Birthday... yes there's more!

This year we began the tradition where each child on their actual birthday gets their very own special day with mom and dad. I LOVE this tradition. I learn so much about each of my kiddos during this special time... and I get to spoil them in ways I never could bc it is hard to spoil all four. And, the kids LOVE this tradition too. The boys have been planning their special days since Belle had her's back in August and Sweet M* continues to talk about what he is going to do on his special day next June.

Captain chose Magic Mountain and he surprised me with how brave he was on all of those crazy roller coasters... I was extremely thankful the k2 was closed. Cuddlebear chose Knott's Berry Farm bc he recently developed a love for Snoopy. He loved doing all the little kid stuff which was right up my alley.

I did learn that 2 big birthday parties and 2 very special days = complete exhaustion. Thank goodness a cruise was on the horizon.

Birthday Party #2

After the crazy big party for Cuddlebear I was happy Captain chose to have his party at a place that did everything for us so I was lovin' it. He also invited kids from school which was the first time he had ever chose to do that. When I used to ask him in years prior he only wanted family... a little bitter sweet for me I guess. Anyhoo, the party was a lot of fun... all the kids (especially Sweet M*) loved the blow up entertainment. I don't even know how many times Sweet M* climbed up and down that huge slide. The party was a lot of fun, but towards the end I think all of the attention starting getting to Sweet M* (see his face in the pic above). Birthdays have been hard on him. He had his birthday after being home for 6 weeks. I don't think he knew what it was and I think he barely remembers it. Belle's birthday came in August and he had a few pretty big meltdowns watching her open gifts. He did pretty good with Cuddlebear's big party but I made Cuddlebear wait until I put Sweet M* and Belle to bed before he opened gifts so it was cheating. At Captain's party he started thinking that he was being mistreated and we were not being nice to him- poor kid- and so Hubby had to take him home before he completely shut down. I have to say those moments are hard. The ones where he just does not understand. Your heart breaks for him. It breaks for the other kiddos because you don't want to ruin their special days. ugh! It's hard. Although, after both the boys back to back birthdays and looking back at his pictures of his birthday and flipping through the 2011 calendar a few dozen (hundred) times I think he feels a little more secure that his day will come again.

Belle's 3rd Birthday!!!

My baby girl turned 3 yesterday. I cannot believe how fast time flies. I can remember looking at her for the first time in awe because I couldn't believe she was a girl. And, now her she is a sweet, sassy, funny, beautiful 3 year old girl.

This year we are trying something new... on each of the kids actual birthdays they get a special day with mom and dad all to themselves. We will do everything that they want to do and they have our full attention. We are doing this because with 4 kids it is very hard to get share all of the attention. This way they are guaranteed at least one day a year where EVERYTHING is about them!!

So, the princess awoke to her gift from mom and dad...

Then we dressed her up like the princess she is...

and we wisked her away to her favorite place!!!

She took her time looking in each window bc brothers are usually too impatient ;)

She pretended to be a princess and she wanted us to snap pictures while she posed.

She LOVED having ALL of our attention.

She met some of her favorite princesses and got to eat lunch with them.

Her princess lunch ended with a special treat and song.

She was so excited to blow out the candle.

She rode her favorite ride... yes Matterhorn???

She ate her favorite treat... yum!

I think the day was a success. We had such a fun time together!!!

The Birthday

Sweet M* had a wonderful 1st Birthday with us as we celebrated him turning 3 this past weekend. We had to keep it very small because we weren't sure how all of the attention was going to affect him. Luckily, he handled it very well... I was super impressed with him. We had been talking about birthdays with him and Belle and he had decided he wanted a Mickey Birthday, so while he was napping we decorated the house. He was so excited once he woke up. I think his favorite part was listening to us sing him happy birthday and then getting to blow out his candles because he wanted to watch it over and over on the camera afterward and when I was laying him down for bed he couldn't stop talking about it. It was such a joy to share this special day with Sweet M* and I feel so fortunate to have him in my life.

