Five has been my favorite number since I can remember. It is always my lucky number when I have to pick one; It is always the number I pick when someone says “choose a number between one and ten!”  It is the number I picked for every sport I played. But today, it has a different meaning.

Today, my sweet baby boy, turns 5 years old. F.I.V.E. How in the world did that happen!? I know every parent says time flies by once you have kids, and I know that that is the case, except today I actually feel it passing too quickly. Up until today, I could still refer to Jackson as ‘my little man,’ or ‘my little dude,’ but now, he is totally a big kid! His next school year is going to be when he starts elementary school! That is just crazy to me – there doesn’t seem to be enough time that has past since the first time I held him that he should be going to kindergarten in the fall! On the other hand, days like yesterday when that sweet baby boy reminds me he can be a clone of ‘Denise the Menace’ I believe he is in fact, a big kid! But I’ll take it. All of it. I don’t care how old he is, he will always be my sweet baby boy. I guess all those hundreds of children’s books are right – once mommys baby, always mommys baby.

Jackson David -

Happy Happy Birthday! I cannot believe you are already 5 years old! You have been waiting for this birthday your whole life (so far!) You often remind me, you can have gum ‘when you’re five,’ you can have friends sleepover ‘when you’re five,’ you can have ‘two treats instead of just one ‘when you’re five.’ Well, here you are.  You are five! You have grown up so quickly and I have seen your smiling face everyday become more and more fascinated with everything you do. You greet everyday with such curiosity. You are always searching to figure things out, move things, switch things.  The way you translate concepts amazes me. The way you put things together and make connections completely blows me away. Your smile is killer! Your giggle is infectious. You heart is without boundaries.  You are one of the funniest little guys I have ever met, I adore your sense of humor!  You are just like Mommy when you love to laugh! I love watching you play with your sister who adores you and wants to be your very best friend. Youre kind and gentle (except when she wants a turn before you’re finished!) and you are very considerate of all your friends.  Your family loves you so much and we have loved watching you grow every day of your five years so far!  Thank you for teaching me so much as your Mommy.  You have taught me things I never would have dreamed.  I cannot wait to see what’s waiting for you in this next year.  You are my sunshine and I love you with all my heart and soul.

You are and always will be, my I love you.

Love,
Mom

Yesterday I packed up the kiddos and we headed out to a local park… and I actually brought my camera for my own kids!  I feel like I haven’t photographed my own kids doing what they love without any rules and (or bribery!!) in a long time.  So yesterday I decided that’s what I was going to do.  I took off my ‘photographers’ hat and put on my ‘mom’ hat and took photographs so I remember. Imperfect. Average outfits. Bright sunshine. Happy.

I want to remember their giggles. Their silly sunglasses. The way Molly’s pigtails dance in the wind when she’s on the swing. The way Jackson climbs through tunnels and forts. The way Molly loves to play peek-a-boo anywhere. The way Jackson is venturing into things that previously had scared him. The way they cling on to me when I asked them to sit with me. I just want to remember.

So these? These are for me. Me the Mom; not me the photographer.

Climbing through tunnels.

Peek-a-boo, Molly!

Those sunglasses just kill me!

Jumping bean!

My greatest blessings

I love you both to the moon and back. Thanks for picking me to be your mom.

You are the very best thing I’ve ever done in my life,

I love you forever.

Mom

From these Crazies to yours! Merry Christmas.

I hope your Christmas is filled with love, joy, laughter and most of all peace…

Much Love to you and yours,

Just a few snapshots of the kiddos – none of which were what I had in my head – but all of which are exactly what I want to remember.

Molly's excited for Jelly Beans -- A first for her!

The face I get when I ask for a nice smile lately.

the almost posed nice looking picture. that failed terribly.

First Egg of the outdoor Easter Egg Hunt!

makes me happy.

the Ladybug sharing her egg - Jackson less then impressed.

a change of shoes and dancing in the afternoon sunlight!

We hope your Easter was filled with love, laughter and sunshine too!

Much Love,

A friend of mine posted an old post from Seth Godin’s blog the other day and the post struck me.  And reminded me why I’m so thankful for so many people in my life.

You matter