This How We Celebrate 5!!

5's a big deal around here! (just in case you couldn't tell by the trip to Disneyland!)  It feels like it's the jumping point into boyhood.  He's no longer a toddler, not a pre-schooler, not a little boy - He's a boy! (and boy-oh-boy is he all boy!)  I'm so proud (and humbled by) of this sweet, shy, goofy, precious blessing from God, I'm bursting at the seams.  What a gift he his.  I'm amazed that God entrusted this sweet life into my hands.  His life is one to celebrate, so we did it up big!

After the Disneyland trip, we celebrated his birthday on Mother's Day with all the family.

Here he is with Auntie and the awesome superhero cake she made:

I missed the blow out the candle picture, so here he is being silly and trying to "fake it" for me:

Here's the bday boy posing with his two favorite guys!

Opening presents with the help of his favorite cousin! (these 2 love each other!!)

Enjoying his strawberry birthday cake, his choice, don't know where that idea came from!

He got to celebrate his actual birth-day at pre-school with all of his little friends.  He loved getting to wear the birthday crown!

Getting sung to.  He's so funny, he's so shy, yet you could see him beaming at the attention.

I "made" ice cream cups with super hero suckers popping out the top.  He wanted ice cream to take to school and I was more than happy not to bake!

Then, later that afternoon, we had three friends over to celebrate with a few games and more ice cream.
Here's our superhero tower that was knocked down (in the backyard) by the marshmallow shooters below. (thank you pinterest!)

Another pinterest find, water balloon pinatas!  These guys were harder to pop then we thought they would be!

 The birthday guests!

 The "cake" is a box of vanilla ice cream with re-used decorations from the cake my sister made and it's surrounded by all of Thomas' favorite ice cream toppings.

Uh-oh!!!  Here's Thomas with two of his friends from church (they are also in mom's group with him and our weekly home group).  If you ask him if he has a girlfriend, he will shyly answer that it's the sweet one on the right!! (just had to note that for the future!)

And here's his best buddy!  These two crack me up!  They have so much fun running around together.  Can't wait to see them grow up together.

Oh my sweet Thomas, what a love you are!!  I praise Jesus for you everyday!!

Andrew is Here

Just 2 short days ago, my baby sister gave birth to her second son!  I was able to be there for the birth and it was just simply amazing.  I have so much to go on and on about, but for now... some pictures, since I know that's what you all really want!!

Look at these two, sleeping!!!  Audra kept saying I was way more excited for what was going to happen then the rest of them.  Yep!  I was, cuz I didn't have to do the hard work.

Here he is, all squishy and new!!

Weighing in at 7lbs, 21 inches--- big boy for being 5 weeks "early"

and a very healthy set of lungs

I loved the tongue!  He did this several times.

The sweet boys!  We need another shot with Ethan in it as well.  I got a little excited and wanted one with my boys and the baby... Then when Ethan got there, it was too exciting!  He was a sweet big brother.  In the meantime though, check out my mom with her girls and her grandsons!

I'll be back with more real soon!!

Papa's Birthday

My poor dad, his birthday is right around Christmas and all too often it gets skipped over.  This year, half the family had the flu, so the big steak dinner, kid free at Ruth's got canceled.  We waited until after Christmas, but before the New Year and all gathered at Bucca's!!  Yummy and Fun!!

He we are!!

Papa's how old?!

Can't miss out on the singing!!

Yummy Stuff!!! Go for it, Dad!

He decided to share it with us : )

After:

(don't worry, he shared!!)

Christmas Day

What a joy to celebrate Christmas Joy, Christmas Day, Christ's Birth on a Sunday!!  Sure, it made things a little more scrunched, the morning a little rushed, but to be in church and sing of His glories on a day to celebrate His the coming.  The coming that meant our salvation!!  Glory!!  I feel like I should, like I could end this post right there... but alas, the pictures!!  Hopefully, He was honored in our celebration.

Sweet Thomas!

4 and a half years old

snuggling his spiderman he received from Grammy Berry

With his superhero shirt

The boys checking out their Christmas goodies

 and Thomas already hard at work in his notebook.

Sweet Benjamin

at 17months

also, holding Thomas' spiderman

At Church, all dressed up for Christmas Sunday

Took the opportunity to snap a picture with a good friend

My family, 

my beautiful boys and my wonderful husband,

what more could a girl want!!

We enjoyed an amazing dinner, mostly prepared by my in-laws.

BBQ'd lamb, mashed and scalloped potatoes, lots of veggies and delish rolls!

Lots of time after for playing games, football, naps and talks over coffee

Christmas Eve at Home

This year I had the joy and the priviledge of hosting Christmas Eve at our home.  We traveled to Roseville for Thanksgiving, so I announced that they could all (my sister's family and my parents) travel for Christmas. They went for it!!  So the party began Friday when my sister and crew arrived to begin the preparations.  Mom and Dad were arriving on Saturday at 11 and we had a lot to do before they got here.  Groceries to buy, a house to clean and presents to wrap!!  Audra in all her preggo-ness was a huge help, as always, I couldn't have done it all without her!

Friday, I finished the cleaning, ran some errands and Audra and I wrapped the gifts.  Then we my family headed over to my in-laws for Christmas presents with them!!  It was a beautiful dinner and hope to have pictures from that soon!!

Saturday morning we woke up, made the coffee and got right to work.  Our first trip (with all 7 of us) was off to the Chinese Market for some fresh fish and crabs.  I should have had the camera there!  Live crabs, lobsters, fish.... the boys loved it!  We picked our 4 crabs and some other shellfish and headed back home.  The crabs made it to their final vacation destination... the bathtub  (yes, i scrubbed it first!!)  Where they were able to be observed and fight with their little crab friends (they were super feisty!)

 Benjamin was not a fan of all the fighting and excitement!!

 Thomas was all too ready to be they one in charge of watching them and had all sorts of stories ready for Grammy and Papa when they arrived!!

Well, as a pleasant surprise, Papa's Sleigh full of presents arrived right on time!  Presents were unloaded, snacks eating and the opening began.

 The Byers' Family

Ross & Audra (30or so weeks preg.)

Ethan, 16months

 Strike-A-Pose shot

created by Ethan

 My very own Matlock Men

Jared, Thomas 4 1/2 & Benjamin 17months

Here's Benjamin with his favorite gift, a mop and broom.  

Seriously, he was so excited and didn't want to put them down! 

 Asking Papa for some help!

Ethan got his very own wagon!!  

He was thrilled with the wagon, not too sure about all the excitement 

 Surprise, surprise, the box was just as exciting!

The boys all got matching jammies - which Thomas thought was the coolest!!

They looked so cute and we thought it would make a precious memory to get a picture of them in the wagon.  Who would have thought it'd be so hard to get half-napped, well snacked, over stimulated kiddos to take a cute picture... oh well.  maybe next year!  Still a good memory!

After presents, we ate dinner, cleaned up, at dessert and then headed off to Christmas Eve service.  It was a great day.  A true celebration.  Left me so thankful for the wonderful family I've been given and so thankful that we can be under the same roof together and all get along!

Merry Christmas!!