Christian's 4th Birthday Party at the Hunsberger Household

Ever since Ava's birthday, when she turned 5. . . Christian has decided he also picked up another year.  So, since Sept. 6 of this year, rather than hearing the usual introduction, which is, "hi, I'm Ava and he is Christian.  I am four and he is three"  now  you hear her say she is five, and thus, he then interjects that he is four.  However, he doesn't turn four until Oct. 26th, so this is very funny to me.  Also, up until this point, he has held up three fingers when asked how old he is.  Now he still holds up three fingers and says he is four.  Sometimes, he even answers this when asked how old he is, "I'm gonna be 6!!"  Who knows what his logic is behind that one, but it is true.  Someday, he is gonna be six. :)

So, another thing we noticed since Ava's Birthday is that he noticed she got presents.  He thinks that is what birthdays are for, that and Nana's cake. :)  For months before Ava's birthday, every time we were somewhere and she wanted to get a toy or something else she wanted, I would tell her that maybe she could get it for her Birthday.  So, she caught on to this and started telling me all she wanted for her birthday.  Christian realized this and started early pointing out things, and then he would say,  "I get that for my Birday?"  His little voice was so cute and sweet, I literally wished I could buy him everything he said that about.  :)
We tried to get a party put together for him but with us leaving for Missouri for a month, we are going to be gone over his birthday, so it is hard to get it all together.  So, we ended up having to split his party in two.  The first one was held at my parents house.  We said this was probably the last birthday party held there, figuring their house will be selling here soon.

He is one Lucky and Blessed man. . .Loving on some of his women.

We got pizza from Romeos and mom made him a cake.  Of course, all he talked about all day was "I eat my birday cake?"  or "Nana make me my birday cake?" or "Lets do that!!"  When mom brought the cake up and was ready to ice it, he reached out to touch the completely plain, uniced cake and exclaimed, "my birday cake, Thank you Nana, I LOVE IT!!!"  Then Reece and Ava were trying to touch it, and he was yelling and saying "ITs MINE!!"  See, Nana's cakes are defenitly something to fight for and the three older grandchildren know this.  Sofia found this very fact out at her birthday party also. :)  She is hot on the trail. :)

Caught!!! HMMM, wonder why Nana is her favorite?  She is feeding her icing out of the used icing decorator thing.  Don't tell Mama. :)

So proud of his very awesome Hunting Camo coat, Like Daddy's.  :)  Shoot Deer he says.

He sat and watched as Nana decorated the cake.  He also enjoyed his balloons that Nana bought for him.  Then was present time.  Aunt Bleppies bought him a sweatshirt and a Buzz Light Year figure toy that he was so excited about.  He also got a camo coat from mommy and daddy.  The other presents had not arrived yet, so I will blog on them later.

I grabbed him and hugged him so you could see the toy story undies his aunt Bleppies had bought him and he couldn't wait to put them on so he slipped them on over his pants. :)

Finally, time for cake.  The kids gathered around to take turns blowing out candles and then we all got to sing to Christian and then dive into the delicious cake.  Nana made it up to be a hunters cake with a tree stand, four wheeler, deer, and hunters.  Christian loved this idea.  He also picked out his own plates and cups with Sports all over them for his party.

Here Nana H is working her magic on our cakes.

All in all I think he had a pretty good time. He was very happy the night was about him. Happy Birday Christian Boy!!!

Enchanted Night Where Dreams Come True

My hubby is so romantic and sweet. He has so many great ideas and he is a great planner. He started planning my special Birthday Surprise Get-a-way a few months before my 30th Birthday. Due to other events that surfaced, he ended up having to modify slightly but what he did come up with was awesome!!!


He lined up babysitting for the kids and made reservations for our birthday dinner. He told me to be ready by 3:30 because he had a mission before we went to dinner. Our mission was to get us each nice winter coats. He took me shopping and bought me this beautiful coat that I fell in love with right away. He told me I would need it for an activity that we were participating in later that evening.

Then we headed to our first destination. He took me to the Dobbin House in Gettysburg. I was so excited. I had never been to this restaurant, but I had heard many good things about it. This is an old house to the Dobbin Family during the Civil War. The rooms fabulous and you could even go up to see the slave hideaway. They had slave quarters and a bedroom that slept 19 children. The floors were unlevel and it was old and candlelit. The china they used was old and had it’s own story. I love it!!! What a great experience. All the waitresses were dressed in appropriate attire that dated them back to civil war times and you felt like you were taking a trip back in time.

The Outside view of the Dobbin House.  Micah was sweet and knew I had to get pictures of all of this experience.

Our dinner was served up in the bedroom.  We had a window seat view also. :)  I LOVE HIM!!

