Lucky Number 7

3 Years, 48 Weeks.



It's official:  We now have a 7 year old child!

I can't believe it's been 7 whole years since we've started having sleepless nights.   It's been a whirlwind; a total blur.   I was holding this tiny thing in my arms and blinked once.  Now she's riding bikes and doing round-off somersaults like it's no big thing.

7 is a pretty significant number:  7 days in a week.  The 7th Day.  7 colors in the rainbow.  The 7 dwarfs.  The 7 wonders of the world.  The 7 deadly sins.
7-11.

Happy Birthday Braelyn!  We are so proud of you and look forward to enjoying you as a newly minted 7 year old!

Here was our week:

What Maddy would look like with really short hair.  Kohl trying on his sister's diva glasses.

Picking Brae up from gymnastics.

Helping Daddy blow the leaves from the driveway and riding bikes at the same time.

Brae and Calleigh at Sabbath School.

The twins at theirs.  Strike a pose!

Silly selfies!

Trying to keep them entertained (and the living room clean) Sabbath afternoon
before Brae's birthday party.

Watching Mommy finish the balloon thingy that was going over the cake table.

Lala's here!  Princess Maddy greets her grandma.  Lolo would arrive soon afterwards.

Helping Maddy upgrade to Brae's old bike.  We purchased a new TREK bike with gears and handbrakes for Brae just before we won the other new bike at the Ocoee Spring Fling last week!
So now she has 2!

The group goes for a quick bike ride up the trail.

Before converging on the playground and backyard.

The moms chit chatting and catching up.

Group photo before it was time to eat.

Looks like everyone went inside!

We had [some] pizza, salad, and Olaf's noses.

Brae and the girls.

Everyone milling about, catching up.

Singing Happy Birthday to Braelyn!

The kids intently watching the movie FROZEN for the umpteenth time.

Pooped.

Early morning bike ride with the birthday girl!

5 miles to Winter Garden via the West Orange Trail.

Breakfast at Sweet Traditions French Bakery.

Enjoying her breakfast mimosa.  Relax people, it was just orange juice!

We shared scrambled eggs, hash browns, and a chocolate crepe!

5 miles back home.  She did good keeping up!

The home stretch.  10 miles!  Great job Brae!

Singing Happy Birthday to each other at the same time via FaceTime.
This has become their birthday tradition every year.  Happy Birthday Uncle Mike!

The family out to see a play at the REP Theatre.

I remember reading these books growing up.  And now my kids are going to see the play!

Art and coloring activities prior to the show.

These were great seats Mommy!

Our view.  I'm sure they said something about not taking pictures but I didn't hear them...

With the cast of Busytown.  Brae didn't want to get in the picture because she was a "big" kid now.

A pretty cool looking big kid.

Dinner date with Mommy at Texas Roadhouse to cap off the day.

Meanwhile, the twins get ready for bed.  

Having a small soft serve treat after lunch.

Beautiful weather to have a picnic dinner at one of the neighborhood parks on Tuesday evening.

Looking for four leaf clovers for good luck.  Ironically, no such luck!

"I believe I can fly..."

At Orlando International Airport to pick up Mike and his family from California.  Their flight was supposed to arrive at 12:50 AM, but was delayed in Las Vegas for three hours, so they didn't arrive until 4:30 AM.  Which is why I spent the night sleeping in the minivan inside the parking garage.

The twins greeting Auntie Gen and Preston Wednesday morning.

Cousins hug.

Happy they're not the littlest one anymore.

Stopped by to pet some horses on the side of the road.

Maddy was a bit apprehensive but warmed up a little later.

Visiting our local farm in Ocoee.  The twins checking out the turkeys...

and the ducks and chickens.

It definitely smelled like a farm!

Inside their small farm store.  We got some caramelized goat cheese, honeycomb,
and a venison steak!

Kohl feeding the goats.

Peek-a-box at Costco!

Randoms:

Saw this mattress flopping about on Silver Star and thought I had better drive drive in front
rather than behind him!

During intermission at Busytown, they wanted me to go near the stage and wave for the camera.
That's them seeing and pointing at me with my arms up, while they watch on the screen in the lobby.
The people inside the theatre were looking at me like I was crazy.

That's right, there's a guy driving next to me with a life-sized Mickey and
Minnie Mouse in his backseat!

Tangie and her team visiting Arnold Palmer's Bayhill Invitational Golf Tournament all this week!
Lucky her!  That's the trophy behind her.

Ricky Fowler tees it up.

Went on a quick bike ride around the neighborhood midweek.  This was my view.

Wondering if this hairstyle could work for me...

Quotes:

• At the Busytown play on Sunday at the REP Theatre, during the 15 minute intermission:

          Madelyn:  "Is it done?"

          Me:  "No, they're just taking a break, so people can go potty."

          Madelyn:  [thinking]  "Is it paused?"

• In line to pick up Braelyn from school, I had pointed out the MetLife Blimp hovering over downtown Orlando.  As it came back to view in our windshield:

          Kohl:  "Daddy!  There it is!"

          Maddy:  "Yeah!  It's the plump!"

          It's called a blimp, Maddy.  Blimp.

Family photo at church.

Have a great weekend!