We are going to miss Grandma and Grandpa!!

All of us with Grandma and Grandpa Annis
(can you believe how tall Connor is?)

Aidan with our newest family member, "Princess."

So, my dad and step-mother, Rhonda, came into town back in September. They have been living, along with their adorable dogs, Piper and Sophie, in their RV, in front of our garage. They were going to be here until after Connor's birthday in March, and we have loved having them here. Besides the fact that Rhonda has done almost 100% of the housecleaning and laundry since their arrival, the kids have just loved having their grandparents here that they don't see very often. After all, the last time we saw them was when Korbin was just a baby and now he's 3! Unfortunately, due to some issues back home, in Iowa, dad and Rhonda have to head back much sooner than expected. In fact, they will be heading out early Tuesday morning, and we are sad!!!!
Since grandma and grandpa are leaving we decided to go over to Mimi's house so that she could take some pictures of all of us. The last time they were here, we had pictures taken of the boys and grandma and grandpa Annis, so we wanted an updated version. The pictures turned out pretty good...thanks, Mimi!
We really will miss having grandma and grandpa Annis here and we hope they come back soon! Thanks for all the help while you have been here, we appreciate it! We hope you come back sooner rather than later, or that we can find a way to come to Iowa to visit. We will miss Piper and Sophie as well, but we are happy that we were able to enjoy this time with you!

Grandma and Grandpa Annis with the boys.

All of us again...what cute boys we have!

"My three sons!"
(goofy, as always.)

Happy birthday, Aidan Bryant Ireland!!!!!!

Aidan, our 2nd child, turned 7 today. He chose to have a "Wii bowling tournament" for his party last Saturday. We had the party at our church building because the gym is much more spacious than our living room. I made him a bowling lane cake, which was fun. We had a tournament that started with four competitions and went down to the final two competitors. The final two ended up being Aidan and his big brother, Connor. Connor won, but not by much. Tonight we had family party at my mom and step-father's house. My mom and my step-mom actually made lasagna together for the party and I made a 3 layer chocolate cake. Aidan wanted a new pocket knife, which he got from Mommy and Daddy. He also really wanted a Zhu-Zhu pet, which is apparently the most popular toy this season. My mom found him one on line. He as thrilled! If you don't know what a Zhu-Zhu pet is, look it up, they are cool. Aidan also got some cool marbles and a marble mat from Grandma and Grandpa Annis. He is a lucky little boy!

I still can't believe that it has been 7 years since Aidan came into this world. Aidan was supposed to enter this world, via planned c-section, on November 26, 2002. However, he felt the need to come the day before. I woke up at 5 a.m. that Monday morning, in labor, not liking it. I sat in the bath tub, I moved around, I tried everything I could think of to stop the pain. I finally called to doctor's office at about 9 a.m. and they told me to go to the hospital if the contractions continued or became closer together. About an hour later I took Connor to the Hamilton's house, next door, and left to the hospital. My mom had just started a new job that morning. John and I got to the hospital and checked in. The anesthesiologist came and checked my lungs, telling me he would see me the next morning. I told him I was having a baby that day, not waiting another day!! Dr. Anderson said that he wanted me to walk around a little bit and he would come over to see me at lunch and decide then if we would deliver that day. The contractions continued. My mom arrived. Mimi arrived with Connor. Papa arrived. Dr. Anderson came in and talked to me. He said there was no reason to wait a day. The nurse started prepping me for surgery. I was so excited to meet our little boy!! Dr. Anderson asked Dr. Cannady to assist him, and I remembered that he had assisted in my appendectomy when I was 6. Only in a small town would that irony take place. Aidan entered the world at 2:39 p.m., weighing 8 pounds 1 ounce, and measuring 19 inches. I had to go to ICU because recovery was packed. I had a nurse that I had had when I was recovering from my appendectomy, another irony.
I got to my room about an hour after Aidan was born and what a beautiful sight!! Connor and daddy had helped bathe him for the first time. He was wrapped up all snugly in a blanket with a cute blue hat on his head. I held him for a few minutes. It didn't take long for Papa to take him from me. That was the beginning of a special bond between Aidan and his great grandfather. They were almost inseparable most of the time. Aidan still lets us know, at least once a week, that he misses his Papa.
Aidan is still as sweet, kind and beautiful as the day he was born. He is funny! He is smart. He is active. He never really stays still, even when he is sleeping. He has more freckles on his nose and cheeks than his brothers. He has beautiful blue eyes. He is the smaller, in stature, of my boys, but what he lacks in height he makes up for in personality! Aidan makes me laugh everyday, and I am so thankful for him.
We had a few names chosen, but knew the moment we looked at him that Aidan was it. His name means "fiery spirit" and that he is! His middle name is my grandparents surname. We gave it to him because we had told Papa when Connor was born that if we ever had another boy, we would give him Bryant as part of his name. Bryant is a name to be proud of and one that Aidan will always live up to, I am sure. We have always called him "Bug," a fun nickname for a fun boy.
We am grateful to have Aidan as part of our family. We cherish each moment with him and look forward to continuing to watching him grow up to be a great man!!
Happy 7th birthday, Aidan! You are the best Aidan in the whole world, don't you ever forget it! We love you for always and forever, Aidan Bug!