Days with the Dorans

 Sean's birthday fell on a Monday and I happened to be at Oakland Schools for a class. I got out earlier than I do school (I get to school early so it wasn't a different start time for me) so I feel like I got to spend some sweet time with my Seany! Jeff got Leo's (Sean's dinner of choice) and we had a mini celebration with us (minus Al who was at dance) and Papa (minus Nana who just had hip replacement surgery). Seany had a GREAT day and they had fun playing with all his toys. Jeff will tell you Sean is sweet on his mama and he is right. Sean's the quickest to give me sugar and I'm treasuring every moment of cuddle-time because I know he's growing fast and his affection may not always be so comfortable (at least for a time... Joe has started giving me long hugs and telling me he loves me again). So Sean, Have a Great Eight birthday! You are my FAVORITE 8 year old (and I know A LOT of cool 8 year olds!!!)!

 I still can't believe my Zachy is 8!!!  I remember him being born like it was yesterday!  I was so shocked he was a boy- because if he wasn't, Jeff said there was no way we'd have any more kids (after Ali's baby days- there was no way he'd roll the dice and maybe get three girls)!  Poor Z was born in April though which always feels like our busiest time of year- dance, soccer, piano recital coming soon and crazy busy for school! His birthday fell on a Thursday and so I made a poster for him and decorated with some balloons.  He also mentioned wanting a nerf gun. I found a little cheap one at Kroger so picked it up and wrapped it for the morning.  He opted for Papa's famous eggs for breakfast and we all sang to him (I was the first to wish him a happy birthday of course because Jeff was gone to work before he woke). Z let Jeff know that he wanted Papa John's Pizza for dinner which was great because it was easy! I got home and we all ate pizza...

Be a Rainbow in someone else's cloud- Maya Angelou  It's hard to believe that it's been 8 years since we first laid eyes on our princess!  She had a great birthday.  Her dad made her chocolate chip (well... chocolate from Hershey bars) pancakes and after, she got to open gifts from us and Grandma.  Grandma got her a barbie with a camera which was very cool and she kept it with her (snapping pictures) all day.  We got some less exciting things for her including two NON-green leotards... just as cute so hopefully she'll change up her dancing gear.  She even has some new big flowers for her hair so it should work...  Al wanted to go to CJs Brewery for her birthday (one of the many reasons her dad loves her).  Nana, Papa, the Drapal Fam and Auntie Jodi and Uncle Randy came too.  The next day (Saturday) was her birthday party.  She loaded up the goodie bags for her friends early (which consisted of all things girly and pretty...

At the time I write this, it has been more than a week since my Joe turned 8! I have good reason for this as my photo card from my 'good' camera broke and I thought I would find the cord so I could get the pictures off of it for this blog... no such luck so I have decided to just go ahead and write about September 15th (there is so much more to catch up on but school has me tired). As I mentioned briefly in my "Part I", I was able to spend some time at Joe's school between my doctor's appointment and my visit to the garden. I got to be a "Mystery Reader" in Joe's class (SO MUCH FUN), and then I got to watch as the kids sang Happy Birthday to my favorite 8 year old in "Alien voices" (his choice). He looked very 'cool' up there and I wondered where my little Joe has gone... 8 has changed Joe a bit (though obviously it happened before now). I've heard him slip using some 'bad' language ('stupid' and even...