Sara's 9th Birthday

Sara turned 9 on September 10th.  Monday night (the day before her birthday) we celebrated by going bowling at Big Al's with the Moores.  Grandma and Grandpa Sorensen came to town for Sara's birthday too, so we had lots of people to celebrate with us.

We had dinner first.

Sara got a birthday sundae that she shared with her best friend Bess.

Then we moved into bowling.

It was dark, so I wasn't able to take great pictures, but you get the idea - there were a lot of us!

On Tuesday for her actual birthday, the Moores came over for presents and cake and ice cream.  Plus Grandma and Grandpa Sorensen were still here!

She got a bag full of fun art supplies from her friend Bess.  Sara LOVES art, so it was a perfect present for her.  

 

Owen really needs it to be his birthday soon.  He has had to watch each sibling have a birthday this summer, and he just doesn't understand why none of the presents are for him.

Savannah used some of her own money to buy Sara a present.  She bought her some fun hand sanitizers that clip on to Sara's backpack.  It was really sweet of Savannah to want to do that for her little sister.

And her big present from us was a RipStik.  Josh got one for Christmas, and it kills his sisters when he won't let them ride it.  Now Sara has her own, and doesn't ever have to ask Josh to borrow his.

Then it was cake and ice cream time.

I can't believe Sara is 9.  She is growing up so fast.  She is such a smart and talented girl, and I am so glad she is part of our family!

A Rainstorm of Epic Proportions

A few weeks ago we got a massive summer storm. I was driving the girls to gymnastics when it hit. I was afraid the hail would dent the suburban. When I got home, I surveyed the aftermath of the storm.

After the hail stopped, the rain continued to fall.  There was more water than our city's drainage system could handle, and there were huge puddles (lakes) everywhere.  We were lucky enough to have one of those lakes right at the end of our driveway.  The boys instantly headed to play in it.  Owen rode his bike down into it, and wasn't sure he liked it.

But soon he was loving the water just like his brothers.

Kate and I hung out in the garage out of the rain, and watched everyone play. 

Nate really is not a fan of thunder.  He's really quite terrified of it.  Every time there was thunder, Nate would come running into the garage for safety.

Sadly, the girls missed it all while they were at gymnastics.  But, the boys played till they were soaked to the bone.  Then they spent the rest of the evening curled up in a blanket (after taking a hot bath).