Caiden turned 5 yesterday!!  We were driving home from a Whitecaps game last night and I looked at Phil and reminded him that 5 years ago, we were just meeting Caiden for the first time, and I was cuddling this incredible little life in my arms, amazed by how my heart was bursting with love for him.

We celebrated birthdays and time together with family last weekend.  My MIL's birthday was Friday, so the kids and I met up with Wendy and Kenton, to decorate Sherin's house as a surprise.  It was so much fun to get a cake all ready and hang streamers, balloons, and banners.  She was so surprised and excited when she got home that night around midnight.   

Saturday morning, Phil's family met up with us at the theater, to see Cars 2 for Caiden's birthday.  Last year, Caid chose to see Toy Story 3 for his birthday, and this year he wanted to see Cars.   We decided to make it a family event and let Ellee and Cole join us, too.  They did very well and enjoyed jumping from family members laps and chairs and eating lots of popcorn.  After the movie, we put everyone down for naps, and then got everything ready to celebrate Sherin's birthday together as a family, and I also got things ready for Caiden's party the next day.  We had pizza for dinner at the Austin's and then Joe got the boat ready so we could spend some time on the lake.  We headed back in after 8 (though it was so beautiful, I would have loved to stay out there much longer!) so we could have Sherin's cake and ice cream and then get the kiddos to bed. 

We got up and ready for church Sunday morning.  I had been in a bit of a funk/discouraged the past several days, and I really didn't even want to go to church that morning.  I tried to focus on changing my attitude and didn't even mention my attitude to Phil.  Figured that a day I didn't want to go to church was a day I really needed to learn something.  Anyway, went, got everyone situated in their classes and got seated.  Had opportunity to greet people around us and was told/asked, "You guys are expecting again, right?"  Um, nope.  "Oh yes, you are.  I thought I heard you were.  Really, you are, aren't you?"  Um, nope.  {Fight back tears, answer very politely about the current ages of my children and life, try and think positive that she was just confused about a different niece or nephew that will be joining the family soon, etc, and then turn back around and try to focus on singing songs of praise to God, while fighting back tears.}  When we started singing Laura Story's song, "Blessings", I just couldn't take it anymore and I ran out forcing the tears to wait until I got to the women's bathroom.  After I calmed myself down, I headed out, where Phil met me, and I told him I would grab Cole and was heading home and would pick them up after church.  He convinced me to just leave Cole and have some time to myself.  So I left.  It wasn't just this lady that got to me.  It was just the last straw, on top of my own insecurities and emotional battles and struggles from life.  Then when I went to pick everyone up, I heard that Cole had been very upset in the nursery, not even calming down with his Memaw, who was in the other nursery.  They tried to find us to get him, but apparently couldn't find Phil.  I felt sooo bad for my little Cole-baby!  He is usually such a happy little guy, so when he gets so upset, it just makes me so sad for him!  Needless to say, Sunday morning was NOT the best part of the weekend.

Anyway, I didn't really even plan to go there, in this post, but I guess I'm just getting it all off my chest.

So after church, we had lunch, got kids down for naps, and Phil and I finished getting things ready for Caid's party!  It was so nice to have all our immediate family together for presents, playing outside, grilling out, and cake and ice cream!  Caiden loved being with everyone, loves all his presents, and was pleased with his Lightning McQueen cake that I decided to attempt for him.  (It definitely was far from perfect, but Caiden was excited about it, and I was proud of myself for even attempting to be creative.)  We were so thankful for that time together with family, celebrating our Caiden-boy.

Yesterday, for Caiden's actual birthday, Memaw Sherin stopped by to give him hugs and a special birthday present (a box of Cars 2 cereal!) in the morning.  We played a game of Cars 2 Monopoly (that we got him for his bday) and he beat me!  We went to ToysRUs so he could use his $3 birthday coupon, and he picked out a fun Tow-Mater puzzle and got his birthday balloon (he said he didn't want his birthday crown, but then was very disappointed after we left, that he didn't get his birthday crown).  After playing a while, having lunch, and attempting to make scotcharoos (Caiden's request), the kids took naps with my mom while I ran to the store to get more corn syrup (so we could finish the recipe.)  Caiden woke up shortly after I returned from the store, so he helped me make the special scotcharoos.  Both my mom and MIL found a super cute idea in different magazines, turning rice krispie treats into popsicle looking treats, so that is what we were going to attempt to do with the scotcharoos.  Ellee woke up in time to help for a little bit, too.  They turned out pretty cute, but we didn't allow enough time for them to cool and harden enough, so they fell off the popsicle sticks when the kids were eating them.  They were yummy though, and looked super cute on the tray, and the kids had fun!  

