Happy 6th Birthday, Kolbe

 

Happy 6th Birthday, Kolbe!  

This boy has so much personality.  

His funny faces, his silliness, his smile, his tenderness and care- he brings such light and joy to others.  

My boss at work and a few co-workers have seen my more silly side and it really made my day when my boss observed Kolbe and whispered, "Wow, he is so much like you.  Full of life and personality." I could not have received a better compliment because I have first hand lived the experience of YOUR joy, Kolbe, and it is life-changing.  You are a bundle of energy and life is never ever dull with you.

I love the way that you are intrigued by all things that make noise and move.  Planes, trains, automobiles, and anything of the like.  This Usborne book was such a fun find because it has a little train that moves along as you read the story.  You have really enjoyed watching it race round and round and round.  You and your daddy enjoy watching airplane videos and you even attended a cool airshow together.  What a thrill for you!  I loved hearing your stories about all the planes you saw afterward. 

You love sugar and all things sweet.  Mama loves when she can get you to eat the sweet things that are FRUIT not just candy.  Plus look how adorable you are eating this slice of watermelon!

You are an adventurer, but you like to have some guidelines- another way that we are alike.  I love a good time with fun and crazy and adventure, but I also like to know that I've got a bit of security and stability too.  

You love to explore and check out everything around you.  Last summer we picked blackberries with your cousins and I loved how excited you were to find each and every one. 

And buddy, you are STRONG.  I am always amazed watching you swing around on playsets or climb trees. You have great balance and incredible strength. 

Your laughter is like sunshine to my days.  You get such a kick out of the little things and I love the deep joy that resonates in you when something tickles your fancy.  You spent so much of last summer in the pool (either at the rec center or at cousins' houses) and your absolute joy at being able to bob, paddle, jump in with a splash, and run over and tell me all about it were glorious.  I LOVE listening to you tell stories of your amazing jumps off the diving board and your tales of swimming all the way across the pool.  

Your energy is unmatched- go, go, GO!

BUT when you are tired...you are tired. It warms my heart when you come and find me and curl up in my arms or somewhere near where I am and fall asleep.  Every single day that you aren't here, I ache for that moment of the day when I can imagine you following your usual routine.  All day long, you have boundless energy and run circles around us all.  But in the evening, you are tender and snuggly and I hold on to those moments and treasure each one just as I do the ones where you run and laugh and spread your joy. 

Last year, I got to work at the preschool you attended.  What a blessing.  It was so much fun to see you learn and grow in leaps and bounds. 

Sometimes I pick up my phone and flip through photos and find gems like these selfies waiting for me. 

I love your enthusiasm for life and your ability to express yourself so well.  You are a ham. 

We all love your silliness. 

A man of many expressions 

Kolbe, sometimes your BIG emotions are angry and you lash out.  Sometimes they are sad and you cry.  Sometimes they are joyful and you laugh and crack jokes.  I want you to always know that I will be here to LISTEN when you are angry, sad, joyful, or goofy.  It is ALL a part of you and I never want you to lose the ability to feel it all because it all teaches us valuable lessons.  You have a heart of gold and I pray you will always use your joy and tenderness to shine Christ's light to others.  And when you are hurting, reach out to us and we will hold you in the sorrowing. 

Thank you for your stories and laughter, your tears and fears, and your smile and immense hugs and kisses.  You are my little man and I am so blessed. 

Happy 13th Birthday, Kayla!

 

Kayla and her good friend whose birthday is a few days apart had a double birthday party.  They consumed lots of fun food, played volleyball, and crafted charm bracelets. 

They are such a great group of girls. 

I just cannot believe my first baby girl is 13!! She's a teenager!  How?

They are such beautiful new teenagers. 

ice cream sundaes are always a hit. 

So are photo booths

Kayla, you are such an amazing daughter.  In so many ways, I feel like I have failed you, but then I look at your kindness, your beautiful heart that is loyal to your friends, and the way you turn to Jesus and His Word when you are hurting, and I know I am pointing you towards the Way and that's all that matters.

