Let them be little...

Last week we got a TON of rain!! I'm usually not one to encourage my boys to be messy, but for some reason the pouring rain & giant puddles softened my heart. I asked Roman if he'd like to go out & play in it... of course he didn't need a second invitation!

 

 I thoroughly enjoyed watching him run, jump, splash, & catch the rain drops!! While watching him the thought came to me, "Let them be little" & it was a total eye opener for me! I've been so caught up with school & my responsibilities at home that I've been over looking opportunities for the little things that are the best when you're a kid! I decided right then and there to let my boys be little- messes clean up, dirt/ mud wash out, bumps/bruises/scrapes heal but they will only be small for a moment & I don't want to regret any time/ experiences lost!

So the next day we went for a walk to deliver some goodies to a couple ladies I visit teach. The rain had stopped, but there were deep, dirty puddles everywhere... Roman approached one and glanced over at my with that little mischievous grin he gets on his face when he's thinking of doing something he knows I'll disapprove of. For a second, I was ready to threaten him not to even think about it, then the thought "Let them be little" came back to my mind... so I just smiled back at him & said, "Jump in, Bud!" You'd think I just told him he had won the lottery with how excited he got!! & boy did jump... in every puddle on the way home! He was filthy & drenched, but completely happy!

It certainly is the little things in life that bring the greatest joy- for Roman it was giant, dirty rain puddles. For me, it was watching the joy spread on my child's face as he played like only a little boy can!

Monster Jam- Birthday tradition!

Anthon started taking Roman to Monster Jam when he was 2 & continued the tradition this year. Roman was SO excited to go & kept talking about it for weeks (He got the tickets & shirt on his birthday, but the actual event wasn't for another couple of weeks). When  yesterday finally came he was more than thrilled!!

 Here he is playing with his toy monster truck while waiting to see the real trucks down in the pits

He & his cousins got to get into a real monster truck, too!!

So excited to be here!!

  Daddy got to write him a message up on the big jumbo tron!

 They love this guy time together...& I love that I'm not invited ;)

 Here's a couple of his favorite trucks doing some tricks! Big Kahuna is on top, Grave Digger is below.

Haha- I loved this shot of him! Sums him up in a nut shell!

I'm sorry, but we're awesome!

Warning: total bragging post ahead!

Anthon is amazing! He seriously accomplishes anything he puts his mind to! This past year, he decided he wanted to be the #1 salesman in his company, & guess what?! He did it! It was a close call- there was another guy in his branch that was ahead of him by 1, but Anthon got a few sales at the end of December & took the lead (with some help from me, I'll add)!! They had a tech meeting this morning to recognize him & give him a huge check, which was kind of fun! He also got a branch new work truck that's really nice! He was the #1 salesman for his branch & the #3 salesman out of the entire company (like 4 states)!! I am SO proud of him!! There seriously is nothing this man can't do!

I'm not as awesome as Anthon ;), but I did start my second block of nursing school this past week & have been having a blast learning how to start IVs & draw blood! I've gotten pretty good at it on the dummies, but we'll see how I do on real people (dummies hold completely still & have perfect veins!)-I start clinical in a month & am going to be at Chandler Regional Hospital... can't wait! 

Favorite things at 4!

How cute is this boy?! I seriously love him!& I love documenting their favorite things as they grow! Here are Roman's favorite things at 4:

 First & foremost- Rescue Bots! He is obsessed with the show & all his toys!

 Second- Mario Brothers! He loves playing Mario Cart on the Wii, watching the show, & playing with his Luigi car!

 Last, but not least- Super hero's!! He loves the Avenger's!! "Hulk smash" being his favorite!

 He got a bunch of super hero costumes for his birthday & loves to play with them! Spider man is one of his favorites to dress up as!

 

 He's wild, he's crazy! He's funny, he's smart! He's kind, he's tender hearted! He's stubborn, he's independent! He's helpful, he's adventurous! He's 4, & we're so thankful he's ours!!

Roman is 4!!

Roman decided he wanted an Avenger's themed birthday party this year. This was the invitation I sent out to all his friends- I LOVE it!!

 We did his friend party a few days early 1. so Anthon could be there (with his new school/work schedule he has Wednesday's off) & 2. so Gwen & Pace could be there (they were heading back to TX this weekend). We had the party in our backyard- I would have loved to have it at Peter Piper or somewhere like that, but since we're lacking in extra funds these days ( you know, living the student life) we decided to keep it simple & free :). Plus, it gave us the perfect excuse to get our butts in gear & clean up our backyard!! In the 7.5 years we've lived here it's pretty much been a pit! It took about 3 days straight, but was well worth it! Anyway, he had quite a few little friends come & they played in the backyard, ate lunch, played some games, & then did the cake/ presents. Here are some pictures of the festivities:

 I was lazy this year & ordered the cupcakes from Fry's- honestly, I might do that every year from now on! They looked beautiful, tasted yummy, & required zero effort on my part! Well, I did put the sprinkles & ring toppers on each one, but really how much effort does that take? None, compared to baking & frosting all 24 of them!

 Roman chose the food for his party. He had hot dogs, chips, fruit cups, & Gatorade... sound like the menu of a toddler?

 I got these awesome Avenger's masks & am so glad we got this fun picture of the 4 of us!!

 

 Present time!! He got SO many fun things & was so excited to open them!

 He was pretty much exhausted after all the partying was finished, but kept all his new toys close by!

 

 Since today is his actual birthday, we had to celebrate some more! Anthon & I decorated his bedroom last night so when he woke up this morning he would know it was a special day!

 We went to church and came home like usual, played games, and sang "Happy Birthday" about a million times (he LOVES that song, especially when it's being sung to him)! Church was extra special, though, because it was his very first day as a Sunbeam! Yes, he deffinately is the oldest in his class :)

My mom came over for dinner, cake & ice cream, and some presents. We had to bust out the Avenger's hats again :) I LOVE this picture!

 I made him a simple cake & put the figures he got for his friend party on it... he was satisfied with that! 

 

 

 Happy birthday, to my big 4 year old! Roman has enriched our lives every day since he's been born! He is such a funny, kind, tender- hearted, rambunctious, smart little kid & I feel truly blessed for the opportunity I have to be his mother!