Asher's 1st b-day party

We had Asher's 1st b-day party with some friends today at Gotha Park. It was very low key, but fun all the same. Thanks to everyone for coming to celebrate with us! I can't believe it's been a year since he was born. It really doesn't feel like it. I can remember so clearly leaving for the hospital on Mother's Day last year...and the long night the went on and on and on. And for sweet Jessica for sticking it out the whole night with Sean and I. Good times! And finally meeting my precious 3rd son the next morning. What a great time and a great delivery. He has been a blessing ever since and a huge joy in our lives!

My boys playing before everyone got there

Going down the slide with Dallas
Sliding all by himself!! First time!
I love swinging
Baseball!
Playing in the sand box(which is actually a big volleyball court)

Playing "their" version of volleyball
Having snacks of goldfish and pretzels with juice boxes
Happy Birthday to Asher!
Cookie Monster cupcakes (my mom made the same ones for me on my 4th b-day and I still remember them....brought back good memories so I thought I would make them for Asher) My own cupcake!

Humm, this icing thing ain't so bad!

Cookie Monster...yummmmmyummm
Dallas enjoying his cupcake

Milk break for Asher and Lucas (they are 2 months apart)
Play dough favors. Rebecca gave me the idea after she said she thought I would have used this photo I had posted on my blog for the invite saying it would be a hair raising good time. I thought that was a great idea, but since I had already given the invites this would have to work! Asher enjoyed opening his presents with Dallas while Boston was in school and played with them for a long time before naptime. After school we headed to church for Wed night stuff and everyone was beat by the time we got home. It was a very fun day!

Celebrating Asher's b-day and Mother's Day

Tonight we went over to my parents to celebrate Mother's Day and also Asher's 1st b-day, which is on Wednesday. Sean's parents came as well as my Uncle Mike and Aunt Elsie from south Florida. We had a great time hanging out on the patio and the boys loved swimming, especially when Uncle Hes joined in the fun. Asher loved opening all his presents (with lots of help) and was entertained by all the new stuff.

Asher climbed up in this chair for the first time and was very proud of himself

Stuffed animal from Nena and Papa (he just loved it). They also got him some rings, a moving train with balls and cars that he's enjoying.
"Daddy, can't you open it any faster!"
Riding the present from mommy and daddy

His favorite part was the cake though. His first real time having sugar! He dove right in! But he didn't really want to get his hands in it that much, what he really wanted to do was stick his face into it and eat it. He just couldn't figure out how to accomplish that! I didn't make this cake. Too much going on and I knew I was going to make his cupcakes for the party this week. I just added the Pooh figures and candle on the top. He didn't seem to mind that mommy didn't make it, although it greatly bothered me that I had not....ugh...the guilt!

1st b-day cake
Dallas loved "helping" him out, which really meant feeding himself come cake, "Yummy, this is good. I think I'll have another bite!"

Asher's Dedication & Mother's Day

We dedicated Asher this morning during the Mother's Day service at church. We had my parents and my brother and Sean's parents and his grandma Blanche there for the occasion. Boston even joined in the festivities for a little while, he was begging me to see it, I thought it was so cute. Pastor David even had our family and friends come up to pray over us as a family. John and Levi also came for this as well. It was a very nice dedication. And the service was wonderful as well. He talked about the Proverbs 31 woman. A passage in the bible that can stress any mom out. This lady did it all! But he talked mainly about the last verse “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.”- Proverbs 31:30 (I went to get this verse of biblegateway.com and it was the verse of the day today...crazy!) He talked about how you don't have to do all the things the woman in the verses did, all God asks is that you fear the Lord and be like Jesus basically. He talked about Charm being an air or disguise that you put on that you are perfect, your house is perfect, your kids are perfect. I hope no one ever thinks that of me...I'm surely NOT perfect at all. And this verse is comforting. You don't need to put on a "show" for people, be a God fearing woman who puts forth her best and God will praise you for that.

