6 Years Old!

Last week we celebrated with Forrest as he turned six.  Wow! 

Forrest has grown so much the past year.  Right now I'm struggling with what to say about our smart, thoughtful, goofy, stubborn, not-so-little-anymore boy!  We love so much about him!  We love that he knows nearly every country name, location, and flag in this world.  We love that he can give us accurate directions to nearly any spot in Peoria.  Yes, Forrest's visual-spatial skills and organization are amazing and astound us often.  He's also turned into quite the reader over the past several months.  His passion right now is Berenstain Bears books.  He loves them!  Yes, Forrest's mind makes us so proud. 

We're also so proud of the kind and compassionate boy he is.  He is so sweet to Jonathan, trying to teach him new skills and cheering him on as he learns.  He often translates for Charlotte if I'm not understanding her.  He thinks about his friends and enjoys his time with them.  He still gives me a big hug before bed and usually wants me to lay by him for a few minutes.  Then it's bittersweet to remember little toddler Forrest and little baby Forrest. 

Yes, my Forrest is growing so quickly, beginning his Kindergarten year in his Montessori classroom.  We're so excited for all he will do during the upcoming year. 

Party with friends at Glen Oak Park.  His cake had a Robin Hood decoration on top.  It has been his favorite movie for a long time now!

Five Years Old!

The past couple of days have been spent celebrating Forrest's fifth birthday.  Yes, my first little baby is growing all the time!

In past years, we have always had family parties, which have been great (especially since Mom has done most of the work for them!).  Since beginning school, Forrest has attended a few friend parties, so I gave him the option of having one of his own.  Yes, I really was thinking he would still choose a family party.  Nope.  So, Saturday morning we hosted about eight friends for a donut-themed gathering, including donuts to eat and a donut pinata.  Side note, if $40 seems like too much to pay for a pinata, it's not.  Just go ahead and buy it because paper mache and hours spent decorating one of these things is no joke!  While the party was a little willy-nilly for me, the kids did seem to have fun.  

Yesterday, Mom and Dad made the drive down to deliver some gifts and spend time.  They're always welcome guests.  Then today, Joshua and Forrest drove south of St. Louis for the much-anticipated birthday eclipse.  They had great weather and a fun time.  I'm waiting for them to return home now; traffic back north following the event seems to be rough.

Yes, we have certainly celebrated our favorite five-year-old!  We love you Forrest!

Four Years and Eight Months

Yesterday was a big day for our family.  Forrest Edward turned four years old!  Doesn't that sound like a big step?  It felt like a big step.  As is the tradition, we had a family party at Poppy and Gigi's.  Four year olds like traditions it seems.  A party in Peoria would not do.  The theme this year was letters, numbers, and snakes.  Oh, this little boy is passionate about his interests!

While Forrest turned four, Charlotte turned eight months.  She's a growing girl!  During the past weeks, she has learned to scoot around (not crawling, but getting where she wants!), has started eating so many things (muffins, yogurt, and ice cream are favorites), enjoys screaming for pleasure, and wants to do whatever Forrest is doing (if only Forrest wanted the company).  

What a happy family we are.  We love our children and look forward to seeing them grow and learn!

Happy Birthday Forrest!

We've been celebrating Forrest's third birthday since last weekend, and what a fun time it's been!  Between a party in Monticello and Orion and a celebration at home, this little boy knows what a birthday is about.

So much growing and learning this past year!  Right now, Forrest still loves all kitchen gadgets.  (I keep waiting for this to pass...)  One of his favorite activities is going to Goodwill to shop with Gigi; he always comes home with a new appliance.  Between our house and Poppy and Gigi's, Forrest has five coffee makers, five ice cream makers, two blenders, two food processors, two mini choppers, four stand mixers, and I could go on.  It really is funny.  For his birthday, Grandpa Butch and Grandma Janet passed along a vintage play kitchen, which Forrest is very excited about.  He also still enjoys puzzles, Legos, and reading books.  Pinwheels are another fascination the past few months.  We enjoy going on walks with his balance bike and finding pinwheels in people's yards.  Our own collection of pinwheels has grown to five.  They are fun to look at...

Forrest is an intelligent and curious little boy who wants to know how things work.  He has many ideas that he enjoys sharing and is quite the conversationalist for those of us who understand him!  (We're planning to pursue a speech evaluation this fall through the school district.)  He is loving and enjoys snuggling up to read a book or watch a Youtube video on appliance use or repair.  I can't believe three years have passed, and Forrest's growing independence and sense of his own identity is such a source of pride and joy.  

We love you, Forrest!  Happy birthday!

