Happy Birthday Party

Hardin cracks me up.  Every time I ask him if he had a fun at his birthday party (at school and home), he ask "Happy Birthday?  Cake?"  One track mind. 

Today we had a family birthday party for Hardin.  If you ever need motivation to get your move-in gears working, schedule something at your house!  There wasn't a single item on the walls or DIY project started, much less finished, when I sent the evite 12 days ago.  I may have missed out on some valuable sleep but it looks like folks live here now.

While I slaved on the house, Mimi slaved on the cupcakes.  She's awesome like that.  She landed Friday and stayed with us all weekend, and was an enormous help all around.  Although the cup cake decorating may not have been as idyllic as it could have been, she and Hardin clocked in lots of quality time. 

Hardin was a bit shy at first, but then he had a ball running around with his cousins (first and second).  I'd say it was a second birthday success!

All the cousins!

Mimi's Elmos and silly faces.

Love his little had on me.

TWO years already? ONLY two years?

Dear Hardin,

Oh my, little lovie.  You have been with us for two years.  And with me for almost 10 months longer.  But let me tell you, you've been with us for so much more.

I don't do it often enough, but sometimes I just sit and soak you in.  Grumpy after nap.  Belly poking out after eating.  Sweaty head after a car ride.  Eyes closed on a cart ride.  Thrilled at a song.  Scared at a loud noise.  Silly laughter from a tickle.  Chasing a duck.  Throwing a rock.  Throwing a ball.  Driving a car.  Happy.  Goofy.  Smart.  Curious.  Chatty.  Funny.  Short tempered.  Intuitive.  Loud.  Sweet.  Peaceful.  Joyful.  My love.

You are the answer to so many prayers.  You are a source of joy in so many lives.  If everyone were so lucky to feel your hugs and accept your unconditional love, there would be no evil in this world.  Your soul is so sweet and strong it could solve a million problems.

We take a lot of joy in being the beneficiaries of that sweet spirit, and feel a great deal of responsibility to foster it.  Encourage it.  Help you share it. 

You are just plain magic sweet boy, and we thank God every single day that he picked us to cherish you.

We love you!  Happy TWO!  

Cousins... Again. Not a bad problem to have :)

The Sunday before last, I co-hosted an adoption celebration for my sister.  It was her-Jason's sister's idea, and a FABULOUS one at that.  Lara has hosted and attended baby shower after baby shower after baby shower all while wanting to curl up in a ball and cry for so many others, it was only appropriate we celebrate her baby. 

Although I was a bit crazy because I waited until the last minute to do anything, the party was a success.  I realize now why I always over plan and prepare.  I also realize that there just aren't enough hours in the day.*

My sister has been patiently awaiting me to download these pics to send to her, and I of course wanted to share.  For all of those who have prayed and asked, her little family is wonderful.  They are not perfect, and the past three months have certainly revealed challenges, but they are approaching everything as a family.  And that's all you can hope for, really, and they're happy. 

*I wish I could say I haven't been blogging because I've been working on the house.  Work has been particularly overwhelming, and not in a good way.  It'll pass.  

Cousins young and over the hill.

Last night was Jason's cousin Jeff's surprise 40th birthday party.  His father is Slick, Jerry's middle brother.  Gigi graciously volunteered to baby sit the trio if Cat and I would get them all fed and in jammas.  They received a glowing report and went down to bed for her with no fuss at all.  That could have gone many ways, so we were thrilled.  We were also very happy we went and visited with some McWhorters we don't see nearly enough.  

Jeff's wife had a ton of old photos displayed and I couldn't take my eyes off the one on the left.  I often think Hardin looks like Jason, but I see more similarities in this picture than I've noticed before.  I snapped one of the boys on the way out and they were ironically in the same age order. 

This morning the boys played the last day of Justin's member guest tournament, and Cat and I headed to the pumpkin patch with the kiddos.  We were there forever.  The kids did not want to leave.  If I had to say I'd think the slide was Hardin's favorite, the bunnies were Lillian's favorite and the bouncy pumpkin was Cawley's.  Lil finally caught a bunny of her own and was absollutley adorable when she screamed I GOT ONE!!!!  They all shocked us when they asked to ride the ponies.  I guarantee you Hardin wouldn't have considered it without his cousins.  He was uncomfortable for a few seconds but when I reminded him to look at Cawley and Lil he perked right up with a smile. 

This was also the first time the littles got to enjoy the slide and jumpy house without a parent.  Hardin went down that slide no less than 30 times.  He was down right proud of himself each time he made it to the top of the climb.  He's still a little cautious, and prefers to go down on his belly. 

