Life Raising Five: Birthday Boys

June 22 - a very special day in our house. Every birthday is special, a day to celebrate that we were blessed with another full year. However June 22nd is a little 'extra' special because we have two birthdays in our house. Today Bubba turned 6 and Ezekiel turned 4! (it was all God's timing, a natural labor that just happened to be on his big brothers birthday nearly three weeks before his due date, seriously a one of a kind birthday present) We try to treat the day as a very special treat for the two of them - they get to share their birthday with each other making it even more exciting (we pray that they never are bummed out that they have the same bday, we really focus on it being positive).

All day (okay all week) I have been very mushy about their birthdays. The years really do go by way too fast. I am so exhausted right now after a full day of adventures that I would be even more emotional about my boys... so I'm going to try and avoid any mushy convo right now and just post about the day. We love these boys so much. June 22 is a fantastic day - we've been blessed with two precious miracles and every year we joyfully celebrate them.

This year we went to the Fort Worth Zoo for the boys birthday. Jon was off this Wednesday and by chance it was their half price day - bonus! I'm not sure who had more fun, or what they enjoyed the most. Shortie's favorite was seeing "the turtle", which I should tell you was not a family member of the zoo just a little pond turtle by the entrance at the zoo no different than any of the turtles we see on our hikes. Zekie loved the train ride. Bubba was amazed by the upclose gorillas. Conrad gave us the best laugh when he was afraid to picked up at the first monkey exhibit because the monkeys had him totally freaked and he felt safer on his feet than at eye level. Graesynn finally realized what everyone was looking being that she was in the stroller it was hard for her to see the animals until we were up high and the hippo was below and she squealed with a big "hi". And of course Jon and I loved seeing the black rhino ;)

It was a great day out with all 7 of us - creating memories.

on the lookout for any animal that moves

hiding behind the stroller because the monkeys really had him freaked.

looking at the rhino

up close to this googly eye gorilla

the kids loved it

the kids just watched these gorillas for over five minutes so in awe - I'm sure they would have stayed there all day if we let them

this one looked over at Shortie put her hand up and then she kinda just shrugged. lol, almost like she said hi lets just hang cuz there's nothing else to do.

seriously look at those googly eyes!

Shortie was loving it

after we walked away and to the front the gorilla on the right had come out again to say hi

watching the huge fish

rhino!

love how Conrad climbed up to look and Shortie on her tip toes

Big Hippo under the waterfall - these things look so much like armadillos

sloth bears

bought them a treat - icee time

hot day (upper 90s) and these helped cool everyone off

hehe birthday boy stole the back seat on the stroller

the Australia section of the zoo - every aquarium or zoo we've gone to has an Australian area and it always make me miss it - and the convo starts back up about us going for a trip... dear money please start growing on our trees!

our crew

shooting game

happy boy on the train

all excited to go on the train

Mom and the littlest birthday boy

hehe Shortie and her silly glasses

Handsome Daddy and adorable birthday boy

Okay - so... I'm honestly not sure yet if we went to Trader Joe's because it was close to the Zoo or if we went to the Zoo to use it as an excuse to be close to Trader Joe's. We were so excited when looking into moving to Dallas when we found out they were going to be building Trader Joe's - one in between our house and Jons work on his 9 minute commute. However the one by us doesn't open until Sept 7th. They just opened the first one in Texas in Fort Worth last Friday. It was less than 5 minutes from the Zoo so it only made sense to go. It was insanely packed! Insane! It was as bad as Black Friday... crazy but so worth it! (I should mention that it was an hour drive to Trader Joe's, um, I mean to the Zoo, so it won't be a weekly thing)

we have missed you!

My parents and Grandma came up for the boys birthdays (Auntie RahRah and Uncle Collin were out of town). We went and bought breakfast - their favorite - Oatmeal! Not that we couldn't make it at home but an adventure out always makes it taste better. After breakfast we just enjoyed the morning at home and then it was early nap time. I should say it was suppose to be an early nap but they were too excited and no one slept. While they were upstairs Shortie and I decorated the house. Bubba had a Sonic Genesis theme and Ezekiel had a Lego City theme. Blue, Yellow, and Red all over! Balloons, birthday signs, and presents. Zekie wanted a strawberry cake and Bubba wanted chocolate chip. After they came down stairs my parents and Grandma arrived. The kids were so excited! We spent the afternoons filled with balloon fights, laughter, and loads of silly moments. My parents thought it would be fun to go out to dinner - the boys really wanted bean burritos (ha, so for Shortie's 4th, 5th, and 6th birthdays she wanted either lobster or steak... she has expensive taste where my boys will be happy with a can of beans and a fork, lol!). We found a mexican resturant close to Jons work so he could meet us there. Sometimes it doesn't matter if the food is the most delicious or just blah no big deal - what matters is the conversation and enjoyment at the table. What a great birthday dinner for the boys to spend with their Gaw, Papa, and Great Grandma. After dinner we headed back to our house for cakes and present.

It was a great day celebrating our two birthday boys!

the birthday boys

our birthday tradition - everyone gets a birthday balloon wreath for the week that matches the colors of their theme

birthday dessert at dinner

sisters

Bubba loved his food

silly kiddos so excited to be in Gaw and Papa's car

so sweet - Shortie made him a bday present - a paper airplane kit

he was so excited for a helicopter

Bubba was thrilled to get a Sonic car

Conrad was happy to 'share' a part of the boys presents

Shortie made him a light saber

lol - he had been asking for this train backpack for a long time - "it has wheels making it like a car and a handle to push it" - he was over the moon

ha - silly face

Gaw and Papa bought him a remote control helicopter

Graesynn trying to beat Papa -- when Shortie was little she use to 'attack' Papa with the kitty toys and now Grae continues the traditions

so these candles will never be bought again -- they are in the shape of the number but it sparks like crazy and burns down in a very crazy manner - Zekie was a little apprehensive about it