Happy 9th Birthday Eli

My Dear First Born,


You are becoming such a handsome responsible young man. I realized this year was your last year in the single digits and it was bittersweet. I wish time would slow down so we could enjoy this boyhood stage with you more. Then moments I wish it would speed up so we could get your siblings to the same age you are. I have had some favorite ages, but I think right now where you are I would keep forever. You haven't hit the teenage stage yet and you are independent enough to make it easy, but still dependent enough that you need me at times. 

You are such a wonderful big brother. You love all of your siblings so much. We are lucky to have you to love them. I am glad the girls get to experience a big brother especially one that loves them so much. You love teaching and helping them. It is so fun to see you show the little girls new things and the correct way to do something. I laugh because you teach them the way mom and dad have taught you things.

Some days your know it all attitude can make me crazy, but many times it comes in handy. You don't just learn one fact about something you learn it all. You are thorough and study your interests with so much enthusiasm it makes me smile even when you talk non stop about them.

You love to tease and antagonize everybody. Some days it drives me crazy, but I know I will look back laughing at all the times you purposely tried to scare me, teased me about something for days,  or told your silly jokes. You love to get a reaction even when it may be inappropriate, but we love you regardless.

I love that you want to take me on dates all the time. It makes me smile you even insist on bringing your wallet or paying. You also always want to buy me flowers. You are such a sweet boy and I hope that you remember these things when you are married. 

I love that you are determined, helpful, and faithful. If I ever wanted somebody in my corner of a fight I would choose you. You fight for justice and fairness. You love fiercely and are extremely loyal even when somebody may hurt you.

I am so proud of the young man you are becoming. You made me a mom and for that I know you will always be so special to me. I love you my Dear Firstborn. Happy 9th Birthday!

Love,
Mom

Birthday Interviews

9 years old

1. What is your favorite color?  red
2. What is your favorite toy? Legos

3. What is your favorite fruit? pears
4. What is your favorite tv show? Star Wars Clone Wars
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Pizza
6. What is your favorite outfit?  Star Wars Shirt
7. What is your favorite game? Monopoly
8. What is your favorite snack? Ice Cream (I only get it sometimes-Eli)
9. What is your favorite animal? Elephants 
10. What is your favorite song?  Imperial March
11. What is your favorite book? Box Car Children
12. Who is your best friend? Holden
13. What is your favorite cereal? Chex 
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play Light Sabers
15. What is your favorite drink? Lemonade
16. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Magazines to Read
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Pancakes/Bacon
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Pancakes with Sausauge
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? Police Officer

8 years old

1. What is your favorite color?  red
2. What is your favorite toy? Legos

3. What is your favorite fruit? pears
4. What is your favorite tv show? Angry Birds
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Corndogs
6. What is your favorite outfit?  Star Wars Shirt made by mom
7. What is your favorite game? Minecraft
8. What is your favorite snack? Fruitsnacks
9. What is your favorite animal? Elephants 
10. What is your favorite song?  Star Wars Music

11. What is your favorite book? Box Car Children
12. Who is your best friend? Holden
13. What is your favorite cereal? Cheerios
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play with Arrow
15. What is your favorite drink? Grape Juice
16. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Blue Blanket
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Oatmeal
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Bob Evans
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? "I don't know."

7 years old

1. What is your favorite color?  blue
2. What is your favorite toy? Legos

3. What is your favorite fruit? pears
4. What is your favorite tv show? Star Wars
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Peanut Butter Jelly Tacos
6. What is your favorite outfit?  Star Wars Shirt
7. What is your favorite game? Lego Star Wars
8. What is your favorite snack? Yogurt
9. What is your favorite animal? Elephants 
10. What is your favorite song?  Star Wars Music
11. What is your favorite book? Brickbeard Lego Book
12. Who is your best friend? Holden
13. What is your favorite cereal? Cinnamon Chex
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play Star Wars with his Stick
15. What is your favorite drink? Root Beer
16. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Blue Blanket
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Cereal
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Pizza
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? Police Officer

6 Years Old

1. What is your favorite color?  blue
2. What is your favorite toy? Legos

3. What is your favorite fruit? pears
4. What is your favorite tv show? Curious Crew 
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Corn Dogs
6. What is your favorite outfit?  Doesn't have one
7. What is your favorite game? Mario
8. What is your favorite snack? Ritz
9. What is your favorite animal? Elephants and Tigers
10. What is your favorite song? Veggie Tales Theme Song
11. What is your favorite book? Brickbeard Lego Book
12. Who is your best friend? Hayden
13. What is your favorite cereal? Oatmeal
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play at the Park
15. What is your favorite drink? Apple Juice
16. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Blue Blanket, Dinosaur, Dog
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Pancakes
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Chili's
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? Construction Worker that digs gold

