Happy Birthday Cole!

Dear Cole,
Today you are 9, which if you ask me seems a little ridiculous. I mean, 9 is half way to 18 and that I cannot even deal with. You are one truly amazing kid and I've cherished every second I've had the honor of being your mom. You have taught me so much about what it means to be a parent and I am grateful for that.

You have a huge heart and are the best big brother Kiley could ever ask for. Thank you for always being so kind to her and always welcoming her to play with your Legos even though I can tell that you would probably rather her stay out. You are a kind and generous friend and everyone at school loves you (including your teachers). I honestly could not ask for a better son.

This year has been amazing for you. Watching you grow and thrive brings tears to my eyes. Your emotional and social development this year has been spectacular. You love school and learning and you love being with all your friends. This year, after 5 long years, saw the end of speech classes. Your hard work on articulation has paid off in big ways. You even had a speaking part in the 2nd grade program, which was amazing. I mean, 5 years ago I never would have guessed that we would have come so far.

Thank you for being an amazing little human and for loving our family as much as we love you. My world would never be complete if you weren't in it.

Love,
Mom

PS - I love this picture because I love how much you love cactus.

Cole's Mad Science Birthday Party

I finally got a chance to do a write up of Cole's Mad Science Party.  You can read all the details over on the Jacksonville Moms Blog.

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl...

My Sweet Kiley Jean,

Today you are 5.  I almost can't even believe it.  5.  It seems like just yesterday you were born.  It seems like just yesterday you completed our family in a way I never imagined possible.

You are one truly amazing kid.  I am constantly in awe of what an incredible little person you are becoming.  You are a kind and caring friend to all people and your heart is as good as gold.  You love with every fiber of your being and I hope that you never change that about yourself.  You are adventurous and daring and really afraid of nothing.  You play soccer like a super star and concentrate on your dance steps like a girl twice your age.

5 means kindergarten, and change, and new friends.  I know that you'll face all this with determination and strength because that's just the way you are.

Keep up the amazing job at growing up to be something special.  You're already off to a great start.

I love you,
Mom

Eight...

Dear Cole,

What the fresh hell is this?  Eight?  Are you kidding me?  Eight is half way to sixteen and only ten years from eighteen.  I mean, seriously?  You're killing me kid.

But seriously, eight.  It's kind of hard to believe.  It feels like just yesterday my water broke in the middle of the night and I spent the next few hours doing laundry and dishes until I decided to wake your dad at 6am to head to the hospital.

Cole, you are one amazing kid.  You are kind.  So kind.  So much kinder than I am.  I mean, for the love of monkeys, you win awards for kindness.  Sometimes I'm just amazed by the boy you have become.  I feel like the luckiest mom in the world to have you in my life.  The absolute luckiest.  

I'm grateful every single day to have you as part of our family.  I could not ask for a more compassionate, caring, amazing son.  Thank you for always being you.

Love, 

Mom

Will's 10th Birthday {part 2}

A few more pictures from Will's birthday celebration.

10 candles

Making a wish.

She obviously hated the lego cake pops that Ali made.

Ready for the movie.

Will's 10th Birthday...

We celebrated Will's 10th birthday last week with the opening of the Lego movie and some delicious pizza.  It was fun to see him with all his little school friends.

Kiley's 4th Birthday...

Just a few more from Kiley's party. 

Smacking the rainbow piñata.

I love this picture.

Kiley's 4th Birthday {mmmmm…. cake}

For Kiley's Rainbow Party I made a rainbow cake.  It looks like just plain vanilla until you cut into it. Yum.

Kiley's 4th Birthday {small details}

Here are a few details from Kiley's Rainbow Party.  Custom water labels that I printed up, a rainbow cracker tray, rainbow veggies and fruit kabobs.

Kiley's 4th Birthday...

We celebrated Kiley's 4th Birthday back in November with a fun Rainbow Party at the park with all her little friends.  

She was a riot opening presents this year.  I really wish I would have taken some video.  Everything she opened was "exactly what she always wanted".  

Happy Birthday Kiley Jean...

Oh my sweet baby girl... I can not even begin to give you enough birthday wishes to equal the amount of love I have for you.  You.  Are.  Amazing.  And I'm not just saying that because I'm your mom.

I have loved the last year with you.  3 has been nothing short of fantastic.  I have loved watching you grow.  Loved watching you learn.  Loved watching you become such an incredible little person.

I love how you are always ready for adventure... whether it be a routine trip to Target, or a cross country flight to the west coast.  I love how you love your brother.  I love how you want to share your special lunch treats with all your friends... even when you only have a few of them left.  I have absolutely loved watching you play soccer this season.  You play with your whole heart and it is amazing to watch.

I am grateful every single day that you are a part of our family.  You make us complete in a way that I never even knew was missing.  You are the last piece of the beautiful, crazy, amazing puzzle that is our family.  You are compassionate and caring and you have a heart of gold.  You can make friends with anyone and you play well with everyone.  You stand up for injustice and speak out for what is right.  I have treasured every moment of 3.

It really is hard to believe you are 4.  You are growing up so fast I feel like only yesterday you were a tiny baby who needed me for everything.  Now you are so independent and mature.  I love you so much Kiley.  I hope you always know that.  

Happy 7th Birthday...

My Dearest Cole -

Happy Birthday!  It's almost impossible to believe that it has been 7 years since you made a mama out of me.  You are an amazing kid and I am grateful every day that I get to mother you.

At 7 you are interested in so many things.  Legos, learning, playing.  I love you a little more every day as I watch you explore the world around you.  I love to watch you read, I love to watch you learn.

You are the most amazing big brother.  Your love for Kiley shows no bounds and often you have more patience for her than even I do.  The way you share with her and read to her makes me proud every day.

Happy Birthday my dear boy. 

Tomorrow...

Tomorrow this one turns seven.  I almost can't even believe it.

Will's 9th Birthday...

Last month we celebrated Will's 9th birthday at the beautiful Stephen Foster State Park.  The kids had so much fun staying in the cabins and enjoying the great outdoors.

Pinkalicious Pinata...

 Whenever we start planning birthday parties around here the one thing the kids ALWAYS ask for is a pinata.  For Kiley's Pinkalicious Party we opted for a cupcake pinata.  The little girls loved taking turns hitting it and then thankfully cousin Michael busted it wide open for them.

Pinkalicious Presents...

And then there were presents.  Kiley was such a grateful birthday girl and said "thank you" for each gift she opened.  As you can tell she was SO excited to open gifts.

Pinkalicious Party...

At Kiley's party the girls had a fantastic time reading a few Pinkalicious books and then dressing up like Pinkalicious.  They even made their own princess crowns.

Pinkalicious Family...

While we were waiting for our guests to arrive, I decided to use the time lapse setting and take a few (dozen) pictures of us.  This one was my favorite, all of us in our pink party attire.

A Pinkalicious Party...

Kiley's party was totally awesome.  She loved every minute of it.  Here are a few of her blowing out the candles on her pink cupcakes.

Great Day...

Kiley had a fantastically magical day with all her family and friends.  More pictures to come...