Birthday pics

The roller skating firefighter! Who needs a truck!

I love how the light saber is actually all lit up here! Guess the flash did that??

Momma and her little, I mean BIG, girl

" I want to be a fighderfighter when i grow up" Not a typo - that is how she says it

"Mommy, me be firefighter too"

now this little guy won the guys over!

So excited that we got to sit and play checkers after eating

Happy girl to be at Cracker Barrel with one on one mommy time!

So I took a half day yesterday so i would be able to see Mackenzie since i had school last night. I picked her up from school and took her out to lunch, her choice - Cracker Barrel. We had a great time just being able to sit there and enjoy talking without being pulled in a million other directions while out to eat. Then we came home and got everyone else and headed up to our "surprise" - a tour of the fire station. I think they've asked me every day for 6 months when we were going. they watched the Barney fire fighter video and since then the burning question has been, "Do you think they really have 3 refrigerators!" And yes they do in case you were wondering. The guys up there were GREAT! Of course the kids wouldn't get up on the truck, but they enjoyed it. Next we came home and opened presents - lots of clothes and the roller skates. Next cake and ice cream, pretending to be a restaurant with the play kitchen, and then I had to head to school. All in all a Great Day. Mackenzie was SO excited all day to be FIVE! So grown up now you know. Oh and her birthday wish (I didn't make her keep it secret because I had to know what a five year old wishes for) - well, it was "that we are always a family". Oh me too honey, me too.

Another cutest thing she said yesterday....Aaron had told her she could get back up after Turner fell asleep and she told us that she stays up every night until he falls asleep first because he gets scared if she falls asleep first! How sweet.

Happy 5th Birthday Mackenzie

(My little princess going through her Annie stage 2 years ago.)

Mackenzie,

Happy Birthday Sweetheart! My precious, wonderful, beautiful little girl. You will always hold a special place in my heart as my first born. We wanted you from the very beginning and weren't willing to wait, no matter how much money we didn't have, we would make it work. Through nine months we wondered who you were growing in there, our little "peanut" and I can still see your daddy's face as the doctor told us "It's a girl!" As much as we wanted you, we were young and new to the parenting thing and went through a few tough nights, heck months. But from that we have a stronger marriage that we have you to be thankful for. No it wasn't you, it was our inexperience. You were a wonderful baby. Oh how I still remember you coming home as our little glow worm, and whew were you a gassy thing (inexperienced parent mistake #1 - not knowing to give Mylecon at the first sign of discomfort just for good measure!) You are our guinea pig, everything you do is the first time we experience it as parents. So bear with us, we are trying.

You have always been wise and mature beyond your years. You have a tender heart much like your momma's, and will cry just thinking we may be upset with you. You are a natural nurturer. Chou Chou has such a wonderful momma! Not to mention how lucky your brothers are, you are so patient and caring with them, like their 2nd mom. You are a wonderful role model for them.

You've wrapped everyone you have ever met around your little finger. Mostly your daddy, Grandpy, and Pop - I'll let you in on a little secret - you'll be able to get anything out of them if you just smile! We've heard more times than i can imagine what beautiful eyes you have and how beautiful you are - not just cute - people are magnetized to you.

I love your little Sas lately "ex-ca-USE-me", "Uhhh Du". Sure in 10 years I might have a very different opinion of the sas, but it is so cute now with the innocence behind it. The way you answer the phone so adult and grown up, the way you continue to assure me that you "will always be my baby".

I am so proud to be your mother. To hear people say that you are a mirror of me is one of the biggest compliments I have ever received. I adore you, I love you, I admire you. To think that in just 5 years you have made such an impact, I can only imagine what the rest of your life will bring. You will do such wonderful things for this world, the world is lucky to have you. I am blessed beyond words to call you my daughter. You raised the bar, you have redefined perfection, you are the perfect daughter. I wouldn't change a thing about you. You are exactly who you should be. Continue to be yourself, dare to dream, follow your brothers impulsive nature, follow your heart. We love you more than words could ever describe. My heart aches to think about how much I love you. A piece of it belongs all to you, forever. Handle it with care in your teenage years! I may not do everything right in this path of parenthood, but I will always try.