The cousins left at nap time and as usual Hardin wondered around sadly looking for them when he woke up.  I had to really sell his birthday party to cheer him up.  I kept saying they'll be back in two weeks.  He kept saying Caw-ye be back in TWO minutes.  Those sweet kiddos sure love each other.

Hardin and I knocked out the grocery store late this afternoon.  Much to his surprise, that will be his last trip in a while if I can help it.  MY WORD he gets into everything.  There is not a strap in this city that can keep his skinny bum in a seat or little car.  Today he ate through a bag of carrots, nibbled on an apple, busted a pack of strawberries on the floor of the meat department and proceeded to grab one and stick it in his mouth.  I'm pretty sure that whatever good I do by buying him organic produce was undone by the yuck on that strawberry.  When he wasn't eating he was begging, loudly, or attempting a variety of life threatening cart escapes.  He's pretty well behaved for the most part, but something about being around all of that food makes him go nutty!

After all that excitement we are all very much looking forward to a nice quite day at home together.  Our only project is to get a thing or two on the bare walls. 

They were NOT cooperating for photographs today.

Pop's Birthday

Cathy and I are great daughter-in-laws.  So great in fact we planned a dinner at the Varsity with all the kids wearing the outfits Pop gave them on his 70th birthday today.

We were later informed it was actually his 69th birthday, but thought a Monday night dinner still sounded fun.  Jason had Columbus day off, and the market and banks were closed so Justin and I could easily sneak out of the office. 

We were there for an hour and a half and I think the trio collectively sat for 15 of those 90 minutes.  The rest of the time they were runnin mama, runnin!  Those three sure know how to have fun.  They just run and giggle and run and giggle.  Fortunately it was early so we had the place to ourselves.


We did wrangle them for a few pictures.  That sure is getting harder.  Thankfully Cat caught a couple of all of them looking at the camera!

It's as if he intentionally wanted to model those jeans!

Updates

Birthdays.  Lillian turned TWO and that means Hardin will be in a few weeks.  Hardin and I were both stuffy and congested again this year.  We concluded we are both very sensitive to ragweed and not the sweet girl's birthday. We went to Atlanta Saturday to celebrate and had a great time.  Hardin practiced singing all week and then froze up during the big moment.  He was overwhelmed with all of the commotion, but was fine once the cupcakes went around.  I worry a little about how anxious he gets in crowds and around commotion.  I plan on asking his pediatrician ways we can gently help ease his anxiety.  As much as it pains me, I know he can't be comfortable all the time.  But if there is something I can say, behavior I can change, or approach to those situations that I could take, I would love to know!

Preschool.  Along the same lines, I think preschool is really helping him.  I was amazed at the change we saw in him when he started Gymboree, and it's been the same with preschool.  The first few weeks were a little tough and I worried we started him too early.  We are on a roll now though.  Last Thursday, as soon as I got him out of the car he took off RUNNING inside.  My heart smiled.  He's finally super excited about going.  He talks your ear off telling you all about it on the way home too.  He's learning a lot about talking turns, lining up, etc.  He's also picked up a bad habit or two, but we're trying to keep a close eye and ear out for those.

 

His Orange day outfit was fitting for him, he's on top of something the second you turn your head!

Playdough.  It was our turn to bring snacks and make playdough this month.  His teachers prefer the homemade kind in case it gets eaten and evidently it doesn't dry out as quickly.  I thought it was going to be a magical evening of mommy-son arts and crafts bonding.  It was anything but.  My forearms are so sore and I had to put H to bed an hour into it.  For the record, I wasn't planning on it taking any where near an hour.  But it turned out great and I can check that off the list for the rest of the school year. 

 

Mimi.  I saved the best for last!  Mimi came home with us after Lillian's party, and we were on a mission.  As soon as we got H bathed we headed out to run a few errands and then hit up Home Depot.  We closed the place down gathering stuff to beautify our yard.  She has a serious green thumb, and graciously volunteered to point us in the right direction with our overwhelming and overgrown yard.  On top of pulling weeds, she practically hung on our steep front yard to plant a zillion mums.  We intentionally picked the ones with buds and not flowers so they would stay pretty longer.  I'll post a picture of the after once the buds bloom!  It wasn't all work and no play though, we had breakfast out, went to a birthday party, and relaxed a bit before Justin came to pick her up Sunday night.  We can't wait for her to come back next month for a more relaxing visit.