crew's first birthday

Where did the past year go?  How is my baby already one?  It seems like just yesterday he was born.  I'm not going to use any of those ridiculous cliches about how my baby has grown up so fast, but seriously?!?!!  Today we celebrated this sweet baby's birthday and all I felt was love, gratitude and happiness (plus a little exhaustion from staying up way too late the night before).  So much nostalgia, so much reflection and so much fun with family!

No, I didn't make a mistake with the candles.  We also celebrated my nephew Corbin's birthday tonight too.

Yes, I take pictures of the paper products.  They make me happy!

Crew had a fun night, I think.  He enjoyed his new toys and had lots and lots and lots of little hands helping unwrap.  Our home was filled with craziness in honor of Crew's big day.  We were left with a mess and lots of cleaning up, but I wouldn't have it any other way.  I love the noise.  I love the people.  I love looking at these pictures of our home overflowing with people we love.

Yes, I'm feeling extremely nostalgic and grateful.  I love family.  I love my family.  I love our friends who have become family.  We have such an awesome support system.  While family is usually chaotic and sometimes difficult to deal with, they truly are the greatest joy in our lives.  I love that they are also the greatest joy in my children's lives as well.  

Crew took some time playing around with the frosting on his cake.  He seemed to think it was a toy and not a food.  Until I started feeding him and then he couldn't get enough.  He shoveled the cake in his mouth and all over himself until he was full.  Then he threw my ceramic plate on the floor.  It only chipped a little, which secretly made me smile.  Yes, a piece of history in the making.  I pictured myself going to use the plate in a year or so and remembering the origin of the chip.  Instead of being mad I would be so happy and continue to use my plate with pride!  Seriously, what is wrong with me?  I'm an emotional wreck.  What will I do when this boy goes to preschool, elementary or even worse leaves the house?  Every day this child is a reminder of the amazing chapter in my life that will be closing before I know it.  I love that he (along with his brothers) are helping me enjoy this crazy journey.  I hope he forgives me later on for indulging myself at every single milestone he has.  Poor kid, Happy Birthday Crew!  

cooper birthday

payton turns nine

Payton turned nine-years-old and we can hardly believe it.  Although, some days he already seems like an adult.  He already prefers to hang out with the adults instead of the kids at any family function.  He does NOT play with toys anymore.  He is very interested in all the adult dialogue in our home.  He doesn't like cartoons anymore.  He's really trying to show us that he is not a child, but sometimes you can catch him playing with his younger brothers or watching Cooper's morning cartoons.  He also still loves the potty talk, but does that ever go away in boys?! 

It's hard to watch him transition to a big kid instead of a child.  Payton has always been over the top responsible.  He is a great babysitter.  I can trust him to do anything I ask him to, usually he'll do it better than I can.  We are so lucky that he's our oldest child and he fits the mold perfectly.  He's a great example to his younger brothers.  

The only thing that we heard about for MONTHS before his birthday is that he wanted an itouch.  Actually, first it was an iphone and when he realized that would never happen, he changed his birthday wish to an itouch.  We kept acting like it probably wouldn't happen.  He was BEYOND excited when he got his birthday wish!  Pretty sure he hasn't put it down since his birthday.  He loves being able to play Words with Friends and Hanging with Friends with family.  He also loves that he can Face Time me from his bedroom.  He'll call just to say, "goodnight."  I actually think the itouch was an awesome investment and am glad he got what he wanted.

Another thing he wanted was NO PARTY!  I was crushed.  I'd already bought a bunch of party supplies and I love birthday parties.  I took the birthday supplies and gave them to his school class instead.  Payton insisted that he only wanted a "late night" with his two best friends; Chase and Alex.  We went to the store and picked out a ton of treats, which Payton thought was so cool.  The boys spent the night "hanging out."  It's crazy that he's growing out of so many things so fast (birthday parties...already?!).

We had such a fun time celebrating Payton and feel so blessed that this "big kid" is part of our family!

cooper's third birthday party