No, really, are you sure, it can't be

I really don't think I'm ready for this...Mackenzie is turning 5, really, already. I just brought her home from the hospital, this can't be real. I'm just not ready for it. You'd think that she is turning 16 the way it is affecting me, but I'm really having a problem with this. 5 symbolizes this imaginary threshold that I'll never be able to cross back over. I'll never have 3 little kids at home, I'll have 1 big, and 2 little... The other day in the car I starting thinking about it and thought I was going to have a panic attack. It just felt like life was forging onward and I had absolutely no control over anything - and it IS. I hate that the kids are growing up, I love these ages, there is something magical to this age. I'll make it through but I'm not happy about it! I think there might be random breakouts of crying tomorrow. Of course in front of my little girl - I'll be nothing but smiles and excitement because this is HER day and we will celebrate along with the world that she is a part of our lives- someday she'll read back on this post and be in total shock of what mommy was like behind the scenes. We have big plans for tomorrow in between work and school. I can't wait to share all the details with you!!!

Food Coma

Oh my gosh, I think I may be falling in to a food coma! I made Sunday dinner tonight - it is kind of becoming a ritual around here with Cameron and Caitlyn here on Sunday nights too. So tonight we had meatloaf, mashed potatoes, asparagus, and egg noodles....mmmmm mmmm good! I must say, I have the touch. I think Nannan's special touch got passed down, tonight would have even been Nannan worthy! It was complete silence around here, that NEVER happens. It was almost eerie. lol And I think Austin probably ate as much as I did. About 15 minutes after I had gotten him cleaned up and down, Caitlyn saw him chewing on something and went over...he had a whole asparagus down in his lower lip just sucking on it. Guess he was saving it for later. Oh how I love a good Sunday dinner.

Facebook

Ok, I finally jumped on the bandwagon and joined Facebook - everyone happy now. And yes, it is a little addicting. It is weird to even see the names of people I would have never even thought I'd hear of again. I currently only keep up with 2 people from HS. That is it - completely. And I haven't been back since my family moved my freshman year of college except 2 times for weddings. We didn't have a 10 year reunion, well if we did I didn't know about it and didn't go - so absolutely no connection to that point in my life. Needless to say, those days weren't my proudest and I've never had any desire to go back to HS days. It is always weird to me how much of a connection Aaron still has to his HS friends, but I guess some of that is just that we are still here. Maybe it would be different if we had been by KC instead of STL? Anyways, hello to any of you old acquaintances that browse over here.

And since I haven't posted a pic in a while, here is a picture i took of Aaron with his little mini me!!

Wow what a long week. Work was crazy busy again and by Tuesday I was hoping it was Friday! This weekend is going to be pretty filled up by me working on my school stuff. Fun Fun. I've got 2 papers to write and will get another assignment on Tuesday. We aren't doing anything special for Valentines Day - everyday is Valentines Day around here! So pretty much will just be working on my school stuff, Aaron has lots of school stuff to get to, I think we are going to try to take the kids to the dollar show, and before we know it the weekend will be gone. Only 4 more days till my little girl is 5. I just can't believe it. I worked on her birthday party some this week and I'm pretty excited about it. I think it will be really cute. Dora theme, so I'm working with that on the activities. I did get to make it to Mackenzie's Valentine's Party at school on Thursday - I had to leave a little early, but at least I got to go. We had some special time together. I'm so glad that I have a job where i can still make these activities because they really mean a lot to me. Well, I'm down right pooped right now, and need to lay down before I just fall over sitting up. 4:45 will be here all to quickly!

Bromance

Here are some pics from this weekend when Fran and the kids came by. Of course i couldn't get a good picture of the boys together and I didn't even try one of all the kids together....I'm so mad I didn't try more, they'll probably be in H.S before they see each other again (ha ha...love you Fran!).

"Yo mom, this is my bro Sean, and we're just gonna hang for a while and catch up- good with you?"
"Uh, can we get a little privacy please. Who in the heck are you anyways crazy lady, and why do you keep taking my picture?"
"OK Sean, first you push the green button then the arrow, then the red...."
"See just like this. Don't worry, you'll get the hang of it, I've been trained by the best""But mom, you didn't even let me hit save first!"
(and this is the total drama, all out fit cry I get these days...just pitiful isn't it!!)