Fun with salt dough

You got to love when the kids get creative, even if it's a little messy in the end. Today they made some great creations:

A surprise M&M cake

Or two...

Camdilyn just enjoyed cutting it up and 

then smashing it back together.

Domonique with her green cake.

Kemiah with her red cake.

Xiomara with a pinch pot and a coil pot.

All smiles!

What a ham!

Meet the newest members to our tank

We were out on our date night and stopped by Pet Smart. We decided to try to get some fish to help with our algae issue (really a not cleaning often enough issue). I also picked a fish for Kemiah, to replace her sunburst platy that died. So this is what we added...

3 serpae tetra (I asked for two, but she got three...

I said that was okay because I didn't want to cause harm

to try and get one out.)

6 ghost shrimp

(note on 4/11: one died the next day,

and one day a week later.

We still have the remaining 4.)

They are really neat to watch with their legs and antennae.

1 white snail, names Speedy (this one is Kevin's)

1 golden snail, named Turbo (this one is mine)

Hopefully with the shrimp and the snails it will be easier to keep our tank clear so we can really enjoy watching all the life inside. I did look for another blood fin tetra to replace the one that died (Ben's) but they didn't look the same as the one we already have so I didn't get one. Maybe next time.

Made the move to the other bed.

Unfortunately, the crib we have had for several of the children is not holding together very well anymore. We decided it was time to move Naomi to the bottom bunk in the quad bed. She did well last night so hopefully this will be an easy transition. She likes climb the ladder into the bed, but also likes to climb out. We shall see.

Eye Exams over the past two days

It was time for eye exams for those who need it. Mainly those who wear glasses: Ben, Marissa and Kemiah; and those who had slight issues last time that I wanted to make sure hadn't changed: Xiomara. Tuesday I took Ben and Kemiah and Marissa and Xiomara went today. It was a treat to be out with just two of the children - and the people at the eye place asked where all the other kids were... they know our family pretty well.

Kemiah and I after Ben was called back but before she went.

Ben getting measured with the frames he picked out.

Kemiah getting measured with the frames she picked out - 

yes, they are very bright!

Xiomara was just fine so no changes.

Marissa getting measured with the frames she picked out.

They all had their eyes dilated so they were uncomfortable but handled it really well. It's nice to go to a place where they know you, and help you out and take care of you. We love our doctor and his staff!

Tomato, anyone?

Yes, my littlest one likes to eat tomatoes. Probably because I let her use her hands, but at least she'll eat it.

Naomi likes asparagus

Years ago, in a place far, far away, I had a friend serve asparagus with dinner and it was good. I never cooked it. More recently, our friend Tamara let us eat some while we hung out at her house. Some of the kids seemed to like it and I thought it was good. It was just recently that I tried to cook it myself, fresh from the grocery store. It turned out really good and most of us really liked it. There were the couple children who thought they were going to die but had to have one spear and didn't actually die after all. I gave some to Naomi and she liked it enough to eat one whole spear! We have had it at least four times in the past month so they will either come to like it or keep struggling through the one spear. Just thought I'd share the baby eating her veggies.

Reading with Dad

Every time we sit down to read a book to one of the kids, it becomes a mob. It was wonderful to see Kevin reading to the little girls, as each one joined the story. But then the big girls joined in as well. They all love to listen to stories!

Happy birthday to our cute little 5 year old blondie!

She is so spunky and happy (most of the time)! That's why I call her Happy Harmonie. She has been like that since she was a baby. Recently she has told me, "I'm not always happy." Too bad. She enjoyed the build up until her birthday and was very excited to help make pancakes with sprinkles in them! Party pancakes! We enjoyed Neapolitan ice cream so you could choose: vanilla, strawberry, chocolate or any combination of the above! So yummy!

Marissa decorated the dining room for her birthday with streamers!

She was excited to open the card from Grammy and Gaffa right after she finished eating.

What I didn't get a picture of was the back of the card.

It had a picture of Harmonie with her tongue sticking out.

She laughed and made the same face for all of us!

Grandma Graham hand delivered her present on her birthday!

What a treat!

She had so much fun and loved everything!

Had to share this one....

Naomi is stinky!

Yummy dinner of picken strips and rice!

Marissa decorating the cake.

Awesome job, big sister!

Thank you!

Singing and waiting for the cake!

Don't catch the streamers on fire!

Blow out the candles!

One stayed lit!

Now she got it!

Whoa! That's a big present!

 She wanted a doll like the other girls!

Awesome swimming floaties! 

Now we just need to go back to swimming at the Y regularly.

If we do, she'll be swimming on her own soon,

so we'll pass these down to Naomi.

Beauty and the Beast DVD and two books.

Junior Mints and Tic Tacs

Gummy bears.

She asked for these any time I asked her what she wanted for her birthday.

Airplane with Little People to go with the play mat,

and all the little people stuff we already have.

Dad had fun knocking the presents on Kemiah and Camdilyn.

Boots! I'm sure it will snow again this year.

These seem to be very popular.

She was excited to get her own little fan.

"Markers! My own markers!"

She also asked for wooden pencils but

she was way more excited about the markers.

A giant box of colored pencils!

Now I will have to ask to borrow hers,

instead of her asking to borrow mine.

Any more? Duck, Camdilyn.

Last one - Grandma and Grandpa Nichols' present!

Big box of 24 packages of cuteish fish.

(That's what she calls them.)

And the best fishing game ever.

Two speeds and lots of different fish.

So cool!

Group shot and shows the streamers!

Cake and ice cream!

Happy Harmonie!

After party fun!

We had to get some fishing in before bed!

Everyone enjoyed it - so fun!

Harmonie got a little frustrated with the fishing game,

so she gave her pole to Domonique and moved on to something else.

Camdilyn was able to have fun, too.

Ben took a picture of Harmonie and me!