{Birthday Boy Luke!}

My first son turned four years old this past Monday!  What a surreal moment to realize what that day four years ago meant and how much it has changed my life.  I think everyday, no matter how challenging of a day it is, I am so lucky to be this guy's mommy. He truly is my buddy and my heart almost feels like it is going to burst with love for him. 

 

We started out the morning with candles on his cinnamon roll.  Last year we did donuts, but since then, the boy has showed his love of cinnamon rolls. Or twists for that matter.  But you can't really put candles on a twist very well, so we went with the roll.  And he was absolutely thrilled!  I don't think they ever get tired of getting sung to and getting to blow out candles...

 

 

Luke is one of the last of his friends to turn four.  He has been to all the birthday parties this season and celebrated all of his friends and hasn't quite understood why he wasn't four yet.  I feel like we have been counting down for months now.  Probably because we have.  He always seemed so disappointed when he would meet a little friend and they would proudly announce that they were four.  He would always respond, "I'm three. But I am going to be four in February!" I couldn't wait to tell him on Monday that he was FINALLY four!  The smile on his face was priceless.  He was one proud little guy and it literally choked me up.  All the presents and cake in the world did not match the feeling of finally being four for Luke. 

 

So after all the candles and talk of being four, he headed to school for the day!  We brought train cookies with Thomas napkins to celebrate his big day with his teachers and classmates.  He got his birthday crown from his teachers and had a wonderful day!

 

Oh that morning before we got to school, he asked me, "How do you do four on your fingers?".  I made sure he got it right and he was pretty much doing this all day...

 

 

 

 

After school, we gave him his present...a brand new big boy bike!  I actually wasn't sure how he would like this. When we got him his tricycle a few years back, it took him awhile to take to it, so I thought that might be the case with this new bike.  But oh nooooooo, he absolutely loves it.  And we have been on very long bike rides every day (except rainy days!) since Monday.  He can ride so fast and since we live on a little bit of a busy street, I don't feel comfortable with him riding by himself.  So I put my running shoes on and we are off.  It is exhausting!  Luckily, Chat finally got out his bike and will ride next to him.  I wasn't sure how I was going to keep up with him day after day!

 

 

He now requests to ride it everywhere.  We told him on Tuesday it was time to get in the car and go to dinner.  He asked, "Where are we going?".  Chat told him that it wasn't far.  His response?  "Well, then I can just ride my bike."  He loves it. 

Chat had to go to school that night of his birthday, so once he left, we went over to a friend's house for cupcakes and some playtime.  We are so lucky to have such thoughtful friends.  Then after that, we headed to Sissy and Uncle Day-Day's house!  My sister had her birthday the week before so we had a joint little celebration...

Okay, truth.  We actually ate the cake without Sissy!!  But we did have fun playing over there.  Molly decided to take the boys on a car ride!

I picked up chick-fil-a on the ride home and we all enjoyed some nuggets before bath time.  Luckily, Chat got to leave school a bit early so he was able to tuck our little birthday boy in that night.  I am very thankful for an understanding professor that realizes some things are still important even in graduate school. 

We decided not to do a big party for Luke this year.  After Christmas and hosting a big party for Ben, I really couldn't think about another big party at home.  And anything we wanted to do outside is so iffy in February.  You never know what kind of weather we are going to have.  So we decided to ask a few of his favorite little guy friends over to run around and eat pizza the week before his birthday (which totally confused him -- he still didn't get why we were singing Happy Birthday to him if he really wasn't four yet).  Even though we didn't do an official party, we still had to have a cake all decked out with Thomas!

He had a great time playing with his best buds and it was a low key event for us which I was thankful for.  Next year, I am sure we will do something with all his friends for the big FIVE! 

We did bring him to his annual breakfast at Avalon Diner, but not till Thursday.  With Chat's work schedule and school schedule, that was the only day we could do it.  So it was eggs, pancakes and bacon a few days late, but still delicious!  It is fun to have more than just one day to celebrate :).

Luke has grown so much in the past year.  He is such a sweet, kind little boy that still has lots of energy.  I am so thankful for him and know this year is going to be wonderful.  We don't head to the doctor for his yearly check-up till March, so I will back with stats then!



{My Loves: Valentine's Day 2014}

Happy Valentine's Day!  I am slightly running on fumes from a bit of a crazy week and Chat being out of town all week and at school.  But I sure am happy I have these little loves in my life...

 

Luke, I love how sweet and polite you have become.  You truly have a kind heart and it shows when you talk with us and how you play with your friends. 

