Dear Evan, on your 8th birthday

Happy birthday to our sweet firstborn son, Evan Matthew! Today big brother, you are EIGHT years old!  It goes without saying, that you are the coolest 8 year old I know. To my brown eyed toucan lover with the sunglasses and toothless smile-you made me a mama and you will always be my little duck.

You've grown up so much in these past few years! Your'e an independent reader, you woop our tails almost every time at Sushi Go and even take showers. And speaking of the water, I can't wait to see you take on swim team this summer!

I love your art and creative spirit, especially the steady hand and attention to detail you apply to your drawings. This year you started playing piano and have learned to type in less than a month. Smart cookie! School comes easily to you, and while math is your favorite subject, those spelling sentences crack me up almost daily. Today you used not one but two of your spelling words(bonus) to write the sentence "My mother has a happy face." Of course it made me smile and hug you tight, to which you replied with rolled eyes"Moooooommmmm."

As you can tell from the pictures below, you get the goofball gene from your daddy. ;-)

This year we celebrated your birthday with friends and family Mario party style with a trip to Defying Gravity. You have some pretty awesome friends, great taste in chocolate cake and mad jumping skills thanks to our backyard trampoline.

Before you were born I picked out your special green blanket and my Linus you will always be. Though I'm sure you will always be tender hearted, I've noticed you grow so brave and strong over this past year. You've tried new things with gusto and skinned your knees enough times to get up and move on. You can ride your bike, roller blade, jump and skateboard with the best of them. No doubt this fun neighborhood of ours full of rough and tumble boys has brought out your inner wild man. Though no matter how much dirt you revel in outside, we can always count on your to have the cleanest shirt at the dinner table and for that we are continually thankful!

Eight years ago we found out we were having a boy and my world was turned on it's side. We say all the time that God's plan for us is so better than ours, and I am so thankful that He blessed us with not one but three handsome mama's boys! I pray the Lord continues to protect your sweet and sensitive soul as you grow into a young man and leader who is selfless, smart, strong and kind.

It's a joy to be your mama!

Asher is two!!

This soon to be big brother is TWO years old today! We are so thankful for this beautiful boy of ours. He loves his the great outdoors, animals, cookies and all things musical. A true boy at heart, he is all about balls and bikes. Though he plays the shy guy while we're out and about, he is a goofball at home and has the sweetest smile and best laugh. And not to mention-awesome hair! Beloved by his brothers, he is spoiled rotten-and he knows it. 

Two weeks ago we celebrated his birthday in Fall fashion with friends and family- just in case baby girl decided to make an early debut. It was a perfect Fall afternoon and Asher loved playing with his sweet little friends in our backyard. We are so thankful for all of the thoughtful gifts and love for this growing boy of ours.

 Happy birthday Asher, we love you!

One and done

Just like that, Asher turned one on November 16th. Yes, this post is late- but better late than never! Here's the traditional birthday video below, I can hardly believe a year has past.  It seems like just yesterday he was cuddled under last year's Christmas tree.
As I reflect on this past year with this third boy of ours, I have nothing but abundant thanks for every precious day passed. It's true you know, the more babies you have the more you realize that they don't keep! I can say without regret that I have truly hugged this babe tight and savored up every chunky bit of him.

At one year old, Asher Elliot is silly, thoughtful, content and loved. He is a people person and has the BEST smile. His disposition is somewhat serious and laid back most of the time(thank God for an easy baby!) and that makes his dimples all the deeper when he smiles and laughs.

His favorite food is anything cold and sweet, most recently a vanilla frosty from Wendy's. While he isn't as into the television, he does love Elmo and has started to become interested in turning the pages of his board books. Other favorite interests include bathtime and any kind of ball. More than anything though, he loves and is adored by his brothers. Nothing beats spending time with the big boys-little do they know they are all each other's best gift!

We are so thankful for you sweet Smash, happiest birthday love!

Evan's Scuba Dooby Doo party!

Zoinks!! We had the best time celebrating Evan's sixth birthday at our local Rec center pool. True to his love of dogs and swimming, Evan's theme was "Scooby Doo" and his pool party totally rocked. The boys had such a fun time splashing around with their friends, I only wish I took more pictures!

 

Present palooza!

