Dad, happy birthday!!

happy-birthday-grandpa1

For the rest of you, my Didj contest ends tonight.  I’ll choose the winner and post it tomorrow!

Happy Birthday Grandpa

Today you turned 32.  And although you’ve already had a chance to see this podcast, pictures and all, I wanted to post it here so you can come back when you might be doubting the impact you have on our children, or when you are feeling down.

The time you spend with us is profound.  The extra effort you put into getting eClaire to giggle is so wonderful.  The special attention you give BC when you teach him about science, earth, or just how to fix things around the house are forming lasting memories.

When you read to our children in the evenings, you solidify your presence in their lives.

The man you are comes through in the daily actions of your children.  Your daughter is meticulous.  Your son is a gentleman.  Your daughter a so very bright.  Your son is helpful and kind.  Your children reflect you.

I’ve added the video to this post for you to come back to every time you begin to wonder what you really mean to our kids.

You are the best man I know.

Happy Birthday.

Love,

Me

Happy Birthday Hubby!

Dear BC,

Today you turned four. My baby. Four. When did that happen?

When I think back on how much you’ve grown up this year, I’m simply blown away.

We were camping on your third birthday last year with our dear friends. This was our first major camping trip as a family. You loved every bit of it. Soon after the trip, we drove down to Indian Wells to attend Grandpa’s conference. This was your first experience in a hotel. You were especially excited that Nonnie let you eat Fruit Loops out of a wine glass. Now that’s living it up!

You began preschool in September, and took to it like a fish to water. I always knew that school would be a happy place for you! Daddy and I attended your winter and spring performances. You were center stage each time. And after every song, you’d give Daddy a thumbs up, because you just knew how proud he was of you. Man, I loved that! We also met with your teachers for two conferences this year. In each conference your teachers told us what a leader you were. You were always willing to lend a hand to a teammate in need, set an excellent example, and do the right thing, all the time!

My heart beams with pride.

In December you learned how to read simple words as we drove down to San Diego. Six months later, you can pretty much sound out most words you come across. I knew you ‘got it’ around March when we were eating dinner at Bucca de Beppo and you asked me what (phonetically) “Las-a-gn-a” meant. Lasagna? Seriously? Today you can read simple books such as Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss… although you’d really rather be playing than reading. Which I honor. You are only four, for goodness sakes!

Santa brought you a bike this year for Christmas. We knew that you’d be riding like a champ within a few months. And true to your form, you began riding your two wheeler without training wheels around April. Now you are an expert. You can ride on dirt, over grass, up and down sidewalks, around sharp curves… anywhere and everywhere. You love riding your bike more than just about anything else.

This year you matured so much. You’ve begun to calm down. You, not often, play independently pushing cars around, drawing pictures, writing words, and generally doing things more by yourself. You also have learned the art of keeping quite… more often. Let’s be honest. You are in NO WAY an independent child. You’d prefer to talk my ear off, and play with me 100% of the time. But you CAN be independent every now and again. Phew! What a relief for your Daddy and me!

You often walk around the house spelling words, “M-o-m-m-y-e please help me!!” “I want to go to the g-y-m!!!” “I want some j-u-s, please!!”

You are your daddy’s apprentice. Anything he needs you to do, you do, immediately. This is so cool!

I’d have to say that your best attributes center around your desire to make people feel comfortable. You still always greet and compliment adults and children alike. You tell them they look beautiful, they were nice, etc. It is so cool! And oh so mature!

But the thing that makes me beam with pride is your deep desire to help in a crisis. There have been a few times this year where your sister’s been hurt badly, and we needed your help. Faster than we could blink, you’d already gotten her blanket, ice, and anything else you could think of that would comfort her. You’d then stand at attention awaiting any directions from Daddy or me. How cool is that? Let’s be honest, you totally get this amazing heroesque attribute from Daddy and sooo not from me!!

You are one awesome kid. My eyes well as I try to grasp the person you are becoming. Your greatness overwhelms me. You have potential to be anything and everything your heart could dream up.

Happy Birthday, kid. I love you.

Love,
Mommy

P.S. Thanks for taking an extra long nap today! And thank you even more for STILL taking naps at the age of four… Dang, how’d I get so lucky?

Today you are four.

Tomorrow I’ll have a letter to BC posted, but for today, I’ll leave you with a few pictures from BC’s birthday party yesterday.

This is BC just before he blew out his candles on his homemade Spiderman Cake. (Details to come!)

BC eagerly anticipated this birthday for many months. And this was the moment.

During the pinata, our family uses an atypical “bat” aka baton, and shouts, “Get on the ground… stop resisting!” Ya… maybe that story is better left off my blog. Notice the jumper house in the background! It had a 10 foot Spiderman hanging off the top! AWESOME!

Even my little darling eClaire got a few nice shots! Right in the jugular… poor Spiderman!

Happy Birthday to you!

Oh and today is my birthday.

Yeay me!

Last year I was all , “oh look at me, I’m going to celebrate the big 3–0. Why fight it…I’m going to grow old gracefully…yada yada yada.”

