Enjoying the Sun

Happy Birthday!

Little J enjoyed a small birthday party yesterday with his siblings, mom, dad and Grandpa and Grandma.  Today we head up north to celebrate with Grammie and cousin Fell's!

The children each found "treasures" around the home

and wrapped them up for Little J.  Little J didn't know

what to do with the gifts, so he handed them 

back to his siblings and they got to open them.

However, once opened he was excited about his new treasure.

He is holding a toothbrush that Purple Girl gave him - 

he loved swinging it around
(FYI - that was a new brush - not used!)

Grandpa and Grandma got Little J a new chair.

Most of the day Little J just walked around

our home carrying this ball, throwing it and chasing it after it

and walking around with it some more.

He LOVES balls.

Then it was cake time. 

He was all smiles and BIG eyed while we 

sang to him.

Then we all waited to see what he would do with the cake.

He just stared, smiled and wondered.

But once daddy gave him a little tasted,

he was all about it.

Happy, Happy Birthday Little Guy!

You are so very loved!

Happy First Birthday

Our Little J is one year old!  For his birthday, each of the family members share below a little bit about Little J and why they love him so much.

From Daddy: Little J has a fun personality that is both joyful and determined. God has brought to us a special boy who will further liven our family with his unique qualities.  It will be fun to see God develop him as he gets older.  

From Mommy:  Little J is such a special little boy (as are all of our children).  To re quote daddy, Little J certainly is VERY joyful and also very determined. He is extremely ticklish and has the sweetest little giggle.  He is very vocal - not with words, but with grunts, roars and screams of joy. His favorites right now are: Socks, Balls (or anything he can throw), and following Busy Bee around wherever she goes.  He also is a Daddy boy and loves all his siblings.  He certainly is such a blessing to our family!

From Big J:  My little brother is so much fun to play with.  He likes to bonk me on the head with his toy bat; when he does I laugh and he screams for joy.  He is funny.  Someday in the future I can't wait to go out to restaurants with him and his wife and my wife.  I love him so much.

From Purple Girl: I love holding my little brother's hand and walking with him.  I love to tickle him.  My brother likes to play with me and he likes to scream.  When he gets bigger I can't wait to go outside and swing with him.  I love him so much.

From Busy Bee: Little brother likes to play with owls and everything.  He likes to catch butterflies and everything.  He likes to catch giraffes - big giraffes.  He likes to play with dominoes and spiders. He likes to drink milk and milk and water and water.  He likes to play with socks.  He likes to play and scream and when I clap my hands he screams.  He screams and roars.  He likes to bounce the ball.  He likes to play with elephants and with balloons. He likes to play with my baby dolls and my lamb (he LOVES to follow Busy Bee around and play with everything she has)

**Ok, I had to cut Busy Bee off.  She is quite the story teller and if you can't tell, some of what she said is true and some come from her imagination.

He loves to giggle and laugh:

He loves to throw:

And he is always on the move.

His birthday theme this year is:

Everything that MOVES praise the Lord!

His birthday verse is:

Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves in them. Psalm 69:33

Mr. Thrower

Our Little J loves to THROW everything!  I know most children enjoy this activity, but he seems to find more joy in it than our past three children ever did.  Some of the time this is not a good thing and something we need to work on with him.  However, when he found the rock pile in our yard and enjoyed tossing rocks for over 30 minutes the other day - I found it to be a blessing.  Why?  Because it kept him in one spot and happy - which left me (mom) not chasing him all over the yard.

First Bike Ride of the season

The weather allowed us to go on our first family bike ride of the season.  It was a little windy, but we made it four miles together.  Little J did a wonderful job riding along.  The girls ride on the back of mom and dad and Big J rides his own bike.

In my attempt to try one more picture with Little J

looking at the camera, Purple Girl took the 

opportunity to show off one of her silly faces.

Just Like Daddy

The other morning the men in our home were heading to church early to help set up.  I couldn't help but snap a quick photo as BIG J was so proud of himself to be just like his daddy this morning - all dressed up, carrying his bag with his Bible and Pen and ready to go.

Our children are so blessed to have a such

an amazing daddy to look up to!

Special outing with Grandpa and Grandma

Big J also got to go on a special outing with his Grandpa and Grandma.  

Our children are so loved and are so blessed to have so many people who care about them.

He had a fun day visiting the museum downtown, going out to 

lunch and I believe he got to have ice cream this day as well.