Fun with Family

We enjoyed yet another fun and memorable Birx family camping trip in West Virginia. I really do LOVE spending time with family... even if that means being in the cold, rainy, and muddy outdoors (while 35 weeks pregnant!). We didn't have the best weather for camping this year. It ended up raining most of the time. I've decided though that it isn't the weather that makes the trip fun and memorable, it's the people you're with!! I know that sounds all gooey but it's true! We are so blessed to be a part of the Birx Bunch!

Beware! There are a lot of pictures posted below. It's hard to pick only a few!! Enjoy...

This was the first year we discovered these little orange guys -- maybe it's because it was so rainy? Lillian was very brave and kept this one as her friend. I think the little guy was very happy and relieved to see us go...

The three-year-old curly cues, Sarah Beth and Abigail.




A small glimpse into what mealtime is like...




Roasting marshmallows in the rain (notice ALL the mud).

Peek-a-boo, Becca-roo!!

The two Abigails.
Daniel's cousin, David, and wife, Hilary, join us every year for camping. They have Abigail who is three and Jonathan who is almost a year. David is like a brother to Daniel!! We love that they join us camping!!




The kids and dads took a ride on a nearby train, Cass Scenic Railroad. This has turned into a yearly adventure for the kids and dads (and a "quiet time/game time" for the moms back at camp!).

Enjoying the ride up the mountain.



Here are all the grandkids (minus baby Philip, plus cousin Abby!)




Here they all are again having Sunday School with Grandpa before we pack everything up and head out.




Here are pictures from our time at Tim & Phyllis' house in Maryland:

Enjoying a nice cold popsicle on Gpa & Gma's front step. It was hot and humid while at their place... I could have done without the humidity, yuck.



Here's cousin Hannah with some Glen Burnie wildlife. The kids sure had fun with him...



We visited the National Zoo in Washington D.C. The girls were very excited about seeing a real life elephant for the first time (they don't have elephants in any MN zoos!).

Sometimes it more fun to watch the people at the zoo :) ...

Lillian, Grandma, and Abigail taking a break.

Posing with the Panda.



Oh, and one more thing...

Happy Anniversary Grandpa & Grandma! We hope your day was a special one yesterday!

We can't wait for our next trip out east... all SIX of us!!

The Past Few Weeks

With warmer days here, I don't seem to keep up our blog as often! These following pictures are from the last couple of weeks:

Lillian with Cousin Dan and Bailey. We went to Uncle David's and Aunt Alvina's after church to see Uncle Chuck and Aunt Maggie a couple Sundays ago. Cousins Dan and Sue were there with their cute dog, Bailey. I had to get a picture of Lillian petting Bailey... she is getting much braver when around dogs (especially cute little dogs!).

Rebecca was even in on the excitement. Here she is feeding Bailey! Who would have thought?!

Miss Kitty, our neighbor up the road who also attends our church, has an outdoor pool! She invited people to a swimming party a couple Saturdays ago... but it was cooold outside! Only about 50 some degrees! Although the water was a nice 86 degrees so it wasn't bad as long as you were in the pool!

Here's Lillian with her friend, Rachel, from church.

Abigail only lasted about 5 minutes in the pool and Rebecca never even went in! They were happy just playing out on the patio.

Here's Lillian jumping into the pool! Well, first she sat down on the diving board and then kind of scooted her bottom off of the board... I guess that's not exactly jumping! She was very brave though to even want to get onto the diving board! She'll be jumping in by the end of the summer...



Some friends from church went camping at the Interstate Park near us. They invited us over for supper at their campsite. The park is so close we just walked there from our house! The kids had a blast together (as always). Their kids are Tyler (11), Isadora (5), Dominica (20 months) and they're expecting a baby boy the same day I'm due, July 17th!



Daniel got the ladder out and in a blink-of-an-eye this is how we found the girls... only a Birx mom would "let" her kids climb a ladder unassisted, it's in their blood!



