Zane, Emerson, and Smith: July 2015

Monday, July 13, 2015

Zane's 8th Birthday / 4th of July

I remember so clearly seeing Zane's perfect, chubby tiny face for the first time. I can't even wrap my brain around the fact that it was 8 years ago. How is it even possible that my teeny baby is now an 8 year old, going into THIRD grade??!?

Zane is pure sweetness. He always has been. Although we have seen glimpses of attitude, anger, frustration, etc, he still pulls through and always reminds us of his sincerely sweet and kind heart. It's so fascinating watching him navigate his way through the challenges and struggles and accomplishments and independence of getting older. I'm trying to let go and give him more freedom, but it's hard! He's just still my little guy.

I'm so proud of all he is and all he's becoming.

For his friend birthday party, we let him invite a few friends to a Rockies game. It just so happened that we had tickets on a super rainy day. So, we got there and the game was already delayed. It didn't get these boys down. We ended up waiting two hours for the game to start. The four boys were so cute and well behaved. Zane had the best time ever with his buds.

They got to sit in their own row in front of us.

Zane also wanted to invite Emmy (and she brought her friend Hannah). We toughed out the rain.

I loved when the usher came over and had the section sing "Happy Birthday" to Zane and gave him a Rockies pin.

That face. So much joy.

We were so close to the field and at one point, the Angels best player came right over to us to give autographs. Zane rushed down with Zack's Angels hat and was right by him, but didn't end up getting it signed. But it was definitely a highlight of Zane's night.

We had the best day on the actual 4th.

We had family over late afternoon till fireworks to celebrate Zane.

Emmy helped shuck the corn

Em got to switch out her earrings for the first time on the 4th. She chose stars, of course!

We had a bratwurst and hot dog bar with all sorts of toppings, corn on the cob, and lot's of yummy sides.

Emmy and her Uncle Ben

Uncle Ant shot on Zane forever.

My mom made dessert - a trifle. It was amazing! Nice, background, Nellie.

Crazy monkeys

He really went for it. Just one candle, but he had to be sure it got blown out I guess. Haha.

Happy Birthday, my sweet man.

Earlier that morning, Zack and I took the kids to play miniature golf and ride go-karts. We made it through all 18 holes. Smith got so scared of the volcanoes and Zane got a hole-in-one! Smith was so stinkin cute, trying to hold his club and have enough coordination to swing and aim, etc. It was hard work for Em and Zane too. And I don't know how, but Zack ended up with the win. Dang!

Smith put everything into it. They cheered each other on and encouraged each other. Loved it.

Got soaked at the end.

Go-karts were the best. Zane got to drive his own - he was so cautious and nervous. And then when he got off he immediately asked to go again.

I got to ride with the cutie pie. He loved it and started dancing in his seat every time we drove past a speaker. Em and Zack rode together. Their car broke down a bunch but still had fun.

Finally, after a huge eventful day, we went to Broomfield Commons for their fireworks show.
It's so funny...Smith was so exhausted that he asked to stay home instead of fireworks. He wanted to sleep - smart guy. So the big kids, Grandma and Grandpa, Jord, Ben, and Molly, and Revae and I headed over. See those two tiny bodies out in the field? That's Zane and Em pushing the limits of how far away they ran.

Molly and Grandpa Dave getting ready

These two sweeties, snuggling in while it sprinkled out before the fireworks started.

Such a fun day. Emmy actually stayed awake for the entire fireworks show for the first time. And afterwards, Zane gave me a huge hug and said "Thank you Mommy, I love you so much."

End of June

Papa (Zack's dad) visited from Minnesota last weekend and one day we went to the Cherry Creek Arts Festival with him and Jill. We have gone so many times and every single time by the end I wonder what we were thinking. It sounds so fun, but usually by the end, all kids are complaining of being too hot and ready to go home. ;) Even

But we did it anyway.

It was so good to have Papa in town!!

They always have a street where kids can create their own art projects. Emmy got the most into it, but the boys liked it too.

Zane's "tough guy" face.

Here's both "tough guys"

We are troopers. This week, we went to track in the rain, took Smith to his sports camp in the rain, and Zane had a baseball practice in the rain.
These girls snuggled in and actually had a good time playing in the rain too.

During another sports camp for Smith, Zane and Em spent the entire time "training" for soccer. They did all sorts of crazy stuff. Here they were doing toe touches and lunges.

Jump City with friends...
The two little guys jumped and jumped and jumped and kept up with all the big kids really well.

Zane found the 8 and older dodgeball room and went for it.

Emmy, trying to stay on the bull...

My very favorite moments almost always consist of the kids being friends or something with reading. It's great when it involves both.

We went to check out the new exhibit at the Butterly Pavilion.
Zane's an expert photo bomber now. It drives me insane usually but this one was pretty cute.

Checking out some tarantulas. Zane reads the info to the other kids a lot.

They got to dig for worms and rolly poly bugs. Smith won't get near mud or bugs of any kind. He's a scaredy cat, but Emmy and Zane both love it.

I love this group of friends. We get to go out almost every Thursday night now (our husbands' boss's idea) and it's always such a good time. This night, we had to document our big dinner out downtown with all the young, hip people. I'm so thankful for these gals.

I'm also thankful for these ladies - my best buds - my sisters. We went to downtown Denver for a girls' getaway for TWO NIGHTS. We ate awesome food, played games, hung out at the rooftop pool, and had tons of uninterrupted time to catch up. Refreshing for sure. Thanks to Zack for having so much fun with the kids while we were gone and giving me a guilt-free getaway.

Emmy, Jord, and I went to the hospital to visit my cousin Jaimie and her husband Ryan's new baby Dylan. Emmy couldn't get enough of him. He was 5 POUNDS and so tiny and perfect. He was a little fussy when I held him and when she got to hold him, he got super comfy and fell right asleep. She's still rubbing it in.
I love her little face in this pic - so proud of herself.

All by herself. A 5 lb baby. How did my own daughter get this big?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Congrats on a beautiful baby!

We got to go to our church staff's second annual party at the Bay. They rent the whole place out for staff and families. It's so cool that the kids get to go free and do everything, with almost nobody else there. And of course, a night off of cooking dinner, which is always nice. Our kids had an absolute blast and we had fun too of course.

Zane hung with the big kids in the deep end. :)