A Jack, A Joker and our Ace: Ace

We started off winter birthday with a Lego friend party for Fullback. He was so excited seeing it all come together and counted down the minutes until it was party time. Everyone was so cute and we had a great time playing Lego themed games, eating Lego snacks, watching A Lego Movie and opening presents, most of them being Lego sets! The party favors were a hit and everyone went home happy. Sadly Luke came down with the flu that night (thankfully no other party goers got sick) so his actual birthday on Monday he had to stay home from school. We did take him to do his Star of the Week poster, to be sung to and to hand out treats but then he came home to rest.

Mark cut out these little pieces of cheese with a straw to make them look like Lego blocks

Party favors

Star of the Week poster

Getting to answer questions from his classmates

Ready to hand out candy for his birthday

Mark's birthday was a fun outing to the aquarium. He is such a good day to let the day be fun for the kids more than about him. Then we came home to cake and ice cream and presents that consisted of velcro sneakers for adults, a new Tom Clancy novel and lots of BYU gear. He turned 34 even though his gifts indicate he should be 90.

This is the only picture we got on Mark's birthday so...

I will add this one cause wow! I hate this coat and these sunglasses. The pajama pants aren't bad but whatever. Anyway, he knows if he is shoveling walks and serving, then I let him wear it in public so any time it snows, he puts on this outfit and shovels a ton of walks so he can wear it longer. Insert eye roll here

ACE's birthday was so fun and filled with pink! She wanted a Barbie cake and I was thrilled to make it for her. Then when dad got home from work they went to Thanksgiving point to the Museum of Curiosity. She loved her new dolls, Buzz Lightyear, books and clothes. About a week later we decided to potty train and she did great! 3 is such a big girl age and she is living it up!

In December we have Fullback's birthday and then in January we have Mark and ACE's so needless to say with all the holidays throughout it is a very busy time! But as usual we had a great time celebrating each other and making the birthday person feel as special as possible.

Fullback:
How is he 5?! He is so excited to start school and also sad to be leaving me. This kid is my little protector, my best buddy and my shadow. We have such a great time together. He always has a story to tell me and he loves caring for his little sister. He looks up to his big brother and also holds his own with being a bit bossy. I think he might be the most excited about a new baby and asks me constantly "How is that baby growing? Need anything?" He has already said he wants to have the baby sleep in his bed and that he will take care of it. He has energy for days, empathy for everyone and his memory is incredible. He loves to know the schedule and then remembers it. He likes to put on shows and talent competitions and lately has gotten really big into legos. Oh my blue eyes...how I love him so!
His birthday was on a Sunday so n Saturday night we invited the Durazzanis to join us at Chuck E Cheese. It was a blast! I am not a big fan of these places but Mark took the four boys and Rachel and I followed the two little girls around (her husband and oldest daughter couldn't make it) and it made it a perfect night for everyone! Fullback was so excited and happy and kept saying "I can't believe this is my birthday! This is the best night ever!" On Sunday we went to a friend's baby blessing, then to our ward where Fullback got sung to and then we had a nice evening of his favorite meal, cake, ice cream and presents. He has such a joy for life and for everything that doing stuff for him just rocks.

Paw Patrol EVERYTHING

This kid LOVES cherry so he asked for a cherry drink and thankfully I was able to find one

So excited for cake!

Mark:
Having a beginning of January birthday does not seem fun and Mark said it was always hard growing up and having to go back to school after Christmas ON his birthday. I try really hard to make it special and he says it is always nice now but he did have to go back to work on his birthday. He was a good sport and we tried our best to make him feel special. The kids decorated the cake and had picked out the decorations the night before. We had cake and ice cream and presents then se asked for another Ron Swanson birthday so I happily obliged and set him up for that. I fed the kids an early dinner and then put them in my bed to watch a movie so Mark could have the whole downstairs and evening to himself. He is pretty easy to please and always grateful. One of the gifts he gave himself was shaving his facial hair into a Doc Holladay mustache. Oh brother...but he is happy so I put up with it. I am so grateful to this man. He has taught me so much, has shown me what true love and service are and does everything in his power every day to help me feel loved and appreciated. I am glad I get to celebrate all his birthdays with him.

Eyeballs and mustaches...you can tell the boys picked them out

All ready for a Ron Swanson birthday

Her boys

Before...

After. *sigh*

ACE:
Poor little ACE was not feeling well on her birthday. She has had a rough winter of sickness and turning 2 did not change that fact. Her birthday was on a Sunday so we stayed home from church so she could rest and then we just tried to help her be comfortable and happy. For the most part she was very sweet which was a blessing. We had the Durazzanis over for spaghetti and garlic bread for dinner and then cake and ice cream. ACE loves the streamers in her door and the balloons in her room. She loved the presents but I think just enjoyed having her cousins over to play. This girl has my heart. She is sassy and fesity and sweet and loving all wrapped in to one. She is still not talking a lot but we are getting there- who needs to talk when everyone in your family does whatever you want, whenever you want!? She knows how to get her way and loves to bat her eyes at anyone who will pay attention. She isn't super shy an finally loves nursery. Keeping up with her brothers is not a problem for her and she can hold her own with anything they do. There is no height she doesn't try climbing and no drawer that can keep her out. She is into, onto and under everything and is as tough as nails. She is my little friend and her dad's princess. Her brothers think everything she does is amazing and adorable...and I have to agree!