Alex is Awesome & Amazing AND 5!

Alex, I happened to buy some really cute space wrapping at the Dollar Tree this Spring and I think it's what inspired you to pick the space theme for your birthday.  It was SO fun looking on the internet for pictures of planets, piecing together Neptune for the pin the flames on the rocket game (all your idea, I just helped you bring it to life), reading LOTS and LOTS of space books, coming up with the dinner menu (rocketship hotdogs, peas, tater tots and lemonade) AND designing and making your AWESOME birthday cake together.  There were so many hours of mother-son time leading up to your birthday and I loved spending that time with you!  Happy 5th Birthday to our awesome & amazing Alex :0)

 

Dad & I went shopping for your birthday presents and decided to put most of them in your "rocket blasters" (made out of oatmeal containers :0)). We found $10 Sesame Street walkie talkies at Walmart (unfortunately they were--should have known--not stellar quality) and decided to use them to do a "Space Mission" to find help you find your biggest present, a hauler launcher toy, that was hiding in the guest room.  Dad was the control tower communicating with you via walkie talkie to guide you to your gift.  Fun times.  We did most of the celebrations on Saturday since your actual birthday was on Sunday.  Then on Sunday we sang to you, looked at pictures from when you were a baby, relit candles on your cake...and had more space cake :0)  P.S. Your favorite color has been green for a long time, but during the month of space exploration you fell in love with Neptune's blue and now love all things BLUE.

Alex how are you already 5 and getting ready to go to Kindergarten this Fall??  Before you grow any more I need to take a minute and write about your 5 year old self in a nut shell.  Alex you...
-are getting SO tall!  You are wearing size 5 and 6 pants because of your height, but thankfully most have the built in "belt" cinching system because your skinny self doesn't hold up the pants very well.
-have been going to preschool for the last 2 school years and have your last preschool class next Monday!
-are such a handsome (little) guy!  With your blond hair and beautiful eyes...still can't quite figure out what color they are, a mix between brown and hazel.  And you have such a handsome, handsome smile!
-have been going to Easter Seals for 1 1/2 years now and meet with Miss Veronica Touhill.  I honestly have been confused on how much of your negative behavior is sensory related, but I do feel like you've made progress.  When things don't go your way your tantrums can be epic with throwing, kicking, hitting and screaming, BUT we're trying to work with you so that you'll be better able to handle things while in school and in life!
-love to be big and frequently talk about when you're a grown up and have a truck :0)  I joke with you that I will miss you so much when you grow up so I better not let you eat any more fruits or vegetables.  You respond that you will stay here with us...so I guess I can let you grow up after all ;0)
-have learned your letters so well this year at preschool.  You sing your ABCs, can recognize them and write many of them.  I've also been working on teaching you finger spelling.
-love PBSkids on our ROKU, especially "Ready, Jet, Go!"
-love to ride your bike and since your birthday have learned how to ride without training wheels.  You're doing a great job!  With the weather being nice we're going on more bike ride/walks which is so much fun!
-are really great with your baby sister Aimee.  I love seeing how sweet you are with her!
-really enjoying reading books and it's one of my favorite things to do with you.  We often snuggle up on the couch in the family room and read book after book.

Aimee's first Spring Celebration.

This was Aimee's first Spring Celebration.  I hit up the post Easter clearance sales to get candy, then waited til a beautiful Spring day (18 April).  Aunt Em had sent a package with Easter paraphernalia and it happened to arrive that day, the timing was perfect.  She's the one that sent those adorable paper bunny ears.  We had BBQ Chicken Cobb Salads for dinner with strawberry lemonade then did an egg hunt.  Brie was the "winner" having gathered the most eggs and Lij contently opened his eggs and ate his candy as he went.  Afterwards you kids followed the bunny prints to your Easter baskets. The adorable bunny stuffed animal was from Mémé.  It was a FUN evening spent together.

The Easter Egg Hunting Crew.

I loved this CUTE bright vinyl tablecloth that I found at Target on clearance. The adorable bunny napkins are from Aunt Em.

According to Motorola, 16 (April).

Boys playing piano (newly updated sitting room)

Waiting to divvy up the laundry (each of you sat in a laundry basket and I tossed you your clothes)

Aimee and Jack (play date at Talbert's)

The boys making conference cinnamon rolls

More baking, Dad loves to bake :0)

Conference train to keep track of speakers (cut out pictures from past conference Ensign)

Aimee, you get SO excited when you hear a phone buzz or ring!

Working on Blog book #7 in time to get 40%

Read this. Loved it.  Sharing it with other moms.

Cute, busy boy!

Alex, you love your new rain jacket (from Aldi)!

Lij taking afternoon nap

 Dad working on a Coax cable for his HAM radio equipment

Reading Lij's favorite book at Easter Seal's waiting room... 

Alex assembling a torch lamp

Aimee in the midst of her BUSY brothers!

Lij peed his pants while waving goodbye to Dad one morning.  Of course the curtains hung low enough to soak up some of the pee before I could get to it.  Mom problems ;0)

Putting together a little travel package for Alan & Liz's trip to Costa Rica!!

Cute girl and the window :0)

You kids showering Dad with love one morning before work when he was feeling a bit down... 

 Lij and Alex you brought down your favorite stuffed animals to share with him.  It warmed his heart and mine.  We love seeing you love others.

I loved seeing this pair of doves check out our wreath.  They didn't nest here, but made my heart happy to see them.

