KEEPIN' UP

 Now that JP, is, well ... a big boy,

 AA is trying her hardest to keep up!  She's inherited JP's pedal-less bike and probably rides faster than she should.  AA always acts like she's not paying attention, but as soon as JP is distracted ...

those Monster Trucks are hers!  

NEW BED

It's official ...

 JP really is a big boy!

BIRTHDAY LETTER

To my dear Jackson Paul on your 3rd birthday:

Today is here!  I will never forget how happy you were this weekend ... the smile on your face when you heard us all sing "happy birthday" will forever be in my heart.  I am just so proud to be your mommy.  You continue to amaze me with your sensitive and observant personality; you are always the first to notice a new haircut, a paper cut on my hands, or a tear in Addie's eye.  You are genuine and thoughtful at your ripe age of three.   Your comments and questions keep me on my toes ... and I just so love being a kid again with you.  The world is indeed at your fingertips- thank you for teaching me to slow down and cherish the little things.

I love watching you play.  You are both brilliantly creative and structured.  Your imagination already seems to carry you to far away places; I often hear you flying your planes to San Diego, driving your cars to Target, or taking your babies to the doctor.  You strive on order and routine.  I am certain you have a photographic memory as you can recite detailed information about distant memories and places.   You will forever be Daddy's little direction man!

I love your morning bed hair and your brilliant blue eyes.  I crave your cute dimples when I'm at work.  Your white hair and sun kissed skin generates comments wherever you go.  I love riding bike with you, playing trains and cars with you, and reading you books.  I love hearing your sweet little voice sing "Jesus Loves Me" when I tuck you in.  And I love watching you sleep.

You are growing up to be such a tender-hearted and smart little boy.  May God continue to keep you safe and joyful all the days of your life.

Love, Mommy

BIRTHDAY BASH: PART III

On the eve of JP's real 3rd birthday, we set up the tent to camp in the backyard.  The kids LOVED running in and out of the tent with their sandy toes and monster trucks.

After bathtime and jammies were on (this is urban camping, right?)

we piled in the tent and watched a movie on the iPad.

JP then asked to sleep in his own bed.  I was fine with that!  Today, A and I were home all day with JP on his birthday.  We asked JP what he wanted to do on his special day ... and his response was "play, and play, and play, and play!".  And that we did.

We went to a water park and enjoyed the beautiful weather.

We went down the kid slides, stood under waterfalls, and innertubed on the "lazy river."

We packed a picnic lunch ... and had cold strawberry slushes for dessert!

And just a few more presents ...

and practice on holding up THREE fingers now!

We asked JP what he wanted for dinner ... PIZZA!

Lil' AA agreed!

And the best part of the day for JP?  His very own ice cream sundae!

BIRTHDAY BASH: PART II

When JP awoke from his nap, he found a house full of people ... all of his grandparents and Uncle J, Aunt K, and Aunt J.  The smile on his face was just the cutest thing ever.

We took a walk to the park (well, JP drove AA!) ...

and then came back home to open birthday gifts.

Over the last several months, JP kept asking for "3 monster trucks from Grandpa A" for his "happy birthday."  I'm not sure how this ever started, but Grandpa A carried through with his request.  In addition to the monster trucks, JP received many great gifts ... a new bike with training wheels, golf clubs, money, and books.  Despite all of these, he still asked me, "Mamma, when is it my happy birthday?"  I tried to explain to him that this was his birthday party ... but he still seemed puzzled. 

And then I got it.  When JP caught first sight of the amazing birthday cake Aunt K made for him, he exclaimed:  "It's my Happy Birthday!".  For JP, it wasn't about the presents ... he seemed to define his "Happy Birthday" as the moment when he sat behind his birthday cake and listened to everyone sing to him. 

Although it was JP's cake, lil' AA had the first taste!

After dinner and cake, the kids ran around the yard on a sugar high!

I've never seen JP so joyful ... his smiles and unsolicited thank you comments to everyone throughout the day truly brought tears to my eyes. What a special day!

BIRTHDAY BASH: PART I

RochesterFest lands during the weekend of JP's birthday ... my sweet little boy seems to think that the entire city is helping him celebrate his birthday!  Grandpa A and Grandma K came down on Friday to attend the Big Parade with us.  Although we arrived just in time for the start, my kids wiggled their way through the crowd and scored a pretty sweet curb spot.  

The old fashioned cars and candy seemed to be JP's favorite; the marching bands with the flag girls were AA's (she needed to be pulled back constantly!).

Each year we've been able to stay at the parade longer and longer ... this year it was over an hour! 

On Saturday morning we went on a tour of a Dairy Farm as part of the Festival.  JP was thrilled to see all of the giant tractors and combines ... and AA loved looking at the horses and cows.

 (okay, Grandpa A and A had just as good of a time!)

 (and Grandma K and I tried to have fun!)

Great start to a fun birthday weekend!

REALLY?

We've been busy!  A's had back to back 4 day trips; AA had a fever of unknown origin for a couple of days; we had fun overnight guests; and there has been lots of birthday party planning!  Tasks like mowing the lawn seemed to always be pushed to the bottom of my list until tonight!  I was bound and determined to finish mowing before I started dinner.  The kids were playing so nicely in the sandbox ... and with a locked fenced in backyard, I figured I was golden.  I sprinted around and around the backyard, keeping my eye on them nearly every second.  I couldn't hear what they were saying over the loud puttering of the mower, but I could certainly see that they were behaving.  

I took my eyes off of them for about a minute to mow around the deck ... just enough time for JP to take off his shorts, put on his bike helmet, and do some mowing of his own.  I quickly snapped these photos with my phone ... 

and just kept mowing.  Really.

LIL' SHOPPER

While the boys (JP, A, Grandpa A, Grandpa T, Uncle M, and Uncle J) spent the afternoon mini-golfing, the girls (AA, Grandma K, Aunt J, Aunt K, and I) went shopping.   This was really one of the first times I've spent with just AA.  We had so much fun!  AA soaked up all of the attention ... and she kept us all so entertained.  We quickly learned she has expensive taste!  She clenched on to a Tiffany and Co. box for nearly an hour ... and she cried alligator tears when it was time to leave the art station at Pottery Barn Kids!  Of course, I love BOTH of my kids, but having just one to look after in public seemed so .... EASY!

FATHER'S DAY FUN

JP and AA are truly blessed to have such a wonderful daddy.  They both adore him and light up when he comes home from work.  With more patience than I'll ever be able to muster, A has a way to calm all of us down.  He always seems to be teaching JP the make and model of cars on the roads; reading books to AA; pretending he's a lion; or pulling a wagon full of squirmy kids and dodge balls to the park.  We were all excited to tell daddy how much he was loved this Father's Day.

In addition to having a great daddy, my kids are so lucky to have 3 wonderful Grandpa's.  We spent Father's Day with 2 of the 3!