The Birthday Boy is 6!!!

It is that time a year again where I am reminded how old I am getting!

Hayden turned 6 years old on Tuesday September 11th.

We celebrated with his party on Saturday the 8th. We had about 17 kids here running between the pool and the playground. It really worked out great and Hayden had a BLAST! He blew out all 6 candles on the first try and smacked the heck out of the pinata. He received way too many gifts from all his friends and family. So, I think next year we are going to invite his friends over to have fun and not worry about presents. Now before you all go bonkers on me and tell me how awful that is, don't be fooled. One Mr. Hayden David is taken care of extremely well in the birthday department. Mom and Dad make sure of that, along with grandparents ! So don't feel sorry for him!!!! He cleaned up this year in the Transformer dept, airplanes, motorcycles, walkie talkies, and remote control cars, etc.

Let the paper fly!

Next Year I think no presents ( from friends)....they get way too much! Especially when you add in Mom and Dad and about four sets of grandparents, then aunts and uncles. I mean come on, we still haven't even opened everything yet!!!
Batter up!!

Optimus Prime didn't stand a chance!
Matthew chillin' at the party

It's all about the transformers
The Birthday Boy is all smiles.

Jacob patiently waiting to be knocked off!
Ethan and Madox taking it easy.

Mayhem on the crazy coil! Madison and Abi catching a breather

Back to School

School has started once again. It only reminds me that not only are my kids getting older, so I am! Hayden is starting Kindergarten this year. For some reason the teachers in Kindergarten don't seem to have enough room in there classroom for regular size backpacks. Which is a load of bull, because they have regular size cubbies for each kid in their class that has more than enough room for a backpack, lunchbox, and coat. So the kids are stuck carry these horrific canvas totes that will probably fall apart in a month. You buy them from the school for $3.00. This is probably their plan to get more money for the school. Apparently the teachers also don't want to spend a lot of time zipping and unzipping book bags. So you all know me, I have never been one to follow the rules. If they want them to carry a canvas bag with no zipper, I can do that. I found the most adorable bag for L.L. Bean. So, we are now in compliance with the rules plus we and looking pretty dapper too!

Hayden's first day was August 7th.
Look at that ugly bag!

Hayden's new bookbag!

Ethan ready for his first day of K-4 was August 16th.

How many toothbrushes does a girl need?

Talk about good hygiene, okay well maybe sucking on her brothers toothbrushes isn't the best hygiene, but at least her teeth are clean. We do have to keep an eye on her, she has been known to walk around with the toothpaste tube in her mouth.

The Giefers!

At the end of July we took a trip to Kansas to see my grandparents. For those of you who don't know, this is my Grandpa Joe and Grandma Jody. They are my mom's parents. My grandmother had brain surgery back in March for a brain tumor that is cancerous. She made it through the surgery great and has completed radiation and started her first round of chemotherapy. She is doing great considering everything she has been through. We love her so much and we cherished the time we were able to spend with her in July. She is still as fiesty as ever, I think. She may argue that, but then again she is JoAnn. You would never even know she was wearing a wig, it looks so almost identical to her hair.

Grandma and her Hayden David

Grandma, you look gorgeous! I love you!

My two girls, with pretty smiles!
After fighting me for a while of not sitting still to take a nap, grandpa came in from the barbershop, sat down in the chair and guess who crawled up on his lap? Yep, you guessed it.

About 2 minutes later she was out! I couldn't believe it.
Grandpa has the magic touch!



Abigail giving Grandma Jody her binky
I love this picture. I love her little hand inside of Grandmas. There is just something about this picture, it almost makes me cry everytime I look at it!

Look Grandma Teresa, I am taking all your hugs!!
Aunt Lisa stealing sugars!
You may wonder why Ethan was in none of these pictures! Well, by the time we took pictures he had fallen asleep on the floor between the laundry room and the hallway to the barber shop!

The Rudds in July!

Our second stop in Kansas was at my dad and stepmom's house. We had a great visit with the traditional fish fry. My grandparents were able to make it over, even though my brother and his family were unable. We missed you reerun!!! My dad is an avid marble collector and when I say avid, I mean like CRAZY!!! He has thousands upon thousands! So of course Abigail had a hay day! She wasn't that bad. There was one instance where she was pulling them out a gumball machine and papa told her, "no no!" It wasn't even in his mean voice and you would have thought he crushed her! Her little lip puckered up and the tears came rolling down those sweet little chubby cheeks! She was so pitiful, it was short lived though, she found something else to get into!

That didn't last long!

Abigail loved her Grandpa Rudd, mainly I think it was because he kept sneaking her M&M's all day!

Grandma and the boys
Two ninnies giggling!

Grandpa Rudd, me, Hayden and poodle

Abigail was growling at Ethan

Papa Joe and Ethan

Grandma Rudd and me
Grandpa, Grandma, and the younguns'

Three fish a swimming!

The Gilbert kids are naturals when it comes to swimming. Everyone has earned their water wings. Ethan and Hayden both can swim to the bottom of the 7ft. Abigail just likes to float around. We are very proud of their abilities this summer, but are always cautious and never take our eyes off of them.

Every one is full of tricks!

Girlfriend is a little fish in the water. This suit allows her to swim all over the pool. Very rarely does she topple over anymore. She has even jumped in the pool a few times. The goggles don't last very long, she normally just wears them around her neck!

Bless the creators of the Octorocker! The boys have had more fun jumping on and flipping this thing over. We even turn it on its side and John will throw the kids at. We call it bulls eye, however they hit and slide right off. It is so hilarious, they look like those Chinese people you see on the extreme game things on ESPN.
My two HANDSOME guys!