Cohen's 2nd Ice Cream party

This weekend we celebrated Cohen's 2nd birthday with an Ice Cream party!

The party was very small and simple.

We had friends over to celebrate our guy with cake, an ice cream sundae bar and swimming!

After cake and ice cream we headed over to the neighborhood swimming pool.

Everyone had a great time.

Cohen was happy.

Success!

Happy 2nd birthday my baby.

Dream BIG...

love, Mommy

Mommy made ice cream cone cake.

Our family

Our family with MiMi, Pop, and Tio.

This boy, that dimple, and that thumb.

Best mad face EVER.

Ice Cream Sundae bar with a hand sneaking in for some gummies! 

Hi!

My world

Monkey boy!

Make a wish and dream BIG my baby...

Cohen opening his gifts

After swim playground fun.

Cohen Jacob {2}

Loveable. Funny. Smart. Sweet. Wild. Strong. Leader. Strong will. Daredevil. Beautiful. Cuddly.


Dear Cohen,

Just like that I am writing to you on your 2nd birthday.  It seems like just yesterday I heard the words "it's a boy" and I was able to hold you for the first time!  You have been such a special addition to our family.  I can't remember life without you!

You are such a light in this world!  Your smile is adorable and your dimple MELTS me.  Your brothers love you so much!  You are always just 1/2 a step behind and following EXACTLY what they are doing.  You have a masters degree in climbing.  That is probably why you have already been to the emergency room two times.  Take it easy on me boy...

You are funny and love to make us laugh.  You tell us "knock knock" jokes.  You laugh and that makes your jokes even funnier!  Your favorite song is "happy birthday to you."  I never want to forget the way that you call my name.  There has never been a sweeter sound!  I take mental snap shots in my mind of you at this very age.  I always want to remember your little rabbit teeth, killer dimple, and beautiful big blue eyes.

You are so special and I am so glad that God selected me to be your momma.  You are a blessing to all who know you!  Keep smiling and the world is yours!  Happy birthday and dream BIG my baby.  You are a good boy and will do great things in this world...

All my love,
Mommy

Make a wish and dream BIG my baby...

Roman Wade "4"

My dearest Roman,

I always want for you to know how special you are to me.  From the first moment that I looked at you it was love at first sight.  I am so blessed to be chosen as your Momma!  Your little personality is evolving.  You are really shy and don't like to be the center of attention.  I pray that you grow to be comfortable in your skin.  You are my middle baby and are deserving of a little extra love and attention.  You are a Momma's boy and enjoy tagging along with me to run errands and grocery runs.

You are active and love to be involved in our everyday work.  You don't have much interest in television.  You would prefer to cut the grass with daddy or bake with mommy.  I pray that you always keep such a strong work ethic.  This quality will take you far in life.

You are a boy with many interest.  You love working and also people who work.  You love music, (favorite songs are Amazing Grace, You never let go, and Sing Sing Sing) superheroes just like your big brother, John Deere tractors, and garbage trucks.  I mean you REALLY love garbage trucks.  You also really love to have fun!  I love nothing more then to watch you at a party.  Your smile lights up my world!  I adore your sweet spirit!  You play well with others and you love your brothers.  You are smart, you are kind, and you are really funny!  You speak so well and your vocabulary blows us away!

This past year we have had our challenges.  Boy, you have a will of steel!  I like to say that you take after your Daddy and he says you take after me!  Either way, your steel will comes from your daddy!  ;)  You sometimes get embarrassed and have a really hard time redirecting.  When this happens we pray over you and your Daddy puts on Amazing Grace.  Jesus has a way of calming your spirit and the music soothes your soul.  You are so special and God has great plans for you!

I can not wait to see what next year has in store for you.  However, would you stop growing up SO QUICKLY!?!  Four years has happened in a blink of an eye.  Whatever God has in store for you it is bound to be special because YOU are special.  Always know how deeply loved that you are.  Today and always, "you're a good boy and will do great things in this world..."

All my love,
Mommy

Roman's 3rd birthday (weekend extravaganza)

Birthdays are so important around this house. 

