Buddy Turns Six with a Captain America Party

Jonathan,

You're killin me buddy, how in the world are you six years old? My heart is overwhelmed thinking of how fast time has gone. It feels like just yesterday I was staring at your cute little infant face asleep in my arms. But instead of focusing on how big you're getting, because I would easily turn into a blubbering mess, I'm going to focus on what a blessing you are to me and our family in this season of life. You are the sweetest boy I know. You have a heart of a servant and you always aim to please and love everyone around you. You have a smile that lights up the room and your "big eyes" captivate anyone who is listening to your current story. You are a very hard-worker. When I ask you to do something, your response is always, "I'm on it!" You love praise and in return love to give compliments. A day doesn't go by without you telling me how beautiful I am and how much you love me. You melt my heart daily. Your sense of humor keeps us all laughing and your comedic timing is ridiculous. You are passionate about movies and have told us that you want to grow up to be an actor, but not just any actor, a superhero actor of course. We can always count on you for the perfect movie line. Last night you were wiping down the kitchen table after dinner and I heard you in the kitchen saying, "Wax on, wax off." I'm so thankful for the joy you bring to our home everyday, keep making us laugh little man! 

I love that you are all-boy and at the same time you are a tender heart, you remind me a lot of your Daddy. The wife that God has for you is one lucky lady! For now I feel like the lucky lady that has the privilege of being your mama... I love that you call me mama. I see glimpses of what kind of man you are becoming and it makes my heart swell. God has given you so many wonderful gifts and talents and I know He has big plans for you. 

Jon my prayer for you is that you continue to let God direct your life, every-step-of-the-way. I pray that loving Him and loving others will be your life's mission and that you let Him use that huge heart of yours to do big things. I pray you would be a man of integrity and always put others before yourself. I pray you would continue to be a man of action and use that amazing work ethic to do great things. As your mom I want to pray that God would protect you and keep you from heartache, but I know that no matter what life holds for you that you are in His hands. 

All my love, 

Mama

Happy Birthday Sweet Mama : Soaking Wet Piggies and Their Trough

My mom is one of those ladies you can't help but love. Her heart couldn't be bigger, her love for life is infectious and her laugh is contagious. You really want to just eat her up because she's so cute. She has taught me so much about how to give of yourself even when you don't feel like it... when I think of her I think of the word servant. The good and faithful servant. She will be the first to tell you about all her shortcomings and for that you love her all the more because she's real. I don't even have to explain how freaking fun she is, the photos will explain that! 

It is such a treasure to be able to walk through life together, laughing, crying and being there for each other. I find out more each day ways that I'm turning into my mother and couldn't be more proud to say so. Happy Birthday sweet Mama, love you to pieces!

She's the cutest!

A day at the park, a little KFC and a huge apple pie... doesn't get much better that, or does it? I'll answer that, of course it does... read on!

Who needs plates? Doesn't everyone eat there apple pie and vanilla ice cream like pigs in a trough? Oh no. Well then I don't think you are enjoying life to it's fullest, you should re-evaluate!

I love this boy!

And the race is on! My kids have one fun Nana!! 

And we finish off the day with a little water fountain fun! Erik was here, not sure why he didn't make it into one photo.

These photos crack me up, we were all laughing so hard. Matty running around the park in his underwear making these middle schoolers play his game he made up. I don't know what it is with this kid but he has this ability to tell people what to do and they do it. Age and seniority means nothing to him. These kids totally played his game of throw the comb, fetch it for me, and then let me chase you around the park, hahaha!! 

Life is fun!

Matty-Moo's Chocat Birfday

"Matthew your birthday is coming up soon, what do you want to do for your birthday?"

"Chocat birfday!"

And every time we asked him, that was the answer he stuck to. He didn't want anything else but a Chocolate birthday. Okay, you got it. He couldn't have made it any easier on us. 

Matthew is the kid that will make your heart melt with sweetness one minute and then drive you to the point of insanity the next. He will make you laugh until you cry with his perfect comedic timing. He loves life and it shows through is adorable, animated face. We can't go somewhere without him talking to someone he doesn't know; making new friends comes very easy for him. He his stubborn and passionate. Food is a very big deal to him. He is drawn to music. He is fearless. 

He's full of excuses.

His new excuse when asked to do something he doesn't want to do is, "My doctor said I can't."

An excuse he uses to change the subject at the dinner table or when we ask him to do a chore is, "I not Hulk, I Nacho."

If we were to guess his future, he might end up in musical comedy and would probably be remembered as the crazy linebacker in high school that streaked across the field at the homecoming game. 

Abby and Papa made him a special birthday breakfast

Love this little stinker.

"How old are you Matt?"

We went to the store so he could pick out a toy for the top of his cake. Something to decorate the top and something he could play with afterwards... we are all about maximizing useage in this house. But Matt informed us, by putting the transformer up to his ear, that his transformer didn't want to go on top of his cake. Okay, whatevs. It's your birfday.

Two boxes of cake mix, four containers of fudge frosting and chocolate ice cream on the side. You want chocalate, Nana will give you chocolate!

"You want some?" 

He loves to share his food.

It's sort of a Matthew birthday tradition to let him eat his cake with his hands. It all began with his monumental first birthday cake episode. 

Papa decided to join in the fun!

We all went to the movies to see "The Avengers", and then we came home and devoured the ginormous chocat cake. Such a fun day celebrating our baby boy! 

Love you Matt-Moo!

A little recap of his three's

A Cooking Party for the Big Seven

We celebrated our Ella's seventh birthday this week! She chose to have a family party and wanted to do all the planning and cooking on her own. 

The plan:

Dinner: Ramen noodles 

Dessert: Confetti cake with pink frosting

Games: Freeze dance and simon says

Entertainment: Little House on the Prairie

I don't think it gets any easier than that!

Just one minor set back; she kept falling off the stool. 

"I'm so sorry El, you've inherited your mom's klutziness."

With a big smile on her face she says, "I'm not good at frosting cakes, but it sure does taste good!"

We forgot to buy candles but she found a used "5" in the pantry. She plops it on top and with a giggle and says, "That's okay, I'll just pretend it says seven!" 

I love this girl!

We painted nails and prettied up for a quick photo shoot! 

Nothing says "seven" like one front tooth gone and one just hanging there! 

An Interview with Ella

Mom: What's your favorite color?
El: Pink.


M: What is your favorite thing to do at school? 
E: That's easy; color.


M: What was your favorite birthday present?
E: I love my art studio!


M: What's your favorite holiday?
E: Valentines day because it's close to my birthday and because it's all about love and I'm all about love.


M: What do you want to be when you grow up?
E: An artist.


M: What do you think is the worst job ever? 
E: Fixing lamps because I have no clue how to work electricity. And it sounds awful.


M: What is your favorite thing to do? 
E: Having holidays.


M: What is the funniest thing you have ever seen?
E: An elephant pooping.


M: Describe what the best day of your life would look like?
E: Spending time with my family, playing games, laughing, giggling, having cake, and going crazy.


M: Describe what the worst day of your life would look like? 
E: I don't want to have any worst days, how about a worst second? That would be if someone slammed my head against the carpet and then me sitting in this chair, all alone, for the whole day, and crying.


M: Do you have anything else you want to tell me?
E: I love going to the zoo and I would love to have my next birthday in a gym. I love when you take my pictures, it's fun. Don't you think my new outfit is cute? Papa and Nana got it for me because they really love me! That's all.


Ella