Sibling Love

It's so fun watching the dynamic of each relationship form between our four kids.  I want them to always be close and to stick up for each other and to just love each other.  Our kids are all great friends, and yes, they get on each other's nerves just like any other siblings, but they really are so close and love each other a whole lot.  Here are just some fun sibling pictures:

Hannah and Jacob 2010:

Aleah and Lucas 2016:

H & J:

A & L:

Our family got to go to a Compassion experience, where we learned about what it's like to live in Bolivia and Uganda.  It was pretty cool because that's where Hannah and Jacob's Compassion children are from!

First Game of the Year!

We did the Kids Bowl Free program this year.  We all made it over there twice and had a lot of fun!

Memorial Day:

Jacob and Hannah got to use their new (rummage sale) suitcases for a sleepover at Grandma and Papa's house this summer!  They also got to do a sleepover with Aunt Betsy and Uncle Nathan!

My kids NEVER wear clothes at home.  I thought they were so sweet playing this game:

Dance Party:

My sweet boys:

So much matchiness

Jacob and Hannah are so close!  I hope that Aleah and Lucas will be just as close!

Jacob-6 Year Update

Jacob Michael Downing, my sweet 6 year old boy:  I have said that I could have 20 kids if they were all like him.  All of my kids are amazing and wonderful and loved just as much as the other.  But this one... he's just.... so.... easy.  He always has been.  Everything about him.  He is a great kid with a great personality and is just so likable.  I adore him.  His dad adores him.  His teachers adore him.  He is an awesome kid.  

Jacob is a sweet, tender-hearted boy.  Everyone in our family agrees that he is the best at sharing.  Even with things he really loves, like CANDY, he will always share with anyone who wants some.  And he is smart.  Like really smart.  He's doing AR in Kindergarten and is on "real books" now.  He has even read a few chapter books!  A few weeks into school, Jacob brought home a stack of sight word cards to practice, " go, a, am, like, I, the, is, my." He brought home a note with them that says,"Please practice these sight word cards with your child when he/she brings them home. Some suggestions are read them, play a game with them, write them, ... be creative. You will most likely see them come home about once a week. Thank-you." Before I even realized what he was doing, he had read the letter out loud to me. Haha. I had to laugh at the irony.

For the most part, he enjoys going to school, which is a real blessing after Hannah had such a hard time separating from me. He does take it hard when the whole class gets in trouble though. This little boys' eyes fill with tears in a heartbeat. He got a great report at conferences (meets standard in all areas!). His teacher sent me this picture on Veteran's Day:

Jacob gets himself dressed, fixes his own breakfast, brushes his teeth, packs his own lunch, and does his homework all on his own. He almost always remembers to clear his dishes and is great at helping me pick-up around the house. He's pretty self sufficient!

Jacob loves to pray and always remembers each of our Compassion children in his prayers, as well as any pregnant ladies that we know and their babies.

Looking cute for school:

So all of these wonderful things about my boy and what are his weaknesses? He does have some. They include candy, sucking his thumb to go to sleep, clumsiness, sensitivity, and video games. And he doesn't like mashed potatoes, what?

Jacob is one in a million and I'm glad he's mine!

Jacob's 6th Birthday

With Jacob's birthday being just 8 days after Halloween, it worked out perfectly for the Mario theme to continue.  My amazing sister-in-law Alisa offered to make the cupcakes.  She put so much time and detail into them!  She even made all of the different paper cup holders!  

I used the balloons I made for Trunk or Treat:

and this fun veggie tray (the fire flower):

My dad made "Pin the Mustache on Mario" for me.  

He switched the picture out when it was Jacob's turn, haha.  

I had Mario in it for everyone else... 

Josh explaining the rules for the Golden Coin Hunt (wearing a fake mustache):

Mario Shirts!

I even got one for the occasion:

We tried to knock out all of our parties at once this year.  It was a joint party between Jacob and my nephew Liam with all 4 of our families.  And then Jacob said he wanted a friends party, so I thought we might as well just invite them too!  

Grandma Teresa made the Yoshi Egg game:

The Cubs had just won the World Series days before!  Jacob got some Cubs gear!!!

Mrs. Spezia made Jacob a birthday crown.  He got to sit in the birthday chair at school, and I took M&M ice cream sandwiches to his class.  I sadly forgot my camera because I had so much to carry.  

That night, we had Spaghetti with garlic bread and brownie ice cream sundaes, per Jacob's request.  Josh and I got him The Action Bible, a Mario wallet, and some clothes (mostly pants) that he needed.  And Donald Trump was elected President....What a night!