We celebrate life and we celebrate each other.

I have started a few birthday traditions that the boys look forward to.

I love the months of anticipation that lead up to their special day.

I always want them to know how very special they are to me, to our family, and to this world.

They are each so loved...

On the eve of 3 I decorated and set out the beloved red place mat.

I am always giddy with excitement decorating the night before because I know the squeals of delight that a simple balloon and streamer will bring.

Roman woke up to a new kitchen.

This boy is such a chef at heart!

My boys then made pancakes.

A Saturday morning favorite around here!  

The birthday boy "skurring" up the pancake batter.

As our tradition goes birthday breakfast is always accompanied with candles and the birthday song.

Oh how I adore this precious face and smile...

That afternoon we set out to enjoy the music at Jazz Fest.

Good times were had by all!

Once home we enjoyed cupcakes.

Happy birthday to you,

Happy birthday to you,

Happy birthday dear Roman...

Happy birthday to you!

Dream BIG my baby!

The next morning after church we set out to make the birthday boys dream come true.

We enjoyed brunch at The Irish House.

After brunch the boys were given a real life kitchen tour.

Thanks Chef Matt and staff for being so awesome to my boy!

Following brunch we headed over to the children's museum.

This is Roman's favorite place to hang in the whole entire world!

This is your heaven.

You LOVE to cook in this kitchen and I love to watch you do it!

We had the most wonderful weekend celebrating Roman and rolling in "3."

Looking forward to an amazing year!

Roman {3}

Dear Roman,

My sweet, loving, beautiful, smart, witty, sensitive, fiery, timid, and compassionate 3 year old boy.  I will never be able to put into words how much I love you.  You bring so much joy to my life.  I look at you and I see me.  Oh my goodness.  The idea of that really excites and scares me!

Once you entered our lives 3 years ago I began to really enjoy being a mother.   With you I threw out the "rule books" and parented from my gut.  Oh how that was such a freeing feeling.  Thanks for being patient with me as we figure out this here life together.

You are such a sensitive soul.  You often wear your heart on your sleeve and shy away from any sort of attention.  Your sensitive and compassionate spirit will take you very far in life.  Stay sweet my baby.

You have so much love for others.  I am amazed to watch you both with your big and your baby brother.  You compliment each of them so perfectly.  I love to watch the bond that each of you has as brothers grow.  Root deep my boys.  You are the best friends that you will ever have.

"3" is one of those ages that comes with many challenges.  Intentional defiance sets in, boundaries are tested and limits are pushed.  This year is sure to come with many highs and lows.  We will both grow through this.  Always know that, "you are a good boy and will do great things in this world..."

"3"... bring it on!

All my love,
Mommy  

Little party planner

Yesterday was Big Poppa's birthday.  Griffin started planing the perfect party as soon as he woke up.  He jumped into action like the professional party boy that he is!  First on his agenda was decorations.  He went to the party supply cabinet and pulled out the necessities.  Party hats, horns, mustaches, candles, and balloons.  You know important stuff!   

He then sat down and made a card for Poppa.  At this point I had to duck out to go to work.  MiMi said that he planned the rest of the details throughout the day.  He pulled down all of his board games to play at the party.  About mid day Griff asked when Pop's friends were going to come over for the party?  Pop explained to him that his friends were at work and he was happy just to celebrate with family.  You have to love the innocence of a child...

By the time I got home from work Griff pretty much had everything set for the big shindig and he was bursting with excitement.  Once Kenton got home we kicked off the celebration with cupcakes, candles, and the birthday song.  

Thanks to Griff for putting together such an awesome party.  I was impressed with Griff's first party that he planned all on his own and I'm pretty sure Big Poppa was too...    

Big Pop's card made by Griff. (a cake with lots of candles)

Happy birthday Pop with a balloon

This guy LOVES him some cupcakes!

Roman just noticed that silly Daddy had cake on his nose.
That is soooo funny!

Griff proud of his work!

MiMi, Pop, and the boys (minus sleeping Cohen)