Riley Turned FIVE!

Yes, we're two months into her being five, but it's a fact!  Riley is a WHOLE HAND!  This year, we started a new tradition of celebrating a ten day countdown to their birthday, so she got a lot of extra attention.  She decided that she should get her birthday pancakes on the day of her party this year since she chose breakfast for dinner for her actual birthday dinner.  So, mama obliged.  :)

We celebrated Riley's special day this year at Aspire since she was finishing up her gymnastics lessons.  She really loved that place!  It was a fun afternoon with some of her friends, and of course, cake!

On her actual birthday, we surprised Riley with a brand new bike.  She got her first bike for her third birthday, but, of course, she is getting bigger by the minute and it was time for a new bike for sure.  She loves the basket and streamers.  Gavin thought it was pretty fun, too.  Haha!

Despite being 6:15 am, she had to take it on a test ride, complete in her pajamas!  

She definitely LOVES riding her bike!

I took the goofballs to Chickfila for her birthday lunch, and the silly girl thought she was too big for the kids' menu.  She chose a Chickfila sandwich, ate about half, and then decided that it wasn't her favorite and that she'd stick to the kids' menu next time.

After lunch, we headed to Target for her to spend some of her birthday money.  I kinda loved that she picked out a Playdough set that Megan and I used to play with when we were kids.  

And for her birthday finale, our family dinner was her pick -- pancakes with chocolate chips and bacon.  :)  I think she enjoyed her birthday celebration!

 Happy birthday, sweet girl.  It seems like Daddy and I blinked and you went from baby to big girl.  We love your personality, your sense of humor, your fashion sense, and your imagination.  We love listening to you sing Riley originals, seeing your art work adorn your walls, and finding sweet notes you leave for us all the time on our pillows.  We love your snuggles and how you still sneak into our room to sleep in our bed from time to time.  You bring us so much joy, and that will never change.  Love you, Riley Savannah!

Our Baby Boy is EIGHT!

It's been a few weeks since it happened....but somehow our little guy grew up and decided to turn eight last month.  We decided to have a little 'Ten Days of Birthday' countdown, and he got a little something each day for the ten days leading up to his birthday.  Nothing major - just a special breakfast, or extra electronics time, things like that.  We also celebrated with the birthday banner hanging in the living room that he got from Mimi and Beepa for Christmas.  Looking forward to using it for many years to come, including when he's a teenager and super embarrassed by it. ;)

 

Right before his birthday, he lost yet another tooth!  Took him forever to lose his first, and now he seems to be losing them left and right.

On his actual birthday, he was lucky enough to have the day off school for part of his May break.  I woke up to make him his birthday pancakes to find him snuggled up under his new blanket with a backlight, reading one of his new books he got from Aunt Meggie and Uncle Kyle. :) Love how much he loves to read!

After dropping Sister off at school, I surprised him and took him back to the house and spent the entire time Riley was at school playing his new xbox game with him.  Neither of us had ever played Fifa before, so we weren't really good at it, and we laughed a lot!

We picked Riley up and then headed to meet Daddy for a pizza lunch.  Dinner was lettuce wraps, of course, and we had a special cupcake dessert.  

A couple days later, we had his birthday party with friends.  It had to be the easiest party I ever threw -- two hours of playing video games with friends and cookie cake.  Basically, I greeted the guests, cut the cookie cake, and snapped pics of the boys before they left.  The rest of the time was spent engrossed in the massive screens that filled the place. :)

 

 

Happy birthday, Gavin Jack!  You're growing into a really amazing young man and we're so proud of you.  Love you more than any other boy in this world.  XOXO