Happy Birthday, Dylan!

I feel like I was just sitting down yesterday to fill out pages in his baby book, but atlas I'm sitting down tonight to write down Birthday wishes for my sweet baby's 7th Birthday. Dylan is seven years old today. Wow. That does not even seem possible.

We had a wonderful day that was full of fun and sweet memories. I can't wait to post every single detail, but I am so tired that I can not even see straight, so it will wait for tomorrow. Birthdays are a big deal here in the Hilburn house. I mean, they only happen once a year, right? And you only turn 7 (or 3, or 25, or 30, or...) once in your whole life! If Birthday's don't call for celebrating in a big way, I just don't know of anything else that does. My goal is always to make the day special and full of fun from the moment our Birthday boy or girl wakes up until the time the go to bed. Its a lot of work and planning, and at the end of the day I feel like I've been hit by a train, but its all SO worth it. We're investing in memories here. That's what I tell myself and Daniel.

Again, I'll do a full recap soon, tonight I just want to record a little note for my Birthday Boy. We go back and read the blog as a family from time to time, and I also plan to print it soon, so I treat it much like a journal. So, bare with me if your not into the mushy gooshyness that is about to ensue.

Dylan,

My sweet, sweet Sunshine. I can hardly believe that you are seven years old today. I know I say it every year, but I feel like I was just holding you in my arms and rocking a newborn baby to sleep. Now, you are a big boy that still loves for your Mommy to hold you in my arms while you fall to sleep. You might not fit cradled in my arms any more, and your getting closer to outgrowing my lap, but you will never outgrow the love I have for you in my heart.

I remember once taking you to the mall when you were a tiny baby. You were probably about 4 months old. While we were strolling around, I over heard a little boy asking his Daddy for a guitar. The dad said "Maybe when you turn seven in a few months." I looked down at you, a tiny little baby, and thought "Wow! One day HE will be seven." Back then, that seemed like light years away. It would surely take you thousands of years to turn seven, to become a kid and not a baby. I'll never forget staring at you and wondering what you would be like when you finally did grow into that seven year old kid. I wondered if you would want Daddy to buy you a guitar or if you would want action figures, or maybe video games? What would you look like and how would your voice sound?

Let me tell you, Love Bug, you are every bit as amazing as I ever dreamed, on that night or any other, that you would be.

You are funny and smart. You make us laugh every single day. And there aren't any days that go by that we are not impressed by your smart little brain. You are a fast learner and are eager to learn all sorts of new things. You remind me so much of you Daddy in that way. I hope that trait sticks with you for all of your life.

You are kind and compassionate. You blow me away with the kindness inside your heart. I can't even put words to it. You are just a ray of pure sweetness. You are of course like anyone else and can be angered or maybe you act ugly from time to time, but it really is a rare thing. Again, I pray that this sticks with you for the rest of your life.

You are SO creative. You are always creating. Coloring, playing make believe, writing stories, writing songs and movie scrips. I really believe that you will do something with all that creativity one day when you grow up.

I don't mean to make it sound as though you are perfect. No one is. You make mistakes. We have bad days. You and your sister fight. You are typical little boy in that way. And there is not one thing wrong with that. You not perfect, but you are perfect for us. You are the most perfect fit for our family and we love you so, so much. You were a big surprise when you came into this world, Dylan. But I have no doubt in my mind that you were God's exact plan for me and for Daddy. You made us parents and you made us a family. You taught us a love that we could have never imagined. And you teach us new things all the time.

Seven is going to be great for you, my love. You will have so much fun in first grade. You're going to love all the new opportunities that seven is bringing you. Some things you are already looking forward to are, boyscouts, sleepovers, and baseball. And there are so many more that you haven't even thought of yet. Six was brilliant and such a fun year, but I think your going to love seven even more!

I love you with all of my heart. As big as the sky.

Mommy.

Celebrate!

This weekend was all about celebrating.

Saturday morning, London and I slipped out, just the two of us, to celebrate a beautiful little birthday girl who was having her 3rd birthday! "L's" party was so much fun, and London had the best time. The highlight for Miss Priss was definitely getting to ride a horse! She is still talking about it..

Saturday evening, my mom came over for Dylan's favorite meal...

Breakfast for Dinner!

This was not meant to be anything special, just some breakfast foods for dinner, but one thing led to another and the next thing I know it became an event of its own.

Dylan decide he would set the table for us.
He did it "all fancy".

Then he decided that he needed to write the menu on our kitchen chalk board.

