Birthday Fun!

For my family and friends that keep up with us here, enjoy pics of our big boy Elliott!

Considering our circumstances, we kept it low-key ... well as much as you can with 5 kids and sugary cupcakes. :)

a gift & card from his big brother

"Dear Elliott.  I am glad that you are turning 3."

so sweet.

He got "Let's Go Fish" game.  He's been pretending to fish everywhere (in the car, off the bed, outside) so this really was the perfect gift for him.

I love the tongue ... it helps him concentrate you know. :)

You can see how proud he was to do it all by himself!

*awwwww*

He got to choose who played with first, and he didn't want anyone but his brother.

*awwwww*

Then his Aunt Elizabeth (almost 6 years old) could play next with him.

sugar!

Elliott & Aunt Elizabeth

Samuel and Aunt Victoria (almost 9 years old)

Happy Birthday to Elliott!!

ps. I'm getting really good at fishing too ... we've been everyday.

the big 3

Happy Birthday to my Elliott.
today he is 3 years old.


Elliott is starting to show just how different he is from his big brother.  he has always just copied Sam, but now, he imitates him and then takes it up a notch.  and when he does that, then Sam imitates him.  its usually a vicious cycle that ends up really messy, and we are either all laughing hysterically or someone is crying like their arm just got cut off.


this boy is sweet.  he loves to love.  he's a hugger and kisser.
Elliott makes people smile real smiles.  what I mean is, you can often tell when people are having a bad day, week, or possibly just have a tough life.  Elliott comes along, and can get them to break that hard outer shell and smile.  and not just a fake smile; they smile with their eyes too.  you can see that its real heartfelt.  I have never ever seen someone be able to do that.  I love that about him. 


Samuel is also a people person, but he uses his words.  when he starts talking, people listen.  he's a natural leader.
when Elliott looks, laughs, touches, speaks, people respond too, just in a different way.  this boy is a natural supporter, and always seems to be encouraging others that way.
either way, my boys have been given a gift with other people.  and its just amazing to watch.


Elliott is very mischievous.  he's into everything, and loves it of course.  he even has his "evil little laugh" down,  you know the one I'm talking about.  as upset as I can get with him, I still want to get my camera and take a picture of whatever he has gotten into.  and when I do that, he knows I can't really be that mad.


he hates -
brushing his teeth
going to bed, or rather, staying in bed
his brother


he loves -
fruit
boogers
shower/bath time
his brother


he's talking in sentences more and more, and he's able to be specific about what he wants.  which is good ... and bad ... but mostly good.  I am excited he is becoming more independent, in fact, I am selling my last stroller which would make him officially a kid and not a toddler.  now if we could just get the potty training thing to happen ...


getting back into the bloggy-swing-of-things, birthday pics coming soon!






Elliott James,
I love you more than an elephant!
<3 Mama

cake time!

today my dad is 66.  his dad died at 66, so this is a big year for him.

dad, in case you're reading ...

I love you.

happy birthday.

Sam I am

as of October 13th, my oldest is 6.

whoa. 6.

cliche time ... where did the time go?! seriously.

having that first baby is sooooo exciting. the horror stories will and do freak you out a bit, but ultimately, excitement takes over.

usually all the unexpected stuff is enough to drive you insane, but in this case, it isn't too scary since you know you will have an adorable, tiny, heaven-smelling, perfect, piece of love in your arms. its blissful.

so fast forward 6 years and now I have a very talkative, proud bubble maker (that's farting in our house!), athletic, and silly little boy. he's a 1st grade smarty-pants and a new cub scout. I'm awfully proud.

he's still perfect.

although, I do miss nap time.

I have always been so thankful that he in whole in every way. God did give me a perfect piece of love ... one that I do still try to hold in my arms, but those moments aren't quite as much as the earlier years. he's still a mama's boy, but he really LOVES to wrestle with daddy, get tickled, and run crazy ... and now that Elliott is here, the 3 of them go crazy together.

to mothers of boys ... a piece of advice -

I taught both boys from the beginning to jump on daddy, not mommy. I strongly suggest you do the same! these boys eat constantly and are growing like weeds, so I know they will be bigger than me in no time ... honestly, they hurt me already! so instead, I opt to watch, laugh my head off, and [hopefully] get some good pictures from those play sessions. :)

Dearest Samuel,

You are loved more than you could possibly know.

Happy 6th Birthday.

xo, Mama

aloha

I'll be here for the week if you need me.

Aloha!

turning 5

my Sam just turned 5. he's been talking about turning five for months; he's been so excited. silly me, I thought he was excited for his birthday to get a few presents. nope, he's was more excited to tell people his age and be able to hold out his whole hand to show them. he did get a few presents, but he like the birthday sundaes we made more. I'm glad he's not focused on the material things ... I wonder how long that will last. my hope, forever.

my camera is officially broken, so I don't have pics to post. :(

but we did get silly with the mac the other night, so here is what 5 looks like ... sort of. aren't we cute?!

