3 Year Old on the Loose

We invited a few friends to help us celebrate Sam's birthday Friday night. Sam wanted a Rescue Bot cake, so I searched Pinterest hoping there would be something within my limited ability to deliver. Thankfully other moms had come up with a pretty simple way to create the cake. I had a sweet helper that loved to climb up behind me during the process. I started just squirting chocolate out on another piece of parchment paper trying to keep him from climbing all over me. It worked pretty well.

Sam's friends who came to his party were Cruz Hunnicutt, Mattie Jenkins, and of course Ella who he says is his best friend. They brought along their brothers and sisters which made for a fun and loud house! Patrick and I had a good time visiting, too.

Sam had been waiting for his birthday since Jack's birthday in September. He was always sad it wasn't his turn yet. So when the time came to sing to him and blow out his candles he was more than ready! We sang, "Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you," and he blew out his candles, haha. He was definitely the messiest eater of the cake. I don't think another kid had it all over them (or the floor) like he did.  He really enjoyed every bite. He'd been wanting a piece since I had frosted it the day before and asked for cake at each meal time.

Samuel Owen Big Boy (you like to be addressed this way),

You are our all boy boy. You love all things boy. Will and Jack were never into super heroes or wrestling until they were a lot older than 3. You have grown up watching them and loving all the things they love and thinking you are just as big as them. You have been a super chill, go-with-the-flow kid. You have probably been my easiest so far and take disappointments really well. You are so super sweet and most of the time have the best manners. You don't love sharing too much, but I'm betting you'll grow out of that. We love you so so much and are so happy we are a family.

Love,
Mom

Will is 8!

How can it be that I have an 8 year old??!

I made Devil's Food cookies and Will got to take them in to share with his 2nd grade class. He was very excited when I picked him up that everyone loved them as much as he does.

That evening we had a little party. He invited Lane's family to come over and eat his birthday dinner with him. Will chose cheeseburgers, fries, and pineapple. I added a salad on the side. He got some Pokemon cards, a wii game, a game that shows you how to build with different electrical circuits, a new chapter book- Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and a dinosaur that was trapped in an egg. I think he said that the dinosaur was his favorite gift. That came from Lane and Ella.

When it came time to blow out his candles, all the other kids blew them out instead of Will. It was a little sad, and Will obviously a little sad but trying to be mature quickly said, "Next year, I would like to blow them out." We all praised Will for being so nice and understanding and quickly assured him that we could relight them and do it again, and we told the other kids to scoot back. No harm done!

We finished up our party with hot fudge sundaes and got everyone in bed by 8:30. It was a fun evening celebrating a fun sweet boy.

Will is very excited about being baptized! We are planning on doing that after the first of the year.

Another Year Older

Hard to believe I turned 32 this year. Wowza. I kept thinking I was only turning 31.

I made plans to get my haircut loooong overdue and to go and visit my Grandma Miller. I hadn't been able to get down to see her since she had fallen and been to the hospital and put in a nursing home on Halloween. She was asleep when I first got there so Mom and I went to the funeral home to see about some things, but when they weren't open we decided to get a bite to eat while we waited for Grandma to wake up.

I had a nice lunch with Mom at Gondola's while she caught me up on everything happening with G'ma. After we'd eaten and visited for awhile we went back to the Nursing Home. Sometime after we got there, Grandma woke up. I got to sit by her and talk to her about different things. She made sure I knew I was special and that Patrick and the boys were special too. My Aunt Agnes told her it was my birthday and asked if they should sing Happy Birthday to me. Grandma as weak as I've ever seen her agreed and they all sang to me, even Grandma. Mom recorded it. We were all in tears as we listened to her tender voice struggle to sing the words. That recording is so precious and priceless to me. I'm so very happy I was able to spend time with her today, to tell her I love her and feel her soft gentle arms and hands...this will probably be the last time on this Earth. So happy I could spend a short little while with her today.

I headed home around 4 and when I got home we ate some chicken tortilla soup that I had put in the crock pot before I'd left that morning. While I was gone, the boys made me a strawberry cake with cream cheese frosting. After our dinner they sang to me and we each had a slice. I am one lucky girl to have so much love in my life.

