Isaacs birthday weekend in Houston

A month or so ago I gave Isaac a few options of things he could choose to do for his birthday:

 1). have a party with friends or

2). go to San Antonio and visit Sea World and Samuel

JOey and I thought he would surely pick the latter option but he came up with...

3).  go to Houston and visit Gaga and Papa.  Man he loves Gaga and Papa!  So, on friday night we headed for Houston.  Since it is an 8 hour drive not much went on friday night...a few welcome hugs and then right to bed.  But on Saturday morning Isaac was greeted with quite an amazing surprise.  While Papa was out taking a jog around the block;) a knock came at our door and, randomly, the Imperial March began playing.  "What is going on here?" we all thought.  Isaac opened the door only to find his greatest fear staring right back at him:

DARTH VADER!!

He came to ask Isaac if he could come to his birthday party.  

Isaac, being the nice boy that he is, said, nervously, "sure".

They talked for a minute and Isaac seemed to be warming up to Darth.  After he left Isaac ran outside to see if he could see any sign of his ship.  Nope...nothin'!  A few minutes later Isaac put his little face up to my ear and whispered, "I think its Papa" and then gave me this "shhh, it's a secret" smile!

One of the highlights of our trip was getting to snuggle with baby Ryder, my cousin Aly's new baby boy born just 2 days previous to our visit.  Being with him gave me the itch...uh-oh...

We never make it to Houston without a trip to our favorite restaurant!  Lupe's Tortilla.  MMM Fajitas!

Here's a random picture of Gigi and her personality twin, Arie.  

On Sunday we had a birthday party!  

Complete with a Yoda cake!

Those in attendance were:  Aly, Kelly, Liam, Arie, Ryder, Aunt Kathy, Uncle Rick, Gaga, Papa, Nina Grandma, Horace and Jamie, and Taylor Burnett

After Isaac opened some great presents Darth Vader came back for his visit and Liam and Isaac fought with the light sabers he brought for them.

Monday morning, Isaac's actually birthday, with Gaga

Getting loves from my 5 year old!

The secret was revealed...Darth really was papa!  Or is Papa Darth?

Last Day of Pre-K

Isaac celebrated his last day of Pre-K with a class picnic.  It was fun and sad all at the same time.  I felt nostalgic for his baby days when it hit me that Isaac was no longer a toddler but Kindergartner.  I guess I'll just have to relish this last long summer with him even more.

With Ms. Jen...oh how we will miss you!

Evans and Maile

"Isaac M." and "Isaac R."

I couldn't resist this picture...too cute!

The whole class

Isaac with his church friends Brett and Maile

Bring on Summertime!

Back in the saddle....

It's been four long years since I last rode my dusty old Specialized road bike (actually its Andrew Berthrong's old Specialized which then became Joey's which, subsequently, was inherited by me).  To be completely honest, I was dreading it.  It took me a week to finally take the bike into the shop to get tuned up.  I think, subconsciously, I was stalling.  I picked it up on Wednesday, got a bit excited and then planned my ride for early this Saturday morning.  I had plans to go with a friend, which made it a bit more appealing but then her husband got sick (darn you Todd disease) and she decided to go all selfless on me and not leave him alone in the morning with kid duties.  So, alas, I went out by myself...the first time in 4 years!  Here's what I dread about road biking:  the fear of getting a flat tire, cars whizzing by your comparitivly putty like thighs ( I like to think about the fact that they could turn me into a pancake, or worse, an invalid, in about 2 seconds whilst I'm riding...that's some positive self talk, don't you think?!), flat tires, bum soreness and just the simple unknown aloneness of it all.  On the other hand, here's what I love about biking:  Speed, early morning light, thinking time, feeling hard core (I know ...I'm so obviously NOT a hard core biker...first time in four years proves my point...but there are those little feelings of grandeur that sporadically arise in my mind that I do love!), the burn in my thighs, being outside etc.  

