Another Bird-day????

To quote an old Tennessee Ernie Ford song, "Another day older and deeper in debt".  Whether or not you want to have a birthday they manage to find their way to your door step.  We enjoyed the birthday celebration in Texas at Dave & Busters with Audrey and Joshua.  We then had more celebrating of the big day after Austin came home from the hospital (Thx David and Michelle) and then we had a party in California when we returned home.  That is one thing about our family birthdays is that they have a tendency to go on for about a week so that everyone gets a chance to celebrate the event.  Thx to everyone for your thoughtfulness.  The cards were especially good this year!!  Great humor.



Fafa needed all the help he could get to blow out the candles.

It was a beautiful day for Bocce Ball to celebrate my birthday.  I think everyone had a good time and as usual the food was great as well.

Fun time on the courts.  I think we still can take the younger group in this game.

Brodie, is this a silly face pose or a look of pain from the choke hold Nathan is applying??

What a great family to hang out with.  Thx for attending the celebration.

Birthday Cookies are the best!!  Lots of sugar and great taste.   Yummmmmmmmm!

Some of the beautiful women that celebrated with me.

All the guys posing for a picture. 

I think that the number here is my age (times 8).  Fun time.

Nathan had a party the night before and so his hair was multicolored and spiked. 

Valentine's Day Texas Style

This year we were in Texas just before Valentine's Day and helped Audrey and Joshua put on a special night for Mom and Dad since they probably would not be getting out because of Austin's arrival.  Audrey and Joshua really got into making a restaurant atmosphere and being good servers.  It was a lot of fun!!  Happy Valentine's Day to all the family.

Happy First Valentine's Day Austin.  I think he is dreaming of chocolates and candy hearts! 



A New Little Bird for the Nest

Another special little bird found his way to the next in Rockwall.  We were blessed to be able to be there and spend time with the older kids, grand kids and the new little arrival. 

Here is Joshua and Audrey seeing Austin for the first time and finding out that they have a baby brother.  It was kept a secret until the kids got there so they could be the first to know (besides Mom and Dad that is).

Joshua immediately wanted to hold the baby.

Just after we got there it was time for Austin to go for a check up.  Audrey and Joshua got to wheel him to the nursery and back for this wonderful event.  Michelle did great and was up and moving quickly to enjoy all of the family excitement.

Audrey then got her turn to hold the baby.  She is going to be a great helper to mom.

Mom missed the kids and they missed her.  For now they all fit in the bed together as well.

Just as well add Dad to the picture and so the family is read for more pictures.  How many hundred did we get??

Fafa got his turn as well and Audrey made sure I was taking good care of her brother.

And of course Memor with the magic touch and love of children enjoyed this moment as well.

Joshua needed to make sure he had ten toes.                            

Audrey led the discussion as to what the name should be.  It was close between Elias and Austin but in the end it was Austin.  Thx Audrey for keeping track of everything.

Memor made a blanket for the new arrival and took it with her to Texas.  She did a great job of picking one that would work for either a boy or a girl and not be green or yellow.  Doesn't Austin look cute!!  The blanket looks great as well.

Mom and Dad bringing baby Austin home from the hospital on February 6th.  Welcome home Austin!!

David carried on his Dad's tradition of giving his wife a birthstone ring for each baby.  David brought two home to choose from and Audrey is helping Mom decide on the one she liked best.  When Michelle said it was hard to choose Audrey used here feminine instinct and said, "Why don't you keep both then?"  Way to go Audrey.

After Austin got home he had to have a "tubby" and so here he is getting ready for his first tubby in the kitchen sink.  He really liked the warm water. 

Out of the sink and into the towel.  He liked the warm water but not being removed and put in the towel. 

Now it is snuggle and cuddle time with Memor.

Three generations of Birds.  (I don't know who the old guy is thought).

Thanks Austin for arriving so safe and sound.  We really enjoyed our visit with you and the family.  Can't wait until we see all of you again.  Love,  Fafa and Memor

A Cold Day in Texas

Our visit to Texas this time was one with many firsts!!

It was a great trip and although we spent 8 nights there it went by fast and seemed too short when it was time to leave.

Texas Firsts:

First time to see new little Austin Andrew before he was 24 hrs old

First time to be cold on a visit to Rockwall

First time to play in 6 inches of snow with Audrey and Joshua

First time to play shuttle driver for Audrey and other school friends

First time to stay 8 days with David and Michelle and family

First time to celebrate my birthday at Dave & Busters

First time to get my boots polished at the airport

First time to fly out via Houston to Oakland

First time to clear snow off the drive way using a leaf rake

First time to see Joshua ride his bike (with training wheels)

First time to see Audrey race down the hill on her Razor scooter
First time to fly with an expired driver's license (and they didn't catch it)
First time to have teeth impressions taken at the dentist's home
First time to take both boy and girls clothes since we didn't know the gender of the baby


We flew into Dallas on a very chilly Thursday afternoon.  Ponds a etc. were frozen.

After dropping David and Michelle off at the hospital on Thursday night we went home with the kids only to wake up to a winter wonderland!  

Off to the snow we go trying to make a heart with an arrow through it.  Looks more like a snow game I used to play in Idaho.  

6 inches of snow was a pretty good amount to play in.  Who is the crazy guy with no gloves???

If you look real hard you can see a work inside the heart.  Memor and Audrey worked hard at it.  In case you need glasses and can't quite make it out the word is Baby.

We had to try and build a snowman.  The snow was a little powdery but we tried anyway.  We made him a blue eyed snowman. 

Memor and Audrey were trying to do snow angels.  They are both angels!

It is now Joshua's turn to try and do a snow angel.  He wasn't sure about laying down in the snow.

We had great fun in the snow and were glad that Audrey had a snow day this day.  FUN FUN FUN!!!