My Big Boy is 4!

Cohen turns four this week, and we celebrated on Saturday with his friends and family. It was really fun planning his party this year. He helped plan and make almost everything!

Here is the backyard before the guests arrived.
He was our special "sprinkler" when making the cake balls.

We made this white chocolate covered popcorn with sprinkles for the party favors.

These special drinks were one of his creations...

He colored the labels and put his name on each of the bottles with stickers. Then attached the individual packets of kool-aid so each kid could pick their own flavor.

Cohen and his friend Douglas enjoying the snacks!

Silly boys!

My pretty girl with cake all over her face!

Once again, Cousin Jake made it up for the party!

Our very special guests, Cohen's great-grandmother, Mom Barr. And, we can't forget Nana!

Anxiously waiting to eat his cake pop!

Blowing out candles.

FINALLY!!

Our slip-n-slide relays! Each kid had to go down the slip-n-slide, shoot a basket and come back. Then the next round they had to go down again, eat a marshmallow, then make it back.

Then we played with the parachute and water balloons.

Having some brother/sister time in the bounce house.

Baby pool at the end of the slide... genius!

Afterward, they all came upstairs for an exciting game of BINGO.

My sweet Cohen, you are so special to us. Our family would not be the same without you. Your nurturing, empathetic, and joyful spirit make you a great big brother and a wonderful son. We love you!

Summer

So I haven't been very good at taking pictures this summer... Here are a couple of highlights that I did get on camera.

In July, Chad and I went on a cruise to celebrate his 30th birthday. With no cute kids tagging along with us, I really didn't have a reason to take the camera with me. Here are a few pictures that I did get...
We played some BINGO two or three times, but had no luck! Here is me with my losing pouty-face.
At our dinner table one evening. We made some really nice, new friends at our table.

A couple of weeks later, my mom, sister, and I went on a girls weekend trip to Fredericksburg for shopping, spa time, and some REALLY good food! We left the kids with Chad and my Dad.

Before we left, the girls had to get some Grammy time. Channing is always "loving" on her sister. This picture cracks me up. Campbell is like, "mom, are you going to do something about this?!?"

Silly girl!

This was our first night at dinner.

We made a stop in Luckenbach on Saturday night.

When Chandy and I walked out, we had almost the same outfit on... black outfits with turquoise jewelry. I guess sisters think alike!

An early morning breakfast stop at the bakery before heading to the spa.

Relaxing on the front porch.

The front porch of our cottage.

A great weekend with great memories!

Cereal Time in the Lawson House... again!

One of our projects for this weekend was to get Campbell to have her first shot at Rice Cereal. It was a messy experience, but I think it always is with the first try. Click here to see the blog post from Cohen's first cereal experience and here to see the post from Channing's first experience.

Catch-Up!!!

Here are several pictures taken over the past month.... Here's Chad man-handling all 3 kids. He played this role a lot over the past 2 months while our Project Mom Spring Tour was going on.... Super Dad!! Cohen has his final soccer game tomorrow. He had a great first season and had a lot of fun, so I think we'll be doing soccer again soon!

Here's his #1 fans!

Channing and I had a little photo shoot one day in the backyard. You can tell by her attire that this was taken several weeks ago. My little munchkin turned 17 months this past week. Oh yes, I have to take this opportunity to write down a cute and funny story about Channing... She LOVES to dance and sing. This girl can find a beat in anything! Even a breast pump, yes, that's right! All you moms out there know that rhythmn a breast pump makes. Everytime I start pumping she comes in and sways to the beat. It is HILARIOUS!

Our little Campbell turned 3 months yesterday. She loves to smile, and Chad and I both say that already smiles and cackles way more at this age than our other two.

A story I don't want to forget...

I had to write this down, because this is something I don't want to every forget.

Last night Cohen and I were reading his new Message Bible before bed. We were on the story about Judas betraying Jesus and being handed over to the Jews. When we got to the part where the Jews shouted, "Nail him to the cross!" this was our conversation....
Mommy: "Does that make you sad that they had Jesus nailed to the cross?"
Cohen: "Yes, but it's kind of happy too."
Mommy: "It is? Why is it happy?"
Cohen: "Because it made him save me from that bad stuff in my heart."
Mommy: "You're right. Who told you that? Did Daddy talk to you about that?"
Cohen: "No, I just know it."

I couldn't say anything because I was so choked up and began to cry.

Cohen: "why are you crying?"
Mommy: "because I'm so happy that you know it."

That's my son- 3 years, 5 months, and 8 days old- wise beyond his years! Thank you God!

Channing at one year!

A couple of weeks before Campbell was born we had our friend Shannon take Channing's one year pictures.
There is one word to describe Channing and that's EXTREME! She's either laughing or crying, there is no in between! She keeps us on our toes and there is never a dull moment at the dinner table. Oh yes, and this girl is a singer. She can't hear a note of music without dancing and "singing" along. She keeps us all laughing at her silly faces, crazy personality, and VERY loud voice. I can honestly say that my one year old is one of the funniest people I know!

Sweet Channing, you bring so much joy to our lives and I love you!