Birthdays

During the summer we have quite a few birthdays. We sort of lumped everyone together this year because, well, I’m lazy. The days of fancy birthday parties are over folks! I say just come on over, we’ll eat some cake, sing a song, and throw a football around. 
At least that’s what we did for Jefferson’s birthday this year.
Except it wasn’t cake we ate, it was pie. Pie is his favorite dessert. We had pumpkin, strawberry, cherry, and berry pie. Here he is blowing out his candles.

We were also celebrating Kennedy’s birthday, my mom’s, and our friend Paulette’s birthday as well (hence the need for 4 pies). We would have thrown one in there for Shawn’s birthday too, but he was gone. 
Here’s the group of us. Paulette lives here in our city. She’s my East Coast mom! Her family lived next to us when we lived in Pollock Pines. James and I were best buddies when we were 4 years old. And here we are today, just a few years older.

My mom and I decided to surprise Jefferson with a wall of balloons for his birthday. More like “I” decided, and forced her to stay up late helping me. I saw the idea online and I’m so glad we did it. We blew up 200 balloons. Yes, there are 200 in there! We got a great reaction too, except I couldn’t capture it on camera because I had no idea when he was going to open the door, and I wasn’t obsessive enough to sit in front of the door all night long.
  

I think he felt loved though.
When Shawn returned we took him and a couple of his friends (Trent and Brenna) to the movies. They saw Oz.
Here is Jefferson at 9 years old! 
  

He has turned into such a handsome boy. I love him to death!
If I were stranded on a deserted island and could only choose one of my children to be with me it would be Jefferson.
Trust me, I love each of my children equally, but I really would take him with me on the island. I would have a better chance of survival. Even as we speak he is in the backyard carving arrows for his bow from broken tree branches. He’s already made a spear that he’s tried to catch fish with in the stream. He loves adventure and NEVER complains. He could be sopping wet, uncomfortable, and tired, but will keep hiking (and love it). He would build our island house, hunt food, and keep me entertained because he NEVER STOPS TALKING! From random facts, to stories, to philosophical questions, this boy always has something to say. He could handle the wild animals on the island because he has no fear. I’ve seen him catch frogs, lizards, and snakes without flinching. He has an optimism that would keep me happy on the loneliest of days (because an island can be lonely). He has an adventurous spirit and a thirst for knowledge. I watch him every day and wish I could be young again… and his friend, because he is the best, loyal friend of all!
And I can say all this because I’m his mom. And Mom’s have unlimited pride for their son’s.
Jefferson got a BB Gun for his birthday (I’ll have  him take that with us to the island).

Shawn missed Kennedy’s 1st birthday (criminal). So, we had a second celebration for her when he returned.
Her gifts were too big to wrap, so we had them setting out for her to see when she woke from her nap. She got a slide and a cozy coupe.
Here’s the little driver… she LIVES in this thing!

With her dog Spot, she got from Grandma Skinner. I cannot emphasize how much she loves this dog. Give her a singing animal or a toothbrush and she is a happy girl. (yes, a toothbrush. She’s weird)

After playing with her gifts, she had her birthday cake. Yummy! She devoured it.
 

She had a bit too much fun with it actually…


Shawn had a birthday too! I didn’t get a picture of just him. But I did get a nice picture with him!
What do you think? Does he look older?
Nope, he still looks 20 to me.

Happy Birthday Kennedy, Jefferson, Mom, and Shawn! The summer birthdays.
Now we have a bit of a break until Jan when we’re flooded with the winter birthdays. Not that I overexerted myself this year or anything. But a break is always nice!