Happy 4th Jake

Happy 4th Birthday Jake! We made Jake's favorite breakfast, french toast, that morning and he blew out his first four candles. He had his mom and dad all to himself that morning because his brothers were still sleeping.

 If there is one thing Jake really likes next to swords its action figures of any kind. We had a How to Train Your Dragon party and he was thrilled. It was the first cake I have bought in 5 years, but this was also the first time my mom hasn't been there to help me out. I love making the cake with her! Lins did great however.

 This picture is right before the party I checked the mail and Grandpa and Grandma Squires bday package had arrived perfectly in time. He was so excited we couldn't wait. They were so funny to wrap it like 6 times over he kept saying, I get another present like he had just received 6 different gifts. What a crack up! Then the party began.

 Every year the packages seem to get opened faster than before now that the kids are bigger they know that there is more than just one. Before they would open one and would get confused because we would take that one away and hand them another wrapped up box just as they got to the good stuff from the one before! He got all he wanted and more and everyone was so generous! Thank you!

 Even polite enough to open the cards up!

 He did not let go of the action figures once they were all unhooked from their package. This is the transfer that took 10 min. so he could blow out his bday candles.

 Once those candles were out, no cake or ice cream for him. He had some good setting up and pretending to do with those army guys.

Four reasons of the many reasons we love you Jake:

1. No one can snuggle quite like you. Your mom just can't wait to get that kiss goodnight and snuggle during some of those few quiet afternoons.

2. The great pretender. You can conjure up the most elaborate productions with those action figures of yours. You are so easy to let others play and share the action with you as well. Your motto could be the more the merrier.

3. The way those big eyes shine at us when you are excited to tell us what happened at school that day and what you made. Or a funny story you are about to tell. They just sparkle!

4. Your giggles when you are ticklish. You love to be tickled and ask mom to tickle you all the time and I do because I can't resist that giggle.

Our spring update...

We had our first warm day at the first of January but it didn't last too long. We had to take advantage of our new snowball makers. I can't wait for the future snowball wars, these puppies will give us the edge! The boys had a great time as did I, which isn't surprising when it comes to me and the snow. 

I just couldn't resist taking a picture of these handsome little gentlemen one Sunday morning when everything was actually going smoothly. I just love Jake's funny face it kills me.

 The boys have watched Sandlot with Jeff and I and I cringe to think that I actually let that happen so early in their lives but it is one of mine and Jeff's favorite shows. Mute is usually on hand when I am there and some nice fast forwarding DVR. But the boys love the idea and what better place to set one up than in our dirt backyard. It's perfect for them and they love it, I just have to get rid of those pesky weeds one of these days. Jeff and the boys will play for hours!

 We finally had great snow to make a snowman and use our Christmas stocking gift complete with a pipe for Frosty! That is the third snowman Jax and Con made that day! They seriously rolled some big snowballs, I could hardly lift them!

 This is a regular sight at our house especially since it warmed up so much. I just love to sit on the deck on watch them all play. There is nothing more that warms my heart than to see all these cousins who love each other so much and just want to play together all the time. They each have their own little space and the freedom to go wherever in or out. This day I even let them bring some toys outside which I don't normally do and they were so good to play and even clean them up and bring them in after they were all done. I can't wait for summertime. 

 Sometimes Jake and Jadyn can get in their own little pretend world together and you can't stop their little imaginations!

 These two you can generally find in the dirt consistently especially if Jax has first reign on the shovel. My favorite part of watching Lauren is that she is usually humming something random as well as talking to herself.

 You can count on Cooper to be the best dressed for all occasions and I love it. He has all sorts to tell you and has a lot of energy. 

 This is where I found Hunter one day after 20 minutes of him whining because I wouldn't let him help me cook the bacon. So funny and he knew he was funny too. He posed for each picture!

Hunter growing up

We are finally all better after two or more weeks of one sick person after another. Even Jeff had it for three weeks. Luckily mine only lasted for two days and I was back. February always flies right by after a forever January and now its March and we are halfway through it! I just wanted to put some updates for Hunter since he doesn't even have a scrapbook! He is growing so fast and becoming himself more each day. He is finally starting to talk and will do some signs after months of coaxing. He can now audibly say: Bump (Jump), Fish, Ga' ma (Grandma), Dad and Ma, Ba (Ball), eeth (teeth), pop (popsicle) the signs for more and please and drink. He is starting to point with his finger and will tuck his head down close to his finger so you can really see what he is talking about. He jabbers to us especially the boys about whatever he is wanting to tell you. He can climb to just about anything and drags our 5 gallon buckets everywhere to stand on.  It reminds me of this stool in my Grandma Squires house that had this poem on it; "This little stool of mine, I use it all the time, to reach things I couldn't and lots of things I shouldn't."The other day we were all going down to feed the chickens and were laughing about something, we all stopped and it was quiet for a second and then Hunter started to laugh like he had just gotten the joke! He is still taking a bottle to go to bed and for naps and I am having a hard time taking it away because he goes down so easy! He wins the prize so far for the best tantrums a kid can throw in our family. He can out eat anyone at the table no joke and will eat just about anything and surprisingly doesn't like regular snack food. I personally am thankful for that. I would rather eat a piece of jerky, apple, orange and an almond than have a ritz cracker. He even ate raw cauliflower today at lunch. He is a mama's boy but is learning that sometimes if he really wants to go do something fun he has to go with someone else. For example, Kristina was taking the boys out to jump before Jake went to school and I was cleaning up lunch and I asked him if he wanted to jump with Kristina or stay inside with mom and he immediately went to Kristina. I had him trained on his dad right when he was one like his brothers except Jake kept teasing him and getting to Jeff first so now he would prefer his mommy. I'd better enjoy it while I can.