Party time (a week late)

Since the kids have birthdays 6 days apart, I am going to have one big party as long as they will let me! This year, I decided on an art theme since Scarlett really loves to draw. Clark is an easy going guy so he goes along with just about anything still. (I hardly got any pictures, but thankfully my family and friends did...thanks gals!)

When the kids first arrived, they decorated their goody bags.

Then the owner of the art store (and party coordinator) read the kids a book. I could choose any theme I wanted. Scarlett loves Fancy Nancy right now and Clark loves monkeys. Because I couldn't find a Fancy Nancy book about monkeys (ha), I opted for a gender neutral ABC book. The "teacher" read the book and then each child had a chance to decorate a canvas with their first initial.

After all the hard work, it was time to eat! We ordered pizza and it was so good! I think it was especially yummy since we were the first order of the day. The pizza came hot and fresh!!

Instead of a cake, I made cupcakes for the kids. Pink with Fancy Nancy toppers for the girls, and chocolate with monkey toppers for the boys.

I'd say it was a great party. There were a lot of kids, but the activity was engaging and I think everyone had fun. Plus, it was so easy for me...all I had to do was order pizza and make cupcakes...that's my kind of party! :)

He's got moves

Big Day!

Today was the big day...Kindergarten!! I resisted the urge last night to look through old baby pictures, but it really does seem just like yesterday that she was sleeping right beside me with that big green passy in her mouth. And now...enough of the sap. My last few posts have been full of emotion, so this one will just be fun! Scarlett was SO excited this morning!!

We made the decision this year for Scarlett to go to a Christian School. I know that's not for everyone and there are things we will be missing by not starting off at a public school but for us this year, it's what we felt was best for our family. I'm trying to just take it one year at a time so who knows what we'll be doing next year.

One funny thing she said this morning:

"Mommy, everyone is going to wear their red shirts and blue bottoms or bouncers."

Me: "Bouncers?"

Scarlett:"Yes, those dress things"

Me: "Oh, you mean jumpers!"

haha. I guess to her, a bouncer is the same thing as a jumper :)

I did get a little teary this morning when we all met in the gym to pray and sing songs before being dismissed for class. It truly made leaving her so much easier...for me. She was already so into being there that she hardly noticed us walking out!

My big girl!

Three

My Birthday Boy,

I am in shock...you are THREE years old!! That's the same age Scarlett was when you were born. It's wild because I feel like these three years have gone super fast so you still seem like my little baby. However, you have told me on more than one occasion that you are a big boy. You love doing big kid things like your sister-she is your hero! Sometimes I sit and listen to you two playing together and my heart is just filled with joy. What a blessing it is to see your friendship grow.

I think one of your favorite things right now is playing games on the computer or my phone. You are your daddy's son and can figure any electronic game out in about 5 minutes. I think you will be an engineer one day...either that or an attorney because you are also SO persistent and try so hard to wear me down with your repetitive questions. You are giving me a run for my money :)

You are determined, strong, loving and hilarious. You have the very best laugh in the whole wide world and no matter where I am in the house, when I hear you laugh I have to join in.

This will be a different year for us...I hope you will adjust well to having Scarlett in school all day and that I will be a good substitute playmate for you. I am praying already that you enjoy your Mother's Day Out starting this fall. You tend to still have some separation issues and I'm just a tad nervous about how you are going to do, but I know it will be the best thing for you. I don't know what I will do with myself those two days that you are gone! I hope you make some great friends and that your teachers will find you just adorable as we do.

I hold you any chance you give me these days because I know before too long you won't want to sit in my lap. Thankfully for now, you still love for me to hold you after bath and sing you songs. You have my heart sweet buddy. Every day is better with you in it and I am so lucky to be your mommy.

Six

Sweet girl,

Happy Happy Birthday! I remember my prayer all through my pregnancy with you. I prayed for a happy baby. I am sure I also prayed for your health, but I just remembered thinking that if you were happy everything would just fall into place. God answered above and beyond my wildest dreams. You still are such a happy, carefree girl and Daddy and I are SO thankful for you!

You have the most vivid imagination and are so very creative. I think you take after both your grandma and Mimi in that department. You can just sit for hours making up a story or drawing, or creating. In fact, that is really my only worry about school. I hope you can somehow channel that imagination and not be too dreamy while you are supposed to be working!
When you were a tiny baby you were always so calm and content. I thought that might mean you didn't have any spunk as you got older, but boy was I wrong about that. This year you have really blossomed in the personality department and love to crack us up with your silly faces and stories. I'm sure you get some of that from your cousin Beck...you sure do admire him! You also aren't afraid to tell me just what you think about something. I pray that you will always stand up for what you believe. (even if I have to bring you down a notch or two sometimes)
Even as girlie as you are, you love going to play tennis with Daddy. It seems you make friends easily (even on the tennis court) and are never too shy to ask someone what their name is and before I know it, you're fast friends. You see the best in everyone just like your daddy and I think it's one of your best qualities. Just yesterday you were asking me what made me love you so much and I just got a big lump in my throat because it's so many different things. Your pure heart sure is up there though as one of my favorite things.
You are loyal and kind and funny and loving. The other day we were talking about school and you said that you were going to find the loneliest girl and ask to be her friend. I hope that is always true. I pray that you will make friends and always BE a friend. As evidenced by your birthday list you don't seem to ever want to leave anyone out! I'm not really nervous about you going off to school because I know you are beyond excited, but I'll tell you that I will for sure miss you when you're away all day...and Clark will too!
Every year I think I will be so sad when this year is over and you are another year older. I thought that with five. I couldn't imagine saying I had a six year old...yet here we are, and it's better than I could have imagined as is always the case. Six is sweet for sure. I love you!!

Uncle Danny's Birthday

My sweet Uncle Danny had his 51st birthday in July, and on the 17th we celebrated with a western bash at my aunt and uncle's house.

The Birthday Boy

the "grown ups"

yummy cake!

There were 11 kids...7 boys and 4 girls. I think the oldest was six and the youngest was 3 months. It was a houseful, but so much fun!!

catching critters

the food was SO good

some of the boys

Happy Birthday Danny Boy. We love you!!