Jaden's Big Day

As sad as it makes us to see our little guys get so big, so quickly, birthdays are always very exciting and something we make a HUGE deal about around here. Jaden's birthday was such a special day just to celebrate him and how special he is to our family.

I spent the evening before his birthday decorating the living room with streamers, balloons, and a birthday banner. I was going to cover his bedroom floor with balloons, but Sam talked me out of it, and for good reason - can you imagine getting up to go to the bathroom in the middle of night to a floor covered in balloons; or a balloon popping in your room while you sleep (what was I thinking!?). I wrapped all of his presents and I knew he would be so surprised the next morning!

I got a tennis racquet for Christmas, so now he and I can play together!

Probably his most favorite gift of all -- books (and my favorite gift to give)! While at Target one day, he asked me to get him some of these little leveled readers for his birthday. He was so excited to see that I had remembered his request. The readers he got were Little Critter, Fancy Nancy, and two Toy Story ones.

It was Jaden's special day from beginning to end, so he got to pick a special lunch - Happy Meals!

While the boys napped, I attempted to make Jaden a Buzz Lightyear birthday cake. He loved it and that's all that matters.

Jaden had his choice of restaurants for dinner and was torn between Cracker "Bells" (Cracker Barrel) and Peter Piper. Then I suggested a fun place in El Paso called Jungle Jaks, and he was all for it! So as soon as daddy got off of work, we headed there and met the rest of the family for an evening of fun!

Jaden, Elijah and Aubrey can't wait to get that cake in their hands...

...and Landon would love it if he could just get that hand in his mouth!

Presents - for Elijah too! Lucky boy has some awesome grandparents who didn't want him to feel left out in the present opening. He got an adorable little remote control train.

And Jaden got the Toy Story GeoTrax train set! Thank you Nana and Papa!

One last ride on the bumper boats and bumper cars before it was time to go.

He had such a wonderful day and was so sad to see it all end. But I know this is just the beginning of a year full of fun and adventures to come!

Happy Birthday to An Amazing "Big" Boy!

On January 18, my sweet Jaden turned 4 years old! It was definitely BIG excitement for him, and something he has been looking forward to since January 18, 2010. Apparently when you turn 4, you officially achieve "big boy" status, so it was a day my little guy had been anxiously anticipating for exactly a year. And I'll be honest, it was a bittersweet day for me. It made me miss the days where I could just scoop him up and snuggle the heck out of him; the days where he would happily comply with anything I suggested; and the days that I was not yet thinking about the choices he will make with the pressures of being an adolescent. It also made me wonder why we are constantly subconsciously encouraging him to grow up so fast by talking to him about being a "big boy," behaving like a "big boy," and doing things that "big boys" do. And even though I wish he could just stay little (and often ask him if he will...he says nope), this day also made me so proud to reflect on the wonderful "big boy" that he is inevitably becoming. He is such a good-hearted, sweet-natured little ("big") guy who is so considerate of others. He loves his family more than anything and if we could have a family get-together everyday, he would be in seventh heaven. He's a ball of endless energy, always on the go and coming up with new games to play or jokes to tell; although he's shy (so he says) around new people. He's a little four-year-old attitude with an occasional case of selective-listening. He is so wise and thoughtful and I am constantly amazed at the things he comes up with. He's very inquisitive and is never short of curiosity and questions (and ironically, he knows the answers to everything, too!). And it makes my heart happy (and eyes teary) to think of what an amazing big brother he is. He would do absolutely anything for his Elijah, and Elijah loves him just as much. Jaden is such a blessing to our family and I am thankful for him every day. He has probably taught me way more than I have taught him. I am so thankful to be able to spend most of my day with him and Elijah (and am so appreciative to my hard-working husband who has given me the opportunity to spend this time with the boys each day). And as much as I would love to slow down the process, my little guy is growing up whether I'm ready to accept it or not. So as he grows, my wish is that he continues to love learning and reading; that he always treats people with love and respect; and that he never loses his joy for life.

Happy Birthday to our amazing "Big" Boy. We love you so much!

Holiday Season Part 6: Welcome 2011!

We rang in the new year with family, friends, and a serious game of Bingo, complete with the dreaded white elephant gifts as prizes! And the evening wouldn't be complete without little ones discovering the excitement in a New Year's horn. Aren't they cute!
Me with my sweetie pie niece, Aubrey!

SNOW!!! And ICE!! Jaden was so excited to finally see some snow this Winter (he didn't think that Christmas was supposed to even happen without snow)! And Elijah was just excited to be outside!
Just before New Year's, I was reminding my mom of the New Year's Eve parties we had with our cousins when we were little - hats, horns, leis, noisemakers... So my sweet mom went out and got the whole works for the party!

BINGO game-o!

Watching for the ball to drop.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! (And yes, Jaden partied the night away and stayed up later than anyone - and woke up earlier than anyone the next morning, too!)

Baby Landon is all partied out!

It seems like 2010 just flew past and 2011 crept in without a warning! 2010 will be an unforgettable year. It was filled with countless milestones for the boys' (Elijah walking and talking; Jaden's first soccer team...) and so many wonderful family memories (Our first trip to Disney World - pictures still to come!). It is also the year we lost my amazing grandpa; but his memory will carry on throught years to come!

I look forward to what is to come in the New Year and althought I am sad to realize that my two little guys are growing up faster than I'm ready to acknowledge, I can't wait to see all of the ways that they continue to grow and develop into their own little individuals! I look forward to growing as a family - not in numbers! But in love, faith, happiness, and unity. I look forward to being a better mom, wife, daughter, and teacher. And I also look forward to cooking more meals at home, living healthier, being more organized, cutting more coupons, doing more tot-school stuff with the boys, procrastinating less, and living and loving each day with true intention. Sounds like it's going to be an amazing year! Hope it is for you too!