Kathryn Kimball generously watched you boys so I could clean the house and prep for the Relief Society Progressive Dinner (or whatever else was priority).  Dad happened to be working from home and he had an impromptu lunch date with Jimmy John sandwiches and La Croix sparkling water.

The end of the bouncer season.

I hosted the appetizer portion of the RS Progressive dinner.  It was a great excuse to get the house extra clean and I loved having our home filled with sisters from the ward.

It was such a quiet and empty house to come home to afterwards

Aimee has officially started crawling! (just about 1 yr old)

Cute Lij & Aimee

You know you have a fetish for all things snail mail when you are giddy about your husband bringing you home package and letter standard measurement templates ;0) 

Laundry sorting time

Cute sisters!

Working on Blog Book #7

Headed out on our mother-daughter date

Brie decided she wanted to get bangs cut

cutie pie...and instantly looks so much older!  Aaah, you've got to stop growing up, Brie!

Working on a bowl for birthdays

Dad bought this coloring pad for Brie

The boys bought these tractors on their dates with Dad

Working on a birthday plate, got a bit crazy!

Home dates with Dad

Preschool open house 

I walked around a few stores with Alex and took pictures of his favorite things to give me an idea of something he might like for his birthday

Cute birthday cards from family

Bath time fun...I'm trying to chill out a bit and let this sort of thing not make me crazy

Shopping with Alex at TJMaxx

Eating our gourmet chocolates from Michigan

a 3D card Brie made

Excitement!

Party prep with Alex

Library time

Elinor Cash's book display

Brothers

Giant Disneyland suckers from Aunt Rachie

Watching airplanes with Lij during preschool one day

Some nativities I found for a GREAT deal at a garage sale

pure joy :0)

Cute things Mémé sent me for mother's day

Alex, you had Aimee cracking up so much!  You would inflate a ziplock by blowing air in to it, zip it closed, then pop it with your hands.  She was roaring with laughter!

Our first time at State Farm Park, with the Kimballs

A picture I came across of sweet baby Aimee holding her older sister's finger

Alex & I taking a selfie with the Keokuk water tower in the background...we were on a mission to find cowboy boots for the boys in Farm & Supply Store

97 cents, what a steal!

Sisters with cute coordinating daisy outfits

Family project to make mother's day cards

Brie & Alex working out in their "garden" under the play house

All 4 of you reading :0)

I've already forgotten the exact details of this morning, but I think that miraculously the boys (and Aimee) were still asleep, Dad had already left for work so Brie & I made ourselves a fun breakfast

Trying another store in hopes of finding cowboy paraphernalia

we ended up buying these pricey (BUT ADORABLE) boots for Aimee...$30 later.

Cute Easter package from Aunt Emmie

Dad headed to the attic, I think.

I couldn't get over the Sager's beautiful tree blossoming and that adorable Miss Aimee all ready for a walk

Quickly snapping Aimee's 1 yr snapshot before she rolled over and crawled away

Cutie pie getting up from her nap!

Alex & I reading about the moon

You kiddos & I decorating eggs with the kit Emmie sent to us

My little sheep

Brie & Alex playing in the rain

Lij & I garage saleing together...walking down sidewalks full of beautiful Spring blossoms!  

Alex putting together Neptune

Trying out a train track at "Cute as a Button"

Our OT center

Alex snagging a picture of me being silly and singing a made up song (to the tune of "On My Own") to you kids during lunch

Your hats arrived!

Love this pink hat, but quickly realized that it wouldn't fit for the ranch and would be better suited for cousin Abi

Oh Lij

A "creative" impromptu Earth Day dessert

Dad & I enjoying pain au chocolat and sparkling juice at Panera, keeping the Europe dream alive!

My sweet husband staying up late with me to get ready for Alex's birthday

Book #7 is here!!

Adorable little walking companion

Lij, you LOVE to explore and jump off your tricycle as quick as can be to check out bugs, man holes, etc.

Cutie pie!

Dad trying to teach Brie & Alex how to ride bikes without training wheels

Sassy pants

A sweet darling dress that Grauntie gave to Aimee last year.  It made me happy to see her wearing it!

The end of Alex's birthday celebrations

Now on to Aimee's birthday!

Aimee, the birthday girl!

My little cuppie cake

Alex working on different motions that help rev or calm his engine

Aimee's not looking overly sure about this whole candle in my cupcake thing

Alex & Lij at the dentist.

No cavities.  Hooray!

We love Dr. Hall's office (Pediatric Smiles of Bloomington) and staff

Reading with my Alex

Sometimes you just wear yourself out and you crash on the couch during nap time

It's official, we clicked the "buy" button together...we are on our way to Paris!!!!

Starting to teach other French & German

Time to accessorize with my outfits!!

Lij, you crack me up :0)

Designing and preparing sharing time for Brother (Dr.) Cash to do for me on Mother's Day

An afternoon date with Dad to see Janet Streenz perform in her very last recital!  I was anxious about leaving all 4 of you kids during the day with a babysitter, it was rainy, we were running late and I was stressing out a bit.  I opened up a Dove promise and this is the advice I found.  I decided that this date and my choosing to wear rose-colored glasses would be good practice for our trip.  That likely things wouldn't go quite as planned, it might be rainy, inconvenient, or whatever.  Little did I know that Dad & I would spend a lot of time under this umbrella in Paris, but love every minute of it.

Flowers for dear Janet

The star of the show.  She's amazing!!