Eight is Great, Isaiah!

Some fun at the amusement park. Isaiah relishes an early lead over Grace and Eli.


Add your own Star Wars blaster sound effects.


Now let's learn how to blow-out a birthday cake, Isaiah-style.


Get set.


Cherish the moment.


Inhale calmly.


Let it rip!

Happy Birthday!

Isaiah's world

The older boys and I were treated to dinner out tonight by their grandfather. They were excited to go to Golden Corral. If you haven't been there in a while, they've changed to a new business model which seems to be working well for them--serve as much B-quality food to as many people at one time as you can.

While we were sitting at a table eating Isaiah was yammering on about all kinds of things. (His role in our family is to single-handedly get our daily word count up to the national family average.) But I do try to listen to him and when he said, "I've eaten at fancy restaurants before," that one got to me. Maybe we don't take this boy out enough.

Isaiah's 7th!

For Isaiah's birthday parties usually we just invite Joshua Overbeek over and we're set. But with their departure we told Isaiah he could plan a party and send out 7 invitations. After much deliberation and vetting of all options he settled on Hinkle Family Fun Center and invited 7 families (around 25 people!).

He had a great time playing putt-putt and lazer tag with everybody. Here are a few shots.

Darth Double Dogs

Zeke is not the only one in the family to relish hot dogs (...forgive me). Isaiah has been enamored with a Star Wars cookbook recipe that turns a couple of dogs into Darth Maul's weapon of choice. (You're not really surprised, are you, to hear that there is a Star Wars cookbook?)

Life in our home

"It's kind of like living with a telemarketer."

- Isaiah's parents after a ride in the van

Face shot

Isaiah finally lost the front tooth that had been grotesquely dangling from his mouth for weeks. He had refused all offers of help in pulling it until Eli suggested he shoot it out with his powerful Nerf gun (they shoot darts made of, uh, nerf). Isaiah's eager acceptance of this offer shows how twisted he really is. Eli retrieved his firearm and leveled it at point blank range. Isaiah smiled broadly, and the tooth was soon dispatched. The only trouble is we can't find it!

P.S. The parents were not privy to any of this idea until after the deed was done.

Isaiah's 6th

Isaiah celebrated his 6th birthday this weekend with his traditional blue-icing cake.


He was fearless at Cliff's Amusement Park here in Albuquerque.

He was the only one of our children daring enough to ride the cliffhanger. And the speedy Rattler was no match for him.

After Cliff's Isaiah went on his first overnight camping trip at Cedro Peak in the mountains east of town.

His grandfather treated him and the rest of us to the restaurant of his choice (so long as it wasn't Chuck-E-Cheese). We were pleasantly surprised to dine at Olive Garden last night; this kid has good taste, too.

Of course no day would be complete for him without a good wrestling match and some Uno.

What a delight it is to be Isaiah's daddy!

Isaiah hearts the Navy

Isaiah's reaction to the news today that the Navy shot down the failed satellite before it crash-landed on top of him, "YEAH! Where does it say that? [pointing at the computer] Read it to me." After Kristin read the opening lines of the article he was satisfied and said, "They blowed it up! That's what I said they should do a month ago. Can I go jump [on the trampoline] now?" The world outside is safe again for our little fella.