John Michael is 5

So today my baby boy turned 5 years old. I cannot believe it! It does not seem like five years has gone by since that sweet newborn cry surged through the house in the middle of the night, since I changed those tiny diapers. It seems like yesterday I was convinced he would be headed to high school in diapers because he did not want to use a potty. I thought the pacifier was going to be stashed in his pillow case for college, because he loved it. The waddle walk does not seem like years ago, yet now he can run as fast as lightening. He is almost done with pre-school and is headed to kindergarten this fall. He plays baseball and cannot wait to add soccer and chess to his after school activities. Five years seems like a long time, but in all honesty if you blink it is gone and all I have is amazing memories and some great pictures!

We had a great day. This morning he woke up in the best of the moods. He wanted Cheese Whiz and Chicken Biscuit Crackers for breakfast so that is what the boys had. I do not think I could stomach that before 7 am. Brandon took a half a day at work so was able to surprise him when we picked him up from school. He is so used to it just being mom. He took blue and yellow batman cupcakes to school, and he was blue after school. I love icing dye. It was so cute. Danny took a blue one for snack and he even had a blue mouth after school. He was quite surprised to have mom and dad there on a Wednesday too! We went to Party City to get goody bags and just random party supplies for this weekend. Books-A-Million was added to the stops and he got a Super Mario Brothers Yahtzee game and Danny got a new Diary of a Wimpy Kid book. Dinner at Cici's was the next stop where the boys spent abut $15 in the games. He wanted desert at Logan's with a Yee-Haw and he got it. He even had a surprise visitor, his Aunt B and her friend Katie! He loved it. They even brought him a few surprises, including a balloon which he loves! Now if we could get him to sleep. He has had a bath and yet he will not give it up, and momma and daddy are ready to go to bed! I guess the sugar high is still in effect. I am just thankful for an amazing day with my family. I am also very thankful that John Michael had "the best birthday day ever." It made my day when he told me that!

Well, it is definitely not before 9, in fact we are creeping up on 11, but a day like today was well worth a late night! Before I go to bed I will remember all of my friends and family in my prayers. I hope that you remember what a gift each day is that is why we refer to it as the present. Cherish the little things and always hold onto all of the memories!

WOW! That is all I have to say

So here it is folks. I am really trying to be positive, but seriously some good news and positive feedback would be a great assistance. I am just continuing to pray. Sometimes I am the needle and trying to get out of the haystack is just not easy.

So I did have some blessings. I was able to see my Danny man practice basketball, and spend some time with my boys. I love having time with them. They both snuggled with me before they fell asleep and then I tucked them in. That is a rarity, as more often then not they think they are too big to snuggle with mom.

Children growing up is the most bittersweet thing that I think I have been a part of. One day they are so small, sweet, fragile, and completely dependant on mom and dad, then you turn around and they are walking and talking, and then they are too big for kisses in front of their friends or a cuddle on the couch. Anytime I am around a younger child or a friend who is expecting I simply tell them to hang on and enjoy the ride. This is really part of what really drove me to make a career out of photography. I love being a part of the special moments and catching them and better than that preserving them for many generations. While I have my memories and they come flooding back a lot I love taking a trip through the past via pictures.

So today has ended on a note with the newest profanity that has been added to my vocabulary....the S word...snow. And this is my picture for today's blog. I hope that you can see it and if you feel like I do, I am sure it has your head pounding! And yes, that is still the Christmas decorations. Maybe they will be gone this weekend, maybe not.

Before I go to bed as always I say a prayer for all of my friends and my family. Time is truly an amazing gift that we all have and should never take for granted! Treasure all of it.