Nonna Visit

Mom came for a quick overnight visit. She always brings good stuff with her when she comes. This time she brought Vinca Minor for our landscaping. Joe placed an order for me at Scott Bros Nursery.  It was on the house thanks to Joyce's kindness and generosity. I wanted something to help finish things off but wanted things that are low as to not hide the stone. Mom suggested Vinca Minor. Can't wait till it's all filled in, and hopefully we'll have some pretty blooms next Spring.

Mom doing one of the things she loves best. Can't help but accommodate her.

After the planting we had a little birthday party for Nonna. The boys sang and then helped Nonna eat her big extra large cookie.  These boys love their Nonna!!

Will's 7th Birthday Letter

My Sweet Sweet William,

I always get teary when I write your birthday letters. You have had some hard challenges in your life, but you haven't let that hold you back! I love you so very much and am amazed by your hard work ethic and determination to accomplish things that are challenging for you.

You learned to swim this year and I know that was a challenge, but you stuck with it. That accomplishment paid off for all the hours you got to spend at the pool this summer.

You are an exceptional reader and you love to learn through reading.

You also love to try and teach Jack and Samuel how to do things. You are such a sweet big brother, especially to Sam. You came up with the nickname Hops for him and rarely call him Sam anymore. He has heard you say it so much he has started answering to that name now. I can tell you that a mother's heart is happiest when her children are loving and supporting each other. I hope as you grow older you find that what brings pure happiness, joy, and peace to our lives most in life is when we are taking care of one another, the way our Heavenly Parents intended.

This past year you have worked so hard on your hand writing. I know it has been hard for you. You get frustrated and sometimes want to give-up and give-in. But then you try again, and again, and again, and again. I hope you know that in those challenging moments and times during you life that you are enough. That I am rooting for you. That your Dad is pulling for you. That your brothers love and adore you. And that our Heavenly Parents and our Savior are ever mindful of you and your life, the good and the bad, the happy and sad, and the hard and the easy,  and They are close by watching and extending blessings at every opportunity. I hope you will stay close to Them. That you will know that they are close by and love you more than you or I can comprehend. Please pray to Him and seek His guidance often.

With all my heart I love you.  You made me a mother. Not just by your birth, but by the incredible love and patience you have helped to foster and create in me. I will forever be thankful for your part in that.

Your 1st grade teacher asked the parents to write a poem or a letter to each child and submit it. Here is what I wrote for you.

W ild and sweet, 

I 'm in for a treat.

L oving or 

L aughing,
I 'm kept on my feet.
A lways a smile on his face
M y William could never be replaced.

All my love,
Momma

Jack's 5!

Jack had been begging to go to Chuck E Cheese's for his birthday. We invited Jack's friend Kylie and her family to go with us. Jack has been really into Spiderman for a little while so a Spiderman cake is what he asked for. It was my first time making and using fondant. Wow. It was not easy. But it's pretty easy to impress a 5 year old so it worked out fine. He had fun playing games and spending time with his friends. After CEC's we stopped by a new Italian ice shop here, Rita's. Then we went out to the house and built a fire until dark. When we got back, Jack opened up his birthday presents, which included his very own big boy bike! It was a fun day. Love this little stinker. He keeps me on my toes.

Sam loved Jack's new bicycle helmet and wouldn't take it off. 

Jack's 5th Birthday Letter

Happy Birthday, Jack!

Another year has passed and you are still continuing to add joy and laughter to my days. If anyone can make me laugh, it's you.  We still have our battles between what I think and what you want, but for the most part we balance each other out pretty well.

You are such a smarty pants!! and have a super quick wit! I'm amazed at how quickly you grasp new ideas and you love, love, love to learn and understand why things are the way they are. And when you ask and we don't have the answer you are quick to try and logically think your way through it, and why it must be the way that it is.

You have a heart that is sweet and tender and thoughtful. You often think about others and how you can make them happy and feel included. This makes me so proud!

I love you to pieces and love hearing you laugh...it's contagious, and the sounds of it always makes me smile or laugh along with you.

Your temper is definitely something to be reckoned with, and I hope and pray you are able to learn how to compromise a little better in this coming year.

You love to sing and you are quite the entertainer (when you don't get embarrassed or shy).

I'm so happy and so thankful to be your Mommy. I know you love me dearly and remind me of myself and how I felt about my mommy when I was little. I didn't want her out of my sight!! Will sometimes says he wishes I had a job where someone else would watch y'all while I was at work. But not you!! You want to keep me near and dear, always! It feels good knowing I'm loved so much by you.

