Toby loses his 2nd tooth!

And got $3 from the tooth fairy.

Note: The tooth fairy apparently starts high and will leave less and less for each tooth lost.

First Trip to the Dentist

No cavities!

First Day of School

Toby started kindergarten today. He was really excited about starting school and having a backpack and meeting his teacher and riding the bus.

Cottage Fishing

Here's the start of our fishing day at Grandma's cottage. Somehow, Toby turned into such a good fisherman that he caught the first fish and the most fish.

Here's the first fish. I didn't dare take the camera on the boat, so I don't have a picture of all 9 of Toby's fish, but I can tell you it was quite amazing to see him catch that many fish.

No reason.

There's no reason for this photo, but it's so darn cute I just had to post it. Every time I take Natalie's picture, Toby sits there waiting for me to take his picture next.

Our little fisherman...

Toby just can't get enough fishing this summer. He's got his own pole and has learned to fish on his own. He'll put the worm on and take the fish off. Dad and Toby like to fish at the lake down the road from our house.

Fishing Prep...

Dad bought Toby a new fishing pole today. Toby couldn't wait to start practicing his cast. He's getting ready for the next trip to Grandma's cottage where he's planning to catch THE BIG ONE.

Toby loses his first tooth...

Town & Country Days...a rainy dud!

We were supposed to go to Sparta's Town & Country Days today, but the rain ruined all of the outdoor activities. Instead Toby and I went to the train station for a quick tour and spent the rest of day at Angela & Mark's house. Toby loves playing with the Holman boys!

This photo has been edited.

I'm sure you can see why it's been edited.

(Grandpa Joe gave the OK to go in the woods.)

Fishing...

Toby and the Holman boys got to do some fishing at Grandma's cottage at the Memorial Day party.

Visiting the Holmans

Toby got to meet baby Graclyn for the first time today.

He adores babies!

Waiting for Daddy...

Tim took a trip to South Carolina this week for work training. We picked Tim up at the airport today and Toby made this really cute sign for him, just in case his Daddy didn't recognise him.

Down at the lake...

Toby loves to find big rocks to throw into the lake.

Toby's 5th Birthday

This smile pretty much says it all!

We got Toby a new Spiderman bike and hope that it warms up soon so that he can get out and ride it. If it doesn't warm up, I'm sure he'll be circling the driveway on his bike with his winter coat and boots.

A Birthday Pie

Because Toby's birthday fell on Easter this year, we're having his birthday party next weekend. Still, I let him decide which kind of birthday pie he'd rather have...an applie pie or a chocolate cream pie. You can see which he chose. (It was made from scratch and very delicious, I might add.)

You might be wondering "what are the odds that Toby's birthday might fall on Easter again?" Not good! Easter is always celebrated the 1st Sunday after the 1st full moon following the Spring Equinox, which this year falls on Thursday, March 20. Easter can actually be one day earlier (March 22) but that is very rare. Easter this year is the earliest that anyone will ever see the rest of their lives. Only the most elderly people (95 and over) have ever celebrated Easter this early in the past. The last time it was this early was 1913. And none of us have ever or will ever see it a day earlier.

The earliest calendar date on which Easter can fall is March 22 and the latest date is April 25. The odds are considerably better for witnessing a late Easter. Many people are alive today from the last time Easter fell on April 25, an event which occurred in 1943 and many people will likely still be around when Easter next falls on April 25, which will occur in 2038. The next time Easter will fall as early as this year will be in the year 2228, which is 220 years from now. The next time Easter will be a day earlier (March 22) will be in 2285 - 277 years from now. The last time Easter was celebrated on March 22 was in 1818.

Birthday Dinner

Because Toby's birthday is on Easter this year, we celebrated his birthday dinner a day early. Of course, he picked his favorite restaurant, Red Robin!

Tired out...

I took the kids to visit Tim at work today. He's working at the Hudsonville Elementary school. The kids got to run around the gym for a while and played basketball. Toby decided to take a break and lie on the floor for a while. It's hard work being a kid.

Getting ready for kindergarten...

Toby had his kindergarten screening today and he can't wait until school starts. He got to spend time with some teachers today, letting them know all he knows about numbers and letters sounds and shapes. Here he's holding a picture of a bunny he was asked to paste an ear on.

Toby adores his Uncle Matt...

Toby got to spend some time with Uncle Matt at G&G Crofoot's anniversary party. Matt sure has a way with kids!

Autorama 2008

Dad & Toby visited the Autorama once again this year with Uncle Joe & Anthony. Toby especially loved the "Cars" look-alikes.

A New Year's nap...

This is what happens when you try to

stay up all night on New Year's Eve.

Toby needs some neighborhood friends...

Playing outside all by himself.

Our Thanksgiving Craft

Toby wanted to show off the paper chain we made for Thanksgiving. This was actually just a small paper chain made just for our picture wall in the kitchen.

Planning for future Halloweens...

Toby's favorite book is now the Party City Holloween Costume Catalog. He's planning all of his future Halloween costumes.