Fun To Be FIVE

Boys had a birthday, shout HURRAY!!!!  They had been waiting, and waiting, and waiting....and it finally came (way back in November)!!!  We celebrated all week long.  Starting with too many presents.

 NEW BIKES (and helmets of course)!!!  I bought these bikes at a consignment shop second hand.  They were in great shape and couldn't have been more perfect.  I've only had friends storing them for a year. :)

Carson and Cade went to preschool on their special day, sharing the day as VIP's.  Once Dad got home we took them out for their birthday dinner.  They chose Chick-Fil-A.  It was such a fun day.

Then we waited a few days before their 1st real Birthday Party.

We did a Toy Story theme...more specifically...Buzz and Woody.  I rented out our clubhouse (best decision ever!) and happily welcomed all 12 kiddos.

 We started out with washable Buzz and Woody tattoos and then played Musical Chairs set to "You've Got a Friend in Me."  It was a hit.

Then we played pin the Sheriff Star on Woody...or...Lazer Badge on Buzz.

 This was so funny.  Look where Cade is trying to put his star.

Ahh...that's better!

 Steven

Love where Carson's ended up...

 Emery

 Alyse

 Sage

 Clark

 Ruby

 Ella

Time for CAKE!!!

 

What would we do without our Cake Genius Stephanie?!  One thing is for sure, she has set the bar way too high!  So amazing!

 After cake and ice cream, we pulled out our Buzz Lightyear Pinata.  It went smashingly.  And the kids were more than eager to sit and eat their candy while the Birthday Boys opened, again, way too many presents.  

I'd say our first real friend party was a success.  Many thanks to my lovely assistant Shane.  He so was awesome.  Pretty darn sure we won't be doing this every year.  I told Carson and Cade that they would need to remember this party for another 5 years!   

 

 Cute 5-year-olds.  Still can't believe it.

Enjoying the Journey

I'm determined to get caught up!

Tonight the boys wanted to look through pictures and videos of themselves when they were babies.  They love doing this and love hearing stories about themselves as babies.  They get serious giggles as I tell and re-tell their stories.  It's the best.  Tonight was no different.  As a family, we started looking through our pictures from 3-4 years ago.  And then videos.  And we got serious giggles.  All of us.  Especially Shane and me.  I quickly found my laughter being accompanied by tears.  And then lots more tears.  In a matter of minutes I went from hysterical laughter to tears...such a mix of pure and genuine joy and sadness and longing for the past.  I miss having babies.  Like...a lot.  I get sad thinking that I may never experience it again.  And at the same time, I am SO in love with the life I am living RIGHT NOW.  I desperately want time to stop.  This last year with my boys has been so incredibly good.  I can't see how it can get any better.  I feel anxious thinking about them having another birthday.  EVER!  This year's was painful for me!!  Shane and I have been soaking in the little things that make life so full and feel like we are doing as President Uchdorf counseled by "enjoying the journey".  He also said,

"We shouldn’t wait to be happy until we reach some future point, only to discover that happiness was already available—all the time! Life is not meant to be appreciated only in retrospect. 'This is the day which the Lord hath made … ,' the Psalmist wrote. 'Rejoice and be glad in it.^'

Brothers and sisters, no matter our circumstances, no matter our challenges or trials, there is something in each day to embrace and cherish. There is something in each day that can bring gratitude and joy if only we will see and appreciate it."  

As we start a new year, I am determined to continue to be happy, regardless of circumstances and to live each day with a grateful heart.  

Here are just a few of our simple pleasures from recent months...that I'm sure will make me cry when I look back on them in 3 years.

LIBRARY!

The library is one of our favorite places these days (insert happy dance)!  Story time is magical for my little 5 year olds. 

 Just noting Cade's vest.  Recognize it?  He was Woody at the Library on this particular day complete with his hat, boots and spurs.

 

Backyard Campfires!

 Goggle-Faced Bath Boy!

 Bike rides with Officer Cade

 This particular day was SO beautiful.  I took the boys on the Oregon Trail that runs behind our neighborhood.  This was a happy day.

 

 Never ending make believe with these two...

 Re-connecting with old friends.

 

 Thoughtful neighbors.  Carson and Cade got curbside service for a ride in a SEMI-TRUCK!!!  This is them watching as it went down to the end of the cul-de-sac on it's way to pick them up.

 

"With the bountiful blessings of our Heavenly Father, His generous plan of salvation, the supernal truths of the restored gospel, and the many beauties of this mortal journey, 'have we not reason to rejoice?'  The path toward fulfilling our divine destiny as sons and daughters of God is an eternal one. My dear brothers and sisters, dear friends, we must begin to walk that eternal path today; we cannot take for granted one single day. I pray that we will not wait until we are ready to die before we truly learn to live." -President Dieter F. Uchtdorf  

Farmstead Rocks! (finally)