Birthday Wrap Up

Just a few more photos to remember Forrest's second birthday.  We had a family party at the Dairy Queen here in Monticello and then another party in Orion last weekend.  Oh, what a treasured little boy!

Today Joshua and Mark are celebrating the one year birthday of their nerd store.  It's been a busy year for them!  I'm happy to say that the store is doing well, and they're looking forward to an even bigger year two.  Happy birthday Titan Games!

Two Years Old!

We're celebrating Forrest's second birthday this week.  As is the tradition in my family, we're spreading out the fun to last all week (and more!).  What can I say about my little Foo-ha (his self-given nickname)?  What joy he brings to our world!

At two, Forrest still enjoys every kitchen gadget with a cord, with his true-love being the Kitchenaid mixer.  Every day when Daddy comes home from work, he asks if we can make cookies.  This favorite activity inspires Forrest to use three and even four-word phrases!  Even when not making cookies, he often can be found toting around the mixing bowl, cover, paddle, whisk, and dough hook.  He is an expert at all things related to the mixer.

Another passion of Forrest's is tools.  He loves them all and is my best helper.  Seriously, he knows how to use the Kreg Jig (love that thing!).  Forrest is skilled at using all screwdrivers, and careful attention is needed to make sure he's not dismantling anything important (like door hinges).

Forrest loves spending time with his favorite people.  Rough-housing with Daddy is still a favorite, along with playing hiding games.  We Facetime with Gigi each morning, and often Poppy joins in, too.  Forrest loves spending time with Poppy and Gigi and knows he is their favorite.  We also are blessed to be able to visit Forrest's grandparents and great grandparents here in Monticello regularly.  He helps himself to both grandma's mixers anytime we stop by.

Forrest's favorite place to visit right now is Dairy Queen.  This little boy loves ice cream!  He asks for it by name, and it's the only thing he's reluctant to share.  The ladies who work there know us and are quite charmed by him (yes, we go there too often!).

Speaking of charming, this little boy is adorable.  He has a smile that I can't resist and a personality to match.   He is able to focus on tasks of interest for long periods of time and amazes me with his memory.  He can be stubborn but always has a purpose.  We're just beginning to see him pushing limits and testing boundaries.  I don't mind a bit (usually); it's a joy to see his brain grow and work.  Our days together are a blessing.  How lucky we are to have spent two years with our little boy!

How Could I Forget?

I forgot one of the best parts of Joshua's birthday!  I finally managed to get him something fun that he didn't tell me to get him!

24 different bottles of root beer!  He's been having a lot of fun tasting one daily and deciding if any are worthy of the man cave tap someday in the future.

Happy Birthday!

Joshua's 30th birthday (30, I know!) was last week.  We celebrated with some friends on Saturday in the only way we know how - with lots of pizza.  Yes, indeed, we had Papa Del's, Filippo's, and Pizza Hut bread sticks.  The evening was topped off with a Dairy Queen cake.  We're predictable at this house, but we know what we like.

Happy birthday, Joshua.  I hope this next year is the best yet!

Fun Week!

As I've mentioned before, birthdays in our family last for an entire week. Mom and Dad got my week started with a beautiful flower arrangement on Monday. Mom usually thinks of this, but for some reason I was completely surprised. Fun!

Wednesday was my actual birthday, so after work Mom, Dad, Shaun, Bill, Joshua, and I went to Mexican. What can I say, queso fundido is a guaranteed way to make sure I have a happy birthday. There also were some delightful gifts: Old Maid cards and an adorable birdie platter from Shaun (hoping this can find a spot on a wall wherever we live next), Gushers and car decals from Bill (I LOVE GUSHERS), a very pretty summer shirt from Dad and Mom (not sure how that was left out of the picture, sorry! I will have to model it another day.), and Downton Abbey and cherry lime gum from Joshua. (Downton Abbey is a British soap opera set during World War I that I'm into right now.) I have such thoughtful family members.I'm hoping to find my final birthday gift today. Shaun and Bill are coming to pick me up to go to Good's Furniture in Kewanee. Bill is looking for a couch, and I'm looking for the canopy bed of my dreams. Ever since I saw one in the JC Penney's catalog around 1993, I've wanted one. Well, I'm looking today, and hoping to find the perfect one to be delivered after we move. Crossing my fingers!

In other news, the house preparations continue. Mom and Grandma came last week to paint the man cave. After three coats of primer and one of neutral paint, the deep green is gone. A new furniture arrangement, and it's a totally different place. Joshua is very sad and has declared it a cave no more (he is calling it the rumpus room), but everyone else agrees that it looks fantastic.

All I can say to Mom and Grandma is THANK YOU!!! I have no idea how those ladies cranked this project out in one day and were still smiling at the end. I so appreciate it!