Steak - Enjoying for no good reason

I don't know if it's from living in "The Beef Empire" of the world or what, but Hil just developed this craving for steak.  He really wanted a "date" so we could get some steak.  So we went and brought Clara with us.  There was no good reason, except to get a good piece of meat at Lonestar Steakhouse.  Check out his style......

-Stephen, Father of a Carnivore 

A Trip and a Birthday

Hello, at long last!  No, I haven't quit blogging.  It has been a full last two months!  I would be sharing pictures on this post, but alas, our USB ports are having driver issues... so, we'll wait on the pictures for now.

The biggest happening in the last while is that the whole crew got to take a long visit out to see my family!!!  Stephen got to be with us for a week and a half and the kids and I stayed for 3 and a half weeks!  The first order of business after arriving was to take a weekend trip 2 hours north of my family so Stephen could be in a buddy's wedding.  My dear sisters Amy and Melissa went along to help out with the kidos!  They were a huge help and it was a treat to have that time with them. 

Back in my home town we got to see friends and spend lots of time hanging out with my dear family.  We got to have one-on-one chats over a meal or tea and coffee, game times, chat and laugh times, shopping and photos with my sisters, and visit the beach!  Lord willing, once we get the USB port problem fixed, I'll plan to post pictures of our time!  A HUGE thank you to my family for all the special things they did for us while we were out there! 

My sweet Mom made the trip back on the train with me to help with children.  And of course, that was a major blessing.  She then spent several days here visiting!  Thank you, Mom, for the countless ways you blessed us!!!

We also had a birthday in this house recently.  Our precious Tirzah turned ONE, already!!!  We did balloons and cake, and her siblings were more excited about all this then she was.  :-)  Tirzah is quite the girl and brings us so much joy.  She is walking all over, but still with some of that "topply", wobbly "toddlerness".  She waves and says "Bahbah", and she signs and says "pease" (please).  She "sings" and claps and she also does a lot of mimicking.  Her siblings enjoy getting her to meow, bark, etc.  Super cute.  She has really been taking a liking to her Daddy.  Her current tooth count is 7.  We love that girl! 

I will sign off for now.  And will try to not let it be almost 2 months before the next post!