In the evening, we met up with Phil after work and headed to the Whitecaps game for the evening.  A group from Phil's work got tickets for the game, and it happened to be on Caid's birthday.  The kids had so much fun, even with a little bit of intermittent rain.  The group from Phil's work all seemed to have fun with our kids, feeding them cotton candy, peanuts, etc, and letting them climb all over them and play with umbrellas and coupons and stuff.    Caid even made friends with a couple of ladies sitting right in front of us, who have birthdays today.  They kept talking to Caiden about being birthday buddies and their birthday jokes and laughing and teasing and having fun together.  We had hotdogs, french fries, and Cole was still begging off everyone around us for more food (totally not kidding, even the strangers in front of us) good thing he's so cute that people weren't annoyed.  Phil's coworkers kept teasing us about not feeding our obviously starving children, and glad they were there to give them something to eat.    They even announced Caiden's 5th birthday and our whole group cheered for him.  It was pretty exciting.  We left before the game was over because it was after 10 and it started to rain again, and apparently the game was suspended for rain shortly after we left so we don't who won!  I'm pretty sure I can confidentally say that Caiden had a blast and this will be a birthday week that he will remember with lots of happiness. 

We have another busy weekend ahead of us with lots more family time.  The Battle Creek air show is going on this weekend, so we will go see the Blue Angels on Saturday with my mom and the Austin family.  Sunday we will be in Muskegon with the extended family for a pool party 4th of July celebration and Monday will probably be spent pretty low key, recovering from the previous days of activities.  Happy 4th of July weekend to you!  (How is it already July?!?!) 

Monthly post...

• The rest of our time in ATL was very nice.  We enjoyed several visits with my cousin's family, got to check out the Aquarium and World of Coke during Phil's Tech-Ed closing party, went to Zoo Atlanta, and just relaxed, talked, and spent time together alone.  I missed the kids, and was very ready to see them by the day we headed back for home, but I was VERY thankful my mom was willing to keep them for us so we could get away by ourselves for a little bit.
• We got home on our 7th wedding anniversary.  Hard to believe it has been 7 years already- that makes me feel old!
• We also got home on Ellee's 3rd birthday!  How have three years gone by since they placed her in my arms and told me she was a girl, my daughter?  I love my sweet girl and though she can be very trying at times, my heart wants to explode with how much I love her.  She loves reading, writing, coloring, singing, playing with her babies, playing games, playing outside and riding her new bike, cuddling and rocking with her mama.  She loves helping me out and helping with Cole, too.  She can write her name and is learning to identify different letters and sounds.  She loves to count and, well, anything "school" related really.  She is my sweetie, little sunshine, and I am so thankful for her.  
• In just a few more weeks, my Caiden-boy will be five!  He has been sounding out words- both writing and reading them.  When we got back from ATL, he wrote a note to my cousin's girls, completely on his own, sounding out, "DYLVM?"  He was asking them, "Do you love me?" and I just thought it was so adorable that he came up with that, and was amazed that he took the initiative to sound it out and write it on his own!  I still have to decide what my plans are for him for the school year- I think I'm learning toward homeschooling, but I just am having such a hard time committing to a decision!  Caid still loves singing and was so excited to start up Pee-Wee kids choir at church for the summer.  Ellee also gets to be "in Caiden's class" and they are both having so much fun in choir on Wednesday nights. 
• Caiden and Ellee were also asked to be in Phil's cousin, Laura's, wedding in August.  They are so excited!!  Sherin and I picked out a dress for Ellee to wear and she looks like a little princess in it!!  I still need to get Caid's outfit together, but we've got time.  We can't wait to celebrate with Laura and Jonathan! 
• Cole-baby is 17 months and more amazing each day.  His vocabulary is exploding and he is saying new words (or phrases) all the time.  We are pretty much done nursing since my trip to Atlanta.  He still ocassionally climbs up on my lap and asks "please" for "milk" when he is hungry or thirsty.  He got used to a bottle while I was away, so I can usually distract him by asking him if he wants something to eat or drink and going to the kitchen with him to find something.  He drinks out of a cup just fine, but he really likes his bottle now for before nap or bed.  Cole has started sharing these HUGE, squeezy hugs with me, where he wraps his hands around the sides of my neck, and cuddles in for the best hug ever.  I love snuggling up to him and cherish these hugs from my little guy.  I finally moved him out of the infant seat since he was almost getting too tall, but he is still still rear-facing in our graco comfort sport.  We are in no hurry to turn him forward facing, and thankfully, he seems perfectly content as is.  He also loves reading, writing, anything that his big brother and sister are doing.  He is totally capable of so much and lets us know exactly what he needs and wants.
• I haven't been doing too much sewing lately, but I've made a few gifts- hooded towels, taggie blankets, paci-finders, and even taught myself how to make flower hair clips for Ellee.  I took pictures and thought about posting a tutorial since I love reading other people's tutorials on fun projects, but I just have to find the time.  (And tell myself not to worry about the fact that there are probably many other tutorials out there that would be way better than mine, and just be proud of what I've figured out on my own.)
• We are still waiting to hear what's going to happen with our house sale.  I have dealt with paperwork and emails and loops of confusion and uncertainty.  I am not sure what God is trying to teach me right now, but I sure wish I could prove to Him that I'm learning already!!!!  He is certainly giving me plenty of opportunities to try and practice patience and I am trying, but it is so difficult to just feel like I am in limbo right now, just waiting for the next steps in my life to unfold.
• Anyway, I should try to go to sleep.  We have many exciting events on the calendar over the next several days.  Sweet dreams!  

