A's Birthday

For A's birthday she had a few request.  A heart-themed B-day party (which we did with her friends a few days before her actual birthday), a lemon heart cake with blueberries on top, a trip to the park and a rainy day so worms will come out for her to find.

Our family tradition is to have birthday cake at breakfast.

A's favorite breakfast of all time is m&m pancakes.  Since we were going for an extra healthy birthday we decided that after cake we should top off the morning with this as our breakfast.  This is her face when she saw the pancakes.  Such a sweet tooth!  

The girls playing with the new toys.  Since A is SO into bugs and worms we got her plastic bug toys and a worm book.

Off to the park we go....

While playing at the park it started to down pour.  Her prayers were answered!  A was in her element!  Put this girl outdoors on a rainy day with a container for her worm friends and she is one very happy five year old!

We ended our day at the park with a visit to Friendly's.  It only seemed visiting to give this little lady a WORM ice cream sundae on her birthday!

Yes, that's correct, we had cake and m&m pancakes for breakfast and ice cream for lunch.  After we come off our sugar high we will be heading to the farmers market.

Dear Five Year Old A

See A's Birthday letter from last year here.

Dear A,

Five!  It just doesn't seem possible that my oldest is five.  Happy happy Birthday!  What a fun year we've had with you my little love bug!

There are three things in this past year that you have been all about...hearts, the movie Frozen and little outdoor critters.

You make this cute giddy noise just about anytime you see a heart.  You wear hearts, draw hearts, had a heart-themed birthday party, cut out hearts and gave them to all 19 of your classmates and make a variety of crafts that center around hearts.  You also have a BIG heart!

For M's 3rd Birthday we went to the movie theatre for the first time.  We saw the Disney movie Frozen and from then until now you and your sister have been obsessed with Frozen.  You know all the words along with all the instrumental music on the sound track (titles included).  You've only watched the movie 3 times but you can tell us when each instrumental song is played during the movie.  You and M play Elsa and Anna constently.  You pretend daddy is the character marshmellow as he chances you two around the house, screaming and giggling with carefree excitment.  

And then there are the bugs.  Oh the bugs.  I was the child/teenager/adult who screamed at the sight of a spider and would not want to sleep in the same room until the next day if it was found in the bedroom.  You are the complete polar opposite of that!  I made the concious decision when you were a baby that I would not act the way I was accustomed to around bugs.  I hid my fear and utter disgust from you (and still do) in an attempt not to pass along this trait to my children.  I remember praying when I was young for my future husband and children and within that prayer I even prayed for a child that would kill bugs for me.  While I didn't get a child who would kill a bug for me I did get a child who will get a bug and gleefully have the bug crawl all over her.  Your favorite creature....worms.  I don't think I will soon forget the day I picked you up from preschool and you walked over with a handful of slimy slithering worms in your hands.  Bless your little worm loving self.  The look on your face when you find a worm is absolutely priceless!  If someone would've told me that I'd one day be sitting reading books about different species of insects I would've laughed (or cried) at the thought but for you my little knowledge seeker I do it and relish every snuggle I get as I read about blood worms, dung beetles and a variety of other insects that grace the pages of your favorite books.  As much as it makes me squirm that our dinner conversations revolve around your little outdoor "friends" as you call them, I love that about you.  You are a gift to me in every way.

One of my favorite parts of the day has become when I come get you from your quiet time (while M is napping).  You regularly greet me with a gift that you have made for me or an invention you've created.    Some of your inventions blow me away.  Truly.  What four year old creates a working elevator for her toy animals??  And your gifts are always sweet and thoughtful. You have a knack for showing your love through your creations.

Daddy and you are still growing this untouchable bond that is one of the greatest joys for me (and certainly for him!!).  He is nuts about you and you are nuts about him.  The two of you love exploring the world around you together and learning all kinds of random facts.  Daddy loves the questions you ask and even more so loves chatting about them with you.  You two are like two scientists sitting around a lunch table chatting the day away.  The two of you also have a love for God's beautiful creation in the outdoors and would spend all day everyday outside together if you could.    

You love love love playing with M!  The relationship the two of you have continues to be a blessing to your daddy and me.  The two of you are almost inseparable.  You miss M when she's napping and she misses you when you're at school.  You two are the best of friends and the cutest of sisters.

We have had so many amazing memories this year with you Miss. A but one sticks out above all the rest.  A few months ago during bedtime you started asking thoughtful and deep questions about Jesus.  The little conversation that you, me and daddy had led you to making the decision to ask Jesus into your heart.  God is going to do amazing things through you my little love!  Far more than I could ever ask or imagine.

