Gaby Christmas 2010

Several of these photos at the beginning were taken by Gabe during Christmas in Flora. I think he managed to capture all of us at our best angle ;) Gabe had a lovely Christmas and today has come up with a new business idea... "Gabe's Ornament Removal Service" with his new truck.

Gabe is a rockstar!

Thanksgiving at Aunt Jill and Uncle Keith's home. Gabe plays a mean air guitar.

Gabe Thanksgiving '10

Favorite Gabe quote of the weekend: "Shallon is my favorite sister because she doesn't try to smack me."

Gabe's 5th Birthday Weekend part 1

We took the kids to the Magic House in St. Louis as a gift from us. We're so glad we did!

They had REAL cars and heavy equipment to play on.

The honorable Judge Gaby presiding! Please stand!
I was particularly impressed by Gabe being so interested in the star spangled discovery section. It wasn't flashy like the other exhibits, but Gabe did do the complete exercise finding all 10 hidden symbols of America by himself. This section had 3 rooms, a courtroom (judicial system), Oval Office complete with tv/video/mic to watch yourself give the state of the union address, and congress. Very few children at the museum stopped to engage themselves in this section!

But I think he liked the fishing best!

Another abandoned (by the children) section of the museum was the Lewis and Clark exploration part. After asking Gabe which his favorite parts of the museum were, he listed this section in the top 3- not the flashing lights, water experiments, magnet room or pretend town, but this exhibit, the construction zone and the star spangled part he really enjoyed. He's such a cool kid.

After spending a non-stop 4 hour tour of the museum, we went for lunch, ice cream and a walk around Kirksville, MO before heading home. We never even went into St. Louis proper this visit- so much to do and see right in Kirksville!

Gabe's 5th Birthday Weekend part 2

....5th birthday continued





Gabe chose to eat at Golden Corral on Sunday with family. Aunt Jill, Uncle Keith and Sophie gifted him silly straws and a treasure hunt kit.

After dinner, we drove to Pirate Pete's but before going inside, Pa and Memaw gave Gave some more presents!

Whoa! Look at that CAT remote control truck!

He was pretty much a blur when we got into the arcade.

Before we left, he got some prizes (thanks Sophie!) and watched Dad and Pa play pool.

We couldn't let Monday (his REAL birthday) roll around without event. How about a fresh baked birthday cake from Larry's House of cakes- strawberry jam fruit filling complete with spongebob and spiderman candles!

Labor Day camping!

I'm not sure who loved camping better- Gabe or Ayla, but Chopper can only handle so much! His dewclaw was injured climbing (falling, really!) on some rocks. Luckily, our "neighbor" was a vet and fixed him up.
Gabe said his favorite part of the trip was the campfire and the tent.

Gabe and the moth

Gabe likes the moth too! He prefers that it stay on his shirt and not actually touch his skin though!

What a handsome guy :)

Memorial Day Catch Up

Cousins, the best DQ in the world, swimming and washers! I challenge you to describe a better Memorial Day weekend!

Berry pickin and tolerance

Gabe is an expert when it comes to strawberries. He has been known to consume an entire pint while hiding in his bedroom. He's not such an expert when it comes to people "with scarves". Last weekend, while eating out he pointed to two women from Saudi Arabia and said "those people don't like children". Marcus and I asked him how he knew that- and his reply was "I just know". We explained that he didn't really know unless he heard them say plainly that they don't like children. So, I ushered him over to their table and introduced him and said "Gabe would like to know if you like children because he seems to think you don't". The sisters quickly became enamored of both of the kids and since they had only just arrived in the U.S. plans for an outing began to form.
Gabe had great fun teaching them how to pick berries- Shroug and Feadoor had rarely eaten strawberries, and admitted to us this berry patch thing was a new adventure for them.
Gabe ate so many strawberries, that he couldn't eat dinner and as he relaxed that evening asked "Where are we going to take those scarf sisters next?"

Mom Love by Gabe

Gabe snuck into my desk and gathered all the supplies necessary to make a card and hid in his room to make this!

Gabe's Idea of mowing...

Chopper