5

No way.

I can't believe I missed the big happy birthday on the blog post for the little man in our family.

He turned 5 like a professional.

Like he's done it before.

He has been looking forward to being 5 since he realized that he could turn 5.

It was a big weekend for the kid & super duper busy.

But in the craziness of it all, he really just wanted to eat at his favorite mexican restaurant.

Wish granted buddy.

Because, well, it's our favorite mexican restaurant too.

Granddaddy came in town & gave lots of presents.

You had your 1st ever baseball game.

We brought a new pinterest tradition into our family involving balloon popping with money inside & your sisters treated you like a king.

And you wear royalty well.

I am crazy about you.

I cannot believe you're 5 & so tall.

I love the hilarious things that come out of your mouth.

I love that your name means "gracious" & that that is a word that I would easily use to describe who you are at your core.

I love that you try to answer really hard theological questions with, "What letter does it start with?"

For example, "Did Jesus really have to die on the cross?"

You: "oooo!  I know!  ..... what letter does it start with?"

I love that I can check on you in the middle of the night, kiss your check & in your sleep you will say, "I love you, mom"

You are a special kid & I cannot believe that I get to be your mom.

Seriously!?  I love being with you in these days.

And we're going to rock the 5 thing out.  

It's going to be awesome.

she said.

"my favorite color is not mayonnaise"

Seriously, I could write a book with all the funny things she says in it.

I get that no one would buy it.

But I certainly would keep a copy handy. 

And I bet my dad would.

And my cousin Nancy.
And maybe a few others.

There would be about 4 copies & in our minds they would be 'best sellers'

She seems too old to be just 3.
She's a tiny little thing with a mind that her little body just cannot catch up with.
And to me it's the perfect combination.

Because anything said at that high pitched voice is going to be cute.  Almost all of the time.

And I'm coming to simply expect the funny.....

and you're going to need to just expect that it will be documented.

the handsome man.

And it's not like this is the best of pictures.....but the bow tie.  Can we just take a moment & talk about how incredibly handsome that kid looks in his bow tie.  Which he loves, by the way.  He would wear it all the time - morning, noon & night - if he had his way.
And since we're on the word "handsome" - that's the word the baby uses to describe clothes when she hates them.  I'll put something on her & she'll scrunch up her face & whine, "but I look handsome....."

I know, the baby can be dramatic.  That's all that's going on in this picture.  She was fine just as soon as someone paid her the attention she was looking for.  I love her & I love her drama.  We're kindred spirits in that respect.

going to the chapel

We have been riding the roller coaster around here.  But the good kind. 

It's been really really busy.....but the kind of busy that is exciting.   

Lee's little brother got married & all the kids got to be a part of it.

They had a blast, of course.  Stood so tall walking down the aisle.  I could barely see them as we were all leaning over one another trying to catch a glimpse, but I heard that the big girl methodically & slowly dropped her petals & the baby tried to carry the big basket & just tossed fistfuls of petals wherever.  

I hear the big girl looked irritated.

Sounds about right.

And I can picture that in my mind....so I'm good.

I did get to see the boy - held that Bible with both hands & walked like a little man in that tuxedo.  When did he start showing little signs of becoming such a big big boy?!

I told them all weekend to trust us.  That they didn't have a choice in the clothes they would wear & that the sugar would be limited & they would have to take naps & that they would need to be big about it....because something BIG was coming.
A party.
A celebration that I couldn't even describe because they've never seen anything like it before.  

And they did.

They ate well, rested, behaved beautifully through the wedding......

And then the party.

All the food - they didn't really care about.
The pink sprite - it was pretty awesome.
But it was the band.
The boy, who is more reserved than the girls, walked onto the dance floor curious, but a little uncertain.  And he stood super still.
And then his legs started shaking.
And I smiled & just watched.  Tried to engage him in a dance, but he was in the middle of something & would have nothing of it.
He shook & stared at the floor for I don't know how long & then something came out of him & he just started moving!!!
Danced all night.

All of them danced all night.  Tried to copy the moves of the backup dancers & did the Soul Train dance & learned a line dance & tried to learn the worm &  it was so. much. fun.
At 11ish PM I saw the baby about to fall asleep in the arms of her newly married uncle & around 1115 I took her to get something to drink & she said, "I'm not thirsty, I'm just so tired."

We waved goodbye to my new sister & brother in law as they left in a boat & a shooting star 

made it's way across the sky.

That was about right.

The punctuation mark on the perfect evening.

And we're all still remembering the fun & trying to pick up the pieces that fell to the ground as we left town to party it up.  

And it was well worth it.