McKenzie- You're 7 years old today!

 

I am so, so, late posting this. But, it has been written for awhile. I guess my mom brain forgot to actually post on your  birthday.

 

 

 

 

Happy, Happy, 7^th birthday to my gorgeous girl.

 

Kenzie you simply amaze me. You’re strong and smart. Beautiful and sweet. You have such an empathetic soul  and it makes me glow from ear to ear.

 

You started first grade this year. You have excelled past any of our expectations. You’re reading exploded over the summer and you’re reading books far advanced for your age. You love to read, write, spell. Your memory astounds me most days. You can be told something one time and it seems to stay engraved in your brain forever. I really wish this was a trait I also had. Sadly, it is not.

 

You have several BFF’s(Best Friends Forever(s) ). You love dance still(and you’re quite good at it). You’re a natural competitor and you become so frustrated if things don’t go exactly how you planned. You’ll try and try and try some more until you master whatever you’ve set your mind to. This is an awesome quality to have, keep it.

You’re still obsessed (read: OBSESSED) with your babies. You love your dolls, but real babies light your face up like none other. Your past times nowadays include playing with your babies, Rainbow looming, reading, and the occasional YouTube tutorials and family shows(with babies, of course!).

I see a lot of me in you. I see how stubborn you can be. How you can be aloof when meeting new people, but how you’re so, so, loyal to those who’ve gained your trust. You care so much about how your actions impact other people. As a mom, I really couldn’t ask for much more.

 

 

 

The whole world is your canvas. As your mommy it is scary to let you have your brush and paint it as you see fit, but I am excited to see the path you create. I am stoked to see your dreams and aspirations come true. I am excited for the world to love you like we love you. Always remember to reach for the stars. Remember to let your heart guide you and you’ll never be wrong.

Love you to the moon and back,

Mama

Brenton- You're FOUR years old today!

 

Happy, Happy, 4th birthday, to our beautiful boy!

 

 

 Today you're four years old. This morning I was snuggling you and I said, "why do you have to grow so fast? I cannot believe you're a BIG four year old" You responded, every so sweetly, with "Mama, I can always be your baby!" And proceeded to make baby noises. You simply melt me in your quiet moments of sweetness. Everything from  your "love you to outer space" to you billion kisses and bear hugs makes me realize that with all that craziness that comes from your little body, there is a sweet souled little boy that comes with it, free of charge.

You're starting to act more "human." This is a running joke with Daddy and I as we're always saying to each other, "when will he be human?" You're still feisty and stubborn, but you're showing your good side way more often than not. You have a temper.  Last weeks school report read: "Good boy. Need to work on that temper and lowering his voice!" I loved that she saw the good boy in you, too!

You're sleeping in your own bed since August 11th. Let me repeat: You're sleeping in YOUR own bed since August 11th!!

Your favorites include: Trucks, Handy Manny, Cars, Octonauts, Dinosaurs, Team Umizoomi, baseball, and the pool! You love, love, love, Bayleigh, and now that you're not loving her so aggressively, I think she is starting to love you, too!

You're the worlds best eater for a three-year old(err, four-year old!). Last night we did Hibachi and you quickly stole my salad and proceeded to eat the entire thing. You begged for some of Aunt Laurie's lobster and quickly devoured that. You love all things green and barely turn anything away. I was hoping that this trait of yours would rub off on your sister, so far, not the case!

You've learned all kids of things this year. You can ride a bike now(training wheels attached). You can tread water in the pool. You can count for what seems like forever. You can recognize letters and the sounds they make.  You love  to take things apart, just to put them back together. You're dressing yourself and becoming more and more independent. And while I love watching you grow into the little boy you're becoming, I miss assisting you in a lot of things that you now insist on doing yourself.

You love your sissy. You protect her. Cuddle her. and then... You fight with her. All day. everyday. Sometimes we remind the both of you that you're all each other has. But, deep down, I know you're the best of friends. You almost always call her sissy. In fact, in your four-years on earth, I think I have heard you use her name twice. Oddly enough I never thought I'd like the whole "sissy' bit, but hearing you say it melts me .

Even though days can be long raising you and assisting you to make good choices, I wouldn't change a thing about you. Your spunkiness is what makes you, you! We love you from the top of your spikey hair, to the bottom of your kissable feet! We love that you are as sweet and you are "spicy".  We love how much laughter you bring into our family and how much LOVE we all have for you, and you for us.