Happy Birthday M*!!!

Today my sweet sweet boy celebrates his 3rd and 1st Birthday with us. I am overwhelmed with the joy we are feeling... and saddened by the pain and grief his birth family must feel missing this event in his life. I wish they could see his happiness today.
(side note this cake was made by one of my employees- isn't it AMAZING!!!)

7 and 5... How did that happen???

When you are a new mom everyone always tells you that your kids are going to grow up fast. And, when they are in the phase of tantrums and meltdowns sometimes you think (to yourself) yeah... they couldn't grow fast enough. Judge me all you want but you know you've at least thought it at one time or another :) But, really once they enter kindergarten something happens. Time takes off and your baby grows like a weed.

Captain Crazy turns 7 this week and Cuddlebear turns 5 next week and I think I may have shed a tear when I wrote those numbers on their cakes this past weekend. For some reason the odd years always seem like they are a bigger jump to me.
This year their birthday was a little quieter than most... but they did get a gift that is pretty awesome. We surprised them the morning of their party with a Disney Cruise. We set sail real soon and they are so excited they can't even stand it. And, I am thrilled that I get to slow down and spend a few weeks with them without a care in the world. Vacationing with my kids makes me feel like I can make time stand still so I can relish in their sweet youthfulness before they are all grown. I think that I learn so much about them as individuals and it really brings our family closer together when we can just be together without all the hussle and bussle of our busy lives.

On the adoption front we mailed our first big check (ha... bc we have been paying lots of checks here and there already) and the two passport pics for each of us that were missing from our file so we are still chugging along. There won't be much to report as the waiting is basically just that... waiting. Hubby and I will need to start getting some shots for our travel. Hubby still goes back and forth on whether he thinks we can both really travel together. I can't imagine doing it any other way. I really want us to experience Ethiopia together. We will see I suppose.
Now that I have talked about adoption it just reminded me that this could be our last family vacation without our missing link. Referrals have been coming in my request range at about 6 months of waiting, so maybe by the next trip we will be complete.

Celebrating Life!!!

One of the most wonderful ways to remember a loved one who has left us is to celebrate their life. Hubby's mom left us 3 1/2 years ago and it is painfully and uniquely hard for all of us who miss her so very much. But, one of the ways that we remember her is by celebrating her life on her birthday. As a tradition since the day we held her memorial service we have gotten together with Hubby's sister and her family and celebrated.
We celebrate what a wonderful woman Grandma D was. We celebrate what an amazing and wonderful family we have. We celebrate what it means to live life to its fullest... and to be thankful for each beautiful day we are blessed with. We celebrate because we know our Grandma D is in a beautiful place... free from pain and suffering. And, we celebrate because we know that is what D would want and we feel her watching over us and our silly antics as we play.
Our morning began with my sweet Belle in her crib singing Happy Birthday to herself (coincidence... maybe). We got together and played some great games of basketball, made a delicious cake (yes H the cream cheese makes a boxed cake tastier), wrote our messages on our balloons like we always do, walked them up to the lake and let them soar up to Heaven. The kids love to write sweet messages to Grandma D (okay the adults too) and we always try and see whose is in the lead to see which one of our message will reach Heaven first. I think Hubby is claiming this year.
Happy Birthday D... we miss you!

My Sweet Girl is Turning 1

I just love this big open mouthed smile!!


This is the picture that we got when we first took out the camera... baby Belle loves to pose and say cheese! (wonder where she gets that? hint...hint...her dad)

Well, I have come to terms with the fact that my sweet sweet baby girl is turning 1 as I planned her first birthday party this past weekend. So, like any good mom would do (so sorry baby Belle) I put her in a fluffy tutu and a bright pink happy birthday party hat and snapped some pics. Luckily for me my hubby put up with all of this ridiculousness quite well!