Ballgames & Birthdays

Dearest Jackson and Colt,

Our weekends have changed a lot in the last year.  A year ago, we would've been hitting up some festivals, maybe a zoo or two, a local park, etc.  Now we play ball every weekend.  And, if it's a weekend in April, we also throw a birthday party in the mix, too (because April is a great month to be born - right, Jax?).

I miss the carefree, "What should we do this weekend?", days - but I guess I better get used to this new schedule because you, Jackson David, love baseball.  And, while I might be biased, I think you are an awesome player and I can see you playing for many seasons to come!

After this morning's game, we went to Color Me Mine to celebrate Ava's 5th birthday.  She is artistic and creative so this was a great party place for her.

Colt, Daddy helped you pick out a dinosaur for your painting project.  

Jackson, you picked a baseball mug to paint.

Notice the left handed painting?  Hmm...

Colt, you were seriously loving the party at first.

But then an attitude crept in and you only wanted to be held by me and picture taking was off limits!

Nice work, J!

A yummy lunch went along with the painting fun.

A group shot was attempted...minus Colton...and Ella (the birthday girl's sister)...who were both mysteriously moody.

(No worries, the paint washed right out of your uniform!)

Slipping and a sliding!

Dearest Colt & Jax,

We spent our Friday night at The Vaughn's new house - right down the road from our house!!  They hosted us and let you boys run wild in their beautiful back yard while us adults sat around swapping stories and toasting frosty beverages.

It's super sweet to hear Kate call you her "beh - freend" : )

I love how I caught her giving her best friend a little bit of sass as Colt looks on curiously!

They even brought out a brand new slip 'n slide, which means Momma brought out her camera!  

Colt, you had your daddy's help for your first trip down this childhood rite of passage.

The anticipation on your faces was adorable!

And your smiles were proof of a good time had by all!

Colt, you took a break to go flirt with Michelle and I'm so glad she took this precious picture of you!

Then it was time to for a little more traditional sliding - 

You big boys needed hosed off after all your fun!

This has me longing for a big backyard of our own!!!

Party Time - Round 2

Dearest Jax,

The day after your party, we had another birthday party to attend.  It was at the same gym where we hosted your 3rd birthday party.  This party was for a friend from your old school so most of the kids there used to be in your class.  It was neat to see y'all together again.  I only had my camera phone with me so I only captured a few select party scenes.

We tried for a group picture after an hour of running around the gym.  Not only were you tired from playing - but this party was also during your daily "rest" (since someone is done with napping) time so you were pretty exhausted.  I promise you had a ball (pun intended) though!

Happy Birthday to...everyone!

Caring Colton

Dearest Colton,

You are a sweetheart! Baby Kaitlyn visited us this past weekend and you were thrilled! Even without words, you clearly let us know that you wanted to hold her and love on her. When you held her, you would look so sweetly at her. When we were holding her, you would run to her at full force and then brake just in time to lean in for a gentle hug and kiss. Although we’ve made the decision to not add any more to our family, it kind of makes me sad as seeing you like this shows me that you’d be an amazing big brother.  Luckily, you’re an equally amazing little brother!  

Birthday evening

Dearest Jackson,

Your 4th birthday party was held at an indoor play place called The Ark.  We've played there many times before but this was the best!  Having the entire place for just us and some special friends was so much fun!  We had 8 different families come to celebrate YOU, which totaled 12 friends for you to run wild with!  We kind of had a dump truck theme as the invitations, party favors, and cake were all dump truck related.  I also went with yellow and black balloons and that was the extent of my decorating.  I think a good time was had by all!

A group picture was nearly impossible but we still tried!

This cake was as yummy as it was cute!

And everyone sang to you even though I left the candles at home!

You ate your cake on Daddy's lap and gave it your thumbs-up approval.

We also served Chic-Fil-A since the party was at dinner time.

The Lake Family wins the "longest drive" award and I'm honored that you were Katie's first birthday party!

Someone started popping all the balloons at the end of the party and your brother thought this was the funniest thing ever!  I'm so glad Deanna caught his belly laughter with a picture!