Ben, I love your laugh.  You literally have the best laugh of anyone I know.  I could listen to it everyday for the rest of my life. 

Boys, I love how you play together.  You are true friends.  Sometimes enemies, but for the most part, sweet friends.   

Luke, I love how personable you are.  It doesn't matter where we are, you love to introduce yourself and ask all about the person you are speaking to.  

Ben, I love how spunky you are.  Even though at times you bring me to my knees, I love the spice you add to our family. You are the perfect dose of sweet and sassy all in one.  

Boys, I love how you are complete security for each other.  You feel safe when the other one is around.  I pray that you feel that way forever. 

 

Luke is having his class party today and was super excited about it!  I mean, what is better than school with Chick-Fil-A and cookies for lunch??  Ben got to spend the morning with me and then go to lunch with Chat and me.  He is obsessed with chocolate milk at the moment, so that is what he got and was in hog heaven.  It is beautiful weather today, so it truly feels like love is in the air :).

Here is Luke's valentines he made for his class.  He picked out the Thomas whistles (shocker!) and I found a printable via Pinterest to match it.  Yes, he wrote his name 22 times (over several days) and we were both over it by the time he was done.  That took A LOT of patience.  But it was great practice! 

And then there is my other Valentine...Chat.  I have never been more proud of him than this past year.  The sacrifices he is making for us are incredible.  Things aren't always perfect, but I know I have a partner for life.  And that makes life pretty darn sweet. 

{Dressing Up!}

This past weekend we sent the boys to their grandparents and Chat and I had a big night out!  We were invited to help buy a table with friends for a gala benefitting the parks at a nearby neighborhood. We were excited for the opportunity to get a bit dressed up!  Which is totally not our normal style, but so fun every now and then. 

 

My two wonderful friends and I headed to get our hair done at a blow dry bar.  It was so fun!  We were pampered and made to look beautiful, all while drinking champagne and enjoying each other's company.  What else could we need?!?

 

Yikes!  Not the most glamorous selfie. 

(Note to self...wear make-up in close up pictures.)

 

Champagne was delicious!

 

Oh, hello...

 

Chat brought the boys to a birthday party when I was getting dolled up.  He loved getting selfies from me during this time and really encouraged me to get a beehive.  Ha!  After the party he dropped the boys off at my parents and then met me at home to get dressed.  We took this selfie of the two of us before we headed out the door!

 

 

We then headed to my friend Katie's house for drinks before we headed to the big event.  We laughed because we all felt like it was prom in our 30's.  It was way fun!!  All we needed was a banister and all of us to line up for a picture.  No such luck :).

 

 

 

 

We all did a little toast before we headed out.  I feel so fortunate to have such wonderful friends to have fun nights like this as well as evenings with kids jumping around and all of us in work-out clothes.  Love our dear friends!

 

 

The night was fabulous but of course I am always happy to be back home.  It was after midnight before we got home and it was so strange to be in our house without the boys.  We rarely do that.  I missed them.  But I did enjoy not having to wake up in the middle of the night at all (ahem...we have been having issues again).  We got up the next morning by 7:45 or 8:00 and enjoyed just laying in bed for a bit.  I miss that!  We went and got the boys around 10:00 am and got them home.  They were piled on me within minutes and I loved it!  Chat took this picture of us.  I am looking a little tired, right?!?

 

 

Such a fun night to celebrate and benefit the parks that we spend so much time at.  But I am still trying to catch up on my sleep!

{Ben's First Haircut}

It was a bit impromptu, but Ben got his first professional haircut this weekend at almost 26 months old!  I brought both boys to get Luke a haircut but ended up getting both of them a haircut. Up until now, I trimmed Ben's hair. It is so curly that it isn't obvious when it needs a cut, so every now and then I would whip out the scissors when it got a bit unruly.  But as Luke was getting his cut, I noticed how shaggy and full Ben's hair was in the back.  So when they offered, we went for it!

 

 

Ben did great!  He got to have two lollipops and was a dream kid.  Sooooooo unlike his older brother who screamed and had to be pinned down for the first year of haircuts.  Ha!  I guess seeing Luke get a haircut month after month has paid off with my second child because he was a champ! 

Someone was feeling very ticklish when the trimmers came out!  He was giggling up a storm.  Love that smile...

 

 

And the best part?  His curls did not go away.  I wasn't too worried about it, but in the back of my mind as she started snipping away, I started wondering if he would lose a few.  But I think they are here to stay my friends!