Birthday Time

We've got lots of October birthdays in our family!
Happy birthday to:

• Wendy on the 2nd
• Hanna on the 5th
• Katie on the 9th
• Ethan on the 11th
• Grandpa Elmer on the 15th
• Kooper on the 17th
• Morgan on the 24th
• Grandma Evelyn on the 30th

Hanna & her birthday cake

Libby & her Grandma Jane made Hanna's cake

Larin made Katie's birthday cake

Katie with her locket

Mattie & Morgan thought playing with
the wrapping paper was as fun as any presents!

Kooper lost his tooth right before Katie's party!

Zach trying to get a peek at Ethan's present

Dad (Vance) and Ethan with his new cap gun

On Katie's birthday Zach, Heather, the kids and I were all out in Arbon for opening day of deer season so Jessica invited us all over for cake and ice cream. One embarrassing moment was the fact that Larin and I have the same camera. Well I walked into the kitchen and saw what I thought was my camera sitting on the counter behind Jessica so I reach behind her and grab it and start taking pictures. Jessica just smiled and said "okay, since Jessi is taking pictures I'll video and won't have to do two things at once." Then after Kit Kat blows out the candles I look and see Zach taking pictures, so the brat that I am says "Hello Zach that's Larin's camera don't you think you should ask before you just start taking pictures with it" he replies "no, this is ours, that's Larins" So not only do I look like a hag because I said that to Zach but hello, I all but grabbed the camera out of Jessicas hands and she didn't even say anything. I'm sure she thought, great my future sister in-law is going to take over my kids birthday parties. Jessica just laughed but I wanted to die.

Now for a less embarrassing note, Jessica got to spend last week out in Arbon because the school she teaches at was out for spud harvest. I got to talk with Jessica and get to know her better. I'm so excited for Larin, she really is sweet and truly does care about Larin and his kids. Just an example of how sweet she is, for Katies birthday she got her a locket with a picture of Shawnta in it. For those of you who don't know Shawnta is one of my sister in-law who passed away. Though I want my siblings to be happy I always worry about my nieces and nephews. Jessica gave me so much comfort this week, just the way she talks about or to the kids you can tell she loves them and she already calls them hers (I love that). But the thing that impresses me the most is that she is so open about Shawnta and that she would be so sweet as to give that locket to Katie with a picture of Shawnta. She's so thoughtful to the situation and to the kids feelings.