5 year old Birthday celebration...

Bode woke up at 6:15 on his birthday. He said he got up early because he didn't want to miss it. He requested Dunkin Doughnuts for breakfast. Lucky for him, he got them.

We got up and got ready for an 8:00 doctors appointment to see the new baby. Bode didn't know about the big surprise until we got in the ultrasound room. We showed him the screen and asked him what it was, he didn't know. So I told him it is a baby. His face lit up and he said "in your belly!?!". He then proceeded to tell me to not eat any junk only good food, that the baby is a boy and we will name him Rex or Max, and that it was so tiny.

Then Bode and I headed off to see the movie he requested. Mars needs Moms. It was cute. He was on the edge of his seat the whole time watching it. He laugh at the jokes and got sad at the right time and happy at the right times. He is finally old enough to get movies. We had fun!

Then we came home to have lunch and eat some cake. Jer was in charge of the cake and did a pretty awesome job! I was impressed and so was Bode. The kids got into the cake when Jer and I we upstairs and needless to say the only ones to ate cake that day were Bode and Laine. We didn't want to eat a cake that had been destroyed by little hands.

Then it was off to open presents.

Then after naps and quite time Bode got to go out with Grandpa Steve and Grandma Rena to pick out a present. He choose lego's. He may have had to of been persuaded to get the tub instead of one of the cool sets. He went straight to work on those legos when he got home and has been building ever since. He told me when I had tucked him in that night he thought that the tub of lego's would be boring, but that he was wrong and they were awesome!

After a long day of birthday parting we settled down to read one of his new birthday books from Grandpa Dave and Grandma Trish. This is a good one and I highly recommend it.

I think it was a good birthday for the 5 year old. He gets to spend a couple birthday bucks and then it will be over. Next the hot, hot summer and then off to kindergarten.

The festivities...

Laine had a great little birthday. It started with a yummy breakfast with Grandma Rena and Grandpa Steve at Dunkin Donuts, then to play at the park before she came home to open her present.

What a pretty princess. She loves to dress up!

We were planning on taking Laine to a movie for her birthday. We wanted to go see Tangled. For Bode's second birthday we took him to his first movie. He just sat there, sipped a soda and watched the movie. Laine has no patents to sit though a movie or sit still for any length of time. So we decided to go to the Phoenix Zoo (along with everyone else in the valley).

The kids loved it. They ran from place to place. Bode's favorite animal was the giraffes.

 Laine loves birds. It didn't matter if the birds were in an actual exhibit or if they were hopping on the ground looking for scraps.

 Jer and I likened it unto Jer's latest hunting trips. Lots of walking, no animals. It was the afternoon so a lot of the animals were sleeping and there were a bunch of exhibits under construction. But the kids had a ton of fun so it was worth it.

After the zoo we can home to relax and do a little party for the birthday girl.

Laine didn't know it was all decorated but Bode did though. He was so excited to show her all the "pink stuff".

We sang happy birthday and she tried to blow out the candles. She leaned in to close and sniffed a bit of the flame up her nose. It made her pretty upset. Good thing Bode was there to blow out the candles.

Then it was on to presents. 

Happy Birthday Delaine Jo!

And she is...

2!

Can someone tell me when that happened? Actually, that's not true. Laine looks an feels every bit of her 2 years on this earth. Laine is full of spunk and we love her to death. She is really getting to be a lot of fun. 

