William Lewis

 Seven years ago....I was under the knife. 

 Having my 3rd c-section. 

 Awww....I remember when I found out (with ultrasound) I was having a 2nd son...I cried.  I wanted a sister for Isabella worse than a brother for Jack.  And now...I see ONCE AGAIN how much better God knew what I needed then I knew myself.  As soon as William was born I was in LOVE.  He was such a content little baby.  I remember putting him down for a nap when we got home our first week together and he would fuss just a little bit until I got to the door, and quietly put himself to sleep. WHAT??? Amazing.

 Isabella was 3, almost 4....and she sure did love being a mama.  It was like a live baby doll for her.  Isabella was eager to please, happy to help.  My transition to 3 was smooth sailing compared to when we brought #2 home.  It seemed like we were always soothing or holding someone who needed attention, two years earlier.  So I was shocked to see my days although busy, easy.....since Isabella entertained Jack while I took care of this little honey.

 Before I knew it we were building a house, living in a basement apartment and celebrating William's 1st birthday.  HOW TIME flew!

 The next year we were settled into our house, I was pregnant with #4 and William turned 2!!  During that phase he loved tractors.

 At 3 William was into monkeys!! 

 At 4 he loved the Cars movie and I did a race track "4" for him.

 Pie for 5. 

Oh my goodness....at the time William turned 6 we had moved another 3 times.  But were settled in for 4 months. (I'm sinking my roots in here...folks) William was in the middle of his kindergarten year and enjoyed full days of school. 

William Lewis, you are pure joy.  I love how you love people, love to please, and look for ways to be a help to me and others.  I love your enthusasim about life and how  you love to jam and dance.  You crack us UP!
You have a very tender heart towards Jesus, and I love your questions about God, Jesus, and heaven.  You make me think when you ask all your thoughtful questions.
You have been talking about a DSI for over a year, dreaming, making paper DSs' and pretending to play on one for the last few months.  You've worked hard and saved all your birthday money (from last year and this year), Christmas gifts of cash, and allowance....making yourself practice so much discipline to not waste it......and today it was very exciting to go with you to Target and split the cost of one with you.  I wish I would've thought to take a picture of the pride & excitement on your face inside the store.  :)  It's so fun to see you share this exciting toy with your brother and to see all your hard work of saving pay off.
I love you William~you are a gift I treasure every day.  Love, Mom

announcements

Last Sunday we celebrated some birthday's in our family at my aunt and uncles.

My aunts lunches are always divine, and we basked in the sun for the afternoon taking in the warmth and watching the kids play. One of my favorite ways to spend a Sunday afternoon.

And then last Wednesday we met my parents and sister at Mc D's to celebrate William and my niece's birthday's that are just 3 days apart.

Yes...they spoiled him. Look at all that cash! Gesh, I'm gonna be gettin' loans from him this week.

If there is one thing I "caught" from my mom growing up...is how to celebrate birthdays. One of my best memories is how she used to celebrate us, putting candles in our pancakes for breakfast...letting us pick what we wanted for supper...fun things like that.
Something I'm trying to pass along to my kids.

This was the first time we celebrated a child's birthday and sent him off to school. Isabella & Jack both have summer birthdays. So it was a busy morning~but I did some things the night before (I don't want to have to get up to early people) and we made his choice of breakfast sausage, pancakes, & strawberries. Yummy.

And just enough time for opening a gift as big as him. Wanna know what it was????

Something he learned to enjoy in Florida. :)

And if you are into Facebook...you may have seen from one of my status' that Mr. William had made an announcement last week in his class. He came home on Monday and told us, "Mom & Dad~today I made an announcement in class and invited all the kids in my class to my party." Uhhhh....William we are not having a party. Sorry pal. Nice idea. But no.

So I told him in a nice and gentle motherly way...Sorry not this year honey. You'll have to make another announcement. So the next morning was my regular time to come in to the class for my 1/2 hour volunteer time. And one of the kids in his class came up to me and asked what time the party is? Uhhh....to William's credit he had only been at school 30 min. so maybe he hadn't had an opportunity to make the announcement. So...mama stepped up to the plate to clear things up. The poor poor thing. Hid his face in my shirt and had shed a few tears. He was crushed, and a little embarrassed. But he quickly recovered and the above picture is 2 days later on his birth DAY. I took in a snack and he was in high spirits. He was dancing in his chair while his class sang Happy Birthday to him. I've never seen him so elated, or so goofy. The more the kids laughed at his excitement the more goofy he got.

That day after school Grandma Elsie picked him from school and brought him home just in time for a cookout on the patio. An impromptu party with a little family, cake and ice cream.

Enjoying some presents.

After it cooled off outside and some of the family had to leave....we came inside and William put on a dance party for Uncle Wes, Aunt Joann and their kids. Have never seen him so hyped up in front of company. He had some awesome moves and we all laughed so hard to watch him groove it. Loved it. Love that 6 year old and all the ways he makes us smile.

Now gearing up for Donovan's turning 36 tomorrow. :) :) Off to make a cheesecake....

Leave me a comment...tell me how you celebrate birthdays in your family.


quote of the day:

Suzy: (talking to William) "do you want to give mommy breakfast in her bed for mother (modders) day?
William: "no, not this year."

(Must be the whole friend party thing~resentment coming out)

another one....
Isabella: "Please, please save me some chocolate ice cream for me??"
Donovan: "Sorry you can have one bite, but the guy who works the hardest gets the rest"
Jack: "Well God worked 7 days making this Earth...so He should get it all."

