Dan's 7th birthday/Calebs 1st haircut

Daniel blowing out his candles. :)

     Yesterday was Daniel Dwight Whitakers 7th birthday.  We had a big party complete with cake, presents, grandparent, family, and cousins. :)

Daniel in his spiderman outfit. 

Gracie and Grandpa. Someone gave us a cubs shirt so she decided she would wear it for her grandpa. :) (who doesn't like the cubs.) :)

The Girls. :)

Em and Bryce are back and had a wonderful time!

Then we all went outside for a game of wiffel ball.

     We all had alot of fun.  It was a beautiful night.  Lots of laughing for sure! It was a great birthday for Dan.  I can remember like it was yesterday the night God gave him to us. (1:00am) to be exact.  His dad named him.  I called my dad the next morning (nobody knew he had been born), and asked told him if he wasn't doing anything that day he may want to come up and see his new grandson! ;) Boy, was he happy and surprised!  Daniel is one of our most outgoing little guys. He will smile and talk to anyone. And he is constantly singing.  Everyone of our kids has something special about them that adds something great to being a large family. And his gift is his cheerful sweetness that he shares with everybody!  Happy Birthday Dan!

Caleb's 1st haircut.:)

     This morning after I gave Doug a haircut, he asked if I'd give Caleb one. Sadly, I did. It was hard to shave off all that baby white fluffiness and make him look like a little man. He's still looks sweet, but just older.  Which happens to all of them, thankfully in many ways, but i know I will forget alot of their little baby ways ,(except for pictures and blogging of course.) 
      I guess that is about it for Dan's big day and Caleb's stepping out of babyhood. In a couple weeks he himself will be one. We are kind of in a birthday marathon right now. Dan(23), Gracie(30),Sarah(6th),Caleb(8th). After that we get about a month off. Lots of fun, visiting, and remembering funny things about each one growing up!  What a blessing.  God knew exactly all the things he ws thinking of when He called babies blessings. He knew every special thing they would bring into our lives.  Thankfully all we had to do was trust Him and obey. Sometimes willingly, sometimes fearfully.
     Sometimes when I am most overwhelmed, I try and remind myself how my cup runeth over with blessings from the Lord because He loves me and wants to give me every good and perfect thing.  Then all I can do is look up, smile, and be thankful. Still overwhelmed,but looking at it all in a very different way. A gift lovingly given, just needing to be managed a little better. :) I am thankful that he knows what is best for my life even when I don't and if I only follow His leading and trust, things will turn out the good way, the way He intends them to be.  And His ways are always perfect and best.
                     Thanks for visiting.  Hope your Sunday is peaceful and blessed with family as well!