Atlanta

I am sitting in a hotel room, overlooking downtown Atlanta, enjoying the quiet and taking a few minutes to "catch up" online. Phil has a Microsoft Tech Ed conference here this week, so I came along for a little break and vacation. My mom volunteered to watch the kids, so they are keeping her busy and she is loving on them as much as she can! I do miss them, but I am enjoying my break from the responsibilities of motherhood. We go back on the 22nd, in time to celebrate Ellee's 3rd birthday, and our 7th wedding anniversary! My nephew also has a birthday this week (how is he already almost 1??), so we will have a party to celebrate all these milestones on Sunday with family.

We left home Saturday morning and landed in ATL early afternoon. We picked up our rental car and checked into our hotel. After driving around and doing a little shopping, we met up with my cousin's family for dinner at Ted's Grill and then went back to their place to visit. We haven't seen each other in about 2 1/2 years, so it was great to spend time visiting with Kara, Brandon, and their two girls- Kayleigh and Abigail!! We got back to our hotel around midnight and enjoyed sleeping in Sunday morning. I tried to convince Phil that we should check out a random church around here for the cultural experience, but we weren't sure we would get back in time to get to the Braves game. Instead we got breakfast in the hotel restaurant (an okay breakfast buffet) and then got ready to walk to the stadium, which is kitty corner from our hotel!

The Braves beat the Phillies and the weather was very nice for sitting outside for a few hours. It looked like it might storm, and we felt a few tiny drops, but thankfully, the storms held off. It was the Civil Rights game, so there were some special guests that spoke before the game started. We didn't get around to picking up sunblock before the game, so we got a little bit of sun, but thankfully we aren't too bad. After the game, we walked back to the hotel and let the traffic die down a little before we headed out to find a grocery store and a Papa John's to get some dinner. We came back to the hotel to eat and watched The Karate Kid before going to bed. The people in the room next to us were having a grand old time, laughing, clapping, talking (loudly) until midnight, so I was thankful to finally get some sleep after their party died down. Unfortunately, the knocking on their door and (loud) talking at 5:45 am this morning ruined my chance of sleeping in. Ugh, why am I such a sensitive sleeper, and why are people so inconsiderate?!?!

I dropped Phil off at his conference this morning, so I could use the car if I wanted to. Instead of heading out to explore, I am enjoying resting with my feet up and watching a little bit of tv. My cousin will get off work in a little bit, and I might spend the afternoon with her. Phil plans to walk back to the hotel (hope it's not raining!) and then drive down to meet up with us this evening. If I have time in my busy day, I will try to upload some photos to facebook.