A short story

We started out

Then we got a little

Then we did some of this

And FINALLY we got this

and this

Now we want to

A Great Day

What a fun day! Today is Anna's 3rd birthday! So the day started with singing and presents. We then went to the Transportation Museum with some friends and some grandparents. What fun we had exploring all the trains. All of the kids had a blast...and the adults had fun too! Too bad I forgot my digital camera!!! (that's why there is no pics!) Then I got to celebrate Wendy's birthday by going to a Scrapbooking class for a few hours! Can my day get any better? I came home and Anna and Naomi played in the pool while Ryan and I read "poolside". Anna got a "big girl" bed so we assembled that. Now...everyone is in bed. Oh...what to do?







what I made in my scrapbooking class! It's on a canvas- for hanging on your wall. It's hard to tell from the picture.

Superman Celebration 2008 (aka The Event Where Most People in Attendance Smell Bad)

That's what you get when you have a comic book superhero gathering- lots of smelly men. Ryan and Rollie, although men in attendance, did take showers before they left (in case anyone was wondering). This was Ryan's guys weekend. When he came home, he proclaimed, "I don't know why I haven't done this sooner. I think I will be gone a lot more from now on." Ah...the small taste of freedom- perhaps the most dangerous temptation for a father (or mother) of three!!!! Here are a few pics:

Abby's 1st Birthday Party

Life is Just a Chair of Bowlies

Aren't they adorable?! My dearest friend Wendy made all of these oh-so-cute cherry dresses for the girl's birthdays! I LOVE cherries on little dresses. Wendy, of course, knew this so she found some cute, bright cherry fabric and started sewing away! Now Anna, Naomi, and Abigail have their first matching outfits (homemade nonetheless!)...definitely good attire for a photo op! Thank you Wendy!

Abby, Abby, and More Abby

Okay...someone complained about me not posting any pics of Abby from the Renaissance Fair. Was I just treating her as a typical 3rd child (often ommitted accidentally!)? Of course not, I was doing her a favor! None of her photos were very becoming to put in mildly! So here are a few new ones that are definitley blog worthy! And it is only fair that she has a blog all to herself since Sunday is her FIRST birthday!!!! It's hard to believe she will be 1...and that there is no little sister to attend her birthday party! All of which I am grateful for :) Abigail is a joy. She loves to laugh and be hung upside down and other daring feats. She just started to walk and does well until she repeatedly shrieks in delight and then loses her balance. She loves to talk with her favorite words being "Night Night" and "Bye Bye". Happy Birthday Abigail! We love you!


Abby exploring her new talent

Yes, We are Still Alive...and Reliving the Renaissance

I have been cameraless for awhile...so now FINALLY, here are some recent pics and a more recent update on this crazy circus we call the Irwin Family!

- Our kitchen, which has been "under construction" for the past three years, is now almost complete! Pinch me, I might be dreaming. (Thanks JOE!)

- Naomi just turned two which means we now have an 11 month old and two 2 year olds! Yikes! And I do have to say we have heard the word "mine" a lot more since Naomi entered the toddler years!

- Abigail is about to turn 1 next weekend and Anna is not far after her and will be 3. We will have a 1, 2, and 3 year old! This works out well for when strangers ask their ages...no need to think about it, I just start counting!

- I am about to start a summer bible study with the girls at my Teen Mother of Preschooler's Group. I'm excited! And Kid's Club with the Afghans is coming to a close for the school year.

- Ryan is still working as a lab technician, isolating mouse DNA and other weird activities involving mice. Squeak, Squeak!

- And one last thing, something funny that Anna said (there are so many these days as she is turning into a little person who forms sentences but doesn't quite get everything yet!)- We were in the van on the way home and a man was crossing the street. Anna said "I don't like mans. (momentary pause) I like ladies." Ryan said "Hey...I am man". Anna looked disturbed and was then quiet for awhile. She is our empathetic girlie so I think she felt bad! Another quick Anna comment- Ryan's mom was showing Anna their new house. Apparently there is an old rooster coop that they are planning to convert into a clubhouse for our girls. So Grandma told Anna "This is Anna's house". Anna looked inside and went in a little bit. She came back out and said "There is poop in Anna's house."

So that is a quick update...here are some photos of a Renaissance Fair we went to on Sunday with my mom, grandma, Steve, Tara, Emma, and our girls-



My mom got Anna a princess skirt and Anna LOVED it. It was such a joy to watch her. All throughout the day, we would be walking or looking at something and then it would dawn on her that she was wearing her princess skirt. She would immediately stop whatever she was doing and start dancing, without a care in the world. What fun to be a little girl and what a delight to witness it!


at a jousting event...unfortunately he did not make it out.









Aren't they all so cute?!

Well, I guess I will bid ye farwell until next time!