You have grown so much this year...spiritually, physically, socially and emotionally.  You've overcome so much.  Your last year of preschool was an absolute blast for you.  You made great friendships and broke out of your comfort zone more than I ever could have expected.  I'm not ready to send you off to kindergarten yet.  You are just way too much fun to not have around!!  I'm going to miss you like crazy!

You are one of the greatest joys and loves of my life.  For as much as I teach you I feel like you teach me that much more.  You are funny, creative, beautiful, thoughtful and a true treasure.  Daddy and I are so proud of you!  We love you Birthday girl!

Love you lots!
Mommy


Questions I asked A (I asked her the same questions in her four year old letter):

What is your favorite thing to do at school?  Play with the ponies (my little ponies)

What do you want to be when you grow-up?  A worm doctor

What is your favorite thing to do with daddy?  Play with him

What is your favorite thing to do with mommy?  Play with you

What is your favorite thing to do with M?  Play the Nemo book with her.

What is your favorite toy?  My worm house (She made a worm house during her quiet time and tries to catch worms and put them in the house in our backyard)

What is your favorite TV show?  Tumble Leaf

What is your favorite color?  Dark blue and all of the colors

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?  Watermelon

What is your favorite food?  Watermelon

Where is your favorite place to go?  The restaurant Bertuccis 

What is your favorite Bible story?  John the Baptist (this is because in her Jesus Storybook Bible it shows a picture of John the Baptist eating locust.  A loves that there is someone in the Bible that talks about bugs.)

A had this blanky from birth.  She LOVED this blanky.  Sadly when folding down boxes from our move this year I mistakenly took blanky inside a box to the recycling center.  I think I was more upset about it then she was as she has moved on.  M's blanky has captivated A's heart. 

A holding the worms she found at school.  Her teacher lovely shared her container with A so she could bring the worms home.  You can imagine my excitement when I came to pick her up and found out we had new "pets".  

A at preschool graduation with her teachers.

A's Preschool Graduation

What sticker princess should I pick?

Having fun with daddy before the graduation begins.

A with her preschool teachers

Celebrating at A's favorite restaurant, Bertucci's.  Love these two!

U's Birthday Celebration

For the second year in the row the four of us headed to the Zoo to celebrate our son and little brother, U.  The girls and I kicked off his celebration by baking him a cake in honor of our little guy.  We've been told he loves to play with cars so we made him a cars cake.  We then hit the road for some much anticipated fun at the Zoo.

We don't know if U likes animals but for whatever reason we keep picking the Zoo as our annual U celebration.  I'm going to needs boxes of tissues with me the first time we bring U to the Zoo with all the tears of joy this mama will have walking around with our 3 kiddos in tow.  We miss you so so much Mr. U!!

Dear Two year old U

See last years Birthday letter here

Dear Mr. Birthday Boy,

Happy Birthday my littlest one!  Today you turn two years old.  It feels like it was so very many moons ago that we first saw your sweet little face with those yummy little cheeks yet the memory of that moment is as vivid as this morning.  Daddy and I love you so much Mr. U!  So so much!!

You have grown in personality, experiences and height over this year!  We have been told by all who care for you that you are one very active and social little boy.  You love running all over and playing with older kids (your sisters are going to adore this about you!!).  You are Mr. Social.  You love playing with cars and eating and eating and eating.

Oh my little man my heart aches writing this letter without you here with us.  It doesn't seem right or fair and it certainly is not easy.  Then again I suppose God doesn't promise us those things.  He does promise to be with us and I know that He has been and will be.  So this Birthday letter this year is my prayer for you, our little Victory, and for our family.  One day we'll be able to look back on this and see the answers to our prayers and God's hand in and through this wait.

Lord,

Thank you for what "U" brings to this family.  He fills my heart with a joy that only my own children can do.  Thank you for friends, family and even strangers who pray for him.

God, give "U" health.  Keep him from harm.  Protect his little body along with his mind and spirit.  Give him a heart that seeks you first.

Thank you for putting him in a home that loves you and loves him.  All I want to do today is shower "U" with my love and hugs and kisses but your love is so much greater than mine.  Pour your love on him so thick that it oozes out to those around him.

May "U" be strong and courageous and not fear or be in dread, for it is You, Lord, our God, who goes with him.  You will never leave him or forsake him (Deuteronomy 31:6).

Don't let another year go by without "U" here with us.  Don't let him (or me) spend another birthday without the five of us together.  Place his paperwork in the right hands at exactly the right time.  Let your will be done in his life despite all obstacles in his path.

Bring an abundance of healing to U's birth country.  May we, as a family, be apart of that healing.

In Jesus name Amen.

We celebrate you today, Mr. U!  Daddy and I are thinking, praying and longing for you each and every day!  Your sisters can't wait to play with you!  Happy Birthday my sweet boy!

Love you tons and tons and tons!
Mommy