11th Birthday Celebration

 Jacob is eleven now.

 besides presents

 and cake

 he is now as old as Harry Potter was when he learned he was a wizard.  In our family this is the magical age to begin reading the series and he is very excited about it.

Two days after Jacob's birthday I found Matthew hiding out in the carport with the chocolate bar I had bought for my sister I visit teach.  Because he was hiding I a sure he knew he was not choosing the right, but what can you do when there faces are this cute upon being discovered?

Philip's Big 5

 Just a recap on Philip's day.  He wanted a Star Wars Birthday so we had many games including,

 Wipe out Darth Vader's Face

 An obstacle course

 which really took the force to complete.

 And in the end everyone was Knighted.

 I think Philip was pleased with it all. 

 Especially the cake!

Note: Lois is getting to the "Sit up with Daddy stage!"

The Hague Netherlands Temple

 This is our temple.  Well we actually belong to the Frankfurt Temple district, but this temple is much closer to our home, so this is where we attend on a monthly basis.

 We brought the kids up here to see this pretty temple on the way home from the tulip gardens.

 Pretty pansies, Robin's favorite flower.  

  Lois, Benjamin, Emma, Jacob, Philip, Jane, & Matthew. 

 This temple is only about 1 hour and 45 minutes away from our house.  It is the closest temple we have ever had in the past 11 years.

 Jane

Holland Tulips

 Today we went to the Tulip Gardens in Holland.

 

 Jane 

 

 Matthew 

 

 Philip

 There was an indoor display of Orchids

 They were about the size of Jacob's head!

 Emma and Jane

 Philip, Jacob, Emma, Benjamin, Matthew and Jane 

 Benjamin

 This mosaic was of Tower Bridge in London

 & Big Ben

 Our Ben

 Philip, Jane and Benjamin

 Emma

 The kids

 

 Hyacinth

 Jane

 Grumpy

 Happy

Jane, Robin & Lois  

 Tulips making a mosaic of a tulip.

 Rainbows

 Nato & Matthew 

This marks the third country we have visited in just the last 30 days.  What a way to live!