While we were sitting there, I Micah kept looking at his watch. Pretty soon, he said it was time to head downstairs. Believe it or not, he had arranged for a Horse Drawn Carriage to meet and pick us up outside the Dobbin House and take us for a Carriage ride through Gettysburg. I was so excited and it was cold so I was so glad we had our coats. We snuggled under the big blanket and just enjoyed the peaceful ride. The Driver told us that Micah had to sing Happy Birthday to me when going through the square. He did too, he sang it really loud and I loved it.

When the ride was over, we headed home and spent the evening just hanging out, with no children. What a great birthday surprise. I love how my husband knows just what to do to make me smile and to make all my dreams come true. He truly is MY DREAM COME TRUE!!

Hosting H Week

H week was quite full of activity. As per usual, we practiced writing our Letters and this seemed to be an easy one for both of them to write. We also got out Play dough and did some fun activities with shapes and spelling out words that started with H. We ate Heart shaped cupcakes for a snack and then we painted a bird House that we are putting out to feed the birds. Ava loved painting the bird house, which she got for her birthday. Thanks Michelle!!

Daddy brought home a huge box one day from work and we made a house out of it. The kids loved decorating and coloring the house and then of course playing in it. That put daddy at the top of their happy list and mommy’s too. I was so excited he was thinking of H week and remembered this for a house out of a box. The funny part, I am not sure he was thinking about H week, but as luck would have it, I thought he did.

Another activity that we discussed, something that takes huge precedence in our house. . . .HUNTING!! Yes, daddy hunts and he explains all of his tactics and tricks to hunting and the kids seem to enjoy this. They played hunting and practiced shooting deer. Then, to top things off, daddy got a deer while hunting and they stayed up and watched him skin and quarter the deer. This was perfect for H week. The best part was Ava was completely amazed at the sight, but Christian couldn’t stop gagging. Too funny.

We also had a friend Titus over and hosted a party while he was here. We had spaghetti and drinks and Ava took it upon herself to set the table and get it all ready for her friend. Then we played and Hung out with our buddies. Ava also practiced using a Hammer to fix the floor, wall and anything else she could bang a Hammer on. Luckily it was a play hammer.

Ava hosting dinner for a friend. :)

Some fun food ideas were taking a Peanut butter and Jelly sandwich and cutting it into the letter H. This was extremely easy and very fun for both kids. They also like Hamburgers since it was H week. They love ground hamburger browned and mixed with tomatoes. Then we eat it with Tostitos.

The kids learned about Helping people. Kelsey came over and Helped them to do their school work. She helped home school them and they did wonderfully with her a teacher. Then the kids put socks on and Helped me to clean my Hardwood floors as they skated across them with some endust spray. Last but not least, we decided to go to the Hospital to Help Hurting People. This was a fun project and I was so very excited. I will blog about that one on its own.

Kesley as a Helping Hang in Homeschooling our kids. :)

Singing with My Bumbaughs

On Sunday, we decided to go and see our Bumbaughs sing at Brandts church.  The first few songs, Christian was completely mesmerized and Ava too.  Ava lost interest a few songs in and Christian was quick to follow, however, he did keep asking if he could go on stage and sing. 

The last song, they offered the kids to come up and sing along with them.  Christian was so ready to do this and started up but Ava was a bit more timid.  He came back twice to see if she was going along with him and then finally after he realized she wasn't coming, he went running up to sing with his Bumbaughs.  Ava later told me she wanted to go up but then she got "a little bit shy."  :)  However, Christian was not the least bit shy.  Maybe he has his uncle Scott's personality after all. :)

Here are some pictures of our dear family, singing for the Lord.  We love you Bumbaugh Family Singers.

The Bumbaugh Kid Singers. . . .Isaac, Garrett, Renee, and Kelsey

Singing with the Bumbaughs.  He was so good at stage presence.  A natural for sure.

The whole family.  He is over standing beside his aunt Fawn.

Christian was up there dancing to the beat and he knew to sing into the microphone when he had the chance.

Here are the supporters / fans and family.  :) 

Happy 30th Birthday to Me!!!

A few of my close friends got together and threw me a SURPRISE birthday party!!! All I knew was that Brianna was picking me up and taking me out for dinner, but I had no idea who all was going to be there.  I was surprised when I walked in to El Ranchero in Hagerstown Maryland., and saw so many familiar and dear faces smiling at me.  It made me cry. . .surprised?

We ate our dinner and visited for awhile then they brought out my cake and plopped this huge sombrero on my head!!! They kept pounding it down on my head while singing to me and I couldn't stop laughing.  I was also laughing because the one guy took icing and put it on my nose.  They were singing so loud and they also placed a beverage in front of me and then took it away.  That was weird. ahhaha.

Also, notice they placed the numbered candles backward and so I was only 3 years old instead of 30.  I am not sure if that was good or bad, but it was funny.

