A Balloon, A Party, and The Arts

Yesterday turned out to be quite the busy day for us. Samantha had her two-week checkup at the pediatrician's office, so Bethany brought her big two over here to play while she and little Sam went to the doctor. As always, the kids had a stupendous time with one another -- such a stupendous time, in fact, that our hardwood floors have the start of a permanent track in them from the laps the kids ran chasing one another through the house.

But yesterday's game had an added element as well -- a balloon. And as far as they were concerned, no greater toy had ever been made. They threw it, they kicked it, and they lovingly whacked one another in the head with it. But the most fun came when they started to play some sort of blend of Keep-Away and Hot-Potato...the house was full of laughter!

And despite the fact that, in this picture, it looks like Abby's throwing Brayden out of the way so she can be the first to get to the balloon, they were very sweet with one another.

Halfway through their playtime, Jack apparently lost his mind and stood on the ottoman, threw the balloon, then jumped halfway across the room to try to catch it in midair. And yes, folks, Allison Lewis Photography was there to capture it all!

As I'm sure you can imagine, this kicked the crazy-factor up a notch, and the playing children became wild little monkeys (or maybe jumping Willys)...

I don't have anything funny or witty to say about this next picture -- other than "HOW CUTE IS HE?!?" :-)

For some crazy, loud, run-around-like-mad reason, Abby and I didn't get to her schoolwork that morning, so we knocked it out while the little two were sleeping. And as soon as they got up, it was off to our friends', the Fenton's, house for Ellery's fourth birthday party.

Of course, there was cake. Isabel and her face were both happy to partake of it...

She was so thrilled, in fact, that she broke out in a spontaneous "CHEESE!" face...

While I don't think this was the original plan, the kids went nuts over Elefun, so they spent the vast majority of our time there catching the butterflies that spewed out of the elephant's nose (who comes up with this stuff?!?)...

As you can see in this picture, while the other kids were playing with projectiles from the elephant's trunk, Jack found Jill's guitar from when she was a little girl...

...and he proceeded to play it the whole time we were there. The. Entire. Time. And loudly. At one point, Mark (whose eyes were beginning to bug out of his head) looked at Jack and said, "Wow, Jack, that sure is...........good!"

At least I'm assuming that's what he said. I couldn't really hear over Jack's strumming.

As you might remember from this post, Jack's been a big guitar player almost as long as he's been walking (and definitely longer than he's been talking). Unfortunately, other than Josh's really nice one, the only guitar we have around here is this hot pink number that Abby got for a birthday gift a couple of years ago. But color means nothing to Jack as long as he can rock out to a good praise and worship tune. Here he is really cutting it loose on the chorus of "Hosanna"...

Then he and Abby decided to collaborate on a song and dance project. This first picture just makes me giggle...

They take their art very seriously. Jack's even learning how to play the piano...

If he ever makes it big, we'll just have to sit him down to discuss the importance of pants.