Asher took a short swim in the pool too, and was a trooper for the whole party considering it was naptime! We are so thankful for the amazing friends we've made here in Wilson, and it's been so sweet for Evan, and then Bennett, to grow up alongside such awesome kiddos.

Last but not least, the traditional birthday video!

Evan is 6! from Rebecca Scott on Vimeo.

Now We Are Six

When I was one,
I had just begun.
When I was two,
I was nearly new.
When I was three,
I was hardly me.
When I was four,
I was not much more.
When I was five,
I was just alive.
But now I am six,
I'm as clever as clever.
So I think I'll be six
now and forever.

-A.A Milne

It's insane to think this first born boy of ours is now six years old. Big kid status! Five is comfortable enough, but I feel like six is the beginning of the climb to the big 10. Evan has grown up so much in this last year. He even looks different! He's gotten a good bit taller, has two less teeth, and dropped most of sweet baby fat-though I will always remember those enormous chipmunk cheeks he was born with! In honor of his sixth birthday, here are 6 things to describe our Evan Matthew...

1. He is a fish! He loves the water and has done really well in his swimming class. So far, swimming is definitely his sport of choice. As an aside, swimming is an excellent vascular exercise for kids with asthma and a great help to lung capacity/development. I can't wait to see his little fins take off this summer! 

2. He is artistic-not only has he come into a love of drawing over these past years, but he has a great eye for photography and capturing everyday life. He notices beautiful things, like the way the back of a cd casts a rainbow on a car window, and pretty girls with red hair. ;-)

3. He has an awesome memory. Maybe all kids have great memories, but I have particularly noticed this kid's booming brain and am determined to fill it with good things! So far in our kindergarten year I have had him review and store up the US presidents, 50 states, NT books, several psalms, poems and more. On a school note, I have to squeeze in that I'm so proud of how well he has done in our first year homeschooling. This kid is so smart I tell you. Now just to reign in that crazy short 6 year old boy attention span lol...smart and wiggly!

4. He is sensitive. This has always been a blessing and a curse to us lol! I always said I could more easily deal with a child with a temper over a child who whined...God has a sense of humor! I love that my Evan is sensitive and tender hearted, and pray it grows him into a kind and compassionate young man. In the meantime, a sensitive six year old often makes for easily hurt feelings and difficulty bouncing back from everyday bumps and bruises. I thank God for Bennett, who daily toughens him up and encourages his gentle spirit. They truly do soften each other's edges!  

5. He is a perfectionist. Already I can see in his schoolwork that he is his own worst critic, and daily battles with his rubbery arch nemesis, the eraser! Some days I wish erasers were never invented so we would just have to deal with our mistakes and move on. It's a hard line because in the world of tests you do want to shoot for a perfect score, but at present I'm happy to row in the boat of "trying your best with a good attitude." No sour lemonade here! In any case, I know this bent towards perfection, rightly steered, will serve him well in life. I can easily see him in some very detail oriented, precise engineering type of work. Currently he says he wants to be a "builder" when he grows up. :-)

6. He is a comedian. Evan loves his knock knock jokes and just being overall silly with his friends. As it stands in our house he holds the best record for making baby Asher laugh-and is proud of it! 

Happy birthday little man, we love you!!

Bennett turns four!!!

Our sweet and silly Bennett bear turned four years old this Valentines day. My little love is growing quite the large personality and we're so blessed to be his parents, not to mention audience to the hilarious one man show he daily performs. Happy birthday Bennett Shepherd, we love you!!!

In the spirit of turning four, here's 4 things this mama adores about her little in the middle.

1. Bennett is the funniest kid. He has that magical ability to light up a room and make people laugh. He is full of crazy faces, silly voices and all kinds of made up, nonsensical words that could give Dr. Seuss a run for his money.

2. He is giving. Bennett is always willing to share his snacks and never fails to make sure that everyone has equal parts before having something. He shows genuine concern for the needs of others and is quick to meet those needs-in the best way a four year old can express that is. I pray these seeds of compassion would bear much fruit as he grows into a young man.

3. He is just as tender as he is strong. As rough and tumble as he may appear, he is equal parts soft, sweet and gentle. This is obvious in his crazy love for his baby Asher. :-) Which leads me to number four...

