Adam's Birthday

Adam is five! He was so excited that his birthday this year fell on easter egg hunt day (the day before easter sunday). He was singing all day, "Today is my birthday, I'm five years old--Adam is five!"
Adam is a spirited child that loves to have fun, talk and learn. He loves to play with others---always wanting Julia and Jack to play with him. He comes up with the funniest things. Before he goes to bed, he always says, "But, I need to watch my midnight movie". I have no idea where he got that one! Adam loves to have your undivided attention and loves to love! He finds joy in so many things. We love our Adam!

Eight is Great!

So, I apparently either need to take a photography class or buy a new camera because all my pictures from Jack's birthday are about 3 seconds off! He's either looking away, up or down, like the moment had just passed---3 seconds ago and I finally got around to pushing the darn button!

But, great pictures or not, Jack had a great birthday! He was excited to get out of school early that day and it was so fun to have Grammy & Papa here for him to have a little party with opening his presents. I haven't been so excited to give a present in a long time, but for Jack's birthday this year Aaron & I registered him for the BYU Fathers & Sons Basketball Camp. I don't know who is more excited, Jack or Aaron!
So, I typed up this little letter telling Jack all about it and it was so fun to watch him open it and read it. He's super excited!
Jack is an amazing child that literally brings a smile to my face everyday. He is very obedient and has a strong desire to be good and accomplish a lot in his life. A couple of weeks, we were just talking as a family and Jack asked me and Aaron, "What if you had made good choices your whole life and repented when you needed to and then you were really old and you made a mistake and you were saying your prayers to repent and right then you died, but you hadn't finished your prayer?" We explained to him that Heavenly Father knows your heart, but the whole story just represents Jack----he wants to make sure that he's all squared away! I love that boy so much!

Conversations

I have no pictures, but I am currently sitting upstairs listening to my three older children, Julia, Jack & Adam talk away, over an hour past their bedtime. It is one of my favorite things in the world to hear my children talk and laugh away!

It made me think of all the hilarious conversations they have had the last few days. I am horrible at recording things my kids say, which is sad because they are really funny. So, I am going to take this chance to record just a few gems from the last few days---these may or may not be funny to you, maybe you just had to be there, but at least I'll have them for my own memory.

Today in the car ride to piano lessons,
Jack: Why didn't you eat the BBQ sandwich at school today Julia?
Julia: I just didn't want to, it looked gross.
Jack: Well, in my opinion, it was delicious.

(Ok, this is only funny if you can imagine Jack's voice with how serious he was with "in my opinion"!

Next, another car conversation---a little background, we've worked with two realtors, one woman and one man.

Jack: Julia, who do you like better, Ron or Tracy?
Julia: I don't care, they're both fine.
Jack: I like Ron better.
Julia: Give me three reasons why you like Ron better.
Jack: 1. He's a boy. 2. He's nice. 3. Everytime he sees me he says hi.
Julia: First, it doesn't matter that he's a boy. Second, I'm going to teach you a lesson Jack, ALL REALTORS ARE NICE AND SAY HI TO YOU BECAUSE THEY WANT YOUR BUSINESS!

That Julia always has things figured out!

Brothers

Life has been so crazy lately! I still somehow make time to read other blogs, so I've been thinking lately that I need to record things that are happening, even if I don't have cute pictures to go with it. I really need to get with it with pictures!

I have all these little moments that I have to just laugh at, that I want to remember, that make me smile, or make me cry! Either way, I need to be better at recording them. So, here goes:

*Julia is growing up before our eyes, ok all the children are, but Julia in particular seems older and wiser as each day passes! She is beautiful and such a great sister to her brothers.
*Jack made me laugh this week when we were sitting in church and he pulled out a pile of basketball cards from his pocket right in the middle of sacrament meeting---I should've been mad, but it made me laugh.
*Adam was so excited to go to Kindergarten Registration, so he called it Kindergarten Celebration!
*Luke broke his leg on Sunday---He has will of iron to go through all that he does! He was on the tramp and got bounced and come down right on his leg, breaking his tibia bone. So, he's sporting a cast from thigh to toes for the next four weeks. Not fun, but he's being a trooper and finding ways to get around.
*Ezra is into everything and loves to say mama and dada, so cute!


These next pictures make me so happy! It has been a year and a half since Luke got sick and during that time he has really struggled to warm up to anyone except me and Aaron and sometimes Julia (major trust issues after being so tramautized, it's a long story!) Anyway, that has slowly been changing in the last couple of months as he is more interactive with the therapists he works with, his siblings, etc.

Well, tonight I walked into our bedroom to see Luke with Adam watching a movie & they were all snug, holding on to each other's hand! This may not seem like a big deal, but it was so darling to me! I've waited a year and a half to see Luke like this with one of his brothers---makes me so happy!

Birthday Boy!

Ezra is one! Wow, this baby sure puts a smile of all of our faces! You can look at him from across the room and catch his eye, he'll raise an eyebrow and just squeal and smile---what a doll!

We had a fun little party for the birthday boy:






The kids made this darling little book for him that had little pictures and notes in it, telling him why they loved him. It made me so happy that Julia and Jack came rushing into the door from school, both with darling notes for Ezra that they had made at school and so excited to wish him a happy birthday. Jack's note cracks me up, hopefully you can see it---"Have you ever tasted cake, ice cream or candy on your birthday? You'll find out it is super!"
Adam insisted on being the first one to go into Ezra's room this morning and tipped toed in and said, "Surprise Ezra baby, it's your birthday!" It was so cute.

I love this little guy so much!

Always Behind!

I am always behind on updating my blog---oh well! This very well may be my favorite christmas picture!


Have I mentioned that I am convinced that a good family picture is not in the cards for us for probably ten years? I've accepted it!



And finally, look what I walked into the kitchen to find today....

A for effort!

I have lots of catch-up posts to do, but probably won't happen---you'll understand by seeing the results of a simple desire to get one picture of the kids before church.

I'm setting my sights on a nice family picture in about 10 years, until then you'll understand why the Christmas card will be full of candids!