Everyone got a party favor before they left.

Then Colt helped us take the decorations home.

You are so worthy of celebrating and I hope this birthday remains a special memory for you for years to come.  

Birthday morning

Dear Jax,

I have a new favorite 4 year old and that's YOU!  We had a busy birthday morning at the ball fields as pictures were at 9:00 and your game was at 10:00.

They schedule these pictures an hour before game time and that's because that's about how long it takes to get everyone's individual pictures and to get one, good, group shot.  I was super impressed at how you patiently kept smiling even through all the, "Hands on your laps!" and "Look this way!" and "Don't pick your nose!" requests from the photographer.  I think you were just thrilled to be front and center as the "holder of the bats"!  : )

Turning 4 but you've got the form of a 5 year old already ; )

Mom gets a double thumbs up from the birthday boy on 1st base!

I signed up to bring snack this week and I made extra-special treats for your team in celebration of your big day!  They were a hit and you scarfed your first one down before I could get a picture - but here I captured you on your way to baseball-pop #2.

You would think that after a morning like that, you'd need a nap....but no way!  You joined Daddy and Andy at the race track and helped with the r.c. car instead.  

Still ahead...the tons of fun we had at your party!

Interview with an *almost* 4 year old

Dearest Jackson David,

The current trend is to “interview” your child on their birthday...so, after seeing these little questionnaires on blog after blog, I hopped on the bandwagon.  And I’m glad I did because you’re one of my favorite people to talk to.  The red words are mine.  The blue words are yours.  The green words are my inner dialogue.  How is it even possible that you’re almost four years old???  Because I don’t believe in posts without pictures, this post is sprinkled with never-before-blogged pics of you throughout the last few years. 

How do you spell your name?

J-a-b-k-s-o-n

You got almost every letter right!  The 3^rd letter in your name is a -C- though.

Oh, yeah!

How old are you about to be?

4

What are you looking forward to about being 4 years old?

Playing with kids

What did you like the most about being 3 years old?

Having fun

What do you think is fun to do?

Ride my bicycle

What’s fun to do with Mommy?

Play games & ride bikes

I like those things, too!  What’s fun to do with Daddy? 

Driving the r.c. car

**I knew this answer was coming as you have been nothing short of obsessed with this lately!  You ask every single day if you can take the r.c. car for a spin and you are your father’s biggest helper when y’all do take it out.

Speaking of Mommy and Daddy, what do we do all day while you’re with Ms. Steph?

You have to go to work.

What does daddy do for work? 

He works with the people who don’t know how to build things.

What does mommy do for work? 

Help the kids

What kind of work do you want to do when you’re a grown up? 

I’ll be a airplaner.

What does an “airplaner” do, Jax? 

He sits in the airplane seat with headphones and drives the plane.  And he gets to talk to the people who are landing.

It would be fun to be a pilot!  Will you fly me around the world?

Ok.  But you won’t wear headphones like me.

Deal.  How about we talk about your favorite things?

Oooo, good idea, momma!

What is your favorite food? 

Macaroni

**Seriously?  I think I could ask you this question every day for a week and get a different response each time.

What is your least favorite food? 

Peas & carrots…oh, and I do like bananas!

Who are your favorite friends? 

Brody and Kate

What is your favorite thing to do with them? 

Play at their house

What is your favorite book?

The truck book

What is your favorite place to eat? 

Old McDonalds Had a Farm

**You call it that over and over despite our correcting you!

What is your favorite place to go have fun?

Hmm…that is a tough one, mom!

Ok, how about your favorite movie? 

Lightning McQueen and Wall-E the robot because he’s afraid of something

Are you afraid of anything? 

Just monsters

What kind? 

Giant ones, momma!

You know those aren’t real, right?

I know.  I’m only scared of the ones that crash stuff on the street.

Honey, those are just pretend.

No, I mean the blue ones. 

::: I nod with a quizzical look :::

Now are we done?

Sure!  Thanks for answering my questions, buddy.  I love you tons and tons.

Love YOU (said with emphasis as you lunge at my face)!