Christmas Play

It's a rite of passage for children and parents alike to attend/participate in a Christmas play.  This is Harrison's second year and Gavin's first.  Last year Harrison was a mere black sheep, he graduated this year to a speaking role.  We practiced and practiced (okay, to be honest, maybe for only a couple of hours prior to the play) but we practiced enough that they did a pretty good job. 

"Jesus came into the world to bring peace and love to everyone."

            To repeat myself from many posts ago, photoshop had to come about from photographing children.  Probably boys at that, and probably ages five and two.  It's nearly  impossible to get these two to sit still and smile.

Gavin was so excited to put on his suit, he kept telling me, "I'm a man."  We took them for ice cream afterward and I took off their jackets and  dress shirts to spare me a date with Stainstick.  Gavin, with endless amounts of chocolate on his white undershirt kept asking, "where my shirt go??  Where my shirt, I wanna be man!"  Harrison told him he wouldn't be a man until he grew up and turned fifteen.

My baby boy is getting so big.  It was just last year that he sat in my lap during the Christmas play and even had to be taken outside for being so restless.  Tonight he was singing "We wish you a Merry Christmas!" and looking so debonair. 

A Perk of Texas in December?

Outdoor picnics for dinner

Evil Knievil Meet Gavin

I thought I was bulletproof or Superman there for a while. I thought I'd never run out of nerve. Never.
~ Evil Knievel

This child has more creativity than I could ever imagine.  This is an infant Superman costume that is now only a shirt, with knee pads being used as gloves, with a helmet haphazardly protecting him. Gavin is always entertaining and making us laugh.

Honest Abe or Not So Much

Harrison asked for popcorn with M&M's while watching a movie.  Steve told him popcorn was okay but that he couldn't have any M&M's.  After he gave Harrison his bowl he told me he had put some M&M's in the bottom of the bowl and asked what I thought Harrison would do when he found them.  We placed bets with one another being for or against the honesty of our son.  Steve said he would eat them and not say anything.  I said he would eat them also, but would have to confess that he did so.


Harrison came to kitchen about 15 minutes later and said, "Dad, you said I couldn't have any M&M's, but there were M&M's in the bottom of the bowl.  But, I wasn't sure if they were M&M's, so I ate them just to be positive.  And, yep, they were M&M's!" 

Give The Boy What He Wants

Gavin is the best snuggler. When I wake up from nights at work he often takes my hand and guides me to the couch to 'nuggle.' He loves to be held close after his baths while he's drying off in his towel.  We had a special moment the other day, after his bath when we were snuggling extra tight.  I was humming to him and stopped to ask if he wanted to sing a song together.  Thinking he would choose maybe, 'Jesus loves me' or even the 'ABC's, I was very surprised when he sheepishly nodded and said he wanted me to sing 'boom, boom, pow.'  I asked him to repeat his request three or four times because I was certain I had misunderstood.  After he clearly said again, 'boom, boom, pow', I gave him what he asked and belted out my best Fergie "people in the place....if you want to get down....put your hands in the air.....Will.I.Am drop the beat now..." The special moment changed from sweetness to laughter as I watched my naked boy shake his toosh to my rendition of The Black Eyed Peas.  

Half A Decade

 

You woke up on your birthday telling me all the things you can do now that you've turned five.  Something amazing happened while you slept and turned from four to five....

"Mom, watch me run, I'm so fast now that I'm five!"

"I can beat Daddy up at wrestling, I'm sooo strong."

We were looking through the new atlas book his Great-Grandmother Jane had given him, he pointed to the map and said, "look, two pyramids."  I asked him how he knew what pyramids were and he replied, "Mom, I'm five now, I know lots of things." 

"I can play cards and beat everybody in the family!"  (we don't play cards....)

Half a decade you've been alive.  Five years you've been challenging me and helping me grow into a better person and mom. You are the quintessential first-born: loving to know the details of everything, not particularly enjoying when plans are deviated, being very responsible (sometimes also seen as bossy) with those around you, conscientious of others' feelings, and most of all you love to make us happy!

In honor of your fifth birthday I want to list my top favorite five things about you:

1. Your eyes.  They are a mixture of brown, blue, and green. And, they are absolutely beautiful.  You will stop some hearts with those eyes, son.
2. The look on your face when you accomplish something all by yourself.  It's a look of pride and excitement.  I hope as I watch you grow I see that look a thousand times more. 
3. How happy you become when you see your extended family or even get to talk with them on the phone.  I want you to always value and love your family like you do as a five year old. 
4. Your smarts.  You have a good head on your shoulders!  I love teaching you things because you learn quickly, and more importantly, you love learning.  
5. Your stubbornness.  Although, at times, it makes me crazy and is very embarrassing, I think stubbornness will translate into determination. 

Bergman's Pizzeria-5 Out of 5 Stars!

 We celebrated my big boy's five year-old birthday with a chef-themed pizza party.

 

 The chefs started out decorating their own hats and aprons.  Pay no attention to the fabric pen in Ian's mouth, he was just a little hungry!

 What a delicate little chef, she stayed very clean, no apron was even necessary.

 Nathan is serious about his cooking responsibilities. 

 The kids rolled out the pizza dough, topped it with sauce, cheese and pepperoni.  I'm not sure how Evan was able to see his pizza as his hat is on his chin.  I think this may have been my fault, I measured his head a tad too big!

 The kids then watched while their pizzas bake in the brick oven!  

 

 Harrison later told me his favorite part of the party was "Guess that Jelly Belly!"  

I wasn't sure how this game would go over with thirteen little kids participating, but they all played along really well, especially because, regardless of their answer, they all were able to pick from the prize box.

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 Every good chef must know a little about pastry decorating, right?  I think I'll be finding sprinkles in the house for months.  They really got into the decorating.....

 ....and, of course, the eating, too!

 This is one of three costumes Gavin changed into during the party.  Batman, Indiana Jones, and Iron Man all made an appearance.  Actually, he debuted his 'birthday suit' also, so that technically makes it four costumes, but who's counting??

 Garrett showing off his blue teeth from his cupcake.

 The kids, all exhausted from endless cooking and eating, settled in for a late-night movie of Toy Story 3.  Garrett wasn't ready to give up his hat, he worked hard coloring all those panels!