Zach's Birthday!

It is really hard to believe he is 7.  I see the changes, the growth, the progress each day...I know how hard he has worked over the past few years and how much he has really grown up in so many ways.  It doesn't go unnoticed by me, not for a minute.  But, as wonderful as it all is, it is hard to see my baby growing up too.  

He had a fantastic birthday and for that I am thrilled...he has been so excited, for months, about turning 7.  I promised him if he learned to tie his shoes he could have a laser tag birthday party. I think bribery is awesome...he can tie his shoes.  He had a great party and a lot of people came...almost everyone he invited came and most of all the kids he really cares about and likes came...that was the best part.  Some you know are there just because it is a party, but some, they come for the child and we knew who those were.  

He had a big day...his exact words as I walked into his class holding cupcakes, "This is the best day ever mom". He had lost his first tooth at lunch the Friday (the 20th), before his birthday.  He was the last child in his class to lose a tooth, he was over the moon.  He bit into an apple at lunch and I guess it became super loose and a teacher helped pull it.  He was grinning ear to ear...photos below.  

We took him out to Texas Roadhouse for dinner per his request...he loves their steak bites. My horrible eater is now a picker eater, but a good eater...if he likes it, watch out.  He got to ride the saddle while he was sung happy birthday...Photo below also...he had a blast!!!!  

Brandon and I talked a lot about our special boy...we laughed and joked and I cried too.  It is amazing to me how far he has come, especially the last 3-4 years.  He is a remarkable little boy.  I won't say we haven't been challenged, but we have been given so much more in return.  He is really a joy in every sense of the word.  He is full of light, smiles and love. He is so excited to do things and always giving huge hugs.  He is my buddy and a good person.  I am thankful every day for the gift of him in my life. More than anything else in my life, he has given me a purpose and brought more joy to my life than I had thought possible.  I am forever thankful that I was given the honor to be his mom.  I hope he always knows how much he is loved and how thankful I am for him. 

Here is the fabulous birthday in photos!!!

Me and the birthday boy!

     Lucky me with both my babies...

 The boys

 He had a blast!

 Showing off his tooth.

 Yes, he was super excited!

 Having his class sing to him...

 Mrs. Sides First grade...

 He loved his huge # 7 balloon...

 Not the cake I ordered, but the one we got...still cute and tasted good.

 At laser legend.

 Making a big wish!

 Atta boy!

 You did it.

 You are 7...hope this year is all you dreamed and more!

Just need to say it...

Getting older really is starting to be something I think about...I NEVER thought I would be saying this at 34.  I am the person that only 3 years ago in California got ID'd on my birthday dinner with my husband, ordering wine.  I usually have people say, "No way." when I tell them my age, most assuming I am still in my twenties.  So why I am having a crisis now?
Reality check.  I am not 20 anymore.  My body for sure isn't.  I have been so good for the last few months going to the gym...joining a gym was awesome enough, but I went to it.  I have been eating well (I am a decent eater as it is).  But still I am 8 lbs more than I was when we moved here two years ago and more than I want to be.  I am stuck.  I gave up soda this week....for the 100th time in my life, but hey, I am all about try, try, try again.
I am so done with doing all this work and seeing no results that I told Brandon it was time for him to deploy...nothing drops the pounds like the deployment diet.  I would take up smoking again, except for the fact that most ex smokers learn to hate smoking and the smell of it...I think it is how you convince yourself to stop...so that road is closed.  I would love to find the metabolism fairy that came in the night one birthday and stole my friend.  I had good metabolism....that bitch gave me no warning and now I am here, in the land of I want to lose 5-10 pounds that most women dwell in once they get to be a certain again...it is not the land I had signed up for or thought I would arrive at right now.  Yes, I am bitter.  But, I am continuing to suffer and try to lose this darn jiggle and pudge.  I do however wish all seats were either higher up or cushioned so the day after body pump wasn't so painful for me.
Several friends here are going to the gym with me and have more to lose than me...I know they think I am whining and being silly, but really I refuse to go up a size in clothes, I refuse to feel yucky.  One friend even started those HCG shots...she lost 22 pounds and was only 8 pounds heavier than me when she started...if they didn't sounds scary and not FDA approved, I would say sign me up.
So now, I get ready to head back to the gym, suffer some more and hope for the best.  Is this what being in your 30's means. Constantly looking in the mirror and finding new things to work on...Well I refuse to take this sitting down...basically because I can't today after being tortured in body pump yesterday...I will keep fighting and hoping one day I will see results or my metabolism again. If you see me and I am hunched over eating motrin don't be shocked. :)

Mother's Day 2011

We had a nice mother's day this year....nothing fancy, but very nice.  We headed to church in the morning. I actually teared up because the sermon was really great. After, I went and got a pedicure and did some errands.  Ironically I did most of the kids birthday shopping. Then we had a wonderful brunch at the O'Club on base.  It was nice and I felt so blessed to have a great family on such a special day.  Many people dream of growing up to have a certain job, but I always knew I wanted to be a mom.  I am so glad my dreams came true and I have two awesome children who I adore.  I couldn't have asked for more and not one day goes by that I don't know how blessed I am.  I am very thankful!

Best Buddies

I can't lie, I am pretty lucky that Zach and Erin love each other so much. It has really always been this way...even when they fight and bicker, all siblings do that, they still get along better than I could have hoped.  Most days they fight because someone took a toy, or broke a toy or is using a toy...you get the idea.  But when they are left to play alone and given free reign to do what they want, I often find things like this...

Zach busy building a lego creation after church last weekend and Erin lined up all of her stuffed animals to be his audience. Sweet moments...moments I really treasure.  I know that in our life, with moves in our future that will be more frequent, this friendship is so important.  I am thankful for it every day.