Happy Birthday Boo!

Happy Birthday Boo!  August 29th...that day when you made my life even happier!  I will never forget seeing you for the first time after you were born.  You were soooo big and the T-shirt you were wearing was way to big for you.  The nurses told me that they didn't have an outfit that would fit you in the nursery so they had to borrow a shirt from the children's wing...being 10 pounds and 6 ounces...I can see why.  Your face was precious, your eyes were so blue, and you had the most beautiful soft skin...you were finally mine.  From that day you have always been an amazing child.  You have so much love to give, are so kind and caring, and make us laugh everyday with your funny jokes and funny faces.  Our lives wouldn't be the same without you and I pray every day for your health, your happiness, your safety, and most importantly...for being chosen by God to be your Mommy.  You are my Boo and will always be my Boo.  You're growning up now and have so many interests, have discovered so many new things, and I look forward to seeing you pursue your dreams.  Happy 4th birthday Isaiah.  We love you!

 



Today at preschool Isaiah wanted to bring Star Wars cupcakes, grapes, and juice boxes for his friends.  When I picked him up today he was proudly wearing the birthday crown they gave him.  I really wanted a pictures of him wearing it...but after school he was not in the mood for a snapshot.  We headed home and made cupcakes for Julie's house...his daycare.  Tomorrow he doesn't have preschool and will be celebrating with this friends there.

I ordered lots of Star Wars decorations for his birthday party on Sunday.  He was beyond thrilled to get it in the mail yesterday and with the help of his big sister...they sorted through everything.  In this picture he's sporting one of the Yoda party hats.

Helping Mommy mix the cupcake batter.

Who doesn't love to lick the beater when you're done. 

Through this whole cupcake making process, Ava was happily playing school in the family room.  She LOVES school now and I mean LOVES, LOVES, LOVES it.  You can tell by the things she says that she is trying to be like her teacher Mrs. Upah when she plays school.  Here is a picture of her "reading her class" a Junie B. Jones story. 

My Three Happy's
1) My baby is turning four tomorrow.  We invited our families to meet us at Hickory Park for dinner tomorrow night to celebrate.  His big party is on Sunday.
2) Ahhh, the house is finally quiet.  The past hour has been a little noisy...lots of crying and screaming from the kids.  They were so tired today that we put them to bed early.  After much arguing and stalling...I think everyone has finally drifted off to sleep.  Hooray!  Now I can sneak into Isaiah's room and decorate it for his birthday.
3) Baby Richardson must be doing well!  This Mama is not sick and never was.  The funny thing is that sweets sound kind of yucky to me.  Anything involving vegetables and seafood is a YES for cravings.  I guess that's better than stuffing myself with cupcakes.  I think I'm beginning to get past the tired stage.  At night I'm beat!  But during the day I find myself having a little more energy.  April will come sooner than we know it and I am so excited to be a mommy again.  This little baby is already loved more than it knows.  Today Isaiah brought home a page that he made with pictures that represent our family.  There was a boy he colored for himself, a girl for "sissy,"  a daddy, a mommy, and a baby that was glued on top of my stomach.  Too cute!

My Favorite:
1) Texas Roadhouse ribs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Can I say they are to die for.  The kids and I were running errands after church on Sunday and happened to drive by it.  It didn't look too busy so we decided to try it out.  There was no wait and Andy met us there after his football meetings.  I thought the ribs at Disney World were the best...yeah...those are good...but the ones at Texas Roadhouse...delicious.

What's Excitng?

What's exciting?

1) The fact that I finally started blogging again.  Seriously...this was the longest that I've ever gone without posting something.  With all that's been going on...I've just been soooo busy!

2)  Back to School Night...on Tuesday afternoon we had teacher work day and my Mom brought the kids up so we could do their "Back to School Night."  We went to their classrooms so they could drop off their supplies, see their new rooms, and meet their new teachers.  

 Here's Isaiah in his preschool classroom.  He was all ready to go.  The other day I asked him if he was excited for preschool.  He said, "I don't like preschool...I LOVE it."  I think his big sister has told him about all the fun things he will be doing.  He starts tomorrow!  My baby is in school!  It can't be!

 He picked out this Pottery Barn Star Wars backpack by himself.  Isaiah's starting to unpack all the supplies he brought.

 Why not try out the exercise bike they had in the classroom.  He remembered this from when he came into Ava's room last year.



 Miss Ava posing in front of her cubby in her kindergarten room.  My...it's hard for me to say that.  How can she be this old too?   She picked out her Pottery Barn purple polka dot backpack too.

 Ava with her new teacher Mrs. Upah.  This lady is amazing.  She's kind, gentle, caring, sweet, and is an outstanding teacher!  Ava already loves her...although we have shed a few tears at recess and lunchtime.  Ava told me that she doesn't like all the kids outside.  She's used to her small preschool class of 16 and is transitioning into 140ish students.  She's like her mother...she doesn't do well with change.  In the classroom she's fine...we're just working through getting used to recess and lunch.   It will get better...cross your fingers.

 Our family on Back to School Night...all five of us!

3) The first day of Kindergarten!

Here is Ava before we left for her first day of kindergarten.  She picked out her own outfit, got dressed and came out of her room that morning all ready to go, and was very excited.  She loved the first two days...with the exception of recess and lunch...and came home exhausted!

4) The Ballard High School fall kickoff

 The kids and I dressed in our full Ballard gear and headed up to the football stadium to watch Andy's team scrimmage and to watching the fall sports athletes get introduced.  As I've mentioned in earlier posts the kids love concession stand food.  Isaiah had nachos, a hotdog, popcorn, and licorice.  Ava had 2 hotdogs, popcorn, and licorice.  How cute are these two?

5) Isaiah's first day of preschool!



 Tomorrow is Isaiah's official first day of 4 year old preschool.  One of his jobs was to create a placemat to use for snack time.  We used lots of Star Wars and smiley face stickers, pictures of our family, and a Cyclone picture to decorate it.  He was very proud of it!  He said, "I'm working really hard on this!"  He decorated both sides, we laminated it, and now it's ready to go for tomorrow!

6) A Big Brother and Big Sister...did you catch the comment under the picture of our family at Back to School Night?  If not...go back up and look!  Our family of four will be turning into a family of five in April!  We're having another baby!



I ordered an iron-on decal from Etsy and made shirts for the kids to wear when we told all the Grandpas and Grandmas.  Isaiah proudly wore his and he says he wants a little brother.

 Ava was excited to wear hers too and hopes for a little sister.

 Mommy and her three babies...and I must say that my stomach is growing much faster than last time!!!  I have a feeling it's going to be another big baby!  Isaiah was 10 pounds and 6 ounces...they say your babies get bigger the more you have!

We have lots to celebrate so Andy and I ordered a cake to bring to school on Thursday...our first day back last week.  We've done this for all our kids to announce my pregnancy.   It was all gone by the end of the day...must have been good!

My Three Happy's:

1) My third little one...I can't wait to be a Mommy again!  The kids will be an amazing big brother and big sister!

2) The weekend...yes it's about over...but after being on my feet for two days straight, I was ready for a break.  I'm going through that tired phase right now...I know it will pass...I just hope sooner rather than later.

3)This afternoon we're taking the kids up to the ISU Cyclone Fest for kids.  They have inflatables, you get to meet Cy, tour the football locker room, get tattoos, and lots of other cool stuff.  I know the kids will love it!

My Favorite Thing:

*Albacore tuna with mayo and pickle relish on wheat bread...can we say pregnancy craving!