Happy 4th Birthday Jean-Margaret!!!

If you are reading this blog, you probably know we are moving to Wilmington, NC next month. Over the past few weeks while we have been tying up loose ends, both Jeanie's preschool teacher and her dance teacher said they cry whenever they think of losing her as a student. They see what we see: a bubbly, perky, fearless, petite sweetheart!! Its hard not to love Jeanie to absolute pieces. Its also hard to believe she is four years old!!!! She tells me every night at bedtime I am her "very very very best friend" and I hope I hear that every night forever. She is a delight to have as my main sidekick and we love to spend "girl time" doing princess things (without "the boys"... but sometimes with Abe). With that said, she also loves to snuggle her sweet daddy and loves to be included in Van's Star Wars games.

This year Jeanie wanted an art party, and luckily we have a great facility for kids art in Raleigh-- Wild at Art Kids. AND a great facility for the most adorable cupcakes: The Cupcake Shoppe. Throw in a Kidz Bop cd and my work was done! Such a fun party. We finished her birthday with balloons, Mexican takeout, and Alvin and the Chipmunks movie night. Jeanie-- we LOVE you and hope you had a great fourth birthday!!!

ABE IS 2!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Dear Abe,

The other night I was stripping you down for your bath and when I peeled off your diaper I heard several clanging sounds as several unknown objects quickly fell out of your diaper and rolled across the floor...

 You look at me and smile your mischievous "Abe" grin and take off towards the tub. I ask: "Abe?? What was that noise?" as I look around the floor to see what on earth had fallen out of your diaper...

to which you so sweetly reply: "Nuttin, mama...just money for Abe."

Oh my... that story just captures SO much about you right now. We still think of you as our perfect little baby (and you always will be) but you are MUCH more capable than we give you credit for. I have no idea whose piggy bank you pilfered coins from and eventually stuffed down your diaper, but you are quite sneaky, little muffin!

The good thing about being Abe right now is you can pretty much get away with anything. You know we are tired. You know we don't take you quite as seriously (yet...) and you know you can look up at me OR daddy and say "I so so sorry mama..." and whatever you have done will quickly roll off our backs and into a big snuggling hug. You ALWAYS have buddies to play with and I am pretty sure your life is rather entertaining for a two year old.

The tough thing about being Abe right now is that I lament how quickly your days go by without ever receiving one-on-one attention. When its just us at home I am so busy catching up on laundry, cooking, shopping, or cleaning that I rarely just pick you up and snuggle you like I so badly want to.

However, last night, on your second birthday--we got the big kids in bed-- and brought you to the couch with us and daddy and I took turns snuggling on you until late late late. You finally looked up with dreary eyes and said "cwib please, mama..."

Neither daddy nor I wanted to take you to bed. You are SO sweet and we just love you unconditionally. Your favorite things right now are cars, trucks, trains, Alvin and the Chipmunks [you loves screaming 'ALLLVIIIIN', wearing everyone else's shoes, fwench fwies, 'balananananas', playing "honey/sweetie" with Van and Sissy, and loving on your mommy. We hope you had a great birthday!!! Love, Mom

Van is 6!! Happy Birthday!!

Van,

I have been looking through lots of your baby photos recently and I just can't help but think that each year is going by exponentially faster than the last.  On your real birthday this year you woke up with the tummy bug and we had to reschedule your party for a week later. You love football and would have been content inviting your best buds over, wearing helmets and jerseys, and just playing tackle all day long but we decided to have a sports-themed party at the Jaycee center just in case not all the attendees are as tackle-ready as you :)

We had so much fun celebrating you today, Van. I am so proud of you and your endearing personality. Instead of enjoying your own birthday cake, you blew out the candles and asked me if you could help pass out the cake to your friends. You are a giving, loving, and patient little soul.  Today when we were playing outside, you let Abe sit in your lap while you showed him how your gator/tractor works. Just watching how polite and gentle you are with him makes me so happy. You are so sweet to stop playing with your own toys and share with Abe and Jeanie. I am in awe at how easily you transitioned into kindergarten and how quickly you made so many great friends. I am a lucky mom to have you as my first and oldest child. One of the best parts of my week is our joint guitar lesson. You inspire me with your natural musical talent! I am so excited about your future and love watching you grow every single day. I apologize for not getting you a fourth light saber for your birthday, I hope you forgive me for that one day! ;) HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUDDY!!!

Love, Mom

Jeanie and Abe's First Day of Preschool - 2015

Big brother Van gave them a good talkin' to this morning. His best advice: "Do NOT poot in your class...that would be so embarrassin'" (In Van's good ole southern twang). Gotta love him! Got to love all three!! So proud of this bunch.

"Give the ones you love wings to fly, roots to come back to, and reasons to stay." -Dalai Lama