  We found the fourth little girl doll and named her Benny.  Which I thought was so fitting since Ben was dressed up like a girl like a zillion times when he was little.  With three older sisters, the kid didn't have a chance!  And for the record, we don't have any boy dolls.

When we were little we played so nicely together.  I don't know how many weddings we had on the back yard swing set, or how many forts we made on the bar stools from the kitchen, or how much "jam" we made from the orange berries we found on the neighbors trees.  We had so many fun times.  Then Ryan had Gina kick Jenny (using a little more violence than I cared for), but made me remember all those times us girls fought like cats and dogs as we got older.

I was laughing hysterically as we played out all these scenarios that made me remember my childhood.  It was really fun to share that with my children.

Gina, Ben, Katy, Grandma Sue in the high chair and Jenny.  Ahhahaha!!!

Hello in There

First Face Painting

Kendall had her first face painting tonight.  She was so excited!

Happy 6th Birthday Ryan!

Dear Ryan,

You turned six years old yesterday.

I have loved watching you turn six!  You have grown so much this past year. 

You are the best big brother.  You adore your sisters and (usually) play so nicely with them.  You do have the tendency to tease them a bit more than you used to, but you love to make them laugh and giggle.  And they adore you.  They both look up to you so much and want to copy everything you do.  They are always so excited to get you at the school bus.

You have become so inquisitive this past year.  You have really started to think about things and then ask questions.  I love the conversations we have these days.

You are still such a sensitive little guy.  This is one of my favorite qualities about you, but can also be my least favorite.  It's my favorite when you show concern and are empathetic about others.  It's my least favorite when you burst into tears (and all the drama that follows) when your Dad asks you to pick up your toys.  We typically only see the latter when you are tired and hungry.

You are definitely the most awesome kindergartener I know.  You have adjusted to school so well.  You love to take the bus, and really love to go to school and learn.  Your favorite part of school is recess, then lunch, then "choice" play, so not sure how much learning is going on!

You have started to love writing.  You are starting to sound out words on your own and write your own stories.  You will sit and do this for an hour.  I love to see what you create.  Your reading is really taking off as well.  You have learned to slow down and sound out the words, and I am always surprised at all the new words you pick up on a daily basis.  I'm so proud of you!

You are still such a little sports fanatic, and are always bouncing off the walls at home or wherever you are.  You love playing your made-up baseball or football games in the house.

You are such a fun little guy, Ryan and I'm so happy you're MINE!

Your Daddy and I love you so much!

Happy 6th Birthday, Ryan Christian!

-Mommy

Trick or Treat

Let the pumpkin carving festivities begin!  Ryan really loved cleaning out his pumpkin this year, and he and his little helper had so much fun.  He'd scoop it out and Natalie would put the "gunk" in the bowl.  They were so fun to watch!  Kendall had absolutely no interest in any of it. 

Here are the final results!  David did most of the carving, and did an awesome job!

The kids were so excited to go trick or treating.  We made it our around our neighborhood block, which was plenty.  The kids were done after that, and they ended up with more than enough candy.  Natalie even got into it when she realized people were handing out treats!  She loves her treats!