Amara's Birthday

Man, I love waking up my kids on their birthdays and surprising them with breakfast in bed....love the morning hair!

 Now this is more like it...and she got to pick her breakfast.  Yes, thats corn on the cob.  You don't mess with birthday requests!  ( she ate it all!)

 Amara is great at receiving gifts.  She can make whoever is shopping for her feel like a million bucks...us included.  her reaction to her Ariel Doll and her Emeraldalicious book were priceless!

 As Fulton Family tradition dictates- Brian takes the day off work and we go DO something.  Must better than just having something.  So, Amara got all dressed up and grabbed her new suitcase from her aunt and uncle and was ready for anything.

 We surprised Amara with a trip to the Zoo in Springfield.

 Then we headed to Scheels!  Its a sporting goods place but its like NO OTHER!  It has amazing things to see and do....

A massive aquarium.

 Nascar simulation

 Shooting ranges

 Big fish!

 Bears!

 ( he was scary but Brian got him!)

And even a Ferris Wheel!  YES-IN THE STORE!

 We rode it numerous times.  Mara would say things like "I'm frrrrreeeeeaked" and then giggle and lean over the side smiling!

 after a few hours there we headed to Chuck E Cheese for some food and fun!

 What an amazing day for our amazing little five year old!

Amara Christine Fulton Turns 5!

I can't believe its been five years since our precious angel was born!  Amara, you have grown into such a sweet little lady and we are so proud to be your parents! We love you so very much!

May 30, 2008

 2009

 2010

 2011

 2012

 June 2012

 July 2012

 August 2012

 September 2012

 October 2012

 November 2012

 December 2012

 January 2013

 February 2013

 March 2013

 April 2013

 May 2013....FIVE years old!

An EXTRA Special Year!

Alaric had an amazing year this year!  For his end of the year gift to teachers and staff, it seemed only fitting to give EXTRA gum!  Alaric loved making these and the staff enjoyed them. What a great year!

Memorial Day in Eureka

For as long as I can remember, my dad has gone to Eureka each Memorial Day to lay flowers on the graves of family members.  I'm not sure who started this tradition but for years he did it with my Grandma.  Then after she was unable, on his own.  Before we had kids, Brian and I got to spend the day with him and learn about all the people and history.  This year, the kids and I went and we loved it!  I'm hoping it will be a tradition he will share with us again next year too!

While many relatives are distant to me, both sets of my grandparents are buried in the same cemetery.  They are even pretty close to each other too.  Here are my dad's parents, Elsie and Samuel Bechtel.

My dad just sat on his walker and directed the kids where to go.  They ran up and down and back putting each pot exactly where it needed to go!

 Here are my mom's parents, Frances and Walter Osinski Davidson

 My dad gave condensed versions of the history...not much on the distant relatives but since my kids never met my grandparents, it was nice to share stories.  We also did alot of comparing and observing.  We looked at dates and decided how old people were, we looked at all the gorgeous tombstones, we guessed who was related to whom, etc.

Then we headed to this awesome park by my mom's lot at Lake Eureka to play in the puddles!  Papa just stood by the tree and watched!  Great park!

 Then we headed to my dad's farm so the kids could see where he and my Auntie Doris grew up.  While my family still owns the land, they do not own the homestead anymore.  So, we kinds snuck onto the property to take these two pics.  I thought for sure the people home would come out and ask what we were doing, but perhaps they recognized Dad's bald head.

This is our family's old barn!  I love it!  This barn is in numerous paintings and pictures that are much loved by our family!

 This is the house my dad and his family lived in for decades!

 A few years back, my dad put his father's small garden memorial marker along the property line of the farm as a small and simple way to honor Sam's farm.

 When we pulled up to the property line of the farm to stop and look at the land, I looked down and realized at that very moment, the car hit the 100,000 mile mark!

 We went to 3 different cemeteries that day and laid flowers and heard stories.  We then had lunch with my dad's cousin before heading home!  What a wonderful day it was!  Thanks Papa for sharing it with us!

Family Pictures

They are here!  They are here!  I've been waiting for these pictures.  Aren't they amazing!  My friend, Carrie Bodznick, took these beautiful images!  Thanks so much, Carrie!  I love them all!  Now just to decide which ones to print!