Ezra's 5th Birthday Party

Ezra is a big five year old now! He is such a fun little guy and we love having him around. He told me a few days after his birthday, "It's fun being five!" I didn't realize that much had changed. :)

 It was Ezra's turn for his first friend birthday party. He chose a construction theme, and thanks to pinterest we came up with a few fun ideas to pull that off. He was so excited that it was his turn for a party and he asked me a hundred times that morning when his friends were going to be there. I really need to remember to have these parties in the morning instead of the afternoon to cut down on the painful wait time.

 I thought this construction zone seemed like a little boy's heaven.

 I kept chuckling to myself when the boys first got there comparing this party to Darcy's fifth birthday party. It was immediately more wild and energetic. I loved the sweetness of those little girls at Darcy's party, but this boy energy was really fun too! They each walked in and happily joined the balloon war going on in the living room.

 Cupcake construction (a.k.a eat as much frosting as you can)

 I just love this little smirk that is so Ezra. This was when everyone started singing happy birthday. He was happy about it and maybe a little bit shy about being the center of attention.

 Everyone was excited to help with the present opening. I love those two little guys in the hats. They kept escaping upstairs to find different dress up accessories every now and then.

 Then it was out to the construction site! It was a hot day and I started to worry that no one would really stay out there with the hot sun blaring straight down on them, but most of them stayed out there for a long time digging in the dirt and playing in the water tables.

 I love this shot of these cute muddy boys!

We had his party on Friday because we had a family reunion on Saturday which was his real birthday. He made sure over and over that we remembered that he wanted Krispy Kreme doughnuts for his birthday breakfast like Darcy had had the year before. So on his birthday morning we delivered and he was really happy about it!

Silverwood

 At the beginning of August we met up with some of our friends at Silverwood. Darcy and the other kids in school had completed a reading challenge during the school year that got them a free ticket, so we took advantage of going without paying for that one ticket. :) It was a fun day with friends that our kids are still talking about. Ezra even asked if we could go back the next day. I was so warn out (I blame pregnancy) I couldn't even imagine how he could think that was a good idea no matter how much fun it was.

All day the dads were trying to convince the older kids to go on the roller coasters and the kids were adamantly declining. After going on a water ride that soaked us we suggested that Darcy and Marley go on the Round-Up to dry off. We were all kind of amazed when they decided that was a good idea. Drew went with them and they loved it. They went twice. While they were riding it the second time the rest of us went over to a car ride with the little kids and the next thing we knew Drew was going on the roller coaster right by us with the two girls! He had somehow convinced them that if they could do the Round-Up they could easily handle the roller coaster. I just can't believe Darcy ever agreed to that, but I was really excited that she did. Both girls cried a little during the ride and swore they would never do it again. We have made a big deal of their bravery since though and Darcy is relaxing about it a little. We have hope that she will try it again some day. Ezra was so sad that he wasn't tall enough for the roller coasters, and we're (especially Drew) looking forward to the day he can have his turn.

 I handed my camera to Steve so I could ride this ride, but he actually ended up riding in another elephant with Parks but he still had my camera. I love this picture and I'm happy that it was documented that I was actually there for the fun. 

 We passed a little stand that had these cool hats for sale.

 The airplanes were a hit.

 Marley and Andrew battling in the bumper boats. This was right after I so generously nailed Andrew in the back of the head with a big squirt gun from the sidelines. I have regretted it ever since. :)

 Tiffany and Olivia

 Steve and Kylee battling Cody

 Ezra and Olivia

 Darcy loved the little kids train roller coaster!

 I love Ezra's face in this one.

 And Steve's in this one!

 It was a really intense ride for these guys!

 We were eating when everyone else was riding bumper boats before, but our kids wanted to try it so we went later. Darcy drove her own boat but struggled in the beginning to control it. She was just spinning in crazy circles on and on. Drew had taken off the other way, but when he passed me I pointed him in her direction and he went and helped her get it figured out just as she was about to lose it from frustration.

 Parks and Allison on the helicopter.

Baby

Baby number four is on its way! I'm due February 19th. I have decided I'm pretty sure I could never face this pregnancy business again, so if everything goes as planned this will be our last. We are so excited to meet this baby! Darcy is completely convinced it is a girl. She will either be sorely disappointed or completely thrilled when we find out what it really is in a couple weeks. She is making me completely anxious for that day.

Random Pictures Post

I had a few pictures from here and there that maybe didn't quite need a post of their own, but I wanted to post them somewhere. Here they are.

 Ezra got new motocross boots and elbow and knee pads. When they were brand new he wanted to wear them all the time. One day he put all his gear on but since his motorcycle is at Grandma's an hour away he decided to just ride his bike instead.

 Parks wanted to give the gear a try too.

 It took him a few tries to get the helmet on straight.

 Random painting moment where they were all happy and having fun together

 Not for the faint of heart...I got Parks up from his nap like this one day. A little surprising to say the least. He had just had a bloody nose (unfortunately that is a pretty common thing in our family) and then slept in it. Yikes!

 Grandma Becky has a picture just like this of Drew encroaching on an older brother's bath time. Both of our boys have followed in his footsteps. Clothes or no clothes, they can not resist that water!

 Playing in the field behind Grandma's house

 My grandma is one of my favorite people ever!

 We had some of our friends over for a little school's out for summer party. I got water balloons, but got some that had colored dye inside on accident. We ended up with some slightly stained kids, and water balloons never last as long as you hope they will.

 This was right before we got rid of that binky. It was so hard for me to get rid of it for some reason. It just made him seem more like a baby, and it made sleeping easier of course. He put his own hat on backwards and popped his binky in and was messing with the vacuum and it was just too cute.

 The boys recently found Drew's stash of hats and now I find them wearing them regularly. They were outside playing together wearing them so I had them pose for a couple pictures. I sure love those cute brothers!

 

 Funny faces at breakfast (and we rock those Christmas jammies all year long if they still fit)