Last night I didn't want to go to bed because I wasn't ready to face the big day of Sydney's first day of school. As I got to the top of the stairs after 1am, I saw her standing at the top of the dark hallway, rubbing her eyes and mumbling nonsense in her grogginess. I carried her to to her room and crawled in bed with her. 

"Did you have a dream?" I asked. 

"Yeah", she said. 

"What was it about?"

"Hats."

"What kind of hats?"

"Big ones, round ones..."

"Was it a good dream?"

"Yeah..."

Then she drifted off to sleep. And I laid there with, blinking back tears. I am lucky.

I need to just savor the journey and not worry over how fast time is flying.

The jump from two to three seems like a huge change. My baby is now a big boy. Actually, I can barely type that without nearly welling up in tears. He's still my baby and always will be. He's wild and silly, but also sweet and sensitive. I love him so much. 

We woke him up early before the ward annual parade and fair in the park. He was confused while we sang the Happy Birthday song to him, and grumpily started flicking the air at us for a second until he got into the birthday spirit and started tickling and hugging us.

Practicing holding up three fingers

I think Tommy's been whispering into his ear for the past month that he wants a basketball hoop...every time Max would talk about his birthday, he'd immediately say "baketball hoooop!"

Sydney picked out this guitar that was one of the biggest hits

Max wasn't the only one who liked the guitar

the traditional birthday bird dr. seuss book - but this time Tommy read it at the top of his lungs with shouts and hollers and kept the kids' attention riveted the entire time.

After a parade and fair in the park, Max got to do his first Build-A-Bear. 

He kept asking to make the bright pink cat. We finally convinced him that the blue bear was just as cool.

Sydney joined in on the fun. It took her .5 seconds to choose a My Little Pony (her favorite thing in the world right now)

Max (or maybe Tommy) dressed the bear in a Utah Jazz outfit ;)

when we asked what he wanted to name the bear, Max said excitedly "X-Y-Z!!"

poor Noah felt left out of the fun. We might have to come back for his birthday. :) 

(right: the cheesy smiles crack me up)

Next stop: Max's first pair of sports shoes! I think Tommy is determined to turn Max into a basketball-loving athlete now.

He pumps his arms downward when he runs. He's on his way to becoming an athlete already.

While in California with the family, we spent a day in Santa Barbara, one of our favorite places. I love seeing all the little cousins playing together. 

Leah and Sydney are best friends

left: Ben and Ryan   -    right: Tommy showing Sydney the art of skipping rocks

the boys' new favorite game of Spike Ball

look at those moves!

the boys love their auntie Valerie!