The Party!!

Harrison happened to have preschool on his birthday, he totally loved it!  And his cute teacher made him a giant hat... which he also totally loved!  :)

He had lots of surprises from family and friends far away waiting for him.  

He had to wait all day to open them, since Dad was at work.  But it was all worth the wait!  He was very spoiled!

He wanted spaghetti and meatballs for dinner.  And he picked out his mint chocolate cake!  :)

For his friend party that weekend, he decided on a McDonald's party!  A Happy Meal and you make this kids' year!  haha. It was like a present for me too, since I had 12 4-5 year olds and I didn't have to clean or prep at all!  They had a great time!!  

He doesn't get to be the center of attention very often!  And sometimes I think he prefers it that way. But it was so much fun watching him light up and feel special for his big day!  :)  We love you buddy!  Happy Birthday!

Bubba (Harrison) is 5!!!

September 18, 2012.  Harrison was more excited about his birthday than I think I have ever seen him!  Turning 5 means "being a big kid" because he is now a whole hand! That's a pretty big deal! :) Here are 12 things about this special guy that I really want to remember!  

1 - He really is funny!!  He says things all the time that crack us up!  He mixes up words a lot, or just flat out makes a word up for whatever it is he needs a word for! He remembers and repeats lines from movies. He loves to dance and has a very unique style!  Hahaha. Or does the goofiest things with his face!  He has a great sense of humor and we love it!  

2 - He is a sweetheart!  He thinks about others a lot, and is often aware of their feelings!  He likes to make or draw things for people just because he thinks it will make them happy! And though not many things make him cry, he will cry when he thinks he has hurt someone or if he is in trouble, because he feels so bad! He is all soft and squishy on the inside! :)   

3 - He is my sweet little buddy!  My cuddler. My shadow. The one who never fails to want to curl up next to me and just hang out! He will spend hours of his day just being where I am... just because that's where I am. :) I LOVE it!  He has been that way since he was born and I hope he never outgrows it!    

4 - He is a BIG helper!  I usually don't even have to ask, he just likes to be helpful!  You would think it was Christmas morning every time I go grocery shopping, he lights up at the prospect of having to haul all the goods inside while showing me just how strong he is!  Hahaha.  He likes to help clean, help Reagan, bring me things, help cook, and on and on.  He really loves to help!  And I really love that he loves to! 

5 - He is a hoarder!  It worries me a little!  He likes to pile and stash things! Random things he finds, anywhere he can fit them.  The spot for the most prized objects is usually under his pillow.  He will all the time find something sitting on the counter or on a shelf or in my room ;) and ask me "Can I have that?".  Hahaha.  Things like chip clips, book marks, credit cards, rocks, anything Jackson keeps in his stash!  It's bad!  hahaha.  But he's always ok with the answer to his question... and at least he asks first. :) And then there's the heap of stuffed animals he has to have on his bed to make it just right for sleeping!  It's crazy and really funny at the same time!  :)

6 - He is creative!  He has a very wild and funny imagination! When you ask him what he wants for his birthday or Christmas he will actually make up things that have not yet been invented!  (Which makes him very hard to shop for!)  He will draw pictures of the most amazing creatures and places I have never heard of!  Hahaha.  He loves him some paper and masking tape!  He can color and draw and create for hours.  And he loves to pretend!  It is so much fun to watch!  

7 - He is chill!  He is the middle child.  And not just the middle child, but the child that came before the tornado also known as Reagan!  ;) So he easily gets the short end of the stick more often than not. But he is so laid back and easy, and it is such a blessing!  I don't know if he'll ever know just how much of a blessing that has been for me!  He loves to do just about anything that is offered to him.  He is ok with riding in the car for hours and going to appointments that are not for him.  He will eat just about anything.  He can play and entertain himself for hours.  I could have 15 of him!  :)

8 - He is HUGE!  He is 2.5 years younger than Jackson but he has managed to nearly catch him in size!  He is 1 size smaller in shoes and clothes.  And he is only a couple pounds lighter. He measured in the 95% for his height.  He is a whopping 46" and a whole head taller than every kid in his preschool class. :) A gentle little giant!  Hahaha.  But he also eats like a horse!  So here's to hoping he also uses his size and lands an awesome college scholarship so we can use his college money to feed him!  :) 

9 - He's a lefty!  He has gone back and forth for a couple years now, using both hands a lot for everything.  But this year with sports and throwing and then preschool and writing more, he has chosen a dominant hand! Patrick is already planning his future in baseball!  Hahaha.   

