"The Days are Long, but the Years are Short"

My little boy who turned my world upside down... is now 3 years old. Seems like yesterday the doctor said, "We need to induce you. The baby will be safer outside, than inside of you." I thought I still had a month to go in pregnancy... but in God's perfect timing, my little baby, unknowingly was a little boy... arrived

November 8, 2010

8:28 pm

in Boone, NC 

USA

So, in celebration of this little wild man... 

who loves Toy Story and Buzz Lightyear... we had of course: 

Pin the alien in the claw 

(blind folded: pin the tale on the donkey)

 For a boy who LOVES HOTDOGS... we had a full out hotdog and chili night!

 With a mom-made Toy Story Cake!

Lots of friends over to open presents... 

we are blessed to have family and friends here in France with us

and of course... to enjoy birthday cake

little brother watching and taking it all in. 

(hello chunky cheeks)

The aftermath of cake and toys...

my 3 year old!!!

I've read recently... 

"the days are long, but the years are short."

...so very true...

My Mr. 6 Month!

That's right… hehe

  

oh haha… mama… I am 6 mo!

AND… I'm eating big boy food now!

 Insert spoon here mama

Don't let go...

My 34th Birthday... Really?!?

There are many a day when I wake up and feel 25 years old... and wonder where these three kids came from. I laugh at myself, seriously, as 25 is nearly 10 (!!!) years ago. Where as the time gone and whose kids are these? They're cute and fun... so I'll keep them... but I'm not old enough to be a mom. At least, that's how I feel. 

I am blessed beyond measure with a husband who loves me, is faithful to me and is an amazing father to my children. He's taken me around the world and shown me sights and wonders I dreamed of as a young girl. What a guy!! Love him. Thankful for him. Will forever keep and treasure him.

I am blessed with 3 heathy and beautiful treasures... and am thankful for each moment with them. They exhaust me, make me want to scream (well, lets be honest... I do from time to time...), and they are 100mph every day. They are loud, dirty, silly, fun, crazy, and wonderful. Yes, they are the reasons I'm starting to see a little salt among my brown hair. I wouldn't trade them for the world. 

I'm blessed by the assurance of my future. Jesus loves me and He holds my tomorrow in His hands. Whatever I face, I'm not alone. I know it won't always be good, but the One who will be there with me is my good Shepherd. 

34 years... Wow. Really? I'll take it. And I feel like every laugh line on my face was earned... as well as every gray hair. 

Here are some of the joys of my day:

 Cookie cake, my fav: 

Homemade from scratch by Stephen. 

Decorated by Sadie...

 and Noah

 A new lens for my camera!! 

50mm... what i've been wanting!!!

forgot to take a pic of the decorated cake until we got here...

it was SOOO GOOD!

And... birthday smiles from my baby...

Happy 34th birthday to me (on Sept. 21st, trying to post in a timely manner)... 

oh what a blessed woman I am.

Happy 2nd Birthday Noah!

When did we go from this... baby boy at 4 pounds 1 oz... 

To my big two year old boy!!! 

Who LOVES ELMO!!!! 

NanNan is here (WOOHOOO!!) and brought us lots of goodies to make an extra special birthday party for my big boy! She was a wonderful help to make the cake and yummy treats for the party! 

 We had lots of friends who we were so thankful could come and celebrate with us!

PRESENT TIME!!!!!

 Daddy helping get toys out of boxes! 

Family photo opp!!!

 Noah was a bit overwhelmed to blow out the pic, so big sister Sadie decided to help! ;-)

TOY TIME! 

My 4 Year Old Princess!!!

So, when in the world did we go from this....

to this...

Yes, my first-born turned 4 years old today. I can't believe it. Where has the time gone? 

We love her... the laughing, the crying, the silly-ness, the changing, the girly-ness,  the growing, the questions, the love of princesses, the strong-will, the "bashfulness", 

everything about her... because she's ours.

So, we celebrated her and her love for princess, with a Princess Party!!!!

Here is a sneak peak...

Party Prep:

The table decorated with fancy princess hats, fancy goblets, and forks... 

Daddy loves her so much, he even built her a castle!

The "nail station"

 And the princess' arrive to do nails...

And make-up...

Playing in her room with friends...

Opening presents... 

Games... 

(Pass the poisoned apple, when the music stops, that princess falls asleep! The couch was full of sleeping princesses! )

 "Pin the hair on Rapunzel"... it was a hit!

Cake Time!!

And yes... she LOVES princesses... so here is the cake I made. Rapunzel in her tower! 

(at some point, she changed into her Dorothy dress... Dorothy, the Princess of Oz?!?!)...

We feel so blessed to have so many great friends to celebrate Sadie Mac with us! We missed family in the States, but the Lord is good to provide others to party with us!

Then we headed to "the sandbox" (our school that has a sandbox) and celebrated with other students and their families... Here is Noah and his buddy Peter, playing in the puddles.

Some of our favorite BIG princesses... Ally and Abby

Our personal "grill daddy"