Brothers

I love the fact that the boys truly love each other. They share with each other, they play with each other and they fight with each other. I have noticed how much Deji loves being around Femi and how much Femi looks out for Deji. The other day the boys were playing and I heard Femi reading to Deji and asking him questions. Another time they were both huddled in front of the space heat deep into a a conversation I couldn't understand. I pray that their bond continues to grow and it extends to their little sister.

Deji sharing his candy necklace that Aunty Jenny sent him for his birthday.

The boys sitting before the superhero tower the built together.

Dejisaurus is 3!!!!!

I can't believe that Deji is finally three years old. It seems like he has been three for a lot longer. I guess that is what happens when you are about as big as your big brother and people often mistake you for twins. With Deji's birthday so close to Christmas, I want to make sure it is a special day for him and doesn't feel like Christmas overshadows his special day, especially when he gets older. Ryan says that I go a little birthday crazy, but I love birthdays and I want my kids to have fond memories of their birthdays.

I made this pennant banner out of my scrap booking materials and I had the footprints going all over the walls.

I found this great banner online and was able to print it out in color.

Here is a closer look at the big prints

Adara decided to help me wake up the birthday boy. She had been awake since 4:24am! Third night in a row!!!!

The birthday boy wasn't quite ready to get up yet.

Femi tried to give him a birthday hug, but he wasn't in the mood yet.

The look on Deji's face just reaffirms why I go all out for birthdays. He loved the decorations, especially the birthday banner. He was awed by the tracks on the walls. He asked a for a green dinosaur birthday and that is what I tried to give him.

Here is our traditional breakfast of donuts and eggs. QT had this great donut holes. I had to tell Deji he couldn't have more. I didn't want him to get sick on his birthday.

Trying hard to blow up his candle. Big brother had to help him.

Getting a good morning and happy birthday kiss from dad.

Enjoying some yummy bacon.

After school we went to Red Robin to enjoy a nice meal. They sang happy birthday to him and he was nice enough to share his sunday with his big brother.

Overall it was a great day and tomorrow promises to be even more fun!

My little Kitchen Helpers

My three little helpers making breakfast before school...


Why we are making eggs of course!

Early Bird

Adara normally wakes up around 5am. I tried to see if she will go back to sleep, but she never does. Sometimes she wakes up earlier, but I have a rule that I won't get her before 5 and normally she goes back to sleep if she wakes up before 5, but not this morning. This morning she woke up at 4 and cried until 4:30 when I finally went and got her out of bed. She was wide awake and ready to start her day with breakfast.

She likes to use both a spoon and her hands to eat her cereal.

After eating breakfast she decided to climb the chair and go through my school bag.

She was very proud of herself for getting the calculator out of my school bag.

Is it a calculator or is it a phone?

Counting My Blessings

Today I hugged my kids a little tighter and kissed them a little more. We take each day with our kids for granted most of the time, but events that have been surrounding us lately has made me realize that my kids aren't mine...They are God's children first and foremost, they are on loan to me. I have to put my kids in the hands of God each and everyday. The first event that jolted me is the case of a little 10 month old girl, Lisa Erwin. She was apparently kidnapped from her crib between the hours of 10:30pm and 4am when her dad came home and reported her missing. It happened just a mile and a half away from us. There seems to be something off about the story, but the bigger picture is that a little girl has been missing for more than a week now. I can only pray God's protection over her.
The second thing is that Marley Moore went to be with Jesus this morning. She is finally pain free, but she leaves behind to many broken hearts. Words can't even express what is going on inside of me. I feel like I don't have the right to cry, but I am reminded of these words Bev May sent out today in Romans 12:15-16 -- "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another." They are mourning, so I will mourn with them. When the baby inside Niki's belly is here, I will rejoice with them.

Bed 1 Deji 0

This is why we tell the kids to go to bed and stay in bed. Deji and Femi were horsing around instead of sleeping and I guess (according to Femi), that Deji was trying to climb is bed rail and fell catching his eye on the corner. The minute I saw his eye I knew it was going to be a beaut.

