This is Laura, me, Amy, and Heather at Fort Jackson.

Laura and Owen

I failed to blog about them on their birthdays, but Kyra turned five on the 20th and Owen’s first birthday was the 26th. Today, we had a party for both of them.

Here are most of the kids. I think it’s everyone but Owen.

Kyra got lots of really great presents.

Kyra was really excited about all of her great new toys!

Owen needed a little help with his stuff.

Owen really liked all of his gifts…

…but I think there was a clear winner!!!

When we gave Owen some cake, he was a little timid at first.

He got the hang of it, though.

Mamaw  gave Owen a bath after all the cake.

Elijah looking like Daddy. Check out his new haircut.

Kyra being silly.

Could he be any cuter? I think not.

The monkeys…

I like this one. I think it’s funny.

Owen wasn’t cooperating for this one.

Notice we’re all wearing blue…because we’re blue without our Daddy.

This was Kyra’s last field trip of the year. We went to Frozen Head State Park and had hot dogs and hamburgers. Everyone had a lot of fun.

Elijah played in the creek with our cousin, Punky.

With Brooke’s help, Owen played in the creek, too.

Elijah climbed a tree. (With a little help from Daddy, of course!)

He’s a cute little monkey, isn’t he?

They look like they know how to play, don’t they? Appearances can be deceiving.

Owen with his great-aunt, Angie. He was trying to take his hat off.

Kyra rode the flying elephants with Angie. They were having a ball!

This is the look Elijah gave Chris when he tried to take a picture of Elijah and Mamaw Velvet on the elephants.

He got a little more excited about playing in the water!

Silly Kyra! She liked playing in the water, too!

Owen didn’t get to ride much more than the stroller. He did get to ride the carousel, but I was holding him on the horse and didn’t get to take a picture.

Elijah drove Mamaw Velvet off into the sunset. (Don’t worry. He brought her back in one piece.)

Kyra took Angie for a spin!

And, finally, we have the obligatory “hold the camera out to take your own picture” shot to prove that Chris and I were actually there. He wasn’t cooperating and I had no make up on. I had also been wet at one point. So, it’s not a great picture. But I was there! I have the picture to prove it.