Jacob is 7...where has the time gone??

It has been a week of celebration around here.  I can't believe my little boy is 7!  It really does seem like yesterday that we were bringing him home from the hospital.  He is growing up to be such a great kid.  He loves being with his family and loves those two sweet sisters of his.  His favorite things are baseball, soccer, basketball, swimming, playing catch, playing on his itouch, riding bikes, eating strawberries, pine nuts, and CANDY!  Time flies...here he is at 1 week:

 About 7 months:

One year:

Two:

 Three:

 Four:

Five:

 Six:

 Seven:

 Everyones birthday should go down something like this...donuts for breakfast:

A round of singing:


Errands to pick up a couple of ordered birthday gifts, and all the toppings for the make your own ice cream sundae bar that was planned for your birthday party that weekend:

 A little fun:

Trying out a birthday present you got in the mail (thanks Justin and Stacy)!

Meeting your Dad for lunch at your favorite place (Pei Wei), and ordering the most expensive meal:

A mid-day bike ride to the park to play:

A little silliness with your sisters:

 Swimming at your house with friends, followed by your Uncle showing you how to actually operate a Rainbow Loom that Nana and Papa got you for your birthday:

Oh, and while you are swimming you find a frog and get to make it a home:

Movie and dinner at the theater...Despicable Me 2 is AWESOME!

 Cake and presents at home with your family:

 (His cute face when he sees the Cardinals on his cake!):

I went to bed exhausted the night of his birthday...and to follow that up, we had his birthday party at the pool this weekend.  Putting candles on an ice cream sundae proved tougher than what I envisioned in my head...he did get to blow one out though, and he wasn't complaining!

 It is fun to have a brother who has a birthday party!

 What is it with these kids who think it is cool to pose for a picture while eating a bite??

And another round of singing:

A group shot of a great pool party!

Big news for Gwyn, who was finally brave enough to go off the high dive!

Brian is loving being a Dad to these kids...not only does he get to jump off high dives and try out the cross bow that Jacob got for his birthday, he has been googling how to make these rainbow loom bracelets (youtube videos made by 3rd grade girls), and has been staying up after the kids go to bed making elaborate ones...pictures to come next week!  Now, the oil still needs changed in the car, but we have got the coolest looking rubber band bracelets in town, ha!
Besides the birthday celebration, we've been having fun this summer doing lots of cool things:)  We are taking fort making to a whole new level...we get all the sheets from all the beds in the house and come up with elaborate designs and multi-room forts:

 Sweet Annie has had a couple of play dates of her own!  She's  growing up!

 All this fun playing leads to one little girl falling asleep while hiding playing hide and go seek:

Love her sweet face, these pictures still show how little she still is...not for long!  She told me the other day she is going to Kindergarten with Gwyn...I don't think so!

She really does spend more time either spinning outside or upside down on the couch than she does right side up!

Pirates in the house!

How awesome are the people that Annie is drawing these days:

Funny things the kids said this week:
Annie after getting her foot hurt:  My piggies are hurt.
Jacob:  I wish I was 18.
Me:  Why?
Jacob:  So I'd be an adult and Gwyn and Annie would have to obey me.
Jacob:  What is an advertisement?
Me: I explain it to him.
Jacob:  I thought it was what you ate before you food came at a restaurant. (ha!)
Brian:  Just think, 7 more years and he'll be 14 (don't tell me that!!)