This is why the ladder was out. Daniel and I have been busy painting our garage! I've always wanted it to match our house. After 7 years of being blue, we're finally painting it red! Isn't it cute? I think it looks like a little country school house! I'll be sure to post pictures after we're done. At the bottom left of the picture you can see part of our new garden. We're very excited to have a real garden... nothin' like fresh tomatoes, corn on the cob, beans, squash, zuchinni...




We had a picnic outside yesterday. It was a beautiful day. I think it actually hit 90 degrees! Rebecca couldn't stay sitting, she was so excited!


Thanks for looking! :)

AWANA Awards Night

Here's Lillian (second from left) with her fellow Cubbies



Mr. Wilson saying a few words about Cubbies

Lillian receiving her 2nd Year Cubbie Award

Proudly showing me her award. Next year Lillian will be a first year Sparky and Abigail will be a first year Cubbie!

Daniel talking about his 5th & 6th grade T&T boys. Don't they look like a lively bunch?!

Happy 5th Birthday, Lillian!!

Lillian turned 5 yesterday on the 28th! How did that happen?! She's had a fun couple of weeks celebrating her birthday. Last week we met my brothers and their families, my parents, and my grandma at Chuck E Cheese. We celebrated Daniel's, my mom's, and Lillian's birthdays (although I think Lillian's birthday stole the show!). Last year for her birthday she received an Island Princess Barbie doll from my parents (it's from a movie). Ever since then she's wanted an Island Princess birthday cake (just planning ahead!)... so that's what I attempted to make! It ended up being a big hit -- she loved it!

This is right after I had finished the cake. I wanted to make sure I got a picture (especially before it had to travel an hour in the van to Chuck E. Cheese!)!

The birthday girl with Cousin Mikayla at Chuck E. Cheese

Everyone eating pizza (well, except for my dad and grandma... they arrived a little late)!

Lillian received this vacuum, yes a real-working vacuum, from my parents. A while back, Lillian made the comment that she really wanted her own vacuum like mine; a vacuum that really worked. Mom found this at a garage sale and couldn't pass it up! She loved(s) it!

Happy birthday to you...

All that work!!

The only brave kids who would pose with Chuck for a picture

Time for rides and games!!

Too cute! Rebecca and Lydia lovin' eachother!

Lillian with Chuck

Rebecca's first time around went fine, but she cried going around the second time.

Here's Lillian at home the next morning (oh, around 7:30am) trying out her vacuum (like the high heels?)!

These next pictures are from yesterday (the 28th) on her actual birthday...

We gave her this bike helmet

Enjoying our only nice day to be outside this week. Lillian made a house for some worms she had found.

For supper (and dessert!) we walked down to Dairy Queen (Daddy's idea). After supper we went for a walk and played at a playground.

Happy 5th Birthday, Lillian! We love you!!

Minnesota Children's Museum

Last Sunday, April 19th, was Daniel's 30th birthday! Hard to believe he's the big 3-0!! To celebrate we went to the Minnesota Children's Museum down in St. Paul (only a parent would want to go there for their birthday!!). Every 3rd Sunday of the month is free for all visitors at the museum thanks to Target. So, after church we took advantage of this and went to the museum for our first time (well, I'd been there with school when I was younger). It was a super busy day -- there were kids everywhere!! The girls didn't seem to mind and they ended up having a really fun time!!

There were different rooms with different themes. There was a "town" with a grocery store, metro bus, restaurant, house, post office, hospital, etc. I think that was their favorite. There was a "water and bubbles" room, "habitot" room for the little ones, "earth world" room with MN wildlife, and a traveling exhibit that featured Clifford the Big Red Dog.

Everything in this museum was at kid level (obviously). Lillian loved this grocery cart that was just like the big one Mommy uses!



Lillian the friendly cashier

Abigail cooking at the restaurant

Postmaster Lillian (she's mentioned before that she wants to be a postman when she grows up!)

Dr. Birx checking her patient's x-rays

They could see themselves preforming on a TV -- like how she's playing the guitar?!

The girls with Emily Elizabeth

Lillian climbing Clifford

Going for a ride




Playing in ALL the bubbles!!

What a cute little turtle!

Happy 30th birthday, Daniel!!