My little boy isn't so little anymore! Chase turns five.

Wow! Hard to think back 5 years ago and remember you being so tiny you fit in the folds of my arms.  

First time I held you - a little after 5:13 AM

Now you are so big, you don't want to be held by anyone, even for pictures!

This past year will be marked for me by a few key moments - your first playdates with friends from school, both at our house and at theirs; you becoming an amazing and protective big brother and making sure your brothers weren't sad; learning to whistle; learning to swing by yourself.

You have become such an amazing young boy and I am so proud of you. I am told constantly how wonderful you are, how loving you are and how much other Moms enjoy having you over to play with their sons. All of those words make me proud of you but I think my heart swells the most when I watch you just being yourself. When you are so focused on something that I am afraid you are going to bite off your tongue or when you are laughing when no one else is around because something makes you laugh. You love to make people laugh, especially your brothers! Man, when you get them laughing, there is no stopping you! No, seriously, I can't even stop you.

Your Dad and I were watching some old videos of you the other night and I was struck by how grown up you look now and how much more grown up you sound when you speak. You are strong and independent yet innocent and needy in the same breath.

When I think back to how much you have changed, I seem to look at all the things you can do now. You are so excited that you can whistle (not too sure I am happy about that since you are now loud enough to get the dog's attention) and that you can swing without being pushed. These little steps toward independence make me sad to see you grow up but proud to see how well you are handling them.

I can't wait to see what the next year has in store and want you to know that you will always be my number one boy!

I will love you for always and ever,
Mom

Chase turns 5!

This is not the emotional entry I write about how my little boy is growing up, that comes next. This will just share with everyone how he spent his special day.

Jason and I decided this year that we weren't going to throw some big party for Chase. What we have discovered usually happens at those is he finds the couple of friends he really wants to be with and the rest kind of find their own group, so we started with the small group and nothing else. We had a two-part plan. Sunny weather and rainy weather. The sunny weather plan involved the pool and lunch and swimming and ice cream. The rainy weather plan involved lunch and a movie.

The weather was bad so we went with the rainy weather plan. I must thank Chic-Fil-A for deciding to hold a Cow Appreciation Day on Chase's birthday - it made for a cheap lunch for me to buy! Chase and 3 friends, Cam, Joey and Reese got to wear cow shirts to lunch and be silly and laugh at all the other people dressed like cows. From there, we went to see Monsters University at the movie theater. Jason and Nana stayed home with the little boys and my Mom came with me. I have to admit that I am sorry Jason didn't come with but it was nice to have Chase time without the triplets. It is rare that he and I get to go anywhere without the little ones. I think he enjoyed it too because when we talked about a seeing a few of the previews when they are released later this summer, he said we should leave his brothers at home with his Daddy! (cracks me up)

Reese, Chase, Joey and Cam - best buds

Chase, Joey, Cam, Reese - loading up on popcorn and candy

After the boys went home, Chase had some special visitors - Miss Whitney, Mr. Bryan and Cody stopped by to say Happy Birthday and give Chase a special gift.

Man does he love those people! We are lucky to know them.

After Whitney and Bryan left, Chase got packed up for sleepover with Grandma and Cousin Bise at Grandma's house. They played his new Monsters University game, ate dinner and watched a movie.
Basically a great day was had and this was only round 1. The next day we were having lunch with the family at our house. Nothing fancy but still enough for Chase to think he was having another birthday party!

Part of the crew for family lunch

After lunch we had cake

Sully and Mike from Monsters University

Then Popi brought out some OLD hockey gear that Daddy wore when he was little. Chase thought that was cool and couldn't wait to try it out!

All dressed up with no ice to play on

Showing his mean face to intimidate you

After most of the family had gone home, Daddy assembled the new basketball goal that Grandma gave him and the boys had a great time shooting baskets and swinging outside.

Our new basketball goal. Inside the back garage for now

Swing time! Chase can finally swing by himself.

Okay, I am finally caught up. The next entry will be my sappy thoughts about Chase being five!

The next items on the list.....

I love summer! I really do and with the boys getting older and able to do more and more and last longer without naps (well, sometimes that isn't a good thing) we are out and about as much as possible. So, after driving back from Charlotte and being in the car on Friday late afternoon, we woke up on Saturday to beautiful weather in Raleigh and headed to the pool. It was a chance to catch up with my Grandparents and my Mom and let them see the boys. (My grandparents especially enjoy spending time with the boys so we try as much as possible to make that happen).

We spent several hours at the pool just goofing off and being silly. Chase practiced swimming without any flotation devices and the triplets got brave in a deeper part of the pool. We then enjoyed some cupcakes as our own 4th of July dessert.

G. C, J cooling their heels at the pool

Graham discovered ice on this pool trip!

Jack enjoying a snack poolside

Cupcakes! A, J, C, G

We spent Sunday getting caught up after being gone and got ready for Monday - which had the makings of a busy day. You remember that Chase was starting ice skating lessons...well, they started Monday at 5:45. But before we could do that, Chase had a swim lesson at 4:30.

Getting instructions from Coach Gerrard about jumping in the deep end

Mommy forgot his goggles so he held his nose and closed his eyes!

He jumped in about halfway down the lane and swam the rest of the way without assistance! He couldn't even swim a foot before his lessons! So proud of him....can't even begin to express it.

