Friday we started our party train with a little family birthday dinner for Tony. The kids and I were planning something fun for Tony's birthday, but the rain caused us to postpone our surprise, so we opted for an early dinner instead at a local Mexican food restaurant. The kids had a great time eating tortillas and beans and rice. I asked Jack if he had wished his daddy a happy birthday yet, and Jack replied, "it's MY birthday!" So far, Jack has been convinced that every birthday party we've attended this year has somehow fallen on his birthday too. After dinner a storm was rolling in, so we headed home and Tony rounded out his birthday with some ice cream and an early bed time.
Saturday we hit the gym, ran some errands and then rested before we headed to a birthday party. This party was extra special because they had a bounce house. Jack and Harper had looked forward to this for a week and were even eager to take their nap before the party (because we told them if they didn't nap, we couldn't go to the bounce house). Jack and Harper loved bouncing and Harper even got brave enough to slide down the slide by herself. Jack, on the other hand, watched the bigger kids and not only slid down the slide by himself, but he also learned how to climb up the slide. Harper watched him and soon she was climbing up the slide too. Jack and Harper would leave the bounce house to get a drink, or grab a quick snack, and then it was right back in. I got in to jump with the kids and Harper wanted to climb up the slide, so she yelled "Momma, I need you!" This melt my heart- I know that years from now after hearing "Mom, I need you" a thousand times, I'll get sick of it, but right now, I love hearing that. I hope I always do. Oh, Harper also got fed up with her daddy. When she got to the top of the slide, she would yell "Daddy, look at me!" and he was talking to other people, and he didn't pay attention. So, Harper slid down the slide, walked over and said "Tony! Tony!" until her daddy turned and looked at her, shocked. It was so funny to hear her say "Tony", and she was so proud of herself that she got her daddy's attention.
We laughed so much at the party on Saturday and we got to hang out with our friends- it was a great day. Aside from the bounce house, the kids also played inside, and they both took their turns on the karaoke machine- too funny!
Saturday night the kids went from the bounce house to bed and woke up Sunday morning talking about wanting to bounce again...well, that turned out to be perfect because we had another party Sunday and another bounce house! Sunday was the NICU reunion party at the hospital where our little ones were born and spent the first 54 and 74 days on their lives- their first home. This is our third NICU reunion party, and each year I feel more thankful and grateful for the wonderful doctors and nurses and therapists that helped Harper and Jack live. They were so little when they first saw those hospital walls- too tiny to live on their own- and now today they went to the same hospital, inside those same walls, and they laughed and played, bounced in a bounce house, rode a train, took funny pictures, and ate snow cones- they lived and today they are living well- they live as a result of the hard work of those who helped them survive. My favorite pictures of the weekend are of those two beautiful kids walking out of the hospital-thank you, Lord, for the gifts we've been given.
Tonight we rounded out our weekend with a trip to the grocery store and some errands and family dinner. Those two little loves cracked us up telling us about their weekend and their favorite things and what they remembered. I pray that we always have dinner time conversations and our table is filled with laughter and compassion and curiosity and love.
To end the post, I'm adding some pictures of our week- just us hanging around. Everything from Jack's tower city- something that he's really been into lately, to Harper helping me cook blueberry muffins (she was licking the measuring cup after we put the almond butter in). There's also a funny picture of Harper watching TV in the laundry basket because Jack wouldn't push her around the house. I also decided to take some shots of the kids right after their baths (Jack did not want me to dry his hair) and I have some pics of our bedtime routine and Jack's new favorite bedtime buddy- Peter Rabbit. I'm sure I'll forget all about this one day, and I want them to see how cute they look in those sleep sacks, or as Harper says "Sleepy-saps".
Our weekend was full of parties, but our kids were wonderful and Tony and I are both so proud of them for being well-mannered (I love to hear them say "please" and "thank you"), kind, funny, and compliant- we didn't even have too much of a fit when we left each party. Poor Jack even skinned up his knees and his crying only lasted a few minutes. I am thankful they are such cuties and I am thankful Tony and I get to embark on all of these adventures with them- I can't wait to see what comes next.
No comments:
Post a Comment