Two Birthdays in Two Days!

Happy Birthday to Zach-O!

Who could forget this sweet little guy? Since day one those big blue eyes have killed me. Our funny little preschooler officially turned FIVE on Sunday, April 6th. Right after I delivered Zach I had to be stitched up from some pretty bad tearing from the final push, and since the epidural was wearing off the doctor wouldn't let me hold him until she finished because I suppose she was worried I might drop him (or worse, pass out) if the pain got too bad. I was so disappointed I wouldn't get those first few minutes right after birth to finally just look at him before the nurses whisked him off to do their tests. After all that work my arms were just itching to hold him! One of the nurses had bundled him up really quickly and must have seen my face, because she came over and put him right next to my face so I could see him. He had been screaming, but as soon as I said, "Hi Zach!" he immediately stopped and turned up his little face with those big blue eyes and just looked at me. It was almost as if someone had pushed a button and turned him off; he just froze and we looked at each other for a few seconds, and all the nurses just kind of froze too-- and were like, "Wow! He really recognized your voice!" Then he started wailing again and he was off to get his vitals checked. But that's how I met my little Zach for the first time. 

 We decided to have Zach's first ever friend birthday party on Thursday right after preschool. I thought it was a pretty genius idea, since Saturday was General Conference, and most people are busy on Saturdays anyway. We had five little boys come, all from his class, and Zach was absolutely thrilled to be the center of attention as the big birthday boy!

 There's a great park right across from his school called Camelot (it's a wooden castle), so we met all the moms and boys for a birthday playdate. We brought pizza, fruit, juice boxes, and "Lego" brownies for lunch. Best of all, Jon was able to get work off so he could come and help me, and see Zach at his first party.

 The best part of any birthday party is getting to open presents, and for Zach it was no different. He couldn't wait to tear into them! He got some really fun gifts, and all the boys bounced back and forth from pizza and brownies, to playing in the castle, to playing with the new presents!

 Poor Lucy was in school, but Leah got to come, and this is her working on probably her third brownie. She'd climb up, nab one, then walk around and drop it in the pine needles and go get another one. Good thing the frosting coordinated with her outfit!

 He had the absolute best time with his friends-- Hudson, Carson, Padraig, Ezra, and Jeremy. When the party was over and we were driving home he said, "That party was totally wicked!" It's good to be five!

 It only got better too! On his real birthday, he woke up to a table full of presents and cards, all from mom and dad and his grandmas and grandpas.

 All he wanted were Lego sets, so Lego sets were what he got. He got a Batman set, two Star Wars sets, plus a new Razor scooter so he could keep up with the neighborhood scoot crew. Not a bad haul! Poor Jon will be putting together/fixing legos for decades to come.

 I made a yummy birthday breakfast for both birthday boys of red velvet pancakes with cream cheese icing, scrambled eggs, and bacon. Yum!

Blowing out all FIVE candles on his super cool Batman cake! Oh yeah! I don't know what we'd do without our sweet little boy to help even things out in this girl-dominant household. He makes us all laugh so many times throughout the day, he is so thoughtful, kind, and protective of his sisters, and he is just a peaceful, mellow kind of guy to have around. Our family would not be complete without him. We love everything about him-- from his superman undies, to his crazy bed head, to his little giggle. Happy Birthday Zach! 

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 Happy Birthday Jonathan! Five years ago the nurse told me to hold out for another 4 hours and Zach could have shared a birthday with his daddy-- but she obviously wasn't feeling what I was feeling at the time!

 Our beloved Dad celebrated his 32nd birthday the following day. I've just decided birthdays kinda stink when you get older, because just like any other day, he had to wake up early, drive in to work, work all day, and then teach PT before coming home. Once he finally arrived we were excited to have him home to wish him a Happy Birthday! He opened his cards and "presents" (not really presents, since he got his new car), so the only thing I could truly "give" him was permission to go backpacking this weekend-- no strings attached! 

 Luckily we were able to find a babysitter so we could share a special birthday dinner date at Bonefish Grill that night. That was a gift for me too! We dined on his favorites-- coconut shrimp, tillapia, and au gratin potatoes. Yum! 

 Back at home we whipped out his all-time favorite birthday no-bake cheesecake and sang him a rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday" (which you can see he is really getting into!). Not sure what he made a wish for, but it probably has something to do with: "Finding a successful practice to buy this time next year and then making millions of dollars! Cha-Ching!$$" We love him SO much. As flighty and brainless as I was throughout most of my college days thinking back on the boys I dated, I'm not sure how I managed to luck into the greatest husband, dad, and best friend ever-- and not sure I deserve him. It was certainly an act of divine intervention, as Heavenly Father knew I needed HIM to make me be a better wife, mother, and person. Happy Birthday Jonathan!