Mady's 5th Birthday

Our little lady turned 5 (cannot believe that number) on October 26th!
We had a great day celebrating Mady. We started out the day going to church and then going to her pick of a lunch spot. She picked Q'doba and we had a few friends join us. It was fun.
We then came home and relaxed together as a family and ventured out later for a dinner of her choice, Panera (also one of her favorites) we had her first birthday lunch there. She loves it.
We had a little birthday money and went to her third favorite place, Target (she's a girl after her momma's heart) and found some birthday gifts she picked out. She picked a babydoll!

Mady has grown a ton this year. We are so thankful to truly see the Lord making himself known to her and changing her heart to desire the things of God more than the things of this world. We are grateful for this answer to prayer and are trying to be faithful to lay a good foundation for these seeds to take root and truly bloom.

Mady has become very concerned with others. More tender to her brother and very kind to friends. I've noticed a more sensitive side to her as well. She is still my VERY out going, fun, energetic, full of spirit little girl. I just love her personality. I really resonate with it....maybe because we are a lot alike!! ;)

She is truly a delight and we are so proud to see how much she has grown.
Here are some pictures from her actual birthday.

Waking up to her gifts

Headed to Church with her favorite gift

Not afraid of the camera!

I imagine, if I could walk around in her brain...this is what I'd see!

Truly full of LIFE and love. I am so honored to be her mom and learn so much along the way in raising her. She is a joy to us and OH SO MUCH FUN! My little partner in crime. We love shopping together, having sweet mommy/daughter time. I just love hearing her heart and watching her laugh. She's a breath of fresh air to me and a great helper. I am thankful for my sweet daughter and pray for a future of true beauty inside her heart, radiating through her life and bringing GLORY to our great God.

Love you Mady-girl. Happy 5th BDAY!

Collin's 2nd Birthday

My handsome "Beau"- as I call him, turned 2 on October 17th.
I cannot believe he has been in our lives that long (and that short), if that makes sense.
He just feels so natural and so new, all at the same time!

He is our BOY! Loves all things BOY. Trucks, tractors and the like.
He is very detailed oriented, which is why we call him "Deets" (short for "Details"). He loves to switch buttons, roll trucks and trains and study things to figure out how they work. He is pretty quiet around big groups, but definitely makes his LOUD voice known in our family. He may even be louder than his sister. Which makes sense, because he has to "work" to make his voice heard.
He is a big talker and is using sentences, singing songs and communicating very well. I really am surprised and thankful. Our 3rd will either be super LOUD or mute. Haha. I'm guessing the first.

We just adore Collin. He is our snuggler. Tenderhearted little man. Kind and loving. Very chill, but a risk taker when he wants to be. Has a stubborn streak, but is quick to repent when he's in the wrong. I have weak spot for his dimpled smile. Warms my heart immediately.

Collin's life is a gift and treasure to us and we are so grateful for him!

Here are some pictures from his ACTUAL Birthday.
We spent the day with Mimi. Went to the mall and had lunch at Panera, visited the Disney store and let the kids roam and play. Had dinner later and just enjoyed being with family, celebrating our little man! 

His gifts

He woke up to a family chorus of "Happy Birthday to you!"

Excited to get to those gifts!

"You mean they are all for me!?"

He's obsessed with John Deere. I blame my father in law. ;)

Two of his favorite gifts.

Celebrating her brother

I mean.....really!!? He's just adorable!

Love you sweet boy! Happy 2nd Birthday!

Mady and Collin's 5th and 2nd Bday Party

This year's combined Birthday Party for the kids was HANDS DOWN the easiest and MOST FUN!!!
Usually we rent a community room and make treats and do the usual birthday festivities.
However, this year we were expecting our 3rd baby within the next month and I was trying to make this as EASY as POSSIBLE. I succeeded!!!

We decided to have it at All About Kids. Mady's favorite. They have trampolines, inflatables, ride toys, foam pits, rope swings, balance beams and much more. Its super safe, clean and fun! Not to mention SUPER ACCOMMODATING.  We had two party "helpers" that literally played with all of our kids, made sure they were safe and helped me with ALL the birthday "run around". They cut the cake for me, gave us candles (because my prego brain forgot them=mom fail), carried presents to the party room and our car, they even decorated and cleaned up. I literally DID NOTHING.....BUT, enjoy my kids at their party!! It was a major blessing. I am so thankful.

Here are the pictures from the party....

Some of the Mommas

Not the whole crew, but the ones that "made it" to the end :)

Such a fun day and probably our last combined "Mady and Collin" Birthday Party.
From here on out I'm guessing our 3rd and Collin will share the Party date and Mady, being the big girl, will have her own small party. If #3 is a boy, this will make it even easier. Collin and baby 3 will only be 2 years apart. The last two combined parties have been so special and I am thankful to have kiddos so close in birth dates. Makes the parties extra special and double the fun!! October means BIRTHDAY in our house!

Happy 5th to my darling Mady and happy 2nd to my handsome son. Love you both.