Six!

 Tommy decides what he wants to be for Halloween and what kind of party he wants for his birthday months in advance, and he sticks to it.  Never changes his mind.  When he told me he wanted a monster truck birthday I was a little stumped.  Good thing for the internet. 

This was his first real birthday party with friends (He had a playdate type birthday party at the park when he was 4) so he was pretty excited.

Kate liked my art activity, and Tommy did too.  The other boys...not so much.

 I borrowed a trampoline from a friend and got these tubes online and it made some great obstacle courses for our "Monster Jam"

We did lots of racing too

 I had one game planned of seeing who could smash the most cars, aka balloons.  But the wind took them...so that lasted 10 seconds.

Then we had to refuel with snacks and drinks.  Tommy loves soda.  I realized this just now...my Great Grandma used to give us popcorn and Root Beer every time we would visit her.  I did it without even thinking about it.  That makes me happy.

More car smashing!

 Then decorating cupcakes.  Or putting dirt and mud on their tires :)

I had to include a couple pictures of his friends because they are so cute.
Lincoln

Andrei

 Lovin' it!

Good thing the weather was nice.  I don't know what we would have done if we had to take it indoors.  The forecast threatened rain, but all we got was a couple rain drops.  It made for easy cleanup too.

My Monster Truck cake, of which I was quite proud of

 Yea for Happy Birthdays!

Except when you don't get a donut because you've already had too much chocolate.

After-party fun

Cute one!

Tommy is so good about letting his sisters open his presents.  He's just that kind of boy.  He's by far our best sharer.

Just love that chocolate beard

 So it was a good thing we had his birthday party on Saturday, because on Sunday (his actual birthday) I was really sick.  I managed a few things that day, but mostly stayed in bed.  Luckily, his food requests were simple.  He's easy to please!
Tommy's Birthday
Dinner Spaghetti
Lunch Smoothie
Breakfast Sugar Puffs
Chocolate (Cake)
Mint (Ice cream)

Tommy had been asking for and waiting a LONG time to get Lincoln Logs.  Some days he would tell me he was bored and then say, "I wouldn't be bored if I had Lincoln Logs."  He likes to give subtle hints.  Those paper airplanes I found in the dollar spot in Target had provided hours and days of entertainment!

And she finally got her donut

 

From the journal:

·      This kid LOVES cereal!  And it seems like every cereal is his “favorite cereal” whether it be “grandpas” (shredded wheat) “chugos” (cheerios) or sugar puffs.  He can easily have like 8 bowlfuls…it’s impressive.

·      He’s also always checking the side label to see how much iron and protein each cereal has.

·      He's a great Kindergartener.  His reading and writing are coming along (they have been a bit of a struggle).  He’s had two of his best friends move out (Jay and Takumi) but he still has plenty more.  I enjoy watching him take things to show and tell and he even remembers to put his library book in his backpack on Wednesdays, library day!

·      His current favorite TV show is Wild Kratts and he loves learning all the interesting animal facts.

·      He enjoys playing outside, digging for worms, catching butterflies, running with his kite, scaring squirrels, etc.

·      Tommy is getting fast on his two wheels too, and has the bump on his head to prove it from a crash he had when racing a neighbor boy.

·      He loves acting silly with Rachel, and even though I don’t like it much because I can’t get them to listen, he does have a great laugh

·      He prefers stories to books now (especially ones about Lily that Daddy makes up)

·      He has the biggest heart.  He is our best sharer.  Whenever he has something good he always wants to share it (mostly with daddy) but often with everyone.

·      He is our little peacemaker.  He can put up a good fight but usually gives in to what the girls want to avoid the drama.

·      He adores Lily and loves giving her kisses on the top of her head to feel her soft hair, and sometimes he says, “I just can’t stop looking at her” and always asks, “who’s the cutest baby in the world?”

·      I love watching this kid get giddy and excited with his little skip run.  He is such a happy boy!

I am so lucky and grateful to have this little boy in my life.  I love his enthusiasm for soldiers, guns, robots, rockets, airplanes, cars and trucks.  I am soaking it in as much as I can.  I love him more than words can say!

Easter

So I had a little struggle this year with Easter and the bunny.  I don't remember believing that a bunny gave me toys or hid Easter eggs.  So I just don't know how to answer these questions when my kids ask, especially when all the neighborhood kids believe and talk about it and they get so excited about it.

My kids never get fruit snacks, because I never buy them (and boy do they feel deprived) but it's a real treat when they get them

Lily jumped right into her basket.  Introducing puffs is always so fun.  Especially with 3 excited siblings.

He loves kissing her soft hair.  He does this probably a hundred times a day.  One time I put Lily down for a nap without him giving her a kiss and it was pretty dramatic.

Sunday morning

Amidst the craziness of trying to get 4 kids ready and out the door for church I found this.

After church we went to a nearby park to get some pictures.
Okay kids, the better you cooperate and smile, the faster we get done...and you can play on the playground.

I could really use some photography lessons.  I didn't realize how their eyes were so shadowed.  It was a really bright and beautiful day, and they still turned out okay.  So grateful for these 4 cute kids!

...and this guy too!!

Hunt time!

Marching to find Kate some more eggs...because Rachel and Tommy were too fast.

Camping/Beach chairs from Grandma

 

Tommy flying his kite

 

 That evening we spent with some of our "ward family" and had another hunt and a delicious pot luck dinner.  It was a perfect day...but with maybe a little too much sugar :)