Rainy 4th of July 2010

My aunt, uncle, and cousins came for a visit! YAY!

Waiting for the parade!

Byron's 4th Birthday

I cannot believe my firstborn son is 4 years old already. I remember everything about wanting another child and now we have two more! Could it be possible that we lived without him? People always tell you they don't remember what life was like before children. It is so true. I often wonder what I spent my time doing. I really truly don't remember. I must have been bored.

He is 4 years, 2 weeks and 2 days old now, but I have really been out of the blogging spirit recently. Abby was gone to camp for the first time for the week before Byron's birthday. She came home on the 26th and then Byron turned 4 on the 27th. It was a Sunday, which was also the first day of VBS. Abby had an unexpected doctor's visit on Tuesday for swimmer's ear. VBS concluded on Wednesday night. Thursday was spent getting ready for a party on Friday night and 4th of July company on Friday thru Sunday, and the following week was one I hope never to repeat. So that leads us to today! And here are some pictures!!!

This is the most handsome 4 year old I have ever seen.
I opted for cupcakes on Sunday, THE acutal day. The cake came on Friday at the family party.

Collin absolutely loves to blow out the candles! He knows where the lighter is (he can't reach it himself), and we have been blowing candles out for weeks! We only singed our eyelashes once....

Byron got a Buzz Lightyear sleeping bag for his birthday from MawMaw and PawPaw. He opened it up and said, "Mommy, can we go take a nap?" I may buy him a new sleeping bag everyday.....

I am almost positive there are more pictures of the family party on Kevin's camera, but it is currently at the office, so I will have to post that later. There were so many cameras flashing that I am really not sure if any of them were ours. I guess we will see...

Happy Birthday, Byron! We love you so much!

Love, Daddy, Mommy, Abby & CollinMac

Boys in the Barn

This is what happens when my boys go out to the barn to be with Daddy. Come to think of it, we did have lots of fun with the new birthday bicycle after this that I didn't get pictures of. My brain must have not been functioning at that point, but these were taken on my cell phone, so I didn't really have a way to take any good pictures anyway. Byron has also turned 4 years old in the past two weeks and I have not blogged that yet. I have lots of pictures, but they are still on my camera! I will get around to that this week! PROMISE!!!!

My FIFTH grader!!!!

My baby girl is now a fifth grader.

A fifth grader.

I have said this many times about the things in my life and I will say it again in the future many times. But here I say....

How did this happen???

I vaguely remember the time before she was born. My life then was apparently more uneventful than even I realized. I always got into bed on time. I always got up on time. I got ready and went to work on time. I had no idea how boring I was.

And then, she drifted into our world.....

She has given me lots in her short 10 years. I often tell her that she made me a Mom. And it's true. Without her, I wouldn't have become who I am today. Yes, I would have probably had other children, but she is my favorite daughter and I tell her that often as well. (She often reminds me that she is my only daughter :D)

Anyway, she finished the 4th grade on May 26, 2010, and after a kind of rough year, she pulled off a report card with ALL A's!!!! Way to go, girl!!!! SO proud of you!

And boy, was she glad it was over......

Yes, she is 10. Yes, I let her get hightlights. No, I don't like them as much as I had hoped. Yes, she looks WAY too old. Will I let her get them again? Who knows really.....

And shortly into the summer, we already required a visit from the Tooth Fairy. He didn't get my text the night he was needed, but got it late and visited during the next day while we were gone to Abilene. Maybe next time, he will be on time! :)

Conversations with an almost 4 yr old....

Byron sneezes, coughs, and sputters.

Mommy: "Byron, it sounds like you needs some medicine."

Byron: "NO, I don't like medicine!"

Mommy: "But you are all stopped up and a decongestant will make you feel better."

Byron: "But I don't like jake-contestants!!!"

What happened at the breakfast table this morning...

These were so cute! I just couldn't resist! I love this boy SO SO much!!! Boy, does he like to eat!!!

A Day at the park

It is SO wonderful to have Christian friends. It is even better to have Christian girlfriends. One better than that is to have Christian girlfriends with boys your kids ages that are willing to invite you to go along when they plan an outing to the park! Yes, it is a public park, but it is still nice to feel wanted! :)

So, of course, I had to take pictures! Here we are: Jami and Jaxon West, Amy, Landon and Eli Grigsby, and Byron and myself. We had a great time and this was even before it got so painfully hot!

A little snacktime

Jaxon!

Byron always calls her "Amy Grigsby". It is never just Amy. So cute! And Collin likes her to....but she did have food....

I can't wait to see what these boys become. Their daddies grew up together and now here they are.....that is so cool.

Jaxon again!

There was an intense fascination with the ducks and geese...

...so we started feeding them goldfish. They liked it and it drew a bigger crowd!

It is very hard to get 5 boys all together and looking in the same direction for one simple picture. I admire families with multiple children whether all the same age or different ages if they are able to get a decent picture ever!

And of course, there has to be a picture of the mommies! (Don't hate me, girls! We have to document ourselves too!) Thanks for a great time in the park!!!