Normally, I'd close with my "love you to the moon and back" but it doesn't seem quite fitting...

So, my sweet four year old, I LOVE YOU TO OUTER SPACE!

Mama

Brenton: You're 3-and a half-years old!

 

Happy half-birthday to my vivacious, curious, stubborn, ridiculously adorable, favorite little guy!

 

 

You are quite the comic now-a-days. Just this weekend you were covering your face with a pamphlet while trying to sneak lolly-pops at the barber shop. You assumed that if your face was covered then no one could possibly spot you! The entire waiting area, including myself, was in hysterics. You, however, were oblivious as you were concentrating on your stealth operations.

You have a magnetic personality and people naturally gravitate towards you. You eat this up. You're a ham. You have lots of friends in school and your teacher seems to enjoy you, a lot! Which is insane given the trouble you often cause her!

 

 

Trouble? This is you. You're into EVERYTHING. Argue about ANYTHING. You're naughty to the core- but because of that magnetic personality and your willingness to cuddle without prompting people cannot stay upset with you for long(read: ME!)

The second you're corrected for being naughty you quickly rebuttal with an, "I'm so sorry, Mommy? Am I still a good boy?"  

You're obsessed with Team Umizoomi, Fire trucks, and all things BOY. You love getting dirty, climbing to new adventures, and manipulating toys by taking them apart and putting them back together.

 

You're doing quite well in school: You recognize letters by sight, and the sounds they make. You know your shapes. You can count to 20 to name a few of the last 6-months accomplishments!

 

 

You prefer a shower to a bath nowadays. You still would much prefer to sleep with Mommy than your own bed. You fight with your sissy almost daily, but will instantly ask for her when she is away and not stop asking to see her until she's back!

 

 

 

 

 

Even as trying as raising as you can be, in all honestly, I wouldn't change a thing about you. You're a spitfire, but have the sweetest soul a momma could ask for. You're loving and empathetic, nurturing and helpful.  You're a blessing to all  those around you. There is a reason people are drawn to you. God has BIG plans for you and I'm just sitting back enjoying the very fast ride!

 

Love you to the moon and back, Bubby!

 

Mama

McKenzie- You're SIX years old.

Happy, Happy, sixth birthday, sweet girl. For nearly a month you've been "counting your sleeps" until it was finally your birthday. Well, it is here. And just as I say every year, it is faster than the year before and way faster than I'd like it to come. Sometimes I wish life had a pause button.  

 

 

 

Lots of first this year. You are officially a kindergartener. You adjusted just as I assumed you would. you transitioned into real school life like an old pro. You've met lots of new friends you've learned lots of new things. You can read and spell any word that you can sound out phonetically. You recognize all of your site words, can count to what seems like infinity, you add, subtract, and write with such ease. You've even learned to write in cursive.

 

You have a zest for learning that I pray you never lose. You love to be the best, do your best, and succeed. Sometimes your need for success becomes nearly obsessive and we have to remind you that everyone has strengths and weaknesses so you don't stress your newly 6 year old body out!

 

You mastered learning to ride a bike without training wheels. You literally came home from school one day and asked that we remove the them. And two seconds later- you were riding like a pro. It's sort of how you learned to crawl and walk, too. One day no skill. The next day, mastered.

 

You lost your first tooth back in February. It wasn't an "official" lost tooth as you knocked it on something and it subsequently became loose until it finally fell out. You've been sporting the missing tooth gap ever since. It looks as if your two bottom teeth will fall out soon. They're both super wiggly and you ask almost every day if it is time to pull them out!

 You are still in dance. You've added acro and jazz to your ballet and tap. You love it. And you're picking it up as fast as you seem to pick up everything else. I love, love, love, watching you dance. You're so graceful and beautiful and I hope that you continue to love it as much as you do today.


You also newly joined Girl Scouts. You love meeting new friends, learning how to help other people, and socializing(duh!). You earned your first pin a few weeks ago for memorizing the Girl Scout Promise.

This year we had a bowling party for you. It was the first year we've invited classmates of yours. You were so happy to share your special day with your friends from school. You have such a big heart and you're always worried about how your actions will impact other people. I hope that you never lose that, sweet girl.


You love God. You love to hear about him, learn about him, memorize your Bible verses. It makes my heart happy to see you develop a relationship with something so very important to Daddy and I.


You also love your little brother and your big sister. You're super protective of Brenton and you always pray for Zoey at night. They're both very, very, proud of you and blessed to have you as their sister.

