Happy Birthday Josh

My Josh is 5 years old! CRAZY! It seems like just yesterday he was my sweet little toothless baby smiling at me with his bright blue eyes. And today he's my sweet dirty little boy hitting me with a sword!

For his party we went with a RESCUE HEROES theme & it was so fun. We had Rescue Hero Training Camp. All of the boys did games that earned them stickers on thier badge so they could become official Resuce Heroes. Shawn gave them all Rescue Hero names & they wore fireman hats. Josh, or Wolverine, had a ball. His favorite part was using the water gun to put out the "flames" (or red cups) on the cardboard box house we made.

Of course I can't throw a party without testing my skills as a cake decorator. This year it was a Fire Engine Cake. It turned out ok.....it leaned forward a little bit but Josh loved it. While I probably will never get asked to work for the Ace of Cakes, I find great fulfillment in making a fun cake & throwing a killer party for my sweet children.

So here are some things I love about my little man:
1. He is so snuggly. He loves to sit close & snuggle up with me. There are times when he'll sit next to me & just rub my arm for 10 minutes.

2. He's so funny. He's just like Shawn. He is funny on purpose & on accident. He makes us laugh all of the time. Just today he annoucned that he stayed up all night so he could pretend he was nocturnal.

3. He's so thoughtful. He often will help me with something on his own initiative. It's so sweet. He opens my door & carries bags in for me so I "don't have to work so much."

4. He's got a tender heart. He genuinely cares for others and notices when they are sad. The other day Annie wasn't allowed to have candy because she didn't eat her dinner and so he told me he wouldn't have any either. Wow---what a good brother.

5. He has a heart to protect. We're teaching him that boys are made of strength & honor. They are strong to protect..especially girls and they are to treat people with honor. His way of displayiing this is by telling his granny that if anyone tried to take his baby sister he would tell them "NO! and then whack them in the face."

Well, I could go on. But I won't. Instead of blogging about my boy I'm gonna go kiss him as he sleeps & thank Jesus for this precious gift.

Easter Celebration

This year we had a great Easter weekend! On Good Friday we had several friends over for lunch and an Easter Egg hunt. All of the kids (all 14 of them---6 years & under) had a blast. They played so well together. And it was refreshing for us because we got to spend the afternoon with friends who refresh us too.

On Sundaywe had lunch with the Carpenters. We've been eating Easter lunch together since Annie & Emma were babies. We are always together & then we invite those who don't have family in town. This year it was our 2 families plus Clark & Melissa, Jessica, Vincent's intern & Vincent's sister. It was so fun. This year it was different because we're reaching a turning point as a family....no one was melting down because they needed a nap. With Emily at 2 1/2 we have more flexibility as a family.

Also this year I officially felt like a mom. You know the bonafide mom who does the "heavy cooking" for a holiday meal. Why? Because I cooked a ham! And it was good. It made me feel like I'm a for real cook. I know it's silly, but I felt like I was reaching a turning point in life. At most holiday meals I'm the one who brings the bread or the potato salad or whatever that's "simple". It made me, a 34 year old woman, feel grown up. It's about time! :)