• It looks as though one of her biggest accomplishments from the age of one to two was growing hair. She loves to get her hair blown dry and she won't let you forget to put in her "pruties".
• She almost always wakes up happy in the morning. She wakes up around seven but hangs out in her crib until about eight or so. She normally doesn't cry but just calls for Bode or me to get her out. Then before she gets out she must have her bear, "poo-pa" (pillow pet)  and "ganky" (pink blanky).
• She spends her days playing with Bode, raiding the fridge, running around outside and still takes one afternoon nap to keep her energy up.
• She would really like to sleep in her big girl bed, but mom is not on board with that yet. She is very mischievous and we are not ready to let her roam the house after hours yet.
• She loves people and isn't shy at getting attention. But once she gets it she calms up and won't say a word or smile. She just stares with her big blue eyes.
• She is learning new words everyday. This has really helped with her little tantrums. She likes that she can say something and I know what she wants.
• She loves babies. Both real and make believe. 
• After she gets up from her afternoon nap she again wants her bear, "poo-pa" and "ganky". Then she demands to know where Bode is and wants to be tucked in on the couch to watch a show.
• Laine is fast. She can pump her arms and get her feet going so fast I think she is going to fall. But she is quite coordinated and can keep up with Bode almost step for step. She figured out how to ride a trike very fast and loves her scooter. She also is very good at running around and kicking a soccer ball.
• Laine has just figured out that she can take on and off her clothes. It is not uncommon to get her up from her nap and find her buck naked, grinning ear to ear waiting for you to say something.
• and today she pooed in the potty today! What a big girl. I am not going to push the potty training on her until she is completely ready. Looks as though she might be ready...

Here she is, two years old ready to take on her little world. We love this girl so, so much. I am exited for her to grow and develop even more of her sweet personality this up coming year.

It's party time...

Actually it is more like party week for Mr. Bode James. Tuesday we got to go to the zoo. Wednesday he got to go on a special birthday dinner, visit to toys-r-us with Grandma Rena and Grandpa Steve. Thursday he got to to on a shopping trip to buy new summer clothes with mom and dad. Friday we went to the store to buy all his party decorations. Saturday was his first every birthday party. And Sunday was his actual birthday. Wow! What a week for our big 4 year old.

Bode is such a lucky boy. He had his first party. He has been so excited to have his all his friends over to play games and eat cupcakes. I asked him what kind of party he wanted and it was all about the Transformers. What a boy.

Here are all happy party go-ers. Only two kids couldn't make it. Probably a good thing. I am not sure I could have handled ten, four year olds.

Make a wish!

After presents everyone got to take a swing at the pinata.

After I closed the door on our last party guest I looked around to see where Bode had gone. This is where we found him...Laying outside on the small patch of grass in the back yard. He was all alone. And if I had acted a little faster the picture would have been better. He actually had his head down. He had such a fun, fun time with all the kids but I think he just must have needed a moment to regroup. Thank you everyone who came!

We love our little Boder-Dude! He makes me smile and laugh everyday. He has a kind heart and is very gentle with his little sister. But he is a rough and tough little boy who love to wrestle with his dad. Love you little man.

And she is....

1!

Today is Delaine Jo's first birthday! This year has just flown by. We all love this little girl oh so much. At exactly 3:00 pm she will not longer be my little baby :( But my big one year old. This past year has been wonderful and we are excited to see what next year will bring for this sweet little girl. (Hopefully more hair...)

She was not a big fan of taking pictures this morning. She was much more interested in the balloons right behind me.

This morning we celebrated Laine's birthday before church and Jer's work. If was fun. We had a pajama party :) It included a picnic breakfast in the living room, jammies, balloons, french toast and bacon. And of course birthday cake. Who doesn't need cake before noon?

Jer and I are celebrating the fact that we made it through one year as parents of 2 kids.

Laine wasn't to sure about the candle.

Good thing she has a big brother to show her the ropes.

She knew exactly what to do with the cake though.

She had some in each hand and was shoving it in there.

After cake we all got cleaned up and ready for Church. But right before we left for church SHe opened presents. Bode has been so patient. He has been wanting to rip through all those presents for days. I told him before Laine could open presents he had to get Sunday clothes on. I have never seen him get ready so fast.

Laine figured the best way to open presents is with her teeth.

Yay for the Disney Princesses. We definitely had to get Sleeping Beauty before it went back in the vault.

She was genuinely excited to open these presents. She got so excited when she got to the goody inside.

I absolutely love this pink bear. The other day the kids and I were driving down the road. I was talking to Bode about Laine's birthday. He and I were going later that day to pick out a present for her from him. I asked him what he wanted to get her for her birthday. He though for a little bit and replied "a big giraffe or a pink teddy bear". He was so excited to find the pink teddy bear at the store. She looks very happy to get it don't you think?

Bode giving Liane a birthday kiss :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE BUG!