4. He is the BEST brother. The greatest gift we ever could have given Evan was Bennett.  "Friend-amies" aside, they really are the best of playmates. I can't imagine one without the other. The two run together, EvanandBennett. And for Asher, he is one lucky little boy to have such a loving big brother as Bennett. He loves to hold and hug and kiss him, and always jumps at the opportunity to help me with all things baby related, from fetching diapers to popping pacis and giving baths. I can't tell you how many times a day he tells me "I love the baby" in that endearing high pitched voice of his. Bennett has always worn his "little brother" shoes so well, and I'm happy to say that he is now rocking the new big brother status.

We are so thankful for you buddy!!!

Last but not least, no Scott boy's birthday is complete without the traditional "year in review" slideshow. The boy has grown up so much this last year, here's to making many more memories!

Bennett is 4! from Rebecca Scott on Vimeo.

5 years and counting

Can we take a mommy moment of silence for the fact that this boy is 5 years old?! I mean I know how it happened, I was there for every good, bad and in between day of it. Still, it seems surreal that we've got an upcoming Kindergartener on our hands. I'm just not ready for the next stage of legos(insert scary music here!).

As this is the year of no birthday "party-parties," the festivities were low key, stress free and perfectly delightful-with a cherry from Fro Yo on top! Earlier this week I brought in birthday cupcakes-chocolate and Transformer themed per special request-to his preschool class. He was beaming for most of that day I know he felt so special to wear his super cool birthday sticker and be serenaded Happy Birthday by his sweet school friends.

On Saturday, which was his actual birthday, I planned a family birthday dinner with special guests Gigi and Poppi. On the menu were his favorite foods-barbeque chicken on the grill, strawberries, blueberries, sweet corn on the cob and peas(because I made him pick something green). After dinner he was thoroughly spoiled with presents-transformers, legos, an optimus prime costume, books and fun games from family. Our boys are so well loved, and I don't take it for granted. The present opening resembled more of a tornado of sorts, he whizzed from present to present so fast-I know he was jumping in his skin(figuratively and literally) to know what was underneath each colorful package and bow! No doubt we'll take some time to really enjoy each present once the birthday jitters wear down. 

Next was dessert at Cheerio, a local FroYo place. Both boys went for the strawberry lemonade sorbet mixed with cake batter and topped with all sorts of gummy delights. FroYo was a first for Gigi and Poppy and I'm happy to say they were quick converts-Gigi even went for seconds! :-)

We were sad to miss Grandma, but had a wonderful pre-birthday celebration with her earlier this month in Washington D.C. We rode the "fast trains," toured the Dinosaur aka Smithsonian and Air & Space museums, ate our weight in Easter candy and even caught a fun swim at the hotel pool.

All in all a great time celebrating this first born boy of ours. Happy birthday love, I can't wait for all of our adventures in Kindergarten that wait before us!

Happy birthday Bennett bear!

It's hard to believe our sweet little Bennett bear is almost 3. We celebrated his birthday this past weekend with family and had a blast. On the agenda was a visit to Build a Bear and then lunch at Kanki for my little chef.

I knew Build a Bear would be cool but it was really even much more adorable than I could have imagined. Above you see Bennett giving his animal a "heart" and picking out it's characteristics, and below is one of the first stations where the stuffys get fluffy.

Bennett picked out this cute pup, a dalmatian, and outfitted him for space in a super cool Buzz Lighthearted costume. Evan opted for the less traditional "Tootheless" the dragon and if I thought for a second we missed the build a bear boat with him, I was wrong. Both boys really enjoyed picking out their special animals, naming them, bathing them, giving them birth certificates and taking them home in their special boxes. Two thumbs up build a bear, and many thanks to Gigi and Poppy for treating!

 

After a quick stop into the Disney and Lego stores, we settled in for a show at Kanki for lunch. We were so happy to have Aunt Catherine and Uncle Kerrick join us there, and both boys really enjoyed the Teppankyi grill. It was entertaining and delicious!

At home we sang happy birthday over these dreamy cupcakes, and opened the rest of his gifts.

Grandma sent this cool blue set of new wheels, and at the rate he's going he'll be riding fast beside brother sooner than you can say "watch out for that gutter!"

Three years has flown by, and I've enjoyed every day with these special boys-even the ones where I feel like I've gone to the proverbial gutter myself! Happy birthday sweet B, I'm so thankful to see you blow out your candles for a third year in a row. You are a gift!