Cash's 9th Birthday

It is completely unreal to me that this day is already here.....9 YEARS OLD!!!!!!!!!!  How/why does the time pass so quickly.  It seems, and I say this constantly, like it was just yesterday we brought this sweet boy into the world.  Cash is sweet, still very naive (in the best way), curious, outgoing, less cautious (in the best way...in the way I wanted for him), and very smart!  

This year we decided to keep the presents to a minimum as we typically go overboard.  More than that we decided to give Cash a gift or two from us, and family and also collect toiletries to give to the Battered Women's and Children's shelter.  He wasn't overly thrilled with the idea initially but didn't buck it like I thought he might.  I have always wanted to spoil Cash as for so long he was the only one and even though we have another my thoughts on spoiling him haven't really changed.  I just love birthdays and holidays for the kids!!!!  That said we want Cash to see that there are others in need for various reasons.  He had a lot of questions about the shelter...why are they there, etc.  So we had some good conversations around the why's/how's.  

Of course my parents didn't exactly stick to the plan but I think that's ok for grandparents.  They got him clothes...so at least it wasn't toys.   Ben came home with a new bike, which he needed, but definitely a little more than I was expecting to do. None the less he was excited and it was crazy to see how big the bike is which just makes us realize how big Cash is.  At 9 years old he is already 4'8"!  I am 5'4" so he is quickly catching up to only pass me up!  

Cash decided to invite his neighborhood friend Reed to join him for his birthday outing.  We took them to Main Event and just let them play!   On the actual day of his birthday we had my parents and Cheryl and Andy over to celebrate.  He wanted a basketball birthday cake so that is what he got.  I made his favorite meal....meatloaf/mashed potatoes.  

I captured a couple of pics of him at his 9 year well child visit with Dr. McCray.  He wasn't too happy with me when he found out he had to have his blood drawn to check his cholesterol....which is something I not only didn't know anything about....I didn't even know they did that now.  None the less all came back fine!  I am sure its obvious but these pics were taken pre-blood draw!  

Cash was also treated to a Spurs game with his Uncle Andy for his birthday and they had a great time!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET BOY!

Halloween 2015

Halloween is sort of my kickoff to the start of my favorite time of the year....the HOLIDAYS!  I love Fall!!

I took Emma and Cash to Spirit Halloween about a month before Halloween to pick their costumes.  $100 later (which is insane) Emma chose a Minnie Mouse costume with all the accessories of course and Cash chose a completely black body suit which literally covered him from head to toe.  He also got a plastic axe which he wanted to somehow attach to his back as if it were in his back and some fake spray blood.

In true Cash fashion we reached the big day and he didn't want his costume anymore.  So we improvised and he went with a dead basketball player look.  A jersey and some fake blood....costume complete!

The Mitchell's, Atchley's and my parents joined us to celebrate this fun holiday!

Chad dressed up as Michael Myers and Ben as Jason.  So Rochelle and I joined in on the fun and dressed as the female versions of Freddy and Jason.  FUN!  Chad looked so real he did actually scare a few kids...and adults alike.

The kids had a blast and loaded up on SO MUCH candy!  I always say half is for them and the other half for me.

The "Chickens"

We surprised the kids (more Emma) with tickets to go see The Chipmunks aka "The Chickens".  I thought Cash may be a little old for it but that he would still enjoy it.  Emma is completely another story.  She LOVES The Chipmunks and we knew she would be over the moon!  She was!

Not until we got downtown did Cash figure out what we were going to see.  Emma caught on to us talking about the show but not until she got inside and saw them actually come out did she fully grasp where she was and what she was seeing.  Her eyes just lit up....so big and so bright!

The music started and E was dancing!  I laughed and teared up at the same time watching how excited she was!  We even left with a stuffed Theodore (or Bert as E calls him) and Alvin.  It was a fun evening.  We finished it off by a County Line dinner where our sweet Cash devoured a half rack of ribs!

Emma at 2....

At a little over two years old Emma is really coming into her own more and more.  She is so sweet, polite, loving, and independent.  She is full of imagination and has a lot of common sense.  Emma picks up things very quickly.  The common sense I am thinking she gets from me....and the catching on quick from her daddy.  Ha! Its fun to see the differences between her and Cash.  She is more fearless and he is more cautious in a lot ways.  He is more outgoing and she is a little more reserved.  She has more of a tendency to "shake it off" where Cash takes a little more time to do so.  One thing is absolutely certain.....they adore each other and have a bond/love for one another beyond my dreams for them.  When he comes home from school she runs to him as if she hasn't seen him in weeks.  It literally makes my heart almost burst out of my chest!

Emma is very girly loving all things pink and purple, dolls, still adores Minnie, shoes, clothes, purses and jewelry!  She is fairly laid back/easy going.  I have heard the term "rule bound child" and now I know what it means as Emma is our "rule bound child".  She is accepting with little fuss of the "no's" she receives or when she has to wait for something.

Things Emma Says:

1. "YES"!  I emphasize the "yes" because for so long she wouldn't say "yes" and would only say "sure".  She does speak with a lisp so its extra cute.  Cute when she is heading in to middle not so sure but riding out the lisp phase of our girls journey right now.
2. "Nose ya don't" - No you don't
3. "Yes I are"
4. "No I are"
5. All c's, k's and ck's are t's
6. "Banan" - Banana (used to be bana)

Father/Son retreat - TBarM

TBarM has different camps for kids but they also have retreats for families and one of those is a father/son retreat.  We thought this would be a good experience for Ben and Cash.  The retreat is Christ centered so there are several devotional times during the weekend.  I couldn't wait to hear how those times would go between my boys....good, bad or indifferent.  I wondered how Cash would react to having, somewhat, deep conversations with his dad.  

The boys left late on Friday for a 7pm check-in.  They shared a cabin with other dad's/son's and had such a great view from their cabin of Lake Travis!  Ben said the grounds were really beautiful.  He shared a few pics so I could get a sense of where they were.

Cash had SO much fun!!  There was rock wall climbing, jumping off of super high platforms, zip lining, etc...you name it....they had it...right up Cash's alley!  Poor Ben had an injured foot but he suffered through it to make a great weekend for he and Cash.  I know Ben was surprised as was I that Cash tried some of the things that he did.  Cash was very brave and for quite some time I was afraid Cash was more like me when it comes to being afraid to try different things...but he is so brave!!  I love that!!!!!  

During the weekend Cash met a great friend, Jake, who is about 4 years or so older than Cash.  He is a good kid and its nice to see Cash gravitate towards someone like Jake.  He and his older brother have been going to the TBarM camps for quite some time.  They live in Houston and their family is just the sweetest!!  

We aren't sure Cash was quite mature enough yet to treasure the one on one time he had with his dad but I think overall the experience was great for them both.  TBarM sets the bar high for their camps/retreats!  Highly recommend!