Happy Birthday, Baby!

Dear Baby,

Today we celebrated your fourth birthday. What a fun year we've had with you! This has been a year of many "firsts" for you: your first dentist visit, your first trip to the lease with Daddy, and your first time to sing in big church. You are a big boy...my baby is not a baby anymore!

You hear the words "I love you" a LOT from Daddy and me, but today seems like a good time to tell you WHY I love you so much. I love you because you sometimes still let me hold you, and when I pick you up, you lay your head on my shoulder and pat my back, as if I'm the one who needs to be comforted (sometimes I am). I love you because every night when we put you to bed, you refuse to be covered up, but when I come back later to check on you, you are lying flat on your back with the covers pulled up to your chin. I love you because you have an uncanny resemblance to Charlie Brown from Peanuts. I love you because you can spell your name and the words "family" and "boots." I love you because you love to play "Crack the Egg" on the trampoline with me, and it doesn't bother you at all that you, as the egg, are easily cracked. I love you because you have a little speech issue--R, L, S, and a few others letter sounds are problematic--but the way you talk is so adorable, I don't much care if it ever gets fixed. I love you because you are a computer whiz and can navigate your way through the internet to get to your games. I love you because you always hold my hand in the parking lot, because you like to help me clean the bathroom and sort the laundry, and because you ask me every single night where we are going the next day. I love you because of your crazy love affair with macaroni and cheese. Although slightly frustrating, your devotion to this food item is admirable and funny. I love you because you are easy-going and fun to be with, and because you make me feel like I'm doing a good job being your mommy.

I love you because you make me laugh. Oh, how you make me laugh! Just this morning, I was looking through some old pictures. You walked by, casually looked over my shoulder, and said, "I recognize that girl. She's my mom." Then you walked away.

This year we sent Little Middle off to kindergarten. I worried that you would be lonely and bored without your brothers around. It is, after all, the first time in your entire life that you've gotten one-on-one with me for any period of time. Turns out I worried needlessly. I have been reminded these past few months why I chose to be a stay-at-home mom in the first place--so I could have time like we've had and moments like those that we've shared. I wouldn't trade these sweet days with you for anything in the world!

Precious boy, your mommy loves you. You are a living, breathing testimony to the faithfulness and mercy of our God. Every day with you is a grand adventure and a great gift. Surely I am the most blessed mommy in the world, because you are mine.

Happy Birthday, Heart Boy.

Love,


Mommy

Halloween 2009

A Harley biker, a pirate, and a penguin walked into a bar....

Just kidding.

We had a spooktacular Halloween! My little biker, pirate, and penguin joined forces with some friends for trick-or-treating.

We hit up our neighborhood first, then moved to theirs--twice the fun, and twice the candy!

The funniest part of the evening came from a neighbor who set up a coffin in his driveway. He dressed in a scary mask and black robes and lay in the coffin, waiting to terrorize small children. Not knowing that there was anything to be afraid of, Goliath reached in to take some candy, and the "dead" guy reached out and grabbed his leg! Goliath jumped ten feet while his brothers and their pals screamed. The adults were laughing too hard to be much comfort...

P.S. The pictures are weird, I know. Our camera is acting up, and we had to take most of our Halloween pics with Hubby's iPhone.

Funny Kids

They've said some crazy stuff today...

Me: Baby, how did you get that hurt on your chin?
Baby: I had a great fall like Humpty Dumpty.

Me (playing our usual car game): Slug bug blue!
Little Middle: Mommy, I am SHOCKED!

Goliath: Mom, it's sad that there are not very many bats left here in the tri-state area.

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Things That Make Me Happy (a Birthday Celebration, of sorts):

1. Making lists
2. A clean house
3. Watching Thursday night TV with my husband on the DVR after the kids are in bed
4. My hot pink iPod
5. Gift cards
6. My sweet, old, loyal dog
7. School/office supplies
8. Playdates
9. Baking
10. Candles
11. Looking at old pictures and home videos
12. Family movie night
13. Clear CT scans
14. Girls Night Out
15. Christmas decorations
16. Sunday morning worship
17. Feeding the ducks at the park
18. Being with my friends
19. Music
20. Good hair days
21. Target dollar section
22. Not having to set my alarm
23. Aha! moments in Bible Study
24. My sassy red high heels
25. The first cup of morning coffee
26. Jumping on the trampoline with my kids
27. Mashed potatoes
28. Blogging
29. My new car
30. Shopping (except for groceries)
31. Falling asleep with the TV on
32. Organization
33. The smell of clean laundry
34. Mystery novels

Snips and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails...

Life with 3 little cowboys is always an adventure! Look what they found in the backyard today:

Yes, those are snakes. And yes, they think it's funny to see their mom scream and run.

Cute

Me: Little Middle, you are so cute! You are the cutest 5-year-old I have ever known.

Baby (with hands on hips): Mommy! I AM THE CUTE ONE!

Thursday Thoughts

*I am reading 3 different books right now, and sometimes I mix them up in my head.

*One of the books I'm reading is challenging me to memorize this verse:

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if there is anything excellent and praiseworthy--think on such things." Philippians 4:8

*Today I said "hail of bay" instead of "bale of hay."

*My friend Shannon is likely to have her baby on my birthday next week.

*My sons' elementary school has a new policy that parent volunteers can not bring their young children with them in the classrooms. I think this is a silly policy that should be left to the teacher's discretion--not the administration--and that they are going to lose a lot of their volunteers because of it.

*I really, really like my church.

*I am going to a costume party tomorrow night and I am borrowing from my kids' dress-up box. I will either wear a Superman cape, a crocodile head, or a Batman mask.

*I went to a women's event at church last week. One of the speakers talked about managing household chores, and she divided them up into 3 categories: food (grocery shopping and menu planning), shelter (house cleaning), and clothing (laundry). I never thought of it that way before.

*I am looking forward to having lunch next week with a friend I haven't seen in a long time.

*Hubby and I sometimes communicate with an dry-erase marker on the bathroom mirror.

*I think I will stop going to the gym on preschool days, and make up for it on other days during the week.

*My grandmother found herself in a pickle recently when Sunday football was threatening to interfere with her weekly domino game. She figured out how to Tivo the games, and now she "really can have it all" (her words).

*I am part of a dinner co-op with 3 of my friends. I absolutely love having dinner delivered to my house! We've got a good thing going.

*I love my dog a LOT.

*I wish I could see Mary Poppins again.

*I am on a search for new worship tunes for my iPod, and I would appreciate any suggestions.

*Christmas is just around the corner. I dread being caught up in the money-spending-gift-giving-crazy-rushing-obligation-meeting-ness of the holidays, and would really like to do something meaningful with my family to soak up the season.

*The weather is finally cooling off, and the pumpkin patch is open.

*I need to plan Baby's birthday party.

*As preparations are being made for the weddings of my BFF and my sister next year, I have lots of thoughts about family, friendship, love, and the things that really matter.

*The Office is a really funny show.