So I went.  But only because I have a triathlon to train for.  6:30 am my husband selflessly arises early to get my bike ready for me.  He changes my pedals, checks my tires, gets my shoes and helmet out for me.  Thanks trainer/manager sir!  By 7:30 I was up and rolling.  I made it out of town and off the "no shoulder" part of the road within about 10 minutes.  I wondered when or if a shoulder would ever kick in.  There began my car/pancake thoughts.  But they were quickly forgotten when a large, nice, smooth shoulder appeared about 3 miles out.   Okay, not too stressful so far. I began to relax.  Woo HOO!  So much less pounding on my body than running, so much more of a cooling wind at my face!  My bum hardly hurt at all.  I felt so good that I biked to Duke, the neighboring town about 14.5 miles away!  That makes for a 29 mile ride on my first day!  Yipee!   I finished the ride with a slightly sore bum, numb feet (weird), and even bigger thunder thighs than I had before.  Seriously.  When you climb off the bike it's like "bam, bam" with thigh mass!  But, I'm pretty sure they go back down!  

Why don't I do this more often?  

5 amazing years!!

5 amazing years with our birthday boy ISAAC!

All grown up!

his actual "birth" day.

6 months, 

I remember thinking I had the most beautiful baby in the world.  Can any baby enamor you more than your first born?  

18 month, my favorite age!

I remember being sightly bugged at the large gap when his front teeth first came in.  What was I thinking?  How cute is that smile and how cute is it still!  

2 years, 

being the goof ball that he is in one of my favorite pictures!

Isaac, I hope you know how much I love you.  As my first born I have to apologize to you for the simple fact that you are my guinea pig.  As a mother, meandering her way through parenthood without any education on that subject, I have become a "lay" scientist.   Trial and error have been my only method.  I recall spanking you when it was uncalled for, ignoring you when discipline was probably best, babying when tough love might have made you more self reliant and saying "no" when "yes" was a better answer.  I can recall nights staying up late with frustration over a "problem" that you grew out of the following day.  Sometimes, I expected you to be 14 when you were only 2.  And the saddest part about this entire confession:  I suspect this over anxiety over your successes and failures will probably continue.  Hopefully, for both our sakes, in a more mild variety!  But I have realized, finally, in your fifth year, that I don't need to worry about you.  I have seen enough of you now to know this.  I read once that "the child is the father of the man".  From the little I've seen in people this seems, to me, to be true.  And if it is than I know that your heart is good.  I see that you enjoy and better yet, recognize the feeling that comes from being kind, considerate, helpful, thoughtful and generous.  I see that you want to be a better version of Isaac each day and that you're willing to admit what it takes to do that.  I see that you are honest, that you tell the truth, even when it means possibly getting into trouble.  I see that you love and that you desire only to be loved.  And that's something that I can do...Piece. Of.  Cake.  I see you.  And I love you.

Happy Birthday Buddy!

 

Mothers Day

I've been waiting to make this post for a few days now.  I received the most adorable gift for Mothers day this year and I wanted to get it on here for posterity.  Thanks to the primary presidency for this great idea!  I wanted to scan the actual sheet with Isaacs adorable picture at the top, eyes wide open, a bouquet of tulips at his throat and an ear to ear grin but my scanner isn't working.   When I can remember to ask Joey for his thumb drive maybe I'll get it all on here [Done]. Here's what Isaac has to say about Mommy:

What is your mom's favorite food?  Broccoli

What is the yummiest thing your mom makes?  Smoothies

How old is your mom? 59

What does your mom do all day?  plants flowers

What do you love best about your mom?  THat she always lets me watch a movie (he's always beating me up for NOT letting him watch movies...atleast he remembers the good times!)

What makes your mom mad?  Georgie always spills her water

What is your favorite thing to do with your mom?  play with her

What is somethign your mom is really good at?  making ice cream (huh?)

What is something your mom is not so good at?  fixing things with my dad.  (he got that right!)

