Birthday Boys!

One more event from May.  I felt it deserved it's own post.

Trenton and Sean had a birthday!  They were born on the same day, just 19 years apart.  I don't know how Sean feels about it, but I know Trenton has really enjoyed sharing a birthday with his uncle.

We did things a little backwards this time and started the night out with the balloon launch.  We were on our way to Jumpstreet, and knew by the time we got back it would be dark.  The balloon launch is much more fun when its light out!

These boys were all so jazzed up, it was nigh impossible to get a decent picture.

Come on boys, just get together and smile for the camera!

For some reason, punching each others with the balloons was much more appealing.

And here it is.  The best we got.  Oh well, maybe next year!

After spending ten minutes trying, unsuccessfully, to get some good pictures, we finally got in the car and cruised over to Jumpstreet and let all these kids jump their brains out for two hours.

Then back to grandma and grandpa Stock's for cake and ice cream!  Trenton requested rainbow chip cake this year.  This was the first time in several years he didn't choose cheesecake.

Singing the birthday song.  The birthday song in the Stock family is truly a thing to behold.  It seems to bring out the opera in all the men.

You'd think we had put some trick candles on their cake or something.  Those things just didn't want to go out!

 "What the heck?!"

 It's funny how much these two look alike.  And they're both some of the skinniest dudes I know.  

 I'm glad we were still in Colorado for their birthdays because who knows when they'll get to celebrate it together again.

Happy birthday you crazy dudes!

January

Oh man, if I ever get even remotely close to being caught up on this blog, it will be a miracle.  I just can't seem to get my act together.  I guess it could have something to do with the fact that since I have 5 offspring, my life just isn't my own.  Which is fine.  I love them to pieces.  It's just the season I'm in right now.  Or it could also do with the fact that my husband doesn't seem to be in town more than a day or two at a time.  That will soon change though.  In January Trent got a new job.  Same company, new position.  He's making the move to marketing after being in sales the last 8 years.  And while he will still have to travel occasionally, it will be nothing like it has been.  Hallelujah for that.  But with the new job comes new living arrangements. Come May, we will be moving to Atlanta, GA.  While we will miss all of our family and friends here in Colorado, it will be a fun and exciting new adventure!

Alright, on to catching up!  The highlights from the month of January:

I bought this fabulous garbage can, that in no small way has saved a portion of my sanity.  You see, it has a lid that locks, which means that Jillian can't get into it.  I have never known a more gross baby than Jillian.  (You don't even want to know about the episodes she has had with the toilets, trust me!)  On several occasions I found her pulling things out of the garbage can and eating them!  Or I would find things in the garbage can that didn't belong there.  Needless to say, this wonderful, lid-locking beauty has brought me some peace of mind.  At least a little bit.  Now if I could just find a way to keep her out of the toilets, we'd be in business!

The last week and a half of January is birthday central in our family.

 Preston's birthday comes first.  He was so excited to finally turn six.  His siblings were so cute to give him some gifts.  Colson passed along his old alarm clock he doesn't use any more.  :)

Vivi of course wrote him a note with attached gum and candy.  (I love her notes!)

The long awaited for Skylanders Giants.

 Donuts for breakfast!

There was no school the day of his birthday as it fell on Martin Luther King Jr. day this year, so the grandmas came and got him for a special birthday date to Build-A-Bear.  He chose a monkey that of course he named... Monkey!  :) 

Giving monkey a bath.

 That night, the whole family came over for dinner, birthday cake and ice cream.  Preston had been sick several days preceding his birthday, but thankfully woke up his birthday morning feeling 100%.  Thank the dear Lord of small favors.  :)  We were so glad he wasn't sick on his birthday.

 Next up was my birthday, then Steve's.  All the family celebrated together at Janet and Steve's, along with the Salerno's.

 There is nothing quite like my mom's German chocolate cake.  It is out of this world delicious!

 A rare picture of my sweetheart and I.  We need more of those.

 Preston was a little disapointed that we weren't celebrating his birthday again, but he got over it.

 And as always, the balloon launch.

 And what would a family gathering be without uncle Dustin wrestling the kids into submission? :D

The night also wouldn't be complete without a Joker grin from dad.  It was another wonderful birthday!

Poor Viv has had more trouble with her allergies/asthma than normal, so the Dr. sent her in to an allergist for some testing.

