Happy Birthday Jakob

Happy Birthday Charles Jakob Wilson ~ the one and only! Jakob is eleven today. That's right ~ 11 ~ the big one one! Today is his golden birthday because he is 11 on the 11th. Cool, right?
We celebrated with him yesterday so Jennifer and the girls could be a part of it. I thought he may come by today for a quick swim in his "birthday suit" but I guess with school, homework, and church tonight that was expecting too much. Besides I was gone to Birmingham during the time they could have come to take Jennifer and girls to the airport.
Jakob requested grilled chicken, baked potatoes, and DESSERT. And what a dessert it was! Victoria's calls it "chocolate delight" we call it DELISH! I know we put 1/2 cup of pecans in the crust and used 8 ounces of cool whip and confectioner's sugar in one layer ~ two packages of chocolate pudding in one layer and topped it with 8 more ounces of cool whip and peanuts! WoW!

We sang to Jakob

before he blew out the candles.
Yes he got the first piece.

Jakob and me. . . .

and then he took the camera.

Kim

Jennifer

The girls in Buck's chair

all of the grandchildren like it

because it vibrates!
Buck in his normal pose when watching TV

The McWane Science Center

Last Friday, Buck took the day off. I know, right??? That's enough for a blog post right there! We got up and had breakfast, did a little work around the house and when Kim and the boys got here, we loaded into the EX and headed to Birmingham for an "adventure".

Claire started her day with waffles.

The McWane Center is an interesting place for children of all ages. We were intrigued by the structure behind the children in this photo. There were probably thirty plus golf ball sized balls working their way around the glass enclosure. They made things ding and pop and boing as they dropped through the many curves. It was quite fascinating to watch ~ not only the mechanism itself but the kids watching it .

Topher ~ bed of nails ~ 'nough said?
Jakob also

This was cool ~ you stand in front of a screen and your "reflection?" shows on the screen opposite you. I think I see three fourths of my grandchildren.

Never say MY girls can't pull their own weight. As evidenced in the picture above of Kim and below of Jennifer. I did NOT attempt this. Claire got an assist from Granddad.

There were water fountains that held up balls and these cool vacuum hoses that blew instead of sucked. You could put the ball over the air and direct it through the hoops.

The boys attempted to walk like a

blind person using a white cane.

Not as easy as it sounds.

This was a test of ? endurance ?

it was a no hands exhibit with different implements

that required you to pick up a ball and put it in a hole.

You know those toys that have little pins in them and you can push your hand or face into the back and it shows up on the front? Well, they have HUGE ones that you can do a whole lot with.

I think this is Jakob? Maybe Topher?

Jennifer

Kim

Me (with mouth open)

Jakob's profile

Jennifer with sunglasses

and my hand

Buck and I had a good time

and we were pooped afterward.

Claire played a match game against a computer.

Claire, Sarah, Jakob, and Topher

atop a large mouth bass?

This exhibit has sharks and stingrays in a "touch" tank. I didn't touch either. Buck was less than impressed with the young woman "working" the area. She was more into her phone than she was the people letting their children climb on the enclosure. She did tell him she has had to "fish" a couple of people out of the tank after they fell in! Maybe it's time to put away the phone????

The boys tried the balance on a wire thing. You sit on what looks like a bicycle a wire. First you pedal backward then forward. When you reach the middle they let you try and tip the whole thing over (thus, the net). Jakob tried but couldn't.

Topher on a wire.

(Jakob was in line and I think the flash to the right is Kim)

Jakob on a wire.
(you can see Topher and Kim on the side)

We caught up with Lisa at an IHop after she got off work. I try to get a "sister" shot every year.

Everyone had breakfast ~ YUM!

Sarah's Birthday

Sarah Ann Willenbrecht turned six yesterday. Thankfully the boys were coming over for the day. After breakfast the children decorated Sarah birthday cupcakes. They had a great time tossing the sprinkles. So much so that afterward the kitchen floor was decorated as well. I sent Jennifer and the children on to dress for the pool while I mopped.

Jakob, Sarah, Claire, and Topher

The boys and I went swimming three times yesterday ~ morning and afternoon with the girls and once mid day while the girls were resting.

Topher and Jakob lying on the bottom of the pool.
Claire enjoyed floating in the "royal" float...
while Sarah practice her skills.
She is getting VERY brave and wanted to
jump from the side like the boys.
What a cute group!

I bought some birthday plates and napkins and what's a birthday without balloons??? I think there MAY be three inflated ones left. All four kids had a balloon battle to the death (of the balloons that is) We would hear giggle giggle giggle POP!

Sarah chose pink.

I thought Jakob's would pop

before we could get it tied!

We ordered in pizza.

There were four slices left.

I had one for breakfast this morning.

I was too slow to catch the candles burning.

Sarah refused to tell what she wished for.

She got some new Polly Pockets.

And CA$H, which is always the right color.

Lisa popped in as a surprise to everyone but me. Jennifer, Lisa, and I played a game of Scrabble (which Jennifer won) before Lisa headed back to her apartment. I asked her to let me know when she got home so I would know she made it home safely.... around 10 p.m. I texted her to ask if she was there yet. OF COURSE she was, I knew she would forget! LOL

Today the boys are with their other grandmother and Jennifer and girls have gone to Alabaster to visit friends. I've visited with Mother, done some laundry and written this post.

Hope you've had a good day as well.

Happy Birthday Sarah!

Happy Birthday Sarah!

Today you are 6 years old!

Jennifer, Sarah, and Claire arrived yesterday. Jakob and Topher went with me to the airport. We were so excited to see each other! I'll pull out my camera today. When we got back to Jasper, we stopped at Granddad's office for a second then on to Mother's. Kim met us at Mother's and took the boys with her to the local hospital where they greeted a new cousin, Anna Grace. Jennifer, the girls, and I changed to swimsuits almost immediately and jumped in the pool. Kim and boys came shortly thereafter and joined us.

On the way to the airport we stopped at WalMart so Jakob could give me some birthday ideas for himself. His birthday is a week from today. After going through the toys for his age we wandered down the "little kids" aisle where we all pushed buttons to make the toys work. (Thank goodness no one had a camera on me ~ I was in there punching buttons also)

Today is Sarah's birthday and we are icing cupcakes this morning. I baked a dozen confetti and two dozen chocolate. (there are three missing because Buck, Jennifer, and I had to "sample" them last night) We are going to cut a hole in the center of the chocolate ones and fill them with caramel....YUM! We will be swimming and just hanging out at the house today. Pizza is on the menu for supper.

Braces

Yesterday Jakob was singing a little song he made up

One more day til I get my braces

One more day til I get my braces

One more day til I get my braces

One more day til I get my braces

........Rah!

Jakob got his braces today.

I don't know if he is singing.

August Birthdays

4th ~ Sarah Willenbrecht (6)

5th ~ Shirley Wilson

6th ~ Hayleigh

7th ~ Nicole Doyle

11th ~ Jakob Wilson (11)

20th ~ Ivey Best

well, well, well

shhhhh you didn't hear this from me. . . . This is one of the "inside" photos taken during our tour of the CAT plant. Orange is a good color for me, yes? One of the Thompson guys whipped out his phone and snapped this one for us. Then I got one of him standing beside a marine engine. Our guide gave his okay since these engines were part of a display and not actually part of the tour.