What is your mom's favorite thing to do?  play with me 

What makes your mom pretty?  When she doesn't have her hair in a ponytail and has earrings and pretty clothes.  (he's always telling me this when my hair is in a ponytail...I'll try to dress up more for you, Isaac!)

G's Princess Party

We celebrated Georgies birthday with a Princess luncheon.  We invited 8 cute little girls and 1 knight in shining armor to celebrate with her.  She seemed to have had a grand time and enjoyed playing with all her friends.  I've always sort of regretted the princess theme but to pick any other theme would have been selfish on my part.  What can I say...Georgie loves princesses!

It all started with a pretty hairdo:

As the friends arrived Georgie graciously greeted them with a "thank you" and a giggle, taking the gift they brought for her and placing it by the other presents.  She was the perfect hostess!

As the "Princesses" arrived they were invited over to the couch where I adorned them with lip gloss, shimmer powder, blush and mascara.  I had envisioned a perfect line of well behaved princesses waiting there turn to be beautified...what was I thinking?  I was mobbed by tiny little faces with flawless skin and  fluttery eyes.  Good thing I had q-tips handy to wipe all the black smudges I made!

After there makeover they headed to the table to make these:

The girls did a beautiful job decorating their crowns with sparkling jewels!

Here are some of the princesses that joined us for our ball:

A little knight in shining armor!

After a light lunch and a little more playtime we enjoyed a castle cake and then presents!

Blowing out the candles was a bit of a struggle.  Not for lack of Georgies lung power but they turned out to be sparkling trick candles...oops Mom!

Happy Birthday baby girl!  Thanks to all our great friends that came and celebrated Georgies big 3 year old birthday!  It was so much fun to celebrate with all of you!  And thanks to the helpful Moms, my great friends, for keeping me sane through the chaos with all of your help!

After a good cleanup and story time Joey and I took Georgie out to dinner.  It was fun having her all to ourselves.  I think she would have preferred having her best friend Isaac there but he had another birthday party to go to.  Happy Birthday Brett!   That night, laying in bed, we all shared our favorite things about Georgie.

Mom:  I love Georgies spunky personality.  Georgie does not apologize for who she is.  She owns her likes, her dislikes and her sassiness.  She is independent and has her own way of doing things.  I love this about her!  I also love what a snuggle bug she is!  I can hardly bend over to tie my shoe without her putting her arms around my neck or climbing on my back.  It can be both endearing and annoying as heck...but I wouldn't change it for the world!

Dad:  I love that Georgie greets me with a hug and a kiss and that she loves to snuggle with me.

Isaac:  I love that Georgie wakes me up in the morning to play stuffed animals with her.  She loves to play with me.

Love you bebe G! 

Happy Birthday, Georgie!

Today, our Baby girl turns three!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEBE G!

May 12, 2006

I remember Joey asking to see evidence that she was a girl the moment she was born.  We already knew this from the ultrasound but he didn't want to get his hopes up.  My Dad was there to see her come into the world, something I never thought I'd feel comfortable with but it all seemed so normal at the time.  I remember the pain and nausea all washing away the minute she was placed on my chest.  We were struck by her light strawberry blonde hair and her long toes and fingers that looked like my Grans.  There's nothing more peaceful than having a new baby added to your life.  Its as if your heart is smiling, spreading to your face, your expression and the tone of your voice every little chance that it gets. 

May 12, 2009:

It seems like a lifetime has passed since these pictures were taken.  Georgie is such a part of our lives, such a constant, I can hardly remember being a family without her.  It's hard to believe that at one time, we were.  Georgie is sitting here in my lap, her hair in a french twist with a crown resting on the top, ready for her Princess birthday party.  She's punching the # sign over and over again on the phone, a loud beep sounds each time that she pushes.  This should be driving me crazy!  But not today.  Today I love everything thing that she does, today I love every mess that she makes and every sassy little comment.  Today my heart smiles again for love of her.  I love you G!  Thanks for continuing to make us smile every day of your life!