Keegan's Birthday

We had a fun day celebrating our little man's birthday on Thursday!  The weather was so beautiful all day.  We talked about going to the zoo but we decided to avoid the spring break crowds and plan our zoo trip in a couple of weeks.  We started our morning with cinnamon rolls and presents from Mommy, Daddy & Sissy. We headed to the park, went out for lunch, then back home to get ready for Keegan's Mickey party. 

We celebrated with pizza, cake, ice cream and all of our family--Keegan's favorite foods and 10 favorite people :)  A mom of one of Ava's soccer teammates made the cutest Mickey cake and Keegan was so excited!  We had a fun time celebrating and I think our little guy felt very loved.  I still can't believe my youngest is two!  Where are the years going? 
Here are some pics of our fun night!

2 Years Old

Keegan Reese you are 2 years old today!  You have been so excited about turning two this month.  You sing the happy birthday song around the house and you are quick to tell others that you are "Two!" 

You have grown up so much the last three months.  You have really started talking and some days I think that you must say "Momma..." at least five hundred times to get my attention.  You get so excited when you try something and when you complete the task you yell "I did it!" all the time.  You are saying new things every day and we all get so excited about it.  Yesterday Ava yelled to me from the living room that you called her "silly" for the first time.  And you clapped and told your daddy "good job!" when he hit the ball off the tee last week.  We get so excited watching you learn and do new things and you are constantly cracking us up!

You don't hate going to church anymore.  In fact, Sunday was your 8th stay in the nursery without Mommy and Daddy getting paged!  I watched from outside your classroom last week as you played with the other kids and sang "I love to pat the Bible" and tears quickly came to me.  We always knew it would just take time but we are rejoicing that you enjoy your time in God's house now.  It was tough for a while!

We are still watching your little personality develop.  You are quiet and solemn the first thirty minutes we go somewhere and then you warm up and come alive.  You can be such a little ham but you always need time to check out your surroundings first.  My favorite thing to do with you is music and movement story time at our library.  I've watched you evolve from sitting and staring to now singing, dancing and drumming and I love when I hear you sing the same songs around the house.  I'm not sure why but you always sing "the more we get together" in the bath and it always makes me laugh.

I think the biggest news of all is that you SLEEP!  We have had six blissful months of beautiful, sound, incredible sleep and we are so thankful!  Most nights you don't get up even once.  It only took 18 months but you worth every bit of it.  I feel like I've had double the time with you since we hung out days and nights for so long.

It's hard to believe that I held you for the first time two years ago.  Just like with your sister, it was love at first sight.  You are the perfect addition to our family and we love watching you grow.  We are so thankful for you, proud of you and completely in love with you!  Happy Birthday sweet boy!

February Wrap-Up

Things have been quiet around the Hutchison house but church softball and Ava's soccer will start in a few weeks so we should enjoy the down time.  Jeff started school the end of last month so he has been busy with work, classes and family time but he's doing really well and I think we've found our groove in managing our time.  We are ridiculously proud of this guy!

I thought I would wrap up February today with pics from the last few weeks. 

January ended with this princess turning 2! 

We celebrated with a Bubble Guppies party....

And some exciting news!

We also had a surprise visit from Shelly and baby Nolan!

Keegan was convinced that Nolan's car seat belonged to him.

February photos....

Before dance class

Her recital is coming up in just 3 months!

The kids with my first Valentine gift from Jeff 10 years ago. It was love at first sight.

Ava always has a homework partner

Story time

Keegan's first bike ride Sunday afternoon

A stop for hopscotch at our neighborhood's elementary school

I can't believe Ava will be in school here in 6 months!

And lastly, two of my favorite pics from a few weeks ago.  They make my heart happy!

90 Years Old

On Saturday we celebrated my Grandaddy's 90th birthday with family in East Texas!  His girls threw a great birthday party for him and it was such a special day. 

I think he asked me at least a handful of times, "Did you know I'm 90 years old today!?  I love that he knew why we were celebrating.  He was excited to have so many there.  He and Grandmama will celebrate their 64th wedding anniversary in June.

We had cake, ice cream, lots of laughs and even a few tears.  Then we all headed out for his birthday dinner that evening.   

 Ava and I made his favorite cookies for him on Friday and she was excited to give them to him.  She was so afraid we were going to forget them.  She must have asked me a thousand times to 'not forget the cookies.'

I am so thankful that Ava will have memories and even a few stories about Grandmama and Grandaddy and her time with them.  She and Presley had so much fun playing with their cousins all day....

 Poor Keegan was not feeling great but I put him in one of my favorite shirts that morning and he started patting his chest and saying "Jesus, Jesus."  It took me a minute but once I realized he thought I was dressing him for church I couldn't stop laughing.  Guess I've been a little guilty of sweat pants and t-shirts this winter with the exception of church!  Still cracks me up as I type it.

 It was a very memorable day and we are so glad we could be a part of it.

Happy Birthday Grandaddy! We love you, we are thankful for you and as we've always sung at the end of every birthday song......And many more!

4.5

Our sweet Ava is getting closer to five years old!  Today she is four and a half and as entertaining as ever.  So much passion and sweetness is bundled up in this girl and she holds our hearts in her little hands. 

Her personality continues to come alive every month.  She is so witty and so silly!  Our days together are fun but she can wear me out.  She loves to be on the go.  Every night she asks me what we are doing the next morning and every morning she asks what we will be doing that night.  She always groans at "just playing and having dinner."  She would take a trip somewhere.....anywhere every night. 

 She is still loving school and she loves to dance.  She loves to play barbies and have Mommy read her books.  She started sounding out words a couple of months ago so we've been reading a lot of beginner-reader books.  She's growing up so fast!  Here's a list of some of Ava's favorites:

Favorite Places- The Library & The Mall

Favorite Book-  All Curious George (It's the first aisle she runs to at the library)

Favorite Food- Chicken Tacos (She would eat them every. single. night.)

Favorite Color- Green (Like Mommy)

Favorite Hobby- Painting & Dancing

Favorite Play - Barbies & Princesses

Favorite Movie- Tangled

She is such a protective and loving big sister and Keegan loves her so much.  They are growing closer every day.

Sweet Ava, I can't believe you will be 5 years old in six months!  You amaze us every day with the things you do and say.  We cherish every day we have with you sweet girl and we love you so very much!

A Park Day

Oh January......You force us indoors until we go stir-crazy! Then a random beautiful 70 degree day shows up to free us! 

 Plans with our friends fell through due to illness today so just the three of us packed the double stroller with a picnic lunch and went park-hopping.  The kids really wanted to swing later in the afternoon so we drove to yet another park that has swings.  There were no baby swings but this little guy didn't care.

Once we get to a park with swings, it's difficult to get Keegan to do anything else.  And the fit he throws when it's time to get off and go home always scares me.  This boy has loved to swing since he was tiny!

Looking more like a 2 year old every day....

Ava has become quite fearless lately in bounce houses, trampolines and on playgrounds. 

She's a climber.

My Silly 4 Year Old

I love to watch these two play together when it's just the two of them. 

Ava has become better at understanding Keegan that I am.  She tells me what he's trying to say all the time when I can't figure it out.  They can be so precious with each other.

And I love them so much it hurts!