Eight years of my sassy Jet

Brijet turns 8 today.  My sweet little princess brings so much joy to my life. She has always been in love with all things pink and princess. She had art in her heart from the start. She really knows how to be bold and stand for what she believes. She is an amazing big sister, no doubt. 

We had a joint party for Jet and Chaz when she turned 1 as their birthdays are super close. She didn't mind one bit. She loved the attention and it was her first taste of cake! 

We had a joint party with Chaz for her second birthday too. We had water play and tons of friends. Brijet loved it all so much. 

For her third birthday, it was princess and art all the way. 

For her fourth birthday, Brinet helped make her own cake and laughed so much with all her friends.

For her fifth birthday, Brijet wanted a party with her sissie, whose birthday is in September. We had a July party in the park. It was so hot and humid! Brijet loved every bit! The cake was custom made by cousin Liz after careful instruction from A and B!

Brijet celebrated 5 with school friends at a local park. Aunt B made a special shirt and Brijet giggled so much with all her friends! 

Seven was toned down. We did a little special activity but no party. She loved playing with the balloons! I'm positive there was cake somewhere! 

Eight. How can my sweet little girl be 8? I know I have been in the throws of parenthood, dinners, school stuff, nursing the ill, but it still seems as if the time just flew by. Brijet will have a friend sleep over tonight to celebrate turning 8. She has plans and loves being in charge. We had cake a week early so loved ones could sing to her. She loves to be sung to! Haha 

I love you my sweet Jet! Happy birthday!! 

The Big 3 with Micah Cree

My sweet nephew is 3.

I so love remembering my sister's stories of the kind of mother she would be.  

She had all these plans but her little man came in and set a path all his own. 

This dinosaur loving little man so enjoyed his day of fun. He has so much fun with friends and family.

Micah loved climbing the tree. He told me stories of the spiders who lived in the tree. 

I loved how all these tiny little things just sat around the table so patiently while we sang to the birthday boy. 

For a little walk down memory lane, here is

Micah as a newborn. 

Micah at his 1st birthday party.

Micah at his 2nd birthday party. 

The boy does not like to sit still or have his picture taken! LOL 

It has been so fun to watch him grown and learn and to watch my sister as a mom.

Happy 14th Birthday

My sweet, kind, amazing oldest child is 14. I keep watching him in amazement. How did he grow so fast? How was I chosen to raise this old soul? How did I get so blessed to be his mama?

 

 

Chaz's 1st birthday was held at a park. We had tons of family there. He was the one and only grandchild so he was very much the center of many people's attention.

 

Chaz's 2nd birthday party was held at my mom's house. He so loved Buzz Lightyear that year. Everything he owned was Buzz!

 

Chaz's 3rd birthday was held at a park. He had some great preschool friends attend. He was into soccer that year.

 

Chaz's 4th birthday was held at my mom's house again. We made his cake and he had a blast with friends despite the swollen eye due to a stye. A friend brought his police motorcycle to show off.

 

Chaz's 5th birthday was held at my mom's house. He loved our homemade Crayola cake.

 

Chaz's 6th birthday was held at our house. He had some friends over for the fun!

 

Chaz's 7th birthday was held at our house but this year we only invited friends, no family. By then, I had Brijet and family making it out for 2 parties in one month was too much. He had a blast decorating his own cupcakes with friends.

 

Chaz's 8th birthday party was held at our house as a joint party with his baby sister. We had blow up pools in the front yard and a clown. It was fun and simple.

 

Chaz's 9th birthday party was held at our house with fun friends. He seems to have that same look every year we sing to him!

 

Chaz's 10th birthday was the last year we held a party for him. He is the only 1 of my 4 kids who had a party every year for the first 10 years. I just could not keep up after having so many kids! LOL

 

Chaz's 11th birthday was spent at our cousin's Elizabeth's house. She made him a little cake and we just sang to him. Small. Focused on him. Love shared.

 

 

Chaz's 12th birthday. He was already taller than his mama!

 

Chaz's 13th birthday. He just hung out and let me snap some pics!

 

Chaz's 14th birthday.  He requested a cheesecake so I made one.

 

It has been so fun to watch him grow through the years!

 

I cannot believe I am the mom of a 14 year old!

Not Apologizing

I hear it so often throughout my conversations with fellow parents. 

I'm sorry. 

I'm sorry my kid played so long.

I'm sorry for the mess in the background of the pic.

I'm sorry he is screaming in the background. 

I'm sorry her face is messy. 

I'm sorry I have to get off the phone to deal with the kids. 

I'm sorry I'm in my sweat pants with messy hair.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. 

You know what? I'm not sorry. I'm not apologizing.

And I don't want to hear others apologize either. 

This is life. Raising our kids, loving on them, guiding them, making messes and friends.  It gets crazy and hectic and it is totally worth it!

I'm not apologizing for the mess in the background of that pic. I'm taking time to capture that smile and take note of that neat creation. 

I'm not apologizing for getting off the phone because my baby needs my attention. 

I'm not apologizing for my kids having a blast, even if it means they played all day at my house, at your house, at nana's house. One day they will be roped into this adult life with bills, chores, jobs, and headaches! 

I'm not apologizing for the messy face! The caked on marshmellow is adorable when you are 1! When else in life are you going to be able to pull that off!?

I'm not apologizing for the noise. Make some noise and soak it up, my babies. Enjoy life. 

I'm not apologizing for my appearance or the amount of pictures I take and post. It is me. This is who I am and I am choosing to embrace me, love me for me, and enjoy this amazing life I have been blessed with. 

I'm not apologizing and neither should you.