You have done a good job of trying to have courage and try new things this year like starting preschool, learning to swim, and ride a big boy bike, going to your primary class all by yourself. I am so proud of you, because I know new things can be scary. But they can also be so much fun! I'm proud of you and I love you!

I don't know how I got so lucky to be your Mommy?? Better not to question it, but just enjoy the ride!!

All my love,
Mommy

Letter to My Baby

I try to write letters to each of my kids on their birthdays. This was something my mom always did for me. Each of us would write letters for whomever on their birthday for the FHE that was closest to their birthday. Samuel turned 1 in February, and I still haven't written that letter! I've thought about that several times since then. Tonight, when I was carrying him through the yard mesmerized by his cuteness, I decided it was a priority.

My Little Sunshine, 

Today is not your birthday. You are now 15 months. But I want you to know that I love you more than ever, and I'm pretty sure the feeling is mutual. Although you have lately become a HUGE fan of your Dad, and I'm left playing second fiddle a little more than I like. When you were born I rarely put you down. I didn't like sharing you. You are the first baby I kept to myself so much. Your poor dad had to admire you from my arms a lot more than he liked, but because he didn't want to get his head bitten off loves me, he didn't put up too much of a fight and just let me love you and cuddle you all that I wanted. You have been good for my soul. You are a (mostly) happy little thing, and your dad and I seriously don't think babies come any sweeter than you. However, let it be known, you can have a temper at times, but it is likely that is purely genetic. Sorry about that. I do think it is something you can and will come to control better in time. So, no excuses. ;)

You are a very friendly baby. Last week at Will's K graduation you let a sweet lady, Janice Solomon, hold you through the entire ceremony. You made her day! You have often walked up to complete strangers (to you), and put your arms up indicating you want them to hold you. You are one lovable boy! You fall asleep in my arms almost every day before your morning nap. It is SO hard to lay you down. I love how you feel in my arms. I've heard my Grandma Miller say, while holding babies, that they just feel so good in her arms. Well, Samuel, you are a chunk, but you feel so good in my arms. You learn quickly and do your best to keep up with your brothers. For the most part you listen and do your best to follow my instructions. When you are told "no," I see, with mischievous in your eyes you considering not listening, but you generally do. We will see if that sticks, I'm hopeful it will! You love to be chased. I will roar at you and you completely lose it--giggling and toddling as fast as you can in the other direction-- you absolutely love it! You are brave and independent, but oh how you make my heart sing when you reach up to grab my finger before we go outside.

You have recently started signing a lot. I was thinking you weren't going to be as big of a signer as your older brothers, but you have really started to do it a lot more lately. You know and use the signs for Mommy, Daddy, thank you, please, more, milk, airplane, dog, bird, no, bye, and all done. The words you have learned to say are Ma-Mommy, Da-Daddy, more, nana-banana, dah-dog, ta da, yay, and me-you use this word when we ask who wants to say the prayer. You raise your hand and say, "me" and smile the biggest smile. You have seen your brothers do that so many times you know the answer and you know how we react--we all just stare and grin at your cuteness and innocence. 

You love your big brothers, but I think Jack is your favorite right now, probably because he doesn't try and pick you up as much as Will. Jack does however take toys away from you quite often but you have lately been holding your ground a little more with him. You have started to let him know that you are getting bigger and not going to be treated that way even though you are smaller than him right now. Good for you! You love music (or any repetitive noise for that matter) and LOVE to dance. You will immediately start bouncing your body and waving your hand in the air. I danced with you in the hospital when you were brand new and many many times since, so naturally that must be why you love it. ;) You also really love wind chimes. If we are outside, I will often find you by the wind chime in the back yard trying to figure out away to make it clang. Sometimes you carry a small plastic shovel and hold it as high as you can to hit it, and sometimes you take a gutter extension off. You almost always hate getting in the car and going places. Being the third, you have missed many a nap time or had them end early due to having to go somewhere and pick someone up. This has also been a reason why you have had to stay in a car seat for such long periods of time. You are a a trooper though and get taken advantage of for it. I'm sorry, but a Momma's gotta do what a Momma's gotta do. Rest assured I don't like it anymore than you. 

Well, I'm almost certain this is the longest of any letter I've written to one of my babes. So I should really go ahead and stop.