It was funny to me that I had my son in the swimming pool, got him dressed in pants, long sleeves, a jacket and gloves about 20 minutes later for ice skating lessons. The good news, he was not overdressed! How did he do? Very well, in my opinion but I am an amateur skater myself. The lesson was 30 minutes long and I thought it would be a group of kids but nope, it was just Chase and 2 instructors! Sweet, until he fell and HARD! He was practicing turning from left to right around plastic egg dying cups that were turned upside down and he landed square on one of them on his left butt cheek. He cried, so they left the ice. The instructors couldn't get him back on the ice, Daddy couldn't get him on the ice so Mommy trekked around the rink and made him look at the clock. He had 10 minutes left and I promised him the instructors would not let him fall but he had to finish. Well, he did fine and even came back to the wall without help so we could get a few more pictures and videos "for Popi". He told Jason it was harder than the guys on TV made it look! Smart kid that boy of mine! Here are a few shots of his first lesson.

Snowplow Sam - level 1  Day 1

This was pre-fall

The infamous cups that almost did us in!

We spent the rest of the week getting more and more excited about Chase's upcoming birthday. Well, I should say he got more and more excited. I spent the week trying to keep him semi-rational and then attempting (with little to no success) to not have his craziness rub off on the triplets. Next stop, the big day!

4th of July in Charlotte

We headed to Charlotte to celebrate the 4th of July with Jason's brother and family as well as some friends. On the way there, we had to make a quick stop at Meme and Popi's house so Chase could get his birthday gift. They are paying for him to take ice skating lessons in the hopes that he can eventually learn to play hockey! The first lesson started before his birthday so Popi set up a game for Chase to discover his gift. It was a quick but fun visit and then off to Charlotte.

Reading about the gift hunt we were about to start

One of the stops on the hunt

Getting ready to say good bye to Popi (Chase has shoved something in his shirt and Mommy didn't know about it!)

We got to Charlotte for the 4th and got a chance to visit with our friends Rob and Jen and their son Andrew who live in Texas now. Andrew and Chase are only a couple months apart in age so it was nice for Chase to finally have a playmate close in age. We went for a boat ride (the little boys' first) and then had some dinner.

A, Andrew, C, G, J, Uncle Marc

Dinner time! G, C, A, J, Andrew and Milo

We got up on the 4th and headed out on the boat so the boys could try the ski trainer. They all did really well and had a good time. We came in for a lunch break and then hung around the dock until the rain came again and chased us in for the night.

Chase getting ready to ride the ski trainer

Graham was all smiles

Anthony with his cheese smile

Jack is a little off center - like normal!

The boys of the dock - J, Andrew, C, A (back) Milo, G (front)

Hanging on the lake (J, G, C, A) a little fuzzy from the humidity

The rain delayed the fireworks which wasn't an issue since the little boys weren't going to watch them anyway, Chase and the big kids got to play with sparklers and that made them happy. We did a little more boat time on Friday and then packed up and headed home. We had more fun in store!

What a time we’ve had!

Well, life and time has slipped away and in the last month we have been to Savannah for my high school reunion, been to Charlotte for the 4^th of July and celebrated Chase turning 5! I guess I have some catching up to do.

Savannah – We went to Savannah for my high school reunion (I will age myself here and admit that it was my 20^th) and took my mom along for the ride. We had a girls’ only gathering on Friday night (I went to an all-girls Catholic High School) and then a couples gathering on Saturday night.

We arrived in Savannah and decided to walk River Street and play in City Market to let the boys stretch their legs and burn off some energy. There are some great play spaces in City Market now and the boys loved them all. The water park and the live band were their favorite. I know they enjoyed the band because while I was on my own Friday night, Jason, Mom and the boys had dinner, drinks (the adults) and played. I returned home to my boys fast asleep from dancing to the live band at City Market and when they woke up, the first thing they all wanted to show me was their new tattoos! (temporary of course, but still a shock for me).

 

Heading to River Street for a walk and a snack

River Street Sweets - J, C, G, A

Playing in the water park at City Market

New tattoos with our friend listening to the band play

Saturday morning we headed to the new Children’s Museum and Play area at the Round House. IT WAS AWESOME! All kid-friendly and kid-powered. No electronics or batteries required. Our boys played and played and then played some more! 

Getting ready to go to the Children's Museum

Maze time!

From the lower level looking toward its' entrance

From the side opposite the maze (behind this is the garden area)

Playing life size Connect Four

That day had a special 'water play' activity. This is the 'car wash'. Jason is already trying to price out the pieces to make one of his own!

Thanks to Nora for helping create this wonderful kids play space.

From there we hit the Yacht Club Pool to catch up with old friends and swim (again to burn off some energy!)

Chase getting ready to swim and the triplets waiting patiently on the stairs for Mommy to come back and get them.

Jason and I headed out to my reunion, Mom grabbed dinner and we left the boys with a sitter who did a wonderful job with them. We returned back to the hotel to find this….

Tired boys! G, A, J

We got up Sunday morning early so we could get home for fireworks at the YMCA Freedom Festival but the rain had us heading out before the show could officially begin. The boys had a great time catching up with friends and enjoying the activities they had set up on the lawn.

Happy almost 4th of July!

Anthony, Jack and Lyla have an intense discussion about something

Chase the human hamster

Chase on the inflatable slide

 What a great trip we had and that seemed to only be the beginning of the crazy for us. In just a couple of days, we packed up and headed to Charlotte for the 4th of July.