happy birthday jar-bear!

365 days later...

What a year! Jared is 1!

Jared had a really great birthday and we were able to share it with some friends and family! Matt and Charity were in town, so they were able to come and celebrate Jared's birthday with us! As tradition has it, Jared got his own cake to do with as he pleased...which was to make a huge mess! It took him a second to warm up to the idea, but as soon as he put his frosting covered finger in his mouth and tasted the frosting goodness, there was no stopping him!

We pulled out a Slip-n-Slide for the older kids to play on, and the water run off made a mess in the dirt next to the yard. Jared was all about the mud! On a normal day if he would have looked at the mud in a way to suggest he wanted to get in it, I would have have said no way. But tonight I let him go for it (I'm making progress) until he was good and dirty from head to toe, then put him into the Slip-n-Slide to clean off.


Here are some pictures.

Opening a present from Grandma Ruth. Thanks, Grandma! We love and miss you!

His first lick.

His last lick.

Good friends, and good times

angel friends

Luke loves being sung to at night when we tuck him in. Song choice number one? Angel Friends. In fact he loves it so much that he is sure that Jared shares the same sentiment for it, and insists that I sing only that song to Jared when I tuck him in for naps or bedtime. If Luke is downstairs while I am taking Jared up for his nap, he will run to the bottom of the stairs, and yell up to me, "Mom, sing Jared Angel Friends!" Then he waits and listens to make sure I am making good on it. If I pause during my song and listen, I can hear Luke singing along downstairs. It's the best.

I can't get lazy and only sing one verse.  Luke will call me out on it, and keep me honest.  I love this tender hearted boy.

snip

Jared has had a funny little mohawk for the last 6 months or so (was just how his hair had grown in), and I haven't had the heart to give him his first hair cut to get rid of it...until today. I used to try to smooth his hair over to one side, but that just made him look like an aging old man with a comb-over.

I don't know if I can even really call it a hair cut, it was just a few snips off the top to try to even out the length all around. Kinda sad. Kinda happy...he is growing up.

Before-

He looks like he's in pain, but really it's pure joy. Those are chocolate chip pancakes for Luke's birthday breakfast last week!

After-

Oh Jared, please stop growing for just a little bit.  You move so fast, and 

change so quickly...I just need a few more hours in the day to soak you all up.

Your big brown eyes and sweet personality melt your mama's heart.

moms

I want to give a big huge "Happy Mom's Day" to my awesome Mom, who is one of the most selfless, thoughtful, wonderful women I know. She is always quick to offer to watch my kids, or to make our stays at her home comfortable, and enjoyable. My kids simply adore her and can't wait to go visit. I am amazed at how generous she is and wants to share all she has with those around her. What a great example to me!





Also, my Mom-in-law! Ben's Mom is an amazing women and I am glad to have married into their family. She is such a fun grandma and we all love to spend time with her. I am happy to know that she would do anything to make sure we are taken care of, and to know that she wants the best for us.

Thank you to our Moms for being so wonderful and loving us! We all love you tons!

happy birthday, Luke!

Our little big man turned 4! He is such a fun and spunky little guy, who brings a ton of love and laughs to our life. I feel very blessed to be the Mom of a boy with such a special spirit.

The things I love most about Luke:

1. His enthusiasm for life
2. He is very sweet and thoughtful
3. And very tenacious (you never know which one you will get sweet or tenacious, but he is definitely both)
4. He does everything 100%. Good or bad, it is all or nothing.

We went to Medford's annual Touch-a-Truck show. Luke got to sit inside 

of construction trucks and honk their horn, as well as shoot water from a fire hose. 

We also saw a rescue helicopter and ambulance. We went to Medford's annual Touch-a-Truck show. Luke got to sit inside of construction trucks and honk their horn, as well as shoot water from a fire hose. We also saw a rescue helicopter and ambulance. 

 Makenna and Luke rode in a barrel being pulled by a tractor, 

which was also a lot of fun. We all enjoyed the day.

We could not have had better timing, this little birthday boy thought

this was the most magical day ever.  And I agree, I love watching magic

happen for my kids.  Luke had so much fun sitting in this huge truck, he felt

like he was on top of the world way up there.

This year, for the first year ever...I made a home made theme cake. I know it 

is not much to look at, but it was fun for Makenna and I to decorate. We made 

a race track with Hotwheel cars on it and a Goodwheel Blimp on the grass inside 

of the track. Makenna took charge of the candles and turned them into racing flags.

We had fun together making it!

Ben found this small Nike compression shirt in a tiny size 

and picked it up for Luke's birthday. Luke dubbed it his 

strong man shirt. It is so cute! He is sure he gets stronger 

when it is on, and he just might be right.

Luke got a soccer ball, a small helicopter, and Superman pj's 

(though he is convinced it is a costume).  He spent the remainder 

of the evening running around (read: flying) through the house. Oh, to be 4!

gorgeous

Last night while Ben and Luke were off reading books, Makenna was brushing my hair and putting curlers in. I don't know where she comes up with this stuff, but here was our conversation.

Makenna: Mom, you are going to look gorgeous when I am done with you.
Me: Oh, good! I have always wanted to look gorgeous!
Makenna: It's easy. All you have to do is be radiant, and humble.

Such wise words from our sweet girl.  I hope those words stay with her through all her years ahead.