Which could only mean that our kitchen was now a restaurant.

And a fancy one at that.

Dylan was our waiter.

After a delicious dinner,

Dylan decided a dance party was in order.

So, dance we did...

Dylan cracks me up with all the things he thinks up with for us to do.

Sometimes I wonder where he comes up with this stuff.

We love it though and want to encourage his creativity and love for the small things that make life so fabulously grand.

Speaking of fabulous and grand, Sunday was our fabulous Daddy's birthday and it was quite grand. Actually, it was completely laid back and relaxed, but that's exactly what he wanted and so its what he got, which is grand. :)

I am cherishing all these sweet moments of life. Its always in the back of my mind that sooner than later my babies will be all grown up and life will be so, so different. I'm thankful everyday for being Mommy to my two sweet babes and a wife to an amazing man. Its a privilege that I try to never take for granted.

Here's to celebrating life and all of the little moments that make it so sweet!

My Little Ballerina

My beautiful baby girl is now a Ballerina.

I'm going to fess up, and admit that this is actually her second week of ballet.

Her first day of class was last week . I brought my camera, but if you know me, you already knew that. The only problem was that I failed to make sure the camera had its memory card in it.

*sigh*

By the time she got home last week, her hair had fallen down and she just wasn't

"Look at me this is my first day of Ballet" picture ready.

So we're faking it.

For sake of picture taking...

this is her first day of ballet (with mommy's camera).

Look how beautiful this sweet ballerina is...

The thing with London is that you really never know how she is going to react to something new until she reacts. Vacationing with her is never extremely easy because she does not always do "new" well. Leave her in her routine with things she knows well, and she is the sweetest, happiest little love bug. Go with the flow, she is not though.

Before her first class, I told Daniel that I was just holding my breath that she would like it and want to do it. Here's another thing about London... if she doesn't want to do it, she's really not going to (with out a big fight anyways). In the days leading up, I would ask her if she was excited and some days she said she was, but some days she would give me her best pout and say "NO! I'm not doing ballet!"

So you can imagine my relief that she doesn't like the class

she LOVES it.

Thank you Lord!

Its so sweet to watch her in class. She listens and follows directions so well. I could just eat her up with a spoon, she is so sweet and cute!

I can hardly wait until her first recital!

First Day of First Grade

Its official. My little man is a First Grader!

He was so excited about starting school, that he actually asked to go to bed Sunday night. And that's really something coming from a kid who is always asking for one more _____... whatever he can think of to get out of going to bed.

Lets talk first day now:

I always make a fun breakfast for the first day of school. Those who know me well, know how I love an excuse to celebrate. And going to first grade? That's a great excuse!

I saw these rainbow waffles on the web a few weeks ago and I instantly knew they were going to be part of our first day festivities. How cute are they?! The kids loved them.

We got dressed and headed out the door to....

TAKE LOTS OF PICTURES!

Here is my little man ready for the first day!

THEN we headed to school.

For the first time since Dylan's been in school, and perhaps the last for the year, we were early enough to have to wait in the cafeteria. I was sorta impressed with us.

I have this same shot for every year that Dylan's been in school. Stay tuned for the "Over the Years" photos.

After about 10 minutes in the cafeteria, we were dismissed and sent to the classroom.

I remember the first day of Kindergarten, Dylan was so timid and unsure of what to do. This year, as a first grader, he was sure and confident. He didn't look to us for help, he simply did as he was told by his teacher. He gave us a quick kiss and was ready to start the day.

Mommy, on the other hand, was ready to take a seat in the corner and quietly watch for the rest of the day.

As seems to be our tradition, we took London to the park for some special time with Daddy and Mommy. We wanted to make the day fun and special for her too, because we know its an adjustment for her, just like for the rest of us.

I couldn't wait for Dyl to get home and tell me all about his day. He had a great time and so far, loves the first grade. He did note that its going to have "Hundreds of sheets of work" every day, but he's not discouraged about that! Here's to a great year for our sweet boy!

Dylan,

We are so very proud of you.

We know you are going to have an amazing time in the first grade and that you are going to learn and grow so much this year.

My prayer for you this year is that you will have lots of fun, make lots of friends, and learn lots of good stuff. And that above all, that you always feel how very loved you are.

Sunday night I sat down with Dylan and "interviewed" him about becoming a first grader, just like I did when her entered kindergarten. The answers were cute and pretty funny. I'll post that soon. Tomorrow is all about our princess starting ballet!