another fourth of july, 

another Robbins

meet Cade Timothy at nine days old

and

another Robbins' burger competition

(i think this makes the 4th annual)

 There was a lot of grilling to get the burgers ready "on time".

careful preparation

and the finished products.

 all plated,

and 

ready 

to serve.

The five competitors

our tasting and scoring sheet

(if you look closely you can read each burger's name)

thoughtful consideration went in to rating 

and commenting on each masterpiece.

and the winner is...

 (mama Robbins always reads the results)

Elizabeth and Debbie's 

"Kick Tim in the Patty Melt"

It was delicious!

The mess afterwards....

letting it all digest...

before the Dessert competition

(fyi these are the winners of the burger competition)

tallying up some more scores.

(patriotic style)

and this time the winner is... the cousins' (Cassidy & Reagan) 

chocolaty, ice cream, fudge cake with oreo crumbs.

Now for the pyrotechnics.

watching eyes,

 fire-loving uncles,

sparklers,

abby's first time

and a good night!

Happy 

Halloween

from our strong cowboy,  our little strawberry and  our homemade Elsa!

four

Today marks four years as a mom of this boy.

And I am so proud (and humbled).

As a girl who grew up in a family of girls and is, well, quite girly, bringing up a boy has been is a stretching, often frustrating, creatively demanding, mind-blowing experience.

I often look at him and say "Where did you get that idea?"

I have come to love crashing monster trucks into each other, building tall towers just to knock them down, incorporating super heroes in to every aspect of life, contemplating what bad guys eat (namely, no fruit or food their mommy makes just trees and snot, according to Peter), and examining the wonder of a dead bug.

a car we recently built together

This little guy is equal parts strong and sensitive.

Sometimes his tears and need for mommy surprise me.

He did not want to turn four.  

In fact, he was crying a couple of nights ago about it and this morning he declared he was just "almost four".

But he's come around.

Of course blowing out candles,  

opening gigantic presents and a huge frozen yogurt treat with daddy didn't hurt. 

I can't wait to see what challenges and joys this next year brings.

I think they'll be good for both of us.

And he still gives the best neck squeeze hugs around...

six

Today marks six years of mommyhood for me

and

6 years of Hannah Joy in our family!

She celebrated at school with a rowdy round of "Feliz Cumpleaños" and handed out Confetti Squares (Rice Krispy treats with Cap'n Crunch & Fruit Loops) to all her classmates.

At home, she designed her own birthday crown 

(in Kindergarten, or at least her class, the teachers no longer make sparkly crowns for you).  

And we used the leftover Fruit Loops to design some fun necklaces.

Fancy accessories are a must for this birthday girl.

She still loves pink and purple but has now expanded her wardrobe to anything that has a good spin to it.

The best quote was 

"Mommy, we need to make a list of all the numbers I've been."

6 candles were actually rather hard to squeeze onto her Rice Krispy Treat.

 

Matt's singing "Happy Birthday", thus the contorted face.

 She loves being the big sister and picking up Abigail, who is definitely not as light as she used to be.

And don't worry, being six hasn't changed her love of crazy face making.

She finished off her day with our birthday tradition of a treat out with Daddy.

Tomorrow we celebrate this little guy.

My two birthday kids,

seriously so sweet!