This is right after it happened and we tried to ice it.

Femi felt really bad for Deji. He wouldn't go back to bed and said he would wait for Deji. I think he was afraid Deji would have to go to the hospital. What a caring and loving brother.

The next morning. When he woke up his eye was swollen shut. It did look a little better after breakfast.
We do need to get the boys bunk beds. They are getting too big for the toddler bed especially Deji. He rolls around too much. Maybe that will be their Christmas presents.

Adara Grace is one! Part I

I can't believe that a year has come and gone so quickly. Time has truly flown by. It seems like just yesterday that we were dropping the boys off at preschool and headed to the hospital. I remember it was a beautiful day like it was today. We have truly being blessed. Adara is a smart, spunky, sweet young lady. I pray for many more years of happiness for her. May God continue to bless her and may she one day know the Lord.

Waking up on birthday morning with a smile on her face despite the boo boo on her lip.

Brothers wishing her a happy birthday.

Cupcakes that I made for the party. Trying to make them look like apples and caramel apples.

Cake pops inspired by my dear friend Jane Zanter

I have no idea what she was trying to do. Maybe show her flexiblility.

There is a chill in the air

I love this time of the year. It is that time when weather is perfect, not too hot or not too cold. It the type of weather that makes you want to spend all day and night outside. It has been so nice that we have started eating dinner at 5:30 so that we can spend a good amount of time outside before getting ready for bed. The boys and Adara get so excited to go outside and just play. They come home from school and are not interested in watching t.v. Even if they are watching t.v. they don't complain (too much) when we ask them to turn it off so we can go outside and play. Just yesterday we took a family walk to quick trip. Femi rode his bike all the way there and back and didn't get tired. He is getting to be such a big boy. The amount of growth is incredible. Anyway here are some pictures that I took that captured some of those moments we have had outside.

Here are the boys in there favorite spot outside. Deji getting better at climbing the tree.

Here is Deji giving Femi a helping hand on the bike. I can't wait until both boys are riding bikes side by side.

Ryan and I actually had a morning off and played kickball for charity. Our team was meeting each other for the first time that morning, but we didn't play too shabby. The boys spent the day with Carter and Naiya came and picked up Adara. It was nice to have time with just Ryan and do something fun.

Here is Ryan after thinking he was still 18 years old. He stole third and and had to slide to avoid being out. His knees were scrapped and he had dirt all over his body. He actually took me to lunch looking like that.

Here is Adara playing with her pal Jada at the church picnic. It was the annual picnic, but it was also the 25th year celebration.

Band in the making

I was making dinner last night and the kids decided to "help". Here they are showing the makings of a future band.

Here is the group getting ready.

Almost show time.

Here we have Adara singing, Deji on the drums and Femi the mix master.

Adara trying out the drums.

Deji ending the show with his drum solo.

Look who is walking at 9 and a half months!

Well Adara did it. She beat her brothers in the walking milestone. Femi walked at 10 months and Deji at 11, but little miss showed them both up by walking at 9 1/2 months.

Fantastic Four Year Old Femi Part 2

Preparing for the party. The table is set.

Superheros are in place

Capes are ready to go.

Cake is baked, decorated and ready to go.

Super Adara is ready to great guests with aunty Lase.

Guest came in and colored and decorated mask. Okay so they were more interested in the toys than coloring, but Graham did a great job decorating his mask.

Then it was off to the yard looking for Kryptonite.

Dillan found the last one.

Uncle Aron made is superhero entrance. The kids were awed by his cape.

Next it was off to capture the bad guy.

We tied up the bad guy and threw balls at him.

Catching bad guys made us hungry, so we had to stop for lunch. Even super Dara had to stop for a bite with uncle Justin.

After the brake it was up Pinata time. Thanks Grandma!

Incredible Aunty Gbaike and super Dara were checking out the pinata.

Getting all the goodies.

We went in for some cake, which Deji obviously enjoyed!

Femi opening presents and enjoying the shirt Carter got him. All in all it was a great day!