Today you are two...

 Remember May 28th, 2009 7:20am like it was yesterday.  The day our second miracle arrived safe, sound and 8lbs 5oz of pure health.  Forever grateful we were able to bring another another healthy baby into the world, when so many cards were stacked against us.  Just another reminder of God's grace

 Sweet handsome little man on your first birthday!

 And now you are TWO!!! God certainly knew what he was doing when he sent us such a sweet, smart, snuggly, goofy, determined, and wild little boy.  He knew we needed the balance!  There are so many similiarities between you and your sister, but let me just say there are differences too!

Here you are on your actual birthday with your birthday waffle.  You were so excited to have us sing Happy Birthday to you again....

  And again...at dinner time!

 

You guys really do love each other! 

 So excited...for more cake & presents!

 Oh sweet, sweet boy.  What we would have done without you these past two years.  Our lives are better because you are in it!  We are so proud of you in each and every way.  I pray that you never stop trying to figure out how things work, you always keep your sense of humor, that your strong will and determination never get the best of you, and you always remain happy and healthy.

Here are some 2 year old stats:

*You weigh: 29lbs 6oz (70%) and are tall 36" tall (75%)

*You wear 2T shirts/pants but I am buying you some 3T's

*You have I think 20 teeth, and we know your 2 year molars will arrive in the near future.

*You've had 1 haircut...and are so close to need another one.

*You talk non-stop and we can understand just about everything you say.  You carry on a conversation so well, just like your smart sissy.

*You can count to 10, and I know the other numbers are in there as we've heard you say them. In typical boy fashion you are just not that interested.

*You know your colors...when you want to

*You sat down at Mimi's piano the other day and starting singing "Our God is an Awesome God" might be the sweetest thing I've ever heard.

*You love to sing, dance, play with your tools and dinosaurs, watch Mickey Mouse & Sesame Street, love animals, and most of all playing outside.

*You are attached to your paci and burpies (especially the dog one and and old one of Avas)

*You are not fully interested in potty training, but we are slowly working on it.

We love you sweet BB and Happy Birthday!

"Goodbye Kindergarten...we're Moving on to 1st Grade!"

Yes, it's true all wonderful things must come to an end.  We officially have a 1st grader on our hands.  How that happened, I am not exactly sure but like it or not our sweet Ava girl is a first grader.  What a wonderful experience, what a wonderful school, and what a wonderful year our sweet girl had.  We couldn't have asked for a better place to send our sweet girl every day.

Our sweet girl is an amazing reader, has memorized dozens of bible verses, knows spanish (can even sing Jesus Love Me in Spanish), is doing great learning math, has made wonderful friends and I could go on forever!

Tonight we celebrated with the kindergarten teachers, and all 30 of the kindergarten student's families at graduation. They had the sweetest program and perfect send off to a great year.

They had all of the children's silhouettes hanging on the wall.

 Sweet girl had a speaking part.  She recited John 3:16

 With her amazing teacher Mrs. Howell.  Once of the kindest, sweetest ladies you will ever meet.

 Granny and Pop celebrated with us.

 Papa, Mimi and Gigi came too!

 So proud of her!

 Ava with her sweet friend Anna.

 No words....I guess he is proud of her too!

 4 generations!  You don't find that very often!

 Clearly he was non to pleased that he couldn't go with his Papa.

 Last day of school!!!  I think Bennett is most excited as that means his sissy will be home to play all summer.

 Ava received the "Creative Bee" award!  Mrs. Howell loved reading her journals, and says she has the most creative artwork around, and also loves all of Ava's creative ideas.

What a happy happy year, and we look forward to an equally amazing time in 1st Grade!

"Can you tell me how to get....

how to get to Bennett Street."

 Time for Bennett's 2nd Birthday Party!  Yay...I worked on this one for a while and had so much fun planning it!  Bennett loves Sesame Street, so it was an easy choice for his 2nd birthday. I once again took so many pictures, and I wish I could share them all...but instead here are about 40 of my favorites!

We had his party a week early, and all of our wonderful family and friends braved the warmest day of 2011 to celebrate with us.  When I say it was hot...it was HOT!

Any party wouldn't be complete with a special outfit made by Mimi (and Papa too)!

 Each kid had a personalized bucket filled with coloring goodies, stampers, notebooks, bubbles, picture frame and more.  These buckets were awesome and I found them in the $1 bin at Target.  With a little vinyl they ended up perfect.

 The parents so loved us!  Each kiddo took home "Elmo's" goldfish...complete with fish food.

                                     
                                     

Oscar had his own Tattoo Parlor...

 Sweet Hana helped all the younger kids put on their tattoos.

Each kid got a trash can goody from Oscar himself!

And their own trash can cup!

                                     

Cookie Monster had his own cookie toss! Lincoln and Cora were pros!

                                     

 Daddy built a bingo wheel for Sesame Street bingo. 

 BB and Coralyne concentrating...

 We had popcorn cones, gumball flowers, goldfish and fruit skewers to snack on.

 Sweetest boy ever!  He had so much fun running around playing with all of his sweet friends.

 Birthday cake and cupcakes.  My friend Lacey and I made the cake ourselves!

 "Happy Birthday to you!!!!"

 When we talked about his party all he would say is "cake please."  Well needless to say he enjoyed every bite!

 Two of a kind.  BB loves his Uncle Kiss!

 And...his Aunt Julie

 Big thank you to our families!  They were tons of help and once again I couldn't have done it without them!

                                     

 Baby Landen came too!  Ava is in love with him!

 Soo many presents from our generous family and friends!

Happiest of Happy Birthdays sweet Bennett Parker!  We hope you enjoyed your special day!