Birthdays!

 We celebrated Lainey's 6th birthday a few months ago (ok, more like 5 months ago!) We had a crew of her kindergarten friends and her cousins, Julianna and Ava come for a paint and play party.  Can I just say how much we loved that we live close enough to Jules and Ava that they were able to make the drive and come celebrate with us.  It's not easy living away from Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles and other family so it's really nice to have those familiar faces just 2 1/2 hours away.  

Lainey has been blessed to have this amazing new group of little friends.  There are quite a few girls her age at our church and they have embraced her and made her feel like she's lived here forever.  I am so thankful for the way they have welcomed her.  This transition has been an easy one for her.  It was such a special day.  Happy 6th Birthday baby girl!

 My little man loves Jake and the Neverland Pirates.  He's borderline obsessed I would say : )

I hear him talking often about Captain Hook chasing him and going on treasure hunts.  So there was no option when we were deciding his birthday party theme.  Jake it is.  Problem is that Jake is fairly new and there isn't really a cake pattern of him...so I had to get a little creative, but Coop loved it.  

I love both of these pictures

so much that I couldn't choose 

between them.  They are both so "him." 

   Having a little boy is such an adventure.  I truly never know what he is going to do.  There are moments when he is the sweetest thing on the earth and I think my heart is going to burst from being so in love with him.  He says the most precious things to me.  I hear all the time, "momma, you are so beautiful" and "you are my very best friend."  Then there are moments when he is launching himself off the couch or filling up the bathroom sink with water and bubbles until it overflows, eating dirt, and hitting whatever comes in his path with a t-ball bat.  Sometimes I just stand back and watch his little mind at work.  It's an amazing thing.  He comes up with some crazy schemes.  Every day is an exciting adventure and I wouldn't have it any other way.  Happy 3rd Birthday baby boy!

A Magical Trip

Looking back on our adventure to Disney World in April only makes me want to go back.  We had such a wonderful week.  Jamie was asked to attend a conference in Orlando and a sweet family in our church offered to let him stay at their condo for the week.  We decided it was too great of an opportunity to pass up and added a few days onto the trip so we could take the kids to the most magical place on earth.  The week was filled with visiting the various Disney parks and making some fabulous memories all along the way.   

 The princesses loved to kiss Coop.  He proudly wore their lipstick on his cheek all over the park.

 This was one of my favorite memories...when you wait in line to meet each of the characters, they spend a few minutes interacting with your kids.  Aladdin and Jasmine were by far, the best experience.  Aladdin was really playful and asked Coop what his favorite game was.  Coop answered with hide and seek so he started playing it with him.  It was fun to watch how these actors bring animated characters to life right in front of you.  It seemed exactly like something Aladdin would do.  

 I love this goofy side that Lainey and Cooper have.  They can both get a spoon to balance on their nose...a talent they definitely get from their daddy : )

This was our character breakfast at Hollywood and Vine.  We got to eat with Handy Many, June from Little Einsteins, Special Agent Oso and the highlight of the trip for Cooper was Jake.  

 Story time with Belle was Lainey's favorite.  The kids volunteered to be characters in the story.  Such a cute Mrs. Potts and Chip.

Again, Cooper proudly showing off his princess kisses.  He loved every minute of that.

 Our last afternoon at Magic Kingdom, Cooper was in need of a nap so Jamie took him back to the condo while Lainey and I stayed for some girl time.  We had so much fun meeting the rest of the princesses on her list.

 This is how the kids rode most of the time we were at the parks.  A friend from church let us borrow her awesome, double jogging stroller.  We were so thankful for it because it was a ton of walking...so thankful for my friends with all the Disney World advice.  I wouldn't have known how tiring it is.  Lainey needed the stroller every bit as much as Coop.  Jamie and I wished a few times that there was one in our size : )