Trackers 2nd Berfday Par Tay...

Trackers had his 2nd birthday party this past Saturday.  My hope with birthday parties is that I always do something that my kids really like at their current stage.  What's better for Track then a jump house place???  It's not much for decorating...I mean I was working with a giant purple party room.

 

 

I love to decorate with pictures so I can see how much he has grown and add a few intentional things to remember what he liked at this stage.  I often ask myself why...because he will probably never look at these and then when I die someone will throw them all away...morbid I know, but so true.  I just want him to know I tried to make it special...just for him.

 

 

 

Ah, the party favors.  Mike was in charge here...so everyone go a slap bracelet.  I pushed back a little at first, but then I saw that my kids love them and Mike is known for being more "fun" than I am.  So I overlooked that they said "I love bacon" and out they went.

 

 

 

Don't buy into the cool Tie Dye balloons...in reality they almost all turn out white.  Word to the wise.  Oh, also note to self...paper straws so cute, but not tall enough for water bottles.  However, I did buy a helium tank this year and it make decorating super easy.  I mean balloons at my house...no ordering them or going to pick them up...efficient.

 

 

 

Brother with miss-matched socks.  Always something when I let Mike them bring them alone so I can decorate.  Last year Mike cut Track's sleeves off before he got to his pool party - not good.

 

 

Brother Bears... 

 

My dad with the two newest babies...two weeks a part.  She is petite and Coop is ready for high school football...

 

Giant slide...big hit for toddlers - very unforgiving for adults.  I felt all jammed up the next day and every adult bold enough to "play" had slide burns. 

 

Linda and Tommy made the carrot cake for us...it was the best I have ever tasted.  Their daughter is just about the most beautiful little thing I have ever seen...bailey bailey grace as my G calls her.

 

Track LOVES the happy birthday song... 

 

 

 

Classic Kelsey face... 

 

 

The guy in the back right is Tyler, my 16 year old "attendant" who faithfully stood awkwardly in our party room the whole time...poor thing. 

 

Of course, I did a terrible job at recording our friends...but here is Scott and EK.  I wanted to document this picture because I have pictures of Scott and Mike when they turned 5 at a "backwards" party which are hilarious... 

 

Sweet Lauren and her husband...Miss Lauren watches the boys while I work during the week.

 

Grand Mom and Grand Dad... 

 

In all seriousness, I could not pull off birthday parties without Kelsey's help.  Her hair is cray cray... as usual.

 

Track upset with Kel-Key. 

 

Opening presents late that evening...dump truck was the BIG winner... 

 

Wow, I just re-read this post and my captions really got weaker and weaker. 

 

Too. Many. Pictures.

 

Lets Hear it for an Easy Party with a Cute Boy and a Scratched Face

Jammie Time...

 

I'm convinced that life does not get better than 3 baby boys in Jammies playing on the bed.

 

 

Let's Hear it for the Hummel Boys of Three

Nature Hunt...

It's Texas - It's HOT and we needed an activity.  I found a Nature Scavenger Hunt online and modified it to fit my family.  I also decided since Graham LOVES to take pictures I would let him take pictures of what he found with my point and shoot camera to show Mike at dinner.  BIG HIT!

 

Post nap drink break first with Scowlers.

 

 

Something round...

 

Two kinds of leaves...How cute is he holding the camera?

 

 Something he considers a "treasure"...

 

Here are some of the images my dear child captured...

 

Something his brothers would like...Obviously it's that thing Track is holding - I mean he must like it, he's holding it...

 

Something Rough - Look at those little feet (shout out Christine)...

 

Something that makes noise...Love this one - SMART!

 

Something he thinks is beautiful...

 

Something he thinks is a "treasure"...

 

Something God made...

(ps God also made a new Hummel baby in His image a few months ago - so, no judgment)...

 

Let's Hear it for the Dog Days of Summer and a Little Fun

Shirley Jean...

Mike's grandmother passed away a week or so ago.  She was a faithful woman, to the Lord and to her family - even mine.  My oldest knew her best out of the great grandchildren, because of his age.  We often prayed for great grand mommy to feel better.  He went and visited often with his own grand mom.  My husband was emotional as he recalled all of the memories from his childhood that Shirley had participated in.  I imagine this will be a repeat scenario for my own adult children when their sweet grandparents, who have built into them for years and spent time loving on them, go to meet Jesus. 

 

We explained to Graham that it was Great Grand Mom's special day to meet Jesus and that we will all have ours.  He asked a few questions...like "mom, is coop going to meet Jesus (bc I was taking the baby with me to say goodbye)?" - "not today baby" and "are you going to meet Jesus" - "today is not my special day babe" then onto to the "if you are going to see great grand mom right now and she is meeting Jesus why don't you want to meet him?" - crickets.  Great question son.  After, I tried to answer all of his questions he said he was excited for Great Grand Mom to not feel sick anymore.  This is our first real conversation about death (aside from a friends dog - Diesel that G is obsessed with talking about) and all and all it wasn't bad and I think he "got" the necessary points.  More questions will likely come when he realizes she is not here to visit anymore.  He has a sweet spirit and really loved his Great Grand Mom.

 

I believe the following two pictures are some of Shirley's last.  They were both taken in the last month.

 

Graham, Grand Mom and Great Grand Mother.

 

Coop and Great Grand Mother and Grand Father.

 

At the memorial service, Mike's mom arranged for Shirley's famous oatmeal raisin cookies to be served and she had printed out the recipe for people to take (which I thought was such a sweet touch - leave it to Karen to excel in organization and thoughtfulness).  Side note:  I guess at my funeral my kids will have to serve tacos - bc I make them every other day.  The recipe will say...brown meat, add water, open seasoning packet, dump and mix.  I may need to work on my legacy.

 

So I felt there would be no greater honor than to whip up these cookies for my husband who said his grandmother swapped the raisins for chocolate chips "just for him".

 

Making cookies would be futile without some big boy help... (LOVE the closed eyes - so so cute.)

 

Not sure I have ever used this much sugar in one dessert - WHOA.

 

Little taste of the batter while mama was attending to a smaller boy baby...shame.

 

Checking to see if they are still hot.

 

Delivering to dad, one may or may not have slipped off the plate onto the garage floor...

 

We got this review from Mike on Shirley's Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies...

 

We don't dole out the sweets in our house, but Graham wanted to try a cookie...I obliged (I mean that's what Shirley would have wanted) and the sweet child just looked at it on the plate and continued playing trains. 

 

 No eating, just happy to have it with him.  A man of great restraint.

 

I didn't know Shirley well and in fact I have only known her in sickness.  Even ill she was graceful and had a heart tuned to the Lord.  I'm thankful she is with the Lord and I am even more thankful for my children's grandparents and my own remaining grandparents.

 

Shirley Jean (shout out Care) these Cookies were for you.  You lived and passed with great love.  Life really is such a brief moment.

 

Let's Hear it for Jesus Who is Faithful to Prepare a Place for Us