Jaxon’s birthday!!

8 years ago….EIGHT!  That’s nearly a decade I’ve spent with this little man of mine.  We kept the party simple this year, so we could focus more on the importance of his baptism.  Although, simple for me it a relative term. 

Can you sense the excitement?

 

He got a Swiss army knife.  I guess Jake has a thing now where Jaxon gets a weapon every year….WHAT??  I never okayed that deal.  Last year it was a bow and arrow, this year a knife…I shudder to think of what might be coming.

After presents we got to go bowling and have pizza, which is always fun.  I was happy to have family join us.  They made it a party for sure!  Especially the part when John beat everyone in the dancing game….and was proud of it?! 

Then we got to go dig into Jaxon’s cake.  He’s so cute to want to design it himself, that I allowed my 8 year old a 3 layer cake.  Who does that?  He’s so specific too.  I guess that’s what comes from being the son of a cake decorator.

This kid has been a joy to raise from day one.  He’s smart, so very kind, a wonderful big brother, and always trying to do what’s right.  Sure he’s the messiest kid I know, but I wouldn’t change a thing about him.

Sure love this kid!!

1st day of school

I’ve been looking forward to sending my daughter to kindergarten since she wouldn’t stop screaming at me when she was 8 months old. 

 

Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating, but not by much.  To be honest, I’d been desperate to get my life on some sort of routine all summer long.  I think it had to do with the exhaustion that the 1st trimester brings, but I dreamed daily of both kids in school with Hazel napping and time for me.  And now that I have it, it’s just as good as I’d hoped for! (does that make me a terrible mother?)

We started out the festivities with a fashion show.  The kids got really into it, particularly Hazel.  It was hilarious.

Check out Sage’s heels.  That girl oozes style.

 

After our awesome fashion show, Jake gave the kids each a fathers blessing.  Even Hazel got one.  It was so sweet to watch her sit so quietly through it.  She knew it was something special.  Then is was an early bedtime, and off to school in the morning.

2nd grade and Kindergarten

  I sure love seeing my babies growing up to be such great kids.  People say all the time that it goes to quick, but I really enjoy my kids at every stage they are at.  I wouldn’t want time to stand still, because then my sweet Sage couldn’t make all of her new friends, and Jaxon couldn’t amaze me with his knowledge and creativity.  Although, I guess I wouldn't mind if time would stand still for this little one.  I mean, come on!  It doesn’t get any cuter.

 

Little stinker is potty trained and is sleeping in a big bed. I never gave her permission to stop being my baby. 

Catch up?

Is that really even possible?  I’ve got a quiet house, Sarah Bareilles Pandora radio on in the background, so now’s as good a time as ever to try. 

The kids started Soccer last week.  I love it.  I love seeing my kids running, moving their bodies, begging for water, and being part of a team.  I love the parents that get really into it, which I’m guilty of at times.  Sage made an awesome goal today and I nearly fell out of my camping chair!

Okay, so she doesn’t run the whole time, sometimes this happens.

But she’s a trooper.  I can tell already that she’ll be our little athlete. 

Jaxon, on the other hand, has a bit tougher of a time.  He’s more of a scholar than athlete.  But he got a few good kicks in last week, and is currently playing his second game with dad watching on.

 

This is where you can find Jaxon through most of the game.

Cooling off with the team.

Having two kids in soccer sure makes me feel like I’ve achieved true motherhood status, that’s for sure.  With two practices a week and two games on Saturday, life got lot’s crazier. 

But these two are worth it.

My 30th birthday

I’m not going to lie…I cried about turning 30.  It has always seemed so “old” to me, and no matter how many time people told me that 30 wasn’t old, I just wasn’t convinced.  So, it was only fitting that I throw myself a carnival themed birthday party.  I needed lollipops and cotton candy to help ease me into the next decade.  And you know what?  It worked!

I had so much fun planning this party.  Someday I’ll get paid to throw someone an amazing party, I just know it.  Soooo, the last week of my 20’s was spent at party stores and blowing up balloons, instead of sky diving and skinny dipping…but I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

Heather was flying in on the big day, and I had it all planned out to the minute.  Shopping and Café Rio, party set up, and PARTY!  Who knew I’d get a few surprises on my meticulously planned day. 

The first surprise actually happened the night before when I got pampered by my awesome friends.  Pretty toes and a new hairdo. So fun.

The next surprise was a flower delivery just for me from my awesome hubby.  This is the first time I’ve have flowers delivered, and I felt pretty darn special.

Then came the whopper of surprises.  All along I knew Heather was coming to Boise for my birthday…she didn’t really have a choice.  It was my 30th after all.  And it was the fact that she’d be there that  I knew would make my day amazing.  But I had no idea (although I did hope) that Heidi would be able to come as well.  Excuse my high pitched voice in the video.  I guess that’s what I sound like when I’m extremely happy and surprised.

 

So the sisterhood was complete.  I could go to bed happy.  But NO!  There was a carnival to be had.  And, so I never forget, I must document each game

Tattoo Parlor, face painting, Kissing booth, Fortune teller, Fishing game, Soda Ring Toss, Balloon Darts, Rootbeer Pong, a Sucker Pull, Raffle, Bullseye game with Nerf Guns, and lots and lots of treats.  Long story short, the party was a success.

The night ended with me reading so many letters from people I love all put together by Heather in a scrapbook with pictures.  Letters from family and friends, people I haven’t talked to in years and years.  It is a gift that I will always treasure.  Thank you Heather for putting together, and thank you to everyone who wrote such kind words.  It means so much to me.

The next day the sisters went running together, we played Agricola, we had fro yo, played mini gold, went to Tucano’s, and topped off the night with an amazing movie, and races up the theater stairs.  My sisters are awesome.  Sunday we got to sing together in church, play more games and then sadly it was time for them to leave.  What a FUN weekend.  That’s really the only word for it.  Sheer fun.  I’m already looking forward to 40. 

And I just have to post this last picture because I think it’s hilarious.  I love cookies, I’ve always known it, but I guess everyone else does too.  This is my stack of baked goodness that I got for my birthday.  I won’t embarrass myself by telling you how much of  this is now gone.