Last month in pictures

Before I get to what we have been up to this past month, I wanted to share a story about a family we know who lives in our community, and I have played bunko with the mother. A little boy named Luke, who just turned 6 this past month, had a seizure just after New Year's. He got to the hospital and was found to have spinal meningitis. This turned into encephilitis. He has been fighting it ever since. He's on his way to the Mayo Clinic in MN the end of this week for further treatment. He is currently not talking, he's unable to move one side of his body and he can't walk or sit. It's such a sad and scary story. If you'd like to read more about him, his mother has been writing a blog: Luke's Blog. I'm sharing his story so that we can increase the number of people praying for his recovery.

Now on to brighter things, my beautiful boys. The first picture is of Glenn playing his guitar that he got for his birthday. He's so cute, he'll ask us to sit and sing with him, or just lay on the couch playing and singing.


Alexander coloring (after I took this picture, I realized he was so busy posing for the picture that he was coloring on the tile instead of the paper)


We had a cookie decorating party with Alexander's playgroup.


Bob's parents and nephew, Danny, came last week for a visit. We've been having beautiful weather and they were out fishing with the boys one evening. Yes, Bob is in his pj's, which he also worked in. :)


Alexander tried to wake Danny one morning, but since he wouldn't wake up, he cuddled with him.


Alexander wearing the turkey hat Glenn made last fall for Thanksgiving (and Danny trying to hide)


Glenn loves painting on his easel.


Alexander loves to wash his hands so he can make bubbles, which he then puts in his hair

Thank you for your donations

I want to thank everyone who donated to the American Heart Association through Jump For Heart. Glenn raised $205!!! I had originally set the goal for $100, never dreaming he'd more than double that goal. With each donation, Glenn got so excited. He said he will be able to help 100 hearts (not sure where he got the 100 from but just shows how excited he was). He'll be jumping in memory of my grandfather, Glenn Perkins.
Thank you again!

Glenn's 6th Birthday Party

Glenn had his 6th birthday party this past weekend. He invited only girls, again. The theme of the party was snow. Glenn had picked out snowman cupcakes from a cupcake decorating book (thank you, Mom), so that is how we picked the theme. He did get to play in snow when we were in CT for Christmas, but it was so cold and windy, he didn't get to enjoy it long.

We started the party by letting them jump in the bounce house. Then we made snow. I got some Insta-snow, which is a polymer that grows when you add water. It even felt cold (thank you Aunt Julie and Uncle Brad for the idea, they got Glenn some for Christmas). We put the snow in a bowl and they each had a turn to add water and make it grow. Then we put it in the water table. Here they are waiting for me to get it ready. I'm not sure what Glenn was looking at, but it made for a good picture.


Then we grew some snow:


They loved playing with it. Notice it's in Alexander's hair:


After jumping some more in the bounce house, we made cotton ball snowmen:


We ate dinner, which included ice blocks (blue jello jiggler squares), penguin food (blueberries, I know, they don't eat berries, but the kids didn't know that), polar bear fare sandwiches, and some other stuff.

Then we played snowman bowling:






The kids got to create their own snowman cupcake. Sorry, there isn't a good picture of the snowman cupcakes (blame Bob). but they had a triangular orange gummy candy for the nose, large chocolate chips for the eyes, small chocolate chips for the mouth, and I cut an oreo cookie to make a hat.


Glenn had trouble getting the last candle out. Finally, his friend helped him.


Yummy!


The aftermath of presents:


Glenn loved it. And the kids had fun, too. On Monday was his actual birthday. He didn't go to school because he had an elevated temperature on Sunday. But it passed quickly and he was fine on Monday. He opened his presents from us and some of our family as soon as we could get Daddy out of bed. Then he kept me busy putting things together, helping him play with his new toys, and having a picnic lunch.

It's hard for me to believe he's already 6! Time is flying by!

Jump Rope for Heart

Glenn is really into a charity fund raiser they have at school. Next month, he will be jumping rope for the American Heart Association. Last year, the school won a trophy for being the biggest fund raiser in the county. So, they are trying to get the kids to try to keep it again this year. When I told Glenn that I hadn't set up the web site yet to raise funds, he said, "But we need to fill up the trophy!" And when I did set up the web site, he saw that it showed he hasn't raised anything, yet. So, he said, "But I want to be a heart hero!" They watched a video about kids with heart problems and it really touched him. I remember last year after the earth quake in Haiti, he saw a news story where a kid was trying to get everyone to donate shoes for kids there. Glenn said that the kids didn't have any shoes and he wanted to donate his shoes. So, we went into his closet and donated all his old shoes. He's really a sweet boy, he always wants to help others.

If you feel so inclined, here is a link to his web site to donate to the American Heart Association.

Donate to American Heart Association

Glenn thanks you!

Christmas Fun

We have made two gingerbread houses here. Bob bought a kit not knowing I had already bought one. The boys of course love anything having to do with candy. Here's the better looking one:

Glenn was hiding on purpose.

Glenn also made a gingerbread house in school. I wasn't able to go to school to help because I didn't have anyone to watch Alexander. So, apparently he was given free reign with the frosting. It's so cute (and he says it's tasty).


Our community had a craft fair this weekend and also had a Santa. We've never taken the kids to see Santa because Glenn has always been very opposed to going. But Alexander said he wanted to see "Tuta" (as he calls him) and had prepared what he was going to tell him he wanted for Christmas. When we got there, I don't think he realized it was going to be a real person, not like all the lawn decorations we've seen. He was frozen. He did kind of talk to Santa, but would not go near his lap. He did sit on my knee next to Santa for a picture and gave Santa five.



Glenn, as expected, wouldn't even go near Santa. He was too nervous. We didn't push him. There is a website that allows you to put in info about your child, like how old and what they want for Christmas. And then Santa makes a video for them talking to them. Both boys love it. Alexander saw Glenn's video first, and thought it was neat. But he was in awe when Santa said his name in his video. It's cute. Alexander asks to see Tuta every time he sees me on the computer.