That was then. This is now. Last year I turned thirty.

Thirty was a doable number.

Thirty.

Just thirty

Like, I’m not old yet thirty.

Thirty.

Now I’m not thirty.

Oh no. Not thirty anymore.

I’m not just out of my twenties thirty

I’m in my thirties.

On my way to thirty five thirty.

Oy.

Where does time go?

Anyway…

Last year I gave myself a gift.

The gift of attention. I took time to learn who I was, be who I am, and stand tall for things I believe in.

I’m proud to say that I think I’ve done just that.

This year, as I enter my thirty one-dom I’m more settled, confident, and able to say what I mean and need.

Oh ya!!

So in keeping with this theme of growth, I’ve decided to focus on another aspect of my life.

Giving attention to others.

Like real attention.

Not laptop on lap, remote control in hand, phone on ear, “Yes dear, I’m listening…” type attention.

Disclaimer** I NEVER do that that, I’m just sayin’.…

Ahem.

But rather eye-contact, TV paused off, laptop closed type attention.

Like get on the floor and play with my kids more attention.

Like I hear what you are saying, Honey, and although I don’t agree, I still think your point is valid attention.

Whew. That’s going to be a toughie.

It will take some serious changing of some really bad habits.

But I’m in need of a change.

Bring on the growth.

It’s time.

So happy birthday/blogging anniversary to me.

I hope this gift will serve my family and me well.

Happy happy to me.

Sooo… let’s talk about me!!

Check out what I did!!

No seriously, I did that!!

Dora! That’s right! Me!

I’m no Casey, who is A.MAZ.ING, but hot damn. I’m pretty proud of my first attempt at being Baker Extraordinaire!

Shh, don’t tell anyone, but it was actually quite easy. I Google searched for a Dora the Explorer cake template and found that NickJr. actually has step by step directions. Oh, I was quite excited.

Martha Stewart here I come!

Dora Pride

Today you are two.  I simply cannot believe it.   Where has the time gone?  This year has been such a fun adventure.

Last year at this time, you were walking around saying virtually nothing.  You loved to be held by me, and pretty much only by me.  Your hair was just coming in curly and people were beginning to stop me in the store, at the mall, and pretty much anywhere you and I went, to tell me how adorable you were.  Now, it’s a daily occurrence.  I can never leave the house without brushing out and wetting down those curls.  “Oh her hair!!  Oh those eyes!!”  You are a beauty.

You are such a timid soul.  You take a long time, like an hour, to warm up in any new social situation.  This is one thing I learned about you this year.  These days I always hold you or your hand as we walk into a new setting.  I feel you clench me tighter as you look around at the crowd.  I don’t let go.  Everyone wants to hold you, but I tell them that you need time.  Time to warm up and become comfortable with your surroundings.

However, you are becoming more outgoing by the day.  You, at this point, are speaking in complete sentences.  I think this is so cool!!

As a matter of fact, I believe that you are finally able to express your true personality and self now that you are verbal. I’ve noticed you becoming less hesitant in new situations and more willing to play with other kids.   I love to see this happen.  My heart bursts with pride as I watch you play.  You find joy in so many aspects of your life.

You are incredibly caring and compassionate.  Throughout the day I find you carry your baby dolls around the house consoling them, “It’s OK baby, you no need to cry!”  Rocking them and kissing their heads.  When someone is hurt or sad, you do your best to get help from an adult.

You are also very funny.  You somehow have mastered, in a way only a 2 year old can, the ability to have comedic timing.  You know just when to make your joke.  And we love it!

I’ve frequently called you my “little sky diver” because I believe that you are quite adventurous.  You’re willing to jump off of any surface for a thrill.  Although you tend to fear social settings, you haven’t met an physical challenge you weren’t willing to attempt.

As a result I get comments such as, “Oh, is that the same bump eClaire had on her head last week?” Um, no.  “Oh, did she hurt herself again?” yup.  You most certainly will be the child of mine who will drag me sky diving in my old age!

And I’ll go.  And remember when I predicted this event would take place!

You can count to ten, higher I think. and sing your ABC’s.  You love stars.  You call them twinkles.  You are extremely polite, always saying please and thank you.  (Adults get a kick out of this trick!  They love polite kids.)  And you are just beginning to go potty and poop on the toilet.  Just beginning!  But you’re willing to perform for candy.  And I’m willing to provide the goods for the performance!!

Having a daughter has been the scariest adventure I’ve ever embarked on.   I feel such a deep responsibility to raise you right.

I want you to know your worth.

I want you to stand tall and expect the best from those you chose to bring into your trusted circle.

I want you to be able to lean on me for anything.

I want to tell you the truth about life as you become a woman.

I want to inspire you to live a life worth living.

I want you to have confidence.

I want you to embrace your differences and those of whom you meet.

I want you to stand up for others who are scared, hurting, or being bullied.

I want you to stand up for yourself.

But more than anything else, I want you to love who you are, on the inside.

And I promise you, eClaire, that I will do my very best each and every day to help you to become the woman you deserve to be.