10 - He has a lot of athletic ability!  Credit to his dad!  He has great coordination, he learned to ride a 2 wheel bike last Christmas in a few minutes without ever riding anything but a scooter.  He can throw really well!  He does amazing (and scary) tricks on the trampoline. He is excited to try soccer out this year and then hopefully start baseball next year. I am excited to be his cheerleader!  :)

11 - He is tough! He can wrestle and fight and take hits and just keep coming back for more! And he usually does it with a smile on his face! :) All boy! He rarely cries unless he really is hurt... or there is blood!  Hahaha.  

12 - He is an AMAZING brother! He and Reagan have become 2 little peas in a pod!  He signs with her, plays with her, keeps her happy in the car. They crack each other up and she really misses him when he's not home! He has taken it upon himself to get to know all of her therapists and what they are doing with her. He takes his role as big brother very seriously, so he is also very aware and protective of her! He also helps protect our house from her, which is super helpful to me!  :) He loves and looks up to Jackson so much, he always has!  He is always thinking of Jackson.  We can't go to the store and leave without a treat or surprise for him. He even saves his Happy Meal fries for Jackson just so he won't feel bad that we went while he was school. :) He knows everything Jackson likes or wants. And he never misses a chance to tell him "Good job" or "You did awesome!"!  Hahaha.  He is always their biggest cheerleader!  He just loves to be involved and apart of their lives!  And I have no doubt that they know just how much he loves them both!  He never fails to show it! 

Oh little big man! We love you SO much!  And we're so very very grateful you are a part of our family!  Happy Birthday!   

Grandpa D

On July 11th, my Great Grandpa Davidson (Grandpa D) passed away at the age of 95.  (He was pretty determined to make it to 100.)  :)  He and Grandma D have always been a pretty big part of my life. (They even made it to our wedding.  How many people get to have 4 generations at their wedding?!)  We spent a LOT of weekends and holidays camping out at their house in Elsinore, Utah. I have so many great memories of that place and with them.  It was always a gathering place for our family. It's hard to see that era come to an end.  

But... I am happier for him, than I am sad for myself.  He is with Grandma again!  And I'm pretty sure there isn't anywhere else he'd rather be.  He is missed!  But he is also remembered!  2 of my kids got to know their Great-Great Grandparents... that is pretty amazing! They got to make their own memories with them.  And they both like to talk about them and going to that little house in Elsinore.... the same one I having been going to my whole life.  :)  It makes my heart swell!  I am so grateful for those memories. They were both such extraordinary people! I feel very blessed to have known them, loved them and been loved by them. 

I also felt very fortunate that I got to attend his funeral.  If we hadn't been in Utah at the time, I don't think that would have happened.  Patrick kept the kids so that I could make the all day trip. It was a beautiful day.  The overall feeling was not sadness.  He lived a very good, very full life.  But it was good to say goodbye... until we meet again.  :)

Summer Is Over... Maybe now would be a good time to blog about it?!

Goodness, I really haven't been very good about keeping up.  Truthfully, there are baskets of laundry waiting in the family room right now to be folded.  Being behind has become a new talent of mine.  ;)  I'll blame it on summer.  Everything kind of goes out the window during the summer.  There were lots of distractions!  We spent almost a month in Utah with family and friends.  We got home in time to get everything ready for school.  School started.  There was the Olympics... that pretty much consumed us for 2 weeks.  ;)  And now, we are off and running.  Back to "normal", I guess.  So there is lots to catch up... I will pace myself... don't worry!  :)