I love my son to pieces. he has helped me so much in his 5 short years, he has no idea. I hope to tell him one day, without crying my eyeballs out that is!

in short, God gave me this verse specifically about Samuel a few years ago -

Hebrews 1:14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

happy 5th birthday son, you are a true blessing.

birthdays

my husband is the first person I have ever met that sincerely does not enjoy his birthday.  it is not so much about getting older, but he just does not care one way or the other.  he wants to treat July 21 like every other day.

me on the other hand, I love my birthday.  growing up, I always felt special on my day (thanks mom and dad!) and so I like to do that same thing for my family.  small birthday parties, maybe a few presents, special dinner, and decorations.  nothing extravagant, but enough for that particular day to stand out from the rest.  your birthday is a celebration of what God has created - YOU!!

if hubby ignored my birthday, I would definitely be upset and disappointed.  my MIL told me earlier last week, by not receiving the blessing someone is trying to give you, you steal their blessing too. him not allowing me to celebrate him yesterday, I was also upset and disappointed.

what to do with a year-round Scrooge?  he is really not a fan of any holiday because he believes it is just corporate america making the rich richer ... to some extent I agree.  he also believes that all tradition is bad ... this I do not fully agree with.   still, no birthdays?

got any suggestions for me?

the BIG 1!!

Happy 1st Birthday sweet Elliott!!

the days are long, but the year(s) are short

someone profound said this ... anyone know who?

such is the case with kids.  there are days I wish would end so much sooner than later, and of course there are other days where I wish I could freeze us in the moment.  this year flew by!

everyday Sam has tried to play with Elliott.  he loves to be the big brother, although I do have to fend him off most days.  I end up saying things like: "his crying is the way he says STOP IT!!" "your his big brother.  love him, don't hurt him" "just wait until he can hit you back"

hahaha!  boys are crazy!

Elliott started walking around 10 months, so now that he's 1 year,he's pretty good at it. He can say Mama & Dad, and just recently added Papa and ball to his vocabulary.  do most boys develop physically first?  this is how Sam did it too; his first word was duck.  so cute!

Since he is so physical and strong, I thought it was time to put him facing forward in the car.  He definitely likes seeing what is going on, as you can see in this picture.  He still takes 2 naps a day, so when he falls asleep in the car and the carrier is no longer an option to keep him asleep, I have to try and transfer him to the stroller.  9 out of 10 times, he wakes up and we all lose that peace from his naptime.  I can't go back now, that would be mean to him and a bit selfish of me, don'tcha think?   ... he is growing up after all.

We had a little birthday party for him.  He LOVED his birthday cake! Grandpa said "aw, let him have another piece.  you're only 1 once!"   so I happily agreed ... and then someone mentioned a puking baby and I quickly changed my mind.  luckily Elliott did not get sick ... but geez, why didn't I think of that?!

His personality is really emerging.  He is a very observant boy, mostly watching how his big brother does things.  He is also turning into a funny guy, just like my other 2 boys.  In this picture, he wanted to show me what he was eating while screaming!  the laughing kind of screaming, not the tantrum kind.

Elliott has taught me a lot about myself this last year.  We've been in a season of trials (still are) and since Elliott has required so much of me this year, I've had to learn to slow down and not get so caught up in all the "stuff."  Having a baby really, I mean REALLY, puts things into perspective.  and any good parent will know that no matter what is happening, family comes first.

hug and kiss your kids ... while they will still let you!!

31

happy birthday to me!

last year turning 30 wasn't a big deal. I was pregnant, so I had more important things on my mind. but this year turning 31 seems to be making a bigger impact. why? I don't really know.

hubby has been out of town for over a week, my sister wasn't going to come see me until later, and my parents are in SoCal and are planning to visit next month ... but my bday was here and now and no one was around.
my parents always made "my day" special. I do remember a few bday slumber parties, and a bowling bday, but mostly mom would let me chose what was for dinner. I always picked the same thing: lasagna. nobody cooks like mom!

I now live close to my in-laws, whom I don't know that well. we've always lived so far apart from each other, that I'm just now getting to know them. my MIL invited me over for lunch, and I thought "why not? nothing else is going on." I was bummed and a bit disappointed because everyone I normally spend my bday with was gone. not being too close with my MIL, I wasn't expecting anything extravagant.

boy, was I wrong!
I walk in and saw all these decorations of streamers and balloons, so I guessed right away she took the girls out of school to have a party for me. but around the corner was everyone I knew here in CoSprings. hubby was sneaky and came back into town, my sister and her hubby, a couple we met a few weeks ago, and co-worker/friends hubby works with. the girls attacked me with silly string, and I got hugs from everyone. my MIL even made me lasagna ... not like moms of course, but still yummy.

they also got a pinata. I thought those were only for kids' parties; turns out they work for 31 year olds too. it was fun!

there was so much commotion, I don't think anyone took pictures.
hubby had to go out of town again already, but when he returns we're doing something special, just us. I'll take pictures then.

it's nice to be reminded how much people care. I didn't really realize who and what I had until my party; it was a real blessing and a great way to begin 31!