Henry's birthday back in August

Back on August 19th, we celebrated Henry's birthday all day long and then the next day too, which was my birthday! Well, so bright and early I got him up before school so he could have his special birthday breakfast and open his first present.

During school, we brought a special snack for his whole class to help celebrate his birthday. When we got there, Henry was standing at the front of the room while the other students were talking about why Henry was special on his birthday. I love his teacher, Mrs. Sears, she is amazing! If I ever go back to teaching, I want to be a kindergarten teacher and be just like her.

Then we were off to the Aquarium for the afternoon. Did you know the Aquarium will let you get in free on your birthday, if you live in Georiga? Yes, it was great, because the little ones were still under 3 when we went, so we only had to pay for Dee and I, so we could not resist taking advantage of this!

We had an aquarium pass back when Henry was a year old, but we have not been in about three or so years, so it was fun to get to see all the new exhibits. The babies, CT and MT had not been either, so it was neat to experience it through their eyes too.

They had a race to get the energy out...

While the boys took a bathroom break, Mary Taylor found the little mermaid...

One of my favorite parts is the ocean tunnel where you can spot all kids of sea life including whales and sharks, very cool...

Then that led us to the huge room that stretches several feet high and wide, it is just beautiful...

so precious, he is just mesmorized...

Wouldn't you be too, if you saw this?!

 

Once the "Awwww" wore off, it was time to jump on daddy...

So we decided to take it to the play area, where they had been begging to go, since we walked in the door...

Because everyone was getting hungry by now, we decided to head over to Johnny Rockets for Henry's birthday dinner...

Henry's favorite food is a cheese burger and milk shakes, so he really enjoyed his meal. He got the rest of his presents too, which were several star wars figures that he had asked for. It was a fun time!

I think daddy was ready to go, but the kids were doing so great, I took advantage of them cooperating!

Then I caught this cute little serious of pictures...

 Look a Mary Taylor's face...

Sweet Tuck Tuck kissed her...

How cute is this shot!!

They were having the best time!!

Little miss model...

 
Henry is oblivious to the babies, he is playing hard with his new star wars toys...

  Then little miss gets a hold of his toys. Look at her face making the chchch sound that an aircraft makes just like her brothers do....

She is the girliest tomboy I know!!

What a fun day we had celebrating his five years of life....hard to believe.

Happy 5th Birthday Henry from two months ago!

Someone's 5 Today!!

Happy 5th Birthday Henry!!

Five years ago today I was on cloud nine with you in my arms at the hospital. It was bliss! The labor was rough, because I had an emergency c-section, but the drugs helped me to ignore the pain and all the stress that my body endured. And besides, I think your daddy was stressed enough for the both of us! Henry, I did not want you to leave the room even for a second, even though I knew I needed to sleep. But, once you came back in, I could not wait to hold you and love on you! It was love at first sight!

After about two weeks...the real Henry revealed his true colors. To get you to sleep, we would have to drive you around the neighborhood, bounce you in the the bouncy seat as hard as we could, because I wasn't comfortable letting you cry it out at first. Sometimes I would try and then give up after you cried for an hour! You were a tough little one and it didn't help that I was a wimp, but that's what you do with your first, because you can. As hard as you got, I still could not stand to be away from you!

When you were around one, your spunky little personality drove us to venture out quite often. We enjoyed so many adventures around Atlanta, almost everyday! Every morning we visited places like the zoo, the park, the aquarium, the children's museum, grandma's house and I could even go shopping with you in tow! There's not a person you met, who you did not become an instant friend. And now at four, you love your friends even more! One time when you met a little boy on the Chickfila playground, before we left, you asked me, "Can we get his phone number?" which has become a regular question, which can often be a little bit awkward as the other parent is standing there.

I do miss life just being with you alone, but I am so proud of what a leader you have become to your brother and sister. Of course you have your moments, but your loving spirit and desire to put them first(sometimes) melts my heart. They both look up to you so much!

I am excited to see how the Lord grows you into the man he wants you to be! I can't believe God chose me to be your mother...what a gift.

Your still my little angel. And don't forget, you said you are still going to cuddle with me when you get married. (yes, I know this is a little weird, but he did say that) I'll take it!!

I love you Henry and I am more than proud to be your mother!!!

Mom

Henry's First Day of Kindergarten

We had to do the traditional pose by the front door....

Henry was excited to take pictures because in the book "The Night before Kindergarten," they took pictures before going to school.

Suprised he let me take so many...

until he was done...there's the real Henry...

 Mary Taylor and Charles Tucker were just as eager to go to Kindergarten...

They both asked me if they could go with Henry...

Sweet brothers...love catching moments like this....

And we have to show off his new Star Wars backpack... I was a little worried after I ordered this when Dee said that was strange that I bought Henry a Darth Vader backpack, he is only five. So then I got all insecure, I thought it was fine because it was from pottery barn. How bad could it be? So, then my facebook friends assured me it was ok, besides, Darth Vader turns back to the good side at the end anyway, right? He is redeemed...right? So we have decided to go with it!

As I got all the kids in the car, I realized we only had 12 minutes until 8:00...where had all the time gone? Dee was even waiting on us to walk him in. But, luckily we made it just in time, to take a couple more pictures and give him a kiss goodbye. I was definitely holding back the tears at this point...I knew he was going to have a great time, but it was just all the build up leading to this one special day...it was definitely emotional...

and Daddy even agreed to a picture....

o.k. I swear I think Henry grew four years in this picture....can we say 4 going on 8?

Before we finally left, after watching him stand for the "Star Spangle Banner" and the pledge, I had to take one last picture of his book bag sitting among the others....wow, where does the time go? Dee and I have decided we are full fledged adults now that Henry has started school. We even have a car tag with a number on it! Yikes! We can't pretend to be cool anymore...

After we left his room, we headed down to the "Coffee and Tears" party in the library for all the new kindergarten parents. I am glad they had an activity for us, because all the hype leading up to this day, left me feeling like I needed to go to Kindergarten.

As I left the building I thought about Henry opening up his lunch to find a note from me, "wishing him a happy first kindergarten day" like my mother use to do for me.... Mom, does this bring back memories?

When I picked him up, the first thing he said was, "Mom, when can I go back to kindergarten?". I guess he liked it!

By the end of the day, I was exhausted! Getting up at 6:15a.m., when you are used to 8:00a.m. is quite a stretch, especially when you don't go to bed until 12:00a.m. because of the sweet tea you drank at lunch. So I am going to try and be in bed by 8:30p.m. tonight, (or now 9:00p.m. now that I am working on this post) and then wake up early to get ready for our second day of Kindergarten.

Happy Monday everyone!!