Samuel, I want you to know that I love you. Before I became pregnant, your Dad and I prayed a lot to find out if we should have another baby. We wanted to, but we were scared. Will had been so so unwell for a good portion of his life and still was having frequent seizures. We knew that was something a future baby could possibly face as well. I prayed for several months before I received what I felt (and still believe) was divine inspiration. I love you. I am so so thankful you are here, a part of our family. I don't know what challenges you will face and what your future will hold, but for whatever does happen, know that you are loved beyond measure by me...by your dad, by your brothers, and most importantly by our Creator--your Heavenly Father, and His Son.

You have my heart, 

Mommy

Sam's 1!

Happy Birthday to the sweetest, cutest, cuddliest, most lovable baby I know. I made Samuel a lemon supreme cake with lemon frosting. He brings lots of sunshine in my life and I thought the lemon sounded sunshine-y and happy. He however was not so sunshine-y and happy on his birthday. He was pretty fussy, and once the frosting was more mixed into the cake, angry. It's hard being 1! Love you will all my heart Samuel Owen. Can't wait to watch you grow!

Patrick's 30th

We celebrated early with the kids for Patrick's birthday. I knew they'd feel really left out on all the fun if we didn't make a cake since we were planning a big date for his actual birthday. I made a Mounds Layer cake for my dark chocolate coconut loving husband as part of his birthday dinner. The kids were really disappointed he didn't get a cake in the shape of a leaf blower (one of his birthday presents). They forgave me after they tasted it. It was pretty delish.

Patrick's parents came up early on Saturday to watch the boys so we could have a date filled birthday for Patrick. We started out with a movie, Catching Fire--Love! Then we went to the Melting Pot for dinner. So so yummy! Before they brought out desert Patrick surprised me with a trip to Scotland to celebrate our upcoming anniversary. Wow! I was SO shocked, excited, surprised, excited, and shocked. He had been being very sneaky and working so hard to already make reservations for the whole trip. We leave in June for 12 days!! So incredible! I think about and dream about it all the time. I' a little nervous about being away from the kids so I try not to think about that part. But I cannot wait! Way to go, Babe! You totally got me! Happy Birthday!! I love you and am so very thankful to be your wife. Love you!!

Patrick's Birthday

 Thanks to Patrick's very kind and generous boss, we celebrated Patrick's birthday with tickets to watch the Predators play the Red Wings, and thanks to my very kind and generous Mom we were able to go. We were 2 rows from the ice, right behind the Predators bench. It was a very exciting game with the Predators scoring with only 2 minutes left. It was so fun to be together. Happy birthday, Honey!

4 Years Old

Apparently the ride on Thomas made a big impression on Will's idea of what a birthday party needs to consist of. He insisted on another train ride. So we headed down to Chattanooga for a ride on the Chattanooga Choo Choo. It was a beautiful fall day to drive through that part of Tennessee, and through the woods on the train. Gorgeous colors everywhere! We were able to explore lots of train cars before and after our ride. The train station was also really neat, old-timey, and decorated for Christmas.

Later that evening we had cake and ice cream and Will opened up a few presents.

Some of Will's Favorites

Songs: If You're Happy and You Know It, Big Green Tractor, and Fire Truck

Colors: Blue and Yellow

Shows/Movies: Peppa Pig, Fireman Sam, and The Incredibles.

Things to do: Playing outside, ride bike, and dig in the dirt.

Places: Train Station, Nonna and Pa's, Rocky River, Home Depot, Zoo, and Publix.

Foods: oatmeal and blueberries, grandma Hitchcock's butter rolls, pizza, any type of soup as long as there are oyster crackers, brownies, and mommy's chocolate oatmeal cookies.


William also really likes to dance and read books. He loves going to the library. If you ask him what his name is he'll tell you "Weeyum Patrick Benton Jones" which is mostly correct. He prefers being called Weeyum instead of Will but doesn't mind if you call him Will. He and Jack have started playing more together now that his seizures are more under control. It has been so good to see them playing together again. I know Jack has really missed playing with his big brother. Their favorite thing to play together is firefighters.

William,

We love you so much and are amazed at how resilient you have been through all the ups and downs this year. Being 3 has been tough and rough on you! You have helped teach us so much more about patience, faith, gratitude, and enjoying the not so little everyday moments that are all too often and too easily taken for granted. We now feel the need to celebrate (in some way) every "good" day that the Lord gives us. We are so proud of you little man.

Love you so much,
Mom and Dad

In the tunnel

Waiting for the train

Tickets!

Red Caboose