Life After the Car Seat... Big A turned 8

Big A is now officially a 8 year old. He is officially out of the booster seat in the car... a big step. As I look over the pictures from this years birthday shoot I can't believe how much he has grown-up over the last year. At the photo shoot he had his own ideas for poses (some pretty awesome). He was kind of shy around the photographer (a first) and the warmed up as we went. Listening to him talk to the photographer about his life and likes again I was so struck by how very grown-up he has gotten.... How did this happen? It makes me tear up a bit (I know weepy mom mode!) whatching the "baby boy, little guy times fade into the past. He is such a bright, funny, kind, playful, thoughtful little guy. I am so blessed to be his Mom, watching him grow!

A thank you to FotoFly photography for once again giving me outstanding birthday shots of A!

Our (Not So) Little A Turns 5!

Sometimes I just can’t get over the fact that my “baby” girl is growing up so fast. She is 5… FIVE… Half way to 10!!!  I am sure I’ll always feel like this. I mean we have so much growing up still to come, Tween, Teen… I don’t even want to think about that! Hitting 5 is hard enough!

Our little a is such a big girl now. She knows her numbers, Adds, Subtracts.. Letters, reads a bit. She LOVES Puzzles and Baseball, Swimming, and pretend Cooking. She is so smart but she loves some crazy shows “Zig and Sharko” and “Oggy and the Cockroaches” are her faves! She still loves Frozen and Zootopia. She is fearless, she’ll climb anything and her favorite ride is “Tower of Terror”!

She had a fun Birthday full or Family, Friends and Festivities! She got to Party with Chuck E. Cheese and enjoyed MULTIPLE birthday cakes! 

 

  She is a Silly, Crazy, Fierce, Funny, Playful, Zany, Sweet, Sassy, Fearless, Smart, Lovable,
Little Girl.... and now she is 5!

 

Happy Birthday!!....Chespin?

Big A recently had some minor surgery and was given a stuffed Pokemon character as a get well present from Ma and Pa. Not to leave out little a they got one for her too, a crazy little brown character with a green hat named Chespin. I thought she would not really care about it since she is not into Pokemon like her brother is. I was totally wrong. That little guy has become her favorite snuggle buddy who she sleeps with every night.

One night little a announced that "Tomorrow is Chespin's Birthday! He wants a Batman vs Superman cake and decorations and I HAVE to get him a present!" She was so excited for this and had so thought out the planning of the "party" that I decided to just go with it and have a Birthday party for Chespin! Big A asked me "Mom, are we REALLY gonna do this? It's so lame."

We went to Smiths (local Grocery Store) and found Batman vs Superman cupcakes for Chespin and some perfect presents (clearance Easter candy! 75% off!). Big A had a batman party last year so I dug out the banner and leftover plates and napkins (my decoration hoarding came into use!).  Little A wrapped the "presents" and made Chespin a sign and invited Ma and Pa (who brought Chespin a gift! (fruit snacks!).

It was a crazy fun Party and little a was so happy and she told us Chespin was "Super, SUPER Happy!". As the party was winding down Big A came over to me all sheepishly... "Mom, I think Pikichu's birthday is in a couple of days!"

Big A is Lucky 7!

Big A is now officially a 7 year old. I say this every year but seriously, how is this possible? My little boy is growing up so fast it is crazy. In just the last year the changes in him are astounding. He is such a bright, funny, kind, playful, thoughtful little guy. I am truly the lucky one, this "7" is my Boy!

A thank you to FotoFly photography for once again giving me outstanding birthday shots of A!

Big Vegas (Birthday) Fun

My Dad wanted to spend his 75^th birthday in his favorite place in the world… Vegas! I have been going to Vegas since I was six and My Dad has instilled a great love of the glitz and glamour of Vegas in me. Traveling to Vegas with my Mom and Dad is one of my very favorite things to do. It’s always a fun vacation and we have been so many times that it actually kind of feels like home away from home in a way.

We have always had such amazing times in Vegas. When I was little I loved all the lights and excitement but my favorite thing was Circus, Circus. Now that Big A is old enough to come with us he loves all the lights and excitement but I think Circus, Circus is his favorite. I love that I can share this with him. I love that he loves it too. (Secretly I love letting the kid in me out a little while I play with him, I can still kick butt on the “horse races”!

We had a fantastic Vacation. We lounged by the pool (with a Celebrity sighting! Zac Efron!), we had decadent food (Hello Serendipity! So Amazing). We can chalk up yet another amazing Las Vegas vacation.

Room Service!

"Little" a turns 4

 

 

Our little A is 4 today! The time has gone by so quickly! I still think of her as my “Baby.” She is not a baby anymore at all. Little a is growing up so fast! She is a precocious, intelligent, curious, spunky, fun loving, little ball of energy. She is such a sweet little beauty who is such a fun, athletic little tomboy.

…. And no matter how big she gets… She will still be my “Baby”.

 

Here's some shots from her "4 year-old" photo shoot at the always amazing FOTOFLY studios

 

 

Big A hits The Big 6

It’s funny how you associate different connotations with different ages. Ages one to five I associate with a little kid. Once you hit 6 however I start to think of them as a bigger kid, far from a baby, definitely not a toddler, a big kid. My Big A has hit this milestone. I can’t believe it. I guess I am trying to remain in a self-induced state of being oblivious. I mean I see how very big he is getting (He grew close to 3” last year) he is by FAR the tallest kid in his class. I help him with his homework every day and I see how much he is learning, how quickly his base of knowledge is growing. I visit with him, we have actual conversations about how he feels about things and his opinions, no longer silly childish gibberish but thoughtful, intelligent opinions. So yea, I get it, I KNOW he is growing up. He is not a baby, not even a little kid, He’s my Big Kid.

Here's some shots from his "6" photo-shoot he had at our local studio, Fotofly. Seriously they take the MOST amazing pictures and are very affordable. You should check them out HERE.

Viva Las Vegas

To Celebrate Pa Pa's Birthday me and Big A joined him and Ma in Las Vegas! We had a FANTASTIC time, lounging in the pool, enjoying amazing food, Catching a magic show, playing endless games at Circus Circus. Check out the highlights of the trip.

 

 

Winter in July...A "Frozen" Birthday

I have to say that I never thought that I would be creating snowflakes in July but when your little girl says that all she wants is a “Frozen” birthday you do what you gotta do. Little a has been telling everyone that she is having a “Frozen” birthday for weeks.

As crazy as it seems since Frozen came out last Thanksgiving it is still hard to find “Frozen” items. I have been on a total hunt, scouring Ebay, Etsy, amazon, stalking our local target for anything Frozen. I was able to find Frozen party ware… in Las Vegas, only had to travel 400 miles for that (so happy I looked while on Vacation) …lol. Other than that I created all the party items and did the cake. Little a was So happy with the results!

Birthday Poster showing Little A throughout the last year

 

She's not spoiled at all... (Said totally sarcastically)

Little A's birthday Dinner

Little A Opening her Prezzy's

Making a Wish...