Still here

 Sorry if some of you might have thought we fell off the planet.  We are still here. And our internet seems to be at least working decently, though I still would not call it fast.  How is it almost Thanksgiving?  Our October flew by with trips and visitors.  And here November is half way over.  We have celebrated two more birthdays in the past week, so I will document here.  There is plenty more to blog about but that will occupy enough for one night.

So Lucy's first birthday celebration was put off again and again by our crazy travel schedule in October.  I spontaneously decided last Friday that we must celebrate before Austin's birthday or it would never happen.  She is only one and will not know the difference now, but I did not want to slight her when she is bigger without a first birthday celebration.  It was VERY simple.  Friday was pizza night.  The Hunemullers were already coming over.  We added Rebecca's family and it was a party.  It lasted about 30 minutes.  First up was the "what will you be when you grow up" game.  You put lots of toys representing different professions and the one she goes to first... is what she will be. I think this is a Chinese game, but we love it. She immediately went for...the guitar!  Takes after her daddy.  If her doll had been out, she probably would have grabbed that but we could not find out.  She does love music and bobs along to any tune she hears.

 I made a "Lucy bug" cake since that is what we call her.  She wasn't sure what to make of it.

 She started out with very dainty little bites.  Really she was so dainty at first with just the tips of her fingers in the icing.

 Then she seemed to like it more...check out that tongue.  Reminds me of Austin who still does a "Michael Jordan" tongue out whenever he is concentrating on something.

 Ok, I think this is pretty good.

 And she managed to have a messy cake face...though much neater than her brothers' first try of cake.  That was the end of her party.  Earlier we got her a little pink tricycle that can be pushed and steered by an adult.  She loves it.  Whenever we open the front door she wants to go out in the hall and sit in it.  We didn't wrap it or give it at her party...third child without as much ceremony.

 And wow, I have a 6 year old!  Hard to believe he is getting to be such a big kid.

 For months the plan was to have a baseball party.  Which we did, but it was SO SO cold and windy the game was rather short.  I took a few pictures and had to take Bennett and Lucy and a few other little ones inside.

 Austin running home.

Quite the blower (it was more like spitter) as he blew out the candles.  We also had a "6" pinata and otherwise was pretty simple.  We are so proud of Austin's thoughtfulness to others, especially his siblings, his growing mastery of Chinese and willingness to use it more, his quick mind, love of story and creativity.

Now we are birthday'd out and starting to think about Thanksgiving! Ok, better hit publish while the internet is working.