Happy Birthday Baby.

With more love that I thought I’d ever have for one person,

Mommy.

Happy Birthday eClaire

Dear BC,

Today you are three. It feels like it was just yesterday when you were born. I can’t believe you’re becoming such a big boy so quickly.

This year you learned many things. You were potty trained in September. You learned to ride your tricycle in October, and the letters of the alphabet in January.

You are an incredibly intelligent young man, and I fear that you’ll pass me up intellectually sooner rather than later. What a scary thought for a mom!

Two weeks before Christmas, you went into our shed and saw the play kitchen that Santa would eventually bring you and your sister for Christmas. Mid January, I was reminding you to shut the doors to the kitchen nicely because Santa gave you this gift and we want to keep it nice.

You said, “No Mommy, Santa didn’t give this to me. It was in the shed. Remember? It was in the shed.”

You are very smart, and have a fantastic memory. Just two weeks ago, in June, we visited our local hardwood store and saw some sheds out front. You asked me, “Mommy, does Santa live in a shed?”

You have a very, very good memory. Have I mentioned this already?

Back in September, you had a traumatic accident to your tooth. I have a sneaking suspicion this will be one of your first memories. I believe this to be true because 9 months later you can still recount almost every detail, exactly as it happened.

We were at the park and you were sitting on one of those metal merry-go-rounds, minding your own business. This was your first experience on one and you were very excited. I was sitting yards away from you nursing your baby sister. I looked away from you for a split second just as 3–4 big kids jumped on the merry-go-around accompanied by a man. This man came up and pushed them, quickly.

He didn’t notice you.

Like it was yesterday, the scene plays again, and again in my head. I scream “hold on!!”, He pushes. You sit there on the edge smiling.

Bam, whack, thud your body gets thrust against the metal pole, onto the metal floor and then thrown forward into the tanbark.

At the same time, I heard myself screaming a guttural noise I’ve never heard myself make before. I leaped up setting (throwing really) your baby sister, blanket and all onto the ground as I ran to your rescue.

I’ve never been so scared in my life. And frankly, neither had you. You were gushing blood from your mouth. I was holding you as tightly as I could.

Men ran from all edges of the park, offering their shirts, their cars, anything and everything to help you. The man who pushed the merry-go-round looked as if he was going to throw up. He felt so awful.

I didn’t know what to do, so I called Daddy (our resident hero). He rushed, at mock speed, from downtown to to the park. From there we took your sister to Grandma’s house and you to the hospital.

It turns out that all that you were very lucky that day. Your tooth was shoved back up into your gums and a bit chipped. Yes, only one tooth. Amazing.

That night you remember daddy turning on a siren in front of Grandma’s house and Grandma having a fit.

I had forgotten this part of the story until I heard you recount it in March.

We’ve been visiting the dentist every few months expecting to have that poor tooth of yours pulled. But you know what? Just weeks ago, it began to fall back into place.

Now that is pretty cool!

Although this story is one that I’ll remember for a lifetime, and we’ll laugh about as we tell it to your future spouse, I’ll also remember this year as the year you transitioned from baby/toddler, to little boy.

You are quite a kid.

You never stop talking.

You are very curious and extremely respectful.

You always say, please, thank you and give endless compliments.

You are constantly thinking, remembering, and asking questions about everything.

You never, ever stop talking.

Ever.

But I suppose I wouldn’t have it any other way. You are my son. And I am proud of you.

Happy Birthday BC!

Love,

Mommy

Today you are three.

Before I get to my goals for this week I must report on last week’s progress:

Plan and execute the perfect three year old party.

Complete!

I went to our local Michael’s and bought large sand buckets for $1 each. What a deal! My mom wrote each child’s name on his/her bucket using foam letters.. It turned out super adorable.

For the craft the kids decorated foam visors, also a Michael’s find. This was a bigger hit than I expected.

The pinata was a blast and adults and children alike had a great time. It was a fantastic day!

This week’s goals:

1.  Finances, yuck.

2. I signed up to be part of the Blog Exchange. Meaning I need to post another blogger’s post on my site Monday morning. Unfortunately I am going camping with the family from Friday morning until Monday evening.  See the problem? I need to figure out a way to get my Blog Exchange partner’s post up on my site on Monday morning.

3. This is our first camping trip as a family. Hubby has taken BC on an overnight-er, but eClaire and I did not join them. We will be gone for a few days and need to figure out a way to camp without bringing our whole house.

So there you have it.

Thanks to MoodSwingingMommy for creating Makeover Monday. If you’d like to participate, drop on over to her site and see what this is all about.

Makeover Monday

Just before anyone showed up for his party, Hubby asked BC how old he was.

BC: Two.

Hubby: But it’s your party, that means you are three now.

BC: No Daddy. I’m not three until my friends get here.

CUTE!

If you would like to see a wider variety of pictures from our party, pop on over to my photo’s page or to my flickr page. But I’ll post some of my favorites right here.

Ok, I went a bit crazy!

Happy birthday Baby. I’m glad you entered my life three years ago.

All partied out.