35

How I spent the day a couple of weeks ago.......

the day I turned 35! :) Along with some shopping with a friend.

That night was dinner at Carrabbas....and here are kids who did almost no fighting all the way there. I had to take a picture because they were getting along so well.

My sister, her boyfriend, and daughter met us at Carrabbas.

The day after....lunch with my sister in law and nephew.

And as if I hadn't celebrated enough....we went to Olive Garden to celebrate my niece's birthday that was 2 days after mine.

Two days after my birthday I was still getting asked to go to lunch....now why didn't I take my camera along??? Thank you Rosetta for a delightful lunch!!

Then the next week after this little snow bird came back from down south~ she blessed me with lunch.

Also got tons of sweet pick me ups during the WHOLE week. My favorite magazine, cute note paper for grocery lists, yummy treats!, a book by my favorite author, bath & body works delights, an hour massage!!, ONE dozen roses, gift cards to Target (count them4!), gift card for a favorite scrap booking store of mine, gift card to a chocolate/coffee house, my favorite lip gloss X 2 , my favorite chocolate~, a facial, bath towels, & a sundae ice cream set. How do I rate?? Much better than deserved. Amazing. Thank you sweet friends for the sweet sweet love. You make turning one year older a joy.

And rather than a quote of the day...
It's give back bloggy day.

To you my sweet sweet friends.
For those who comment and those who want to but forget to. tee hee. Now here's your chance.

I made homemade grape jelly today and bread is rising for baking tomorrow. Sour dough that is. So leave a comment and I will pick a random winner to win one of each.

turning 34

My birthday this year started 4 days early...which was really sweet action! Because let's be honest...who doesn't love to celebrate their birthday? My sister Holly took me to dinner and a movie on Friday night last weekend. We saw...He's just not that into you. Uhhh...I would probably wait for that one to come out on DVD if you thought you wanted to see it. But fun fun fun to be out with Holly spoiling me left and right.

After the movie we went to Papa Vino's for a yummy supper, and then to Target to promptly spend a gift card Holly had just given me. Because why waste time when there are birthday gift cards waiting to be spent??

The next morning was Valentines morning...and this is what I got in the morning.....

Pancakes and sausage cut into the shape of hearts. How very very sweet of hubby. Sorry by the way for the bed head.



That night we went to a Valentines banquet at church.




This is just a small sample of what was to offer that night. It was so beautifully done....and we had such a fun time. I loved the speakers we had and it was a good way to get to know people at our church better.

For Donovan's gift this year we had a little after hours chocolate fondue.....after the kids went to bed that is.
I bought little mini cheesecakes, coconut cookies, marshmallows, and peanut butter crackers for dipping. And that's all for the pictures of that night. tee hee.

My birthday morning Donovan gave me the gift of sleeping in until 9 a.m. & then breakfast in bed...again. I could really get used to this kind of treatment. Birthday hugs from the 2 kids that didn't have to go to school. After I got ready for the day I went to an appointment that Donovan had made for me to get my eye brows done. Something I had been wanting to get done, but not finding the time to do. From there I went to polish off the rest of my Target gift card.....ahhh I heart Target so much!!!

From Target I met up with this lady for lunch. Her treat. Yummy....Thanks so much Rose. We never lack for conversation and what a blessing to have a friend like you!

After lunch I came home to this sweet cousin. Rosetta brought me 1/2 dozen of roses!!! They are so beautiful! She also brought me several other sweet gifts. It was nice to catch up with you friend.

Then....still later that day we took the kids to my sisters and went out to dinner at Carrabbas! Yummmy!!!

I know how very un-original of me...because we go there sooo much! But hey I just love it. I always get the same thing...chicken and pasta. But last night I lived on the wild side and got something I haven't tried yet...their Sirloin. And let me just tell you...I've never had better. We shared that meal and it was just perfect.

After dinner we went shopping for some new jeans for me for my birthday gift from my hubby. Which in itself is an act of love....waiting for me to find the right fit for jeans is no small task. Someone might have been a little bored in the dressing room...hence the picture in the dressing room.

After we got home that night...This sweet thing brought over a birthday cake for me. At 9:00!
Now that is love. Or so I thought....

Ornery!! That girl Brooke is ornery!!! Look what was hiding in the middle of the cake....A trick! When babysitting one day for her kids, her little son fell in love with this stuffed animal. So I let him have it. I guess she didn't want it, because it ended up back at my house...via my birthday cake.

One more birthday gift to share. An apron made for me by my mother in law. Isn't it sweet? I love it!!! I think it would be extra sweet to have 2 small matching ones for my girls. :) hint hint.

Wow...no wonder I am so tired today. All the love going around by so many made me exhausted. In a really great way. :) I had so many facebook birthday well wishers too. It was just so sweet to get so many wishes!!! I feel so special and loved!!! Spending the day doing all my favorite things. Loving 34 already!!

quote of the day:

Valentines morning Isabella was scratching my back for me while we were snuggled in bed.

Isabella: "Uhhhh, Mom why aren't you wearing a bra?"

Me: "No I don't wear one to bed Isabella."

Isabella: She looks at me with a puzzled look on her face. "What if daddy sees down your shirt?"

Me: "Isabella, that's o.k. when you are married."

Isabella: "What about when your not married?"

Me: "NO! It's not o.k"

Isabella: "What about 1 week before you get married?"

Me: "No."

Isabella: "What about 10 minutes before you get married?"

Me: And...."No"

And here the questions come......