Carson 5

This sweet boy is 5 years old!! There is just something about turning 5 that seems so much older to me. Carson is as big hearted, kind, sensitive, and wild and crazy as they come! He loves people, in fact he never meets a stranger. He's assertive and not afraid to ask anything. He insists on ordering for himself at restaurants and usually for Avery too. (The last time we were at Chick-Fil-A he wanted to go order his own breakfast at the counter, so I gave him the money and he walked up to the counter and said, "Can I get 4 pounds of chicken mini's" which they all thought was hilarious. They ended up giving it to him on the house...I love CFA!!) Carson is incredibly funny (he's recently picked up the phrase, "that's what she said" from his daddy, and though he has no idea what it means, he doesn't hesitate to say it ALL OF THE TIME!!). He's can also be extremely argumentative, is very quick witted, and has an answer for everything, in fact we've joked that he will make an excellent politician one day. Ha! He loves to pray, read his "Bible study" and talk about Jesus. He told me around Easter time that, "Jesus died for our senses." :) Carson loves to sing and listen to music (his favorite songs right now are 'Signs' by Brett Eldredge, 'Chicken Fried' by The Zac Brown Band, 'My Texas' by the Josh Abbott Band, and anything form The Judds...I know totally random, but he loves him some country music!!) He loves to hold the door open for people, is the first to come to your aide, and still loves to snuggle with his momma!! I love this crazy boy!!

Carson's first "selfie" he took, all on his own doing.

This boy is a hunter to the core. He's all about guns, the deer lease, guns, camo, guns, campfires, and did I mention guns?? 

He's OBSESSED!!

He's a lover of the outdoors,

An early riser...therefore still an excellent napper!!

He finds ways to make everything an adventure (he slept in this tent he got for Christmas for about 6 months...every single night!!)

He loves to pack stuff up and take it with him. My mom jokes that he's the "bag lady." Ha! This purse stayed on his shoulder the whole time he was bowling that day!

He made this little "suitcase" out of a box and a mardi gras necklace.

This is his "adventure bag" that he chose out of the treasure box at school. It stayed on his shoulder for about 3 days straight!

Carson played t-ball for the first time this fall and loved it!! He's a good hitter and a great team player!!

Carson is such a great brother,

a wonderful cousin,

and an awesome grandson. He loves his Papa!

He wants to be just like his daddy when he grows up.

He's a very fast learner too! He told Shane and I that he wanted to take his training wheels off and learn to ride his bike. So on Columbus day this year (Shane was off work) we gave it a try.

It took about 5 minutes and he was riding his bike like a pro!!

Carson is an excellent daddy to his babies! His favorite game to play with Avery is "baby and daddy" or "kid and dad" He's always the dad and Avery is the baby or kid. Ha!

He always makes sure that he has food for his baby. Whether that's a bottle in his pocket,

or breast-feeding while he's hunting.

He did a lot of nursing this past year, but really doesn't do it anymore, these pictures are a few months old. :)

He is going to make a wonderful, deer hunting daddy one day. Just like his own daddy!! 

Happy 5 years Carson!! We love you buddy!

Carson and Avery are 5!!

I still can't believe that my babies are 5!! These past five years have flown by! These two have brought us so much joy and laughter, along with plenty of frustration and a few gray hairs!! I couldn't even fathom having 5 years olds when I brought my two little babies home from the hospital, but here we are. I am so proud of the sweet, smart, and crazy kids they have become! It's been an amazing 5 years!!

We started their birthday morning with some donuts and birthday candles.

And presents, of course!!

Carson got his very first BB gun. He was so excited!!

Avery got the Elsa dress and doll she'd been wanting. Happy girl!!

We celebrated that night at Chuck E Cheese with the Longs. I love that Carson is kissing Shane's cheek in this picture! He loves his daddy!!

Avery wouldn't go anywhere near Chuck E.

The kids rode the rides and played the games and got lots of tickets to cash in at the end of the night! They had a blast!!

At 5 years old,  Carson is 45lbs (75%) and 45in. (90%). Avery is 40lbs (50%) and 43in. (50%)

This was Carson and Avery's very first picture together on the day they were born. Even in my post C-section-drugged-magnesium drip state, I remember this moment so clearly. Like it was yesterday. Just the most precious moment ever!!

And then we recreated that moment on the night of their 5th birthday. Just for fun!!

Happy Birthday Carson and Avery!!

Cade 19 and 20 Months

This sweet boy is 20 months old!!

And is turning into an opinionated toddler!! We've had our fair share of fits lately, as well as some very independent moments, followed up by lots and lots of energy!! But he is just the cutest and keeps us laughing!!

At 20 months, Cade is trying his hardest to keep up with his big brother and sister. He watches and copies everything they do. He was pretty proud of himself when he put this raspberry on his finger just like Carson and Avery do. He loves music and starts screaming and clapping when we turn on his favorite songs in the car. His most favorite song right now is, "Shake It Off" by Taylor Swift, he calls it "mmm, mmm" He'll say, "Muh-muh mmm, mmm" when he wants to listen to it, then he'll say, 'up, up" wanting me to turn the volume up. He also loves the songs, "My Texas" and "Let it Go." He tries to sing along to Let it Go, it's so cute!

His most favorite thing to do right now is ride the lawn mower. He asks Shane to take him on a ride just about everyday when he gets home from work. He stands at the garage door saying, "On, on" over and over until Shane takes him on a ride. He loves it!!

His other greatest love right now is Special Agent Oso. He calls it, "Owo" and he asks to watch it about thirty times a day. He stands in front of the tv saying, "Owo" over and over until I finally cave and turn it on for him. Then when it's over, he brings me the remote saying, "Uh-oh." Ha! He loves that show. And he will sit and watch the whole episode. It's the only show he'll really watch. Nothing else seems to hold his interest. 

He reminds me so much of Carson at this age. He loves to drive things. Sitting in the front seat of my car and playing with the steering wheel is just thrilling for him! He is all boy!

He has even figured out how to push the gas pedal on the gator. He's pushing the pedal in this picture while his friend Bennett steers. Teamwork!!

He still loves to ride around the yard on the gator with Carson and Avery. He loves to do just about everything they're doing!

He's also developed a thing for shoes. He doesn't care if it's his sister's ballet shoes or his cute new firefighter rain boots!

Cade is obsessed with our new kitten Stella!! The poor little thing has been terrorized by him since joining our family. He loves to hold her, and squeeze her, and pinch her, and chase her. Poor thing. He gives her hugs and kisses and just wants to love on her in his own little toddler ways. 

He is also obsessed with his new cousin Austynn. They came to eat dinner one night and he would not leave her alone. He wanted to hold her and give her kisses. It was the sweetest. He would go over to Tiffani and say, "Up, up" while trying to pick her up. I think he wants a baby sister! :)

I love that his hair is still blond and is starting to curl in the back. It's so cute!! I love how he turns my face with his hand when he wants me to look at something or when he's excited and trying to tell me something. I love all the new things he's trying to say and do. And I love that he's still such a momma's boy!!

Happy 19 and 20 months sweet baby Cade!!