5 Years Old

1. What is your favorite color?  blue
2. What is your favorite toy? play-doh

3. What is your favorite fruit? blueberries & grapes
4. What is your favorite tv show? Sid the Science Kid 
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Peanut and Jelly Sandwhich
6. What is your favorite outfit? Robot Shirt and Jeans
7. What is your favorite game? Hungry Hungry Hippos
8. What is your favorite snack? yogurt
9. What is your favorite animal? Elephant &Dinosaurs
10. What is your favorite song? Veggie Tales Theme Song
11. What is your favorite book? Dinosaur Book 
12. Who is your best friend? Hayden
13. What is your favorite cereal? Cinnamon Chex
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Sandbox and Play in the Snow
15. What is your favorite drink? Almond Milk
16. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Blue Blanket, Dinosaur, Dog
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Homemade Gluten Free Blueberry Pancakes
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Pizza
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? Construction Worker

4 Years Old

1. What is your favorite color?  blue
2. What is your favorite toy? firetruck

3. What is your favorite fruit? grapes
4. What is your favorite tv show? Little Einsteins 
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Peanut and Jelly Sandwhich
6. What is your favorite outfit? Spiderman
7. What is your favorite game? Marbles
8. What is your favorite snack? Watermelon
9. What is your favorite animal? Elephant
10. What is your favorite song? Veggie Tales Theme Song
11. What is your favorite book? Train
12. Who is your best friend? Colin
13. What is your favorite cereal? Raisin Bran
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Sandbox
15. What is your favorite drink? lemonade
16. What is your favorite holiday? Halloween
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Blue Blanket
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Pancakes
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Pancakes
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? A Dog

Three Years Old

1. What is your favorite color?  Red 

2. What is your favorite toy? Smart Cycle

3. What is your favorite fruit? apples

4. What is your favorite tv show? Mickey Mouse 

5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Peanut and Jelly Sandwhich

6. What is your favorite outfit? Dinousaur Pajamas

7. What is your favorite game? Farm Bingo

8. What is your favorite snack? Applesauce

9. What is your favorite animal? Pig

10. What is your favorite song? Jesus Loves Me

11. What is your favorite book? George and The Dump Truck

12. Who is your best friend? Hayden

13. What is your favorite cereal? Raisin Bran

14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Tractor 

15. What is your favorite drink? milk

16. What is your favorite holiday? His Birthday

17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Blue Blanket

18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Oatmeal

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Pancakes

20. What do you want to be when you grow up? A conductor

Happy 2nd Birthday Annalise and Daphne

To my Dear Sweet Crazy Girls,


Somehow we survived this year. I thought being babies was hard, but I have decided twin toddlers is harder. You two keep me on my toes and there is never a dull moment. Watching you interact together has been the best part of it all. You are complete opposites in so many ways and I love watching your different personalities shine! Then when you combine those personalities you are the masters of disaster. Nothing is safe in this house these days. You both love to be outside. You love to run. You love life and you are the best additions to our family we could ask for even if many days it crazy with you two.

The "nicest" photo of you guys mom wasn't ready. My camera settings were off and of course it looks terrible, but I still love it! 

Dear Annalise,

Your determined attitude is going to serve you well in life. You may be stubborn, but we can't but help laugh sometimes at your pure attitude. 

Most days I think you could win an award for theatrics. I love your crazy attitude even if some days it makes me wonder how I will ever manage it.

I love that you love to read books and can play for a toy for an hour content to just sit and enjoy it. You take time to enjoy things. You also love to sleep. If I can count on anybody to sleep in, it is you. My favorite is that you love to sit and snuggle for a long time. You would sit in my lap all day if I let you.

Happy 2nd Birthday Missy Moo you bring so much joy to my heart.

Love,

Mom

Dear Daphne, 

My spunky little red head. Nothing stops you. You love to try everything and do everything on your own. Some days this is very difficult. We have nicknamed you crash or stitches thanks to being determined and insisting on trying everything. You seem to be hurt a lot.

You are busy and spunky all in the same breath. You love to make everybody laugh and are always being a clown like Ari. Your facial expressions and body language can make anybody laugh even when you are in trouble. 

You love your Mr. Bear. Many times if you are upset Mr. Bear makes you happy. I love that you love to dance and sing. Many times if any music is playing you area dancing. 

You are such a happy sweet girl. Happy 2nd Birthday Daphne Doo. I never knew how much I needed a red head blue eyed little girl in my life until I had you. You make my days so worth it.

Love,

Mom