My Mom and I . . .She is amazing and I am gonna miss her as she lives 1,000 miles away.  However, I know this is what God has for her.  I am glad she was here to celebrate with me though.

Brianna had the idea to put together a scrapbook for me and this also made me cry.  It was great.  Everyone put together a page with pictures, or poems, or letters and memories.  It was beautiful and Michele even scrap booked her first page ever to go in my book.  This was a gift that was right up my alley. I also received cards, cake, and an adult best friends necklace from Michele.  I got a gift certificate for coffee at Starbucks and a massage too.  I can't wait to use both of them. 

The Whole Gang left to right

Back row: Erin, Teasha, Vicki, Mom, Angel, Michele, and Michelle

Front Row: Brianna, Michelle, Jessica, and Courtney.  Fun group.

Thanks to all, this was a great night.  The food was great too. 

Afterwards we decided to go bowling in Chambersburg and off we went.  Brianna went to her house to pick up socks for everyone.  Wait until you see the outfits with the coordinating socks.  Best comes first. . .

Michelle Florh and her newest fashion statement.  Wear it with Pride!!!

Bowling was a fun activity and we then finished off the night with hugs.  I love my girls!!!

Day with Steelers and the Stifflers

We headed over to the Stifflers, to hang out, eat lunch and enjoy some Sunday afternoon football.  Of course, the kids don't really watch the game, so Heather helped me run after them all afternoon.  We always have a blast when we go over to visit them.  They have an awesome dog that they got from a shelter and the dog is so sweet and well behaved.  Her name is Mocha and she is great with little kids.  In fact, I do believe my children tire her out and she often finds a place to retrieve to and rest after we have been there for close to an hour.  I believe she just needs to get away from the hyper energy.  However, she does such a great job with them and tolerating them all up in her face and her space. :)

The kids wanted to go back outside, so Christian took his socks and shoes to Heather and Ava took hers to Charlie, formally known as Eric.  :)  Ava and Christian love Eric and Heather and I think the feeling is mutual.  They are going to make great parents someday. :)

Ava's Explanation of Why She is Growing Up

I was feeding the kids lunch today and I overheard this conversation while I was cleaning up. . . .

Ava- "Hey Christian, you know why I get to have so many birthdays and you don't? It is because I eat things that are healthy for me and that is why I grow up faster than you."

Christian- "why?"

Ava- "see, I eat carrots and dip and broccoli and peas and I drink lots of water and I eat things that are warm so they make my body grow.  That is why I have my birthdays before  you and I am growing up faster than you."

Hmmm, I was always under the impression that she had birthdays first cause she was born first.  Oh well, her plan worked, it persuaded him to eat all of his peas on his plate and he said to me, "I growed up now?"  :)

Princess Ava's Princess Fondue Party!!!

Ava, as you can see by my past posts, loves to be dressed up like a princess.  She would wear her princess dresses all the time if she were allowed to do so.  I of course can not let her do this, but I secretly am so excited she likes to dress up and be girly. I love that about her.

So, our dear friend, Erin wanted to take us out for Ava's 5th Birthday.  We have been planning this for awhile and our plan was to dress up as princesses and to go to the Big Oak Cafe for a fondue and some coffee.  Ava, as you can see, chose to wear her Cinderella dress and she was loving it.  Erin and I dressed up to and I have to say I need to borrow Erin's dress sometime.  Too cute.

So, when we got there, Ava chose the Chocolate Caramel Fondue and then we waited with full anticipation.  They fondue came with Strawberries, Pineapples, pretzels, gummi bears, cheese cakes, brownies, angel food cake, and so many others.  It was delicious and of course there were lots of laughs and pictures taken.  It was a great party.  Ava thoroughly enjoyed herself.

You may be able to dress her up, but this is what happens when you take her out.  Ava was so extremely excited and we couldn't get her to calm down and act proper etiquette of a princess.  Oh well, it is her 5th birthday!!

Erin Telling Ava how to eat Fondue. . . Ava didn't actually like the Chocolate Caramel Fondue but Erin and I love it!!

Ava took pictures of us in our princess dresses too.  :)

Two of the three princesses.  Ava was having so much fun.  At one point someone asked her if she was Cinderella, she said, "no, I am actually Ava, I just dressed up like Cinderella."  hahahah.

Erin and I had to throw this Official Princess Pose in.  I was so excited.  We couldn't stop laughing. 

My son, the charming dancer, dancing in his swimming trunks and obviously clashing shirt.  He came up to Erin when he saw her looking so pretty and asked her to dance with him.  This was all on his own.  He loves her. :)  Also, as Erin pointed out, he didn't like the fact that because he was the shorter one, he had to be twirled instead of twirling Erin. :)

We had so much fun and then after, we came back to the house to visit and hang out some more. :)  What a great night.  Ava says she wants to do this again sometime.