Life was never fully complete until you were born, my girl. From the moment our eyes locked I knew that you were something special. I am simply beyond blessed to be able to call you my baby girl. You've helped heal our hearts, open our  minds, and we cannot wait for you to continue to spread your wings.

The whole world is even more great because God blessed it with you. Remember to continue to love blindly, trust God fully, and always know that Daddy and I will always be in your court, cheering you on.

We're so, so, blessed and proud of you.

Love you to the moon and back,

Mama

Six year slide

Bubble Guppies Birthday party; Brenton turns 3.

Today we celebrated Brenton turning 3. His most favorite show EVER is the Bubble Guppies. Apparently, the retail folks haven't caught on that this show is uber cute and you cannot buy Bubble Guppies party supplies. So, we got creative!

 

 

 Showing off his shirt- from Etsy.

 Cake was from a local bakery. Tasted as awesome as it looked!

 Banner from Etsy

 Fish Bowl Jell-O.

 The spread

 Cucumbers, colored cream cheese, Goldfish crackers

 Picture makes it look cluttered. But it was really cute in person!

Party favors. Fish crayons. Also from Etsy.

 

 Bounce House fun!

Brenton: You're three years old!

Happy, Happy, 3rd birthday(tomorrow) my perfect little man. I simply cannot wrap my mind around how fast my babies continue to grow; however, I'm soaking up each passing day of your childhood as I know all too soon you'll move out, spread your wings, and the house that was once filled with screaming voices and chaos will become eerily quiet.

 

 

 

You've learned a ton the last 3 months. You  talk, a lot, a lot, a lot. Anyone who said girls talk a lot has never parented a boy. That is all.  Just this week you wrote your name, independently, for the first time. You're singing your ABC's, counting to 15, and thriving in pre-school. You're at a new school and hopefully it'll be the same school you start kindergarten at.

You're pretty independent. You like to do everything by yourself. You're empathetic in ways I didn't realize were possible for a two-year old. If you accidently hurt me, or anyone, you quickly apologize and "kiss" it.

You're still sleeping in our bed. You've been paci free for nearly 6-months(which coincides with how long you've been in our bed!). You've been potty trained for what seems like forever, but realistically is about 9 months. You're even fully night trained for the last 6 months or so.

You are obsessed(read: OBSESSED) with the Bubble Guppies. It is your birthday party theme this year. You're quite excited for your party, "It's my happy birthday to me"! You also favor Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Diego, and Dora. You've went from zero interest in TV, to LOVING it seemingly overnight.

You love your trucks, getting dirty, and finding mischief. You're ornery, stubborn, and ridiculous charming. You can do the naughtiest thing and one look with your half-crooked smile and I forget and am warped into your spell all over again.

You love your sissy. You drive her crazy(and the feeling is often mutual!). But you always, always, look for her, look out for her, share with her, and love her. I hope your relationship is always as strong for years to come.

You are a Momma's boy. I puffy heart love it. There is a bond between mom's and sons that only mothers with sons understand. You simply melt me. Complete me. enthrall me. I cannot even fully put into words how much I love you. I can honestly be thinking of you and burst into tears at how undeniably perfect you are.  You are my heart. When McKenzie was born, our hearts were repaired from our lost of Zoey. And we thought that she was all we would ever need. And then you came. Crashing into  our lives. Filling it with so much love and joy that we never even knew we needed. And now, we cannot imagine it without you. You, my sweet boy, fully, unequivocally, complete our family.

There isn't a single thing I'd change about you. Okay, well, maybe we'd like you a tad less stubborn(just a smidge really!). But, in all seriousness, your stubbornness, your naughtiness, your sweetness, your zest for life, and love of people, is why we're so ridiculously obsessed with you. You are beautiful, from the inside out.

Always hold God in your heart, your family in there, too, and I am sure you'll continue to be a perfect blessing to anyone lucky enough to love you.

I love you to the moon and back,
Mama

Birthday Slide

And so it begins...

My sweet, beautiful, intelligent, little girl embarked on a BIG milestone this week. On Monday, she started Kindergarten. I cannot believe how fast she is growing. She has had a great week, met lots of new friends, and is looking forward to a year of learning and growing.

 

Love her!

 

 

 Brenton started K2 at the same school!

 She didn't even pretend to not be excited!

 Her teacher, Mrs. Hughes!

 Day 2- knee socks! Melt!