May Babies

One highlight in May... (a few more to come)

 Gabe and Oliver were born exactly a week apart in May.   Gabe came on May 11th 2007, Ollie was May 4th 2009.  I love having these May babies of mine so close in age- I think two years apart is the PERFECT spacing.  Since they are little- they haven't minded "sharing" their birthday celebrations every year so far and it sure makes it easier for me rather then having 2 parties in a week!  

 I used to love planning big festive birthday parties... with a theme, all decked out... but I am getting lazy ( maybe actually smarter too:)) and this year I had to do the little boys birthday party on a tight budget.  An hour before the party started I called my sister Julie in a panic-nearly in tears about my "ghetto" party... she gave me a few last minute ideas that helped spruce it up a bit and reminded me before hanging up that my little boys did not care in the least about the decor and previously used streamers....it was more about making them feel special  and so with that in my mind we got on with the party for these little romeo's... Oliver TWO and Gabriel FOUR! 

 

We had my parents and my brother and his family over for dinner-chips and salsa, taco salad, quesadillas and taquitos-a little bit fiesta style!

Evan, who is now 12 had our first "train cake" when he turned two years old... since then all of the boys have chosen a train cake at least once... I think Gabe has asked for the train cake every year since he could talk... and Oliver is just like the others and in love with trains so he was so excited that once again we made a train cake! It is always a hit-and trains sort of became the ghetto- small scale theme for the party!(see: toy trains as table center pieces-thanks to Julie's last minute help!)

 We ate dinner, the boys played outside for a bit then the birthday boys sat front and center and opened some presents

 Once Oliver opened a Thomas the tank engine and a few of his friends... All he wanted to do was play

 Ollie and Grandpa

Gabe and his buddies... Eli, Evan and cousins Jeffrey and Ethan

"Happy Birthday!" and blowing out the candles

Oliver was so proud!

I love all the ages and stages for different reasons...some more than others... but for sure my favorite ages so far are these - Two and Four!!  For Oliver Two is full of adventure and funny things to say, adorable little "accent" with a hint of a lisp, tiny arms wrapped around my neck, spunk and sass... lots of it!  Curiosity about everything, trains, dancing, waffles, playing with slime, singing songs with actions, books, whistling (he can!) pretending spiderman and karate kicks!  He calls Gabe his "best buddy" He adores his daddy, He loves to be funny and make people laugh, he likes nursery class at church and has all of his teachers wrapped around his finger!  It only took him two days to be potty trained this fall!  He is smart- recognizes all his letters and knows each of their sounds too! (seriously!- its the cutest thing ever!) He talks a lot about our new baby and always puts his tiny hand on my tummy trying to "feel da bebe kick"  He thinks he has a baby in his tummy too and lifts up his shirt showing everyone his baby!  He brings lots of laughs and happiness to our family and everything is more fun with Oliver!

For Gabe four is full of pretending... his imagination is adorable and he loves to have play dates with friends this year!  Preschool is his favorite thing and he is in love with his Sunbeam teachers at church.  He loves to craft and is always coloring and cutting and gluing.  He writes his name and all of the other letters too. he loves to sing songs and read books,  he is tender and shy, always hesitant with new things but he warms up quickly and likes to be silly!  He has a perfect little face and people always comment on his smile... he smiles all the time!  He is terrified of most Disney movies and refuses to watch them- "the bad guys are too scary!"  He is a little fish and loves to swim when we go to the gym as a family.  He loves to make his own sandwiches for lunch, help me bake, play with Oliver and especially his big brothers!  He has learned how to play Nintendo DS and wii games this year and would play them all day, everyday... if the rules allowed! :) Gabe is very loving and is the perfect "bridge" between his older brothers and his little brother... he loves them all and lights up when they show their love for him... he is a very sweet boy and is almost all grown up-so independent!...He asks almost every night if it is family home evening night!  He loves to help with games and lessons and always wants to do things that involve our whole family! I love this year before kindergarten starts- it is my deadline year- the last one that I get to spend all day with him!  Knowing that helps me to love the little things even more!

Four and Two are definitely some of the best ages!  I love these little boys right now a whole bunch!... when they are twelve and driving me crazy with attitude and goofy boy stuff... I will have this time to look back on and remember how cute they used to be right?!  Hopefully it will remind me that deep down they are the same special, sweet boys they used to be!  ( I do have a twelve year old, you know?.. and find myself having to do just that with him A LOT!)... Ages and stages and trying to figure it all out- just one of the many challenges... and joys of being a mama right?!  

Happy Birthday to my darling May babies!!