 Jesus has got you, kiddo, and He will never ever stop loving you or fighting for your beautiful heart.  You are so very precious to Him and He is always waiting to listen to your heart, to your frustrations, to your pain, to your JOY!  He is here. 

Thank you for taking silly pictures with me and putting up with my weirdness. 

You are such a wonderful big sister.  You are patient, kind, and love to make your sisters and brother smile.  You always have a recital or play or game up your sleeve for them.  They look up to you because you are such a good leader and such a bright light.  

Kayla, my dancer.  You are just beautiful.  So graceful.  The smile on your face is priceless when you are dancing.  It's easy to see you are in your happy place.  We love to see you dance your heart out, darling. 

Thank you for hanging out with your mama even though I'm not nearly as cool as you.  

You are artistic and fun.  I love watching your creativity flow.  You color, sing, dance, draw, write.....it's beautiful to watch you grow into such a wonderful young lady.  

Thank you for being YOU.  

Never ever ever believe that who YOU are is unworthy of being shared with others even if some reject you.  YOU are beautiful, kind, unique, and oh so amazing.  Find the people you can be real with.  Find the people who will cry with you, laugh with you, listen to your heart, challenge you, and love you in ways that are true, good, and beautiful.  

Happy happy birthday, Kayla Cecilia.  You are so incredibly wonderful and I am so blessed to be your mama. 

Can't wait to write another birthday post soon since somehow almost a year has passed before I got this post written and your birthday is only a few months away!  I love your beautiful freckles especially in the summer when they come out strongest.  Summer is nearly here, sweetie, and it's freckle time!

Happy 7th Birthday, Sophie Rose!

 

Happy Birthday to our beautiful Sophie Rose!  

You are delightful and fun.  You are giggly and gorgeous.  You are silly and sweet. 

To many you seem shy and reserved, because your outer layer is just that.  But once you are more comfortable and let your guard down, you are crazy fun, ridiculously full of giggles and goofiness, and you are loud and rambunctious.  

You have grown up SO MUCH these last couple years.  Your hair has been growing like crazy and is so long and beautiful.  Something about your long hair just makes it feel as though you are 7 going on 10.  But you wear the sweet bows and headbands and that makes me feel like my little girl is still here too.  It's just wonderful to watch you grow up (but it's a little too fast for me, baby girl!)

For your big day, I saw a sparkling rose cider which we had to get as a celebration for a sweet girl with the name Sophie ROSE!  You were thrilled that the sparkling grape cocktail had your name on it.  

We enjoyed our fancy beverage with your favorite meal....pizza--- and raspberries. 

Cheers to our lovely Sophie, the gorgeous birthday girl!

We had a fun cake and sang to you.  You laughed a lot. 

Make a wish, sweet girl. 

Sophie, you are THE sweetest.  You received an award at school for one of the school virtues, justice.  You then went on to win the student of the quarter.  You are a great listener and an avid student.  You love your teachers and want to make them smile, smile, smile!  Thank you for working so hard.  

You also have a stubborn streak.  At home, your temper sometimes gets the better of you and you go from 0 to 10 in about half a second.  You can also be a big mule when Mama asks you to help out and you don't feel like it.  We're all working on doing our part at home.  

I LOVE the way you snuggle up for a great big hug.  You always seem to know just when I need a massive squeeze from my Sophie.  Thank you for lighting up my life and my heart. You have such a bubbly joy and your giggles are absolutely contagious.  Once you start giggling, the whole room is laughing with you. Keep spreading that beautiful joy. 

Sophie, you are so incredibly precious and I am blessed beyond measure to be your mama. I love watching you enthusiastically pass a volleyball, joyfully play Barbies with your sisters, seriously consider strategy in Trekking and Monopoly Deal, and gracefully kartwheel around the yard.  It was so much fun to watch you begin a new endeavor, Irish dancing, this year.  You are superb and it's glorious to see your face light up as you pursue various interests and hobbies.  

Stay close to Jesus always.  HE is your rock, HE is your joy, and HE is always with you. I love you, wonderful, silly, feisty, exuberant Sophie Rose!