Birthday Celebrations

Just a couple of pictures from the birthday celebrations.  Both kids had days packed full of activities.  Jeff had school, followed by tech rehearsal for Charlotte's Web.  Erin got to share her birthday with my Mother's Day, head to church to serve as acolyte and perform in Charlotte's Web.  Yet we still found a little time to sit down and open presents and blow out candles.

Jeff got all his celebrating done first thing in the morning. Tom made him bacon and eggs for breakfast and we bought birthday donuts to hold his candles. He opened his presents before school (although had received his big present from mom and dad a day earlier in the form of a new hamster).

Skittly the hamster

Birthday Breakfast

Candles on his donut

Erin waited until after breakfast to open her gifts, although got special breakfast also. Her big present was her trip to see Wicked but she did receive some new clothes for her dolls, a book she's been wanting and a copy of Hunger Games on Blue Ray!
 

LOVES her kitty

 

American Girl clothes!

Birthday candles on a plate of cupcakes!

Where has the time gone?

Well look, your birthday post is a day late.  Hopefully it's not a dollar short.  Just like with your brother, the busy aspects of life got in the way and I didn't get to write to you before yesterday.  But oh, how I've been thinking about how you are growing.  And how many exciting things are just around the corner.  Just where has the time gone my little one?

Next August you're going to start middle school.  You are absolutely excited.  You've been talking about learning Spanish or French for several months now.  You will have different teachers and have to "move between classes".  Best of all, there will be lockers.  I'm absolutely terrified.  How will you reach your locker when you get a top locker.  Will your organization skills get you through the day? Who will watch out for you?

But seeing the exuberance in your eyes lets me know how much you're growing up, and how quickly. And it's not all bad.

You're finally tall enough to ride the big roller coasters at King's Dominion. The ones you've watched for years and years. You can now flip upside down at crazy fast speeds and drop down hills at almost 90 MPH if you want to (I think we're both rather crazy for loving that).

Last summer you spent your first week away from family at 4H Camp. Without a second glance back you hopped on to the bus ready for an adventure. You quickly found friends and loved learning to canoe and sing camp songs. When you returned 4 nights later you were exhausted in the best way possible, from growing and learning and making new friends.

You love your mommy time still, but it's different. You want to go out and get our nails done. Or go out to a nice dinner. Or watch a "big girl" movie (i.e. Hunger Games) together. We went to our first major theatrical production together. You loved choosing out the fancy dress to wear and were amazed at every second of Wicked.

I guess I will just have to face it. You're growing up. And I'll have to take it like you took your trip to camp.  I'm scared, and I don't know exactly what the future is going to bring. But it will be an adventure and I guess its time we face it head on -- together.

Love you, my big girl!

The Big NINE

Here it is.  10:55 the night before your birthday and I'm just starting your birthday letter.  That's just the way things have been this past year.  We've been so busy, doing so many, many things.

This weekend we spent all day Saturday outside, where you love to be.  After a morning of rocking as keeper at soccer we headed out to a family Cub Scout camp out.  What a gorgeous weekend to escape as a family. You spent a long time fishing, one of your new favorite things to do. You even wormed your own hook and then held your own fish to throw it back into the lake.

You've been coming into your own more and more this year as we are keeping busy. You've started taking your bike out and ride around the neighborhood with friends or your sister. Wearing a watch and making sure you are back in time for check-ins.

You love to help cook and can't wait for Kid's Cook night. And you always come up with something creative to make. Your own fancy hamburgers topped with shrimp or pineapple. Handmade dumplings. Meatball subs. When we are cooking you also like to help cut the veggies or measure ingredients.

Daddy took you on your first big boy hike. An overnight camp out with a scout friend. You carried your own pack. Helped set up camp. Slept the night under the stars.

But sometimes you are still my baby boy. You love your snuggle time. You want mommy to kiss your boo boos. You still need some help with your homework sometimes.

There are still more exciting things to come. This summer you and daddy will head off to a week of scout camp.  I know you will have so much fun, and I can't wait to write all about it next May 5th.

Enjoy your day big boy. Have fun. Smile. Laugh. Be you. The goofy, lovable, crazy you.