 You can't see it very well, but she was pretty welted up from the scratch tests.  This girl is quite allergic to the environment.  Needless to say, they prescribed her an inhaler.  Thank heavens, because between environmental allergies and exercise, this girl has some breathing issues!

And finally, our shining moment of the month... Drumroll please.  Jillian started singing "Gangnam Style".  It was a proud moment for sure.  And here she is, dancing to it. 

January flew by in a wink!  This new year is already going by ridiculously fast.

Birthdays

My brother and mother-in-law both had a birthday a couple of months ago.

 For my brother's birthday, my mom made an amazing caramel apple cheesecake.  It was so delicious!

 I have been horrible lately about remembering to bring my DSLR with me, so all I've got are a lot of fuzzy cell phone photos.  I guess it's better than nothing!

 Preston just can't help himself.  If there is a present around, he has to get his hands on it and open it!  I love the look on my Dustin's face here, as Preston helps himself to opening my brother's present.  Does that look say "get your hands off" or what?!  Ha!

 Dustin reclaimed his present.  :D

 Happy birthday bud!

A few days after celebrating my brother's birthday, we got together to party for Janet's big day.

Another blurry cell phone picture.  We had pie to go along with that big tub of ice cream, in case you were wondering.  ;)  Happy, happy birthday Janet!

Birthdays

The end of January is birthday central in our family.  First we've got Preston's, then four days later it is mine, and four days after that, it's Steve's.  It's over a week full of party time!

Preston's birthday was on a Saturday this year.  Best day to have a birthday I tell you!  I made him a pancake breakfast, with balloon shaped pancakes, of course.  I spent the rest of the morning working on his birthday cake.  Every year when I ask him what kind of cake he wants for his birthday, (meaning what flavor) he tells me, "A choo choo train!" or "A tractor cake!" or "A race car!".  I am not a cake decorator.  Not in the least.  But his heart is so set on it, what else can I do but try?  So this year he wanted the race car cake.  He could care less what flavor it is, mind you.

 We spent a fun afternoon at Jump Street that day.  It was our first time there, and the kids loved it!  Preston especially.  I think every picture I have of him is slightly blurry because I couldn't get him to hold still for even a second!  He bee bopped all around that place.  I have never seen such rosy cheeks.

 I think this was his favorite.  Taking running jumps off a trampoline into this big pit of soft foam blocks.

After Jump Street, we came home and had a spaghetti dinner per the birthday boy's request.

 Then of course cake and presents.  Funny story... When Preston woke up the morning of his birthday, we asked him how it felt to finally be five? (He's been wanting to be five for so long!)  He told us, "I'm not five yet!  I won't be five until I have my birthday cake and blow out my candles!" 

 So here he is.  Officially 5!

 It was so cute... He got all sorts of shy while we were singing "Happy Birthday" to him.  Oh, another funny story.  Right after he woke up that morning I turned on the song "Birthday" by The Beatles for him.  I think we listened to that song no less than 30 times that day.  He loved it!  Even still he calls it "his" song and wants to hear it at least once a day.

 These kids look like they're ready for some cake and ice cream!

Present time!  He flew through those presents like nobody's business!

All in all, I think he had a great day.  We sure are grateful for the day our little Buds came into our lives!

Like I said, a few days later it was my birthday.  I had a quiet day at home while all the kids were at school, and that night we went to Olive Garden for dinner.

And of course, the balloon launch.

Trent's dad turned the big 6-0 this year.  We spent a fun night at Hacienda Colorado eating yummy, yummy food.

This little girl LOVES her grandpa.

Mom and Dad.

Butter Cheeks and dad.

Mom, Colson, and Trenton.

Trenton, Sean, and Elena, who we got to meet for the first time that night.  She's a keeper!

Janet, trying to get Dustin to smile for the camera.  I have mentioned before what a turkey he is about letting us take pictures of him.

Ha Ha!

Buds and dad.

Dad hamming it up.

Finally, a smile from Dustin, along with Buds, and Mom.

Happy 60th!

Dad singing "Happy Birthday" to himself. :)

Buds helping out with the candles.

Me, Trent, and Jilly Bean.

The next night we had a birthday get-together at Mom and Dad's.

60 balloons!

The balloon launch with all 60 of the balloons.

It was a great week and lots of fun celebrating all the birthdays!