He has to have it his way!

Anda, giving Neal a sandwich:
-Here you go, munchkin!
-Why you call me munchin?!
-It's a good word!
Neal, with attitude:
Call me honey or something!

The big 5. Lielais piecinieks.

Neal decided to have a last minute Birthday party. He told me exactly who to invite. ALL his friends! It was a little crazy, but we had some serious fun, making a craft, eating a Star Wars cake, playing, blowing up noisy balloons,
Pāris dienas pirms savas dzimšanas dienas Nils izdomāja, ka jārīko svinības. Viņš zinaja precīzi, kurus draudziņus aicināt ciemos - visus! Sanāca liels jampadracis, bet mums gāja jautri, spēlējāmies, klausījāmies mūziku, pūtām balonus, ēdām torti,

opening presents (little stuffed Beary ended up being Neal's favorite),

izsaiņojām dāvanas (mazais Lāčuks izrādījās Nilam vismīļākais),

opening more presents (look, someone other than the kids is in this picture! Amazing!). We think in the end Neal was happy and didn't feel neglected. That is a possibility, you know, when your birthday is right after Christmas and New Year's. Kudos to the wonderful parents! I mean: have a happy year number 6, Neal! We can't imagine our lives without you and you're the best 5 year old ever!

izsaiņojām pāris papildu dāvanas (un palūk, kas tā tāda ielīdusi bildē starp bērniem?!). Mums liekas, ka Nils bija ar svinībam apmierināts un nejutās aizmirsts. Tas labi, jo ir viegli piemirst dzimšanas dienu, kas nāk tieši aiz Ziemassvētkiem un Jaunā Gada. Malači vecāki! Tas ir, laimīgo sesto dzīves gadiņu, Niluci! Mēs nespējam iztēloties dzīvi bez tevis, un tu esi visforšākais piecgadnieks pasaulē!

No we didn't all die in a fiery car crash six months ago, why do you ask?

We just have been very busy. Very busy being very lazy...

I'm still feeling lazy. But here are some picturesque things we have documented. A picture speaks a thousand words, you know! Those poor children, where is their flesh?!

If you're not scared, you should be!

For Halloween, I carved this beauty. I was very proud. Due to a design flaw and no fault of mine, as you would see if you looked closely, part of Darth Vader's face had to be held up by a toothpick. I'm proud nonetheless.

A community trick or treating event that we went to with friends. They had a haunted walk, the boys were very brave. I liked the cardboard house in the background. It happened a while before halloween and we had not accuired costumes for this year yet, so we had to improvise. Neal was a bat and Ben a wizard.

Visiting the pumkins with our friends the Gatlins. Take it away, boys! They tried.

The corn maze is much easier to navigate if you go on the outside edges. Less muddy, too. Take the road less traveled, my friends, it pays off.

Why is the wagon not moving, this is a ripoff!

Four little dinosaurs Rafting down the river!

Everyone survived, but Neal did not trust the integrity of our boat at all! He instructed us, next time we go, to drop him off at grandma's! :) Believe it or not, it was my (mom's) idea to do this. I tell you, I'm tougher than my 3 boys sometimes. Just sometimes.

We've added another creature to the mix.

Her name is Catnip, although Neal thinks it's Catlip. She is seven years old and used to live in Olympia. We got her through Craigslist. She had never been around dogs, so she spent her first 3 days under the bed in our bedroom. Now she comes out to explore yet still spends most of the time lounging in our room, on top of the bed. The plan in the long run is to make the kitty hang out with Neal, but it's taking her a while to het used to him. She is very fluffy and soft, and we love her already.

Mūsu jauno kaķenīti sauc Kaķu mētra, Nils gan to izrunā kā "Kaķa lūpa" :) Viņai ir 7 gadiņi, mēs viņu atradām, atsaucoties uz sludinājumu internetā. Lielākais kaķumīlis mums ir Nils, bet kaķenīte vēl nav īsti pie viņa pieradusi. Viņa ir ļoti mīksta un pūkaina, un mēs jau esam viņu iemīlējuši. Pirmās trīs dienas viņa slēpās zem gultas, jo baidījās no suņa, bet tagad jau palikusi drosmīgāka, kaut ir krietni slinka resnīte un pārsvarā gulšņā pa mūsu gultu. :)

Crazy skilled squirrel at the park!

Best vacation ever! Foršais ceļojums!

Ar Lāsmu, Ilgu un atvasi :)

Ar brāli koncertā Saldus Saule. /With my brother at a concert Saldus' Sun.

Pie mājas ar tētuku (ne)derīgo izrakteni :) /By the house with Daddy.

Mammuks. Fočēts pēdējā dieniņā... /Mommy. Taken on the last day.

Opis ar tēti kapos kaut ko svarīgu pārrunā. Grandpa an Dad having a serious conversation at the cemetery.

Man no šīs kapu akas vienmēr bijis bail./I've always been terrified of this well at the old cemetery.

Citos kapos, mamma ar tēti nes ūdeni, ko aplaistīt vecmammas kapiņa puķītes. /Mom and Dad carrying water for the plants on my Grandma's grave.

Burulaiviņa Liepājas ezerā./Sailboat on Liepaja's lake.

Solo riteņbrauciens uz Bernātiem. / My solo bikeride to Bernati.

Mellenītes!!!/Wild blueberries!

Smilgas pie Liepājas ezera.

Valters, mans brāļadēliņš./My nephew Valters.

Divi vīri laivā, trešais izkritis! Svinējām Brāļa Kaspara dzimšanas dienu Jūrnieka ligzdā./Celebrating brother's birthday at the "Seaman's nest".

Kristaps un Emīls uz lielajām šūpolēm Jūrnieka ligzdā.