And Happy Mother's Day to all the mommy's reading this! It didn't really feel that much like mother's day to me today because I was really more focused on the dedication more than anything. But I do celebrate the fact that I am a mom, what a joy it is, what a blessing God granted me! And I also feel so blessed to have a wonderful mom myself. One that always has and always will care so deeply for her children. Thank you mom!

Disney, EPCOT and extreme heat

We went to Magic Kingdom and then EPCOT today. Boy was it hot...but still fun! I definatly got some much needed sun! Road our favorite rides at Magic Kingdom, daddy bought the boys pirate guns, had lunch at Casey's Corner and headed to EPCOT on the monorail. I think this is all of our favorite park right now. There is just so much to do here. Of course, lots of walking as well. Today we took them on the Universe of Energy ride because we have been talking about mechnical dinasours and I thought it would be good for them to see them. Unfortunetly they discuss Big Bang theory as a fact so now I have some reeducating to do in telling them that is NOT how the world was created. We won't be riding this ride anymore...ugh. It's not that I think badly of anyone that believes this theory, it's just that it's a theory, and for Disney to display it as a fact is not correct....on to other fun. Dallas rode Soarin' for the first time and loved it, other than the fireworks at the end. We saw all the countries, road Nemo and more. We didn't leave until about 10pm...long fun day!

Daddy and the big boys riding in the cars

We found trains indoors out of the raging heat...yeah! (today was the hottest day yet this year!)

We always see bunnies when we are at the parks, so funny. And they aren't scared at all of us, they just sit there.
Playing drums in Africa (it was Africa hot!!!)
This is actually a playground, part of it is a big rock. Playgrounds have come a long way. All natural now
Boston DallasAsher's 1st b-day pin!

Boston made a indian hat in the teepee in the Peter Pan playground area
Uncle Hes, Dallas, Daddy, Asher and Boston....craziness!!
In the canoe in Peter Pan area

The boys love the shark playground...talk about it ALL THE TIME!

Mexian food, Helton humor, knifes, pirates and more!

Family Friday night we spent with the Heltons. They invited us to have dinner with them at this hole in the wall Mexican restaurant in Winter Garden that was really great. The kids were so excited to see each other and entertained each other for quite a while. They had so many stories to share it was cute to watch them talk. We sat all the kids at one end of the table and the adults at the other and actually got some "adult" time in...LOL Then we headed over to their house. I love it when our kids get together because the boys all play so great together, never any problems. Makes for a stress-free evening! Boston even got to play John's drums and he talked about it the whole way home! All the boys got dressed up in pirate garb while John showed Sean his collection of knifes. Quite a funny evening!

Boston Choir Performance

(Pictures will be posted tomorrow)

Tonight Boston's 4 year old choir (well they are all 5 year old now, but still 4 year old choir) had their end of the year performance titled "PJ Party-Prayers for Jesus." (That's why they are all wearing their PJ's) Boston has been singing the songs since they first week they started back in January. So he was especially excited to finally get to perform what he has been working on for so long. Last week he even got upset me because he thought I had missed their performance, but they were just rehearsing on stage. He was just WONDERFUL tonight. Of course I am biased being his mom and all. He was smiling ear to ear the moment he walked through the door to head on stage. The little performer in him was bursting to get out! He sang his heart out, even had his own had motions when their weren't any. He just wanted to move and sing his little heart out. Sean and I couldn't stop smiling and being soooo proud of him!! And when a lot of the kids were bored with singing, he just kept on all the way to the end. His favorite some is "I've Got a Locket in My Pocket, that Reminds me to Pray." Nena, Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt Suzanne were also all their. We are so proud of you Boston and look forward to many more performances from our little star in the future!

This last picture is of Sean and John...they kept making silly faces at the boys before the performance that had them cracking up (Teague and Boston were seperated by a girl inbetween)