Thursday, March 26, 2015

Jace's Family

We are unbelievably blessed to have so many Great-Grandparents and family members that are still living, and that live close so they can celebrate with Jace.  Each year on birthdays, we take a picture of all of them!

Great-Grandpa George and Great-Grandpa Erma Johnson


Uncle Jay and Aunt Morgan


Great-Grandma Lucille


Grandma Janie and Grandpa Jerry a.k.a. Grandma and Grandpa "J"


Great-Grandma Darlyne and Great-Grandpa Richard


Uncle Aaron, Aunt Melissa, and a new baby cousin due in September!


Aunt Jena, Uncle Carl, and a new baby cousin due in June!


Grandma Carol and Grandpa Jerry, a.k.a. Grandma and Grandpa "B"


And the Luedke's.  The only people it takes more than one shot to get a photo of....
Aunt Jennifer, Uncle Derek, Colton (7), Kyler (5), and Cassidy (16 months).


The only family not able to be with us was Great-Grandma Pat and Great Grandpa Bud Boos.

A Birthday Party. For a FIVE Birthday.

As soon as Jace turned 4, he started talking about his "FIVE" birthday.


These babies kept themselves entertained during the party...



We all helped blow out candles...



He requested a "Dirt Cake" to go with his John Deere party.  No problem!  Easiest birthday cake. Ever.  And probably the tastiest too....


The Johnson Family
Jace is 5, Connor is 1 1/2.  Both shocking.





Connor got pretty excited to watch Jace's video...even danced to the music for us! 


Boys doing what they do best...


Gift opening is so hectic.  He got some really fun games and toys though! 


Monday, March 23, 2015

Jace is 5.

Jace is 5.
How did that happen?
5 years sounds like a long time...until you have a 5 year old.
And then you wonder, how did that baby turn into a toddler, and now into a KID?
Jace has grown so much in the last year.  SO much.
He's learned letters, counting, and he is really coming out of his shell.


One time, this winter, he ran through the hallway while Jed and I were at the kitchen table.  Jed asked him what he was doing and without missing a beat Jace answered him, "Nothing you need to worry about."  Ummmmm.....okay.....right.
One night Connor was already in bed and Jed and I were joking back and forth about how athletic we were in high school, and Jace pipes up and says, "What is wrong with you two?"
He seems to catch everything now.  You can't have a whisper conversation, and the Christmas and Birthday lists will have to be hidden in the next year when he learns to read.
What?  My baby, reading?  Going to Kindergarten? *Sob*
It is so much fun watching him learn and grow, but good grief, time needs to slow down!
Our puny little boy, that only weighs about 10 more pounds than his sister that is three years younger than him, is doing plenty of growing UP.  I bought him new jeans in February because his Old Navy 4T's were TOO SHORT.  Not too small, too short.  We still buy the ones with elastic in the waistband.  So I got him some 5T's that were from Children's Place, a different brand, and they were HUGE.  Not too long, but the waist was HUGE.  So, back to 4T's he went, from Children's Place, with the elastic waistband.
A month later, they are two inches too short.  What?!  I can only hope he gets his Dad's height.  And his coordination too....

But a benefit to him not weighing very much...I can still carry my sleepy boy up and down the stairs in the morning or at night...and he has this way of tucking his arms in between mine so he is "snuggled in" I guess.  Sigh.  I love those moments.


Jace is my best helper.  My BEST helper.  He loves Connor and is always (usually) wanting to play with her, loves helping her get her coat and shoes on, loves putting her in the wagon and taking her for a ride.  I can only hope and pray that because of the big age gap they always feel this way about each other. 
Some of his Favorites:
Color: Green
Team: K-State, and Royals
Food: Pancakes
Book: Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude
Movie: How to Train Your Dragon 2
Favorite Thing about Dad: Farming
Favorite Thing about Mom: That Mom puts him to bed (that's one of my favorites too!)
Favorite Thing about Connor: That he plays with her, and shares the iPad with her, and helps her get dressed.
Sport: Baseball
When he grows up he wants to be.....a FARMER. (Surprise!) OR a Pioneer Customer, or a Pioneer Worker (That actually was surprising...)
Oh Jace.  You are an extraordinary little man.  We love you to pieces and can't imagine life without you.  Happy 5th Birthday!
Now, let's see what the next 365 days bring.....

Friday, March 20, 2015

You're Invited...


But first, we celebrate Grandpa J's birthday...


THEN....


We even got a couple ideas off pinterest...silverware in a grain cart? Check.
Hay Bales (aka Rice Krispies), Check.


Silly kids.  And a hungry dog...can you find him?


Jace requested "Party Games."  No idea where that idea came from....but I made a tractor and some wheels, found a bandana and some tape and ta-da!  A game!


The other game was a little sentimental...this tractor pinata was part of the decor at Jace's BABY SHOWER.  But it's been kicked around his room, and went with the theme, so why not stuff it with candy.  Kyler got to take first whack at it, since she won the first game, then Jace, and last Colton.  Jed had some fun with Colton on this one...knowing that he would probably be the one to break it!


So excited about the candy!  And Connor thinking she is sneaky!


In the middle of the Pinata...I'm probably explaining taking turns...


Birthday boy and his sidekick!


These pictures are from a few days after his birthday party, when his birthday present from us came...


It's a new tent for camping!





Saturday, March 14, 2015

Kyler Turns 5!

And requested a K-State themed party!  Woohoo!

Cassidy was a party animal!


Connor was into everything, like usual...


Had to get some K-State pictures since we all coordinated!




The Luedke Family!  Derek, Kyler (5), Colton (7), Jennifer and Cassidy (16 months)




Apparently at the age of 5, the game of unwrapping presents becomes, make a new record of how fast I can open all of these!  And having the two babies helping adds to the fun!


Chaos.


She's sassy, and very independent, but can still be cute as a button....

Happy 5th Birthday to Kyler!


Thursday, March 12, 2015

Sunday Cruisin'

Just a little afternoon drive...



Sometimes she picks up random passengers...


Miss Independent would like to do the slide all day, even if no one is helping her...yikes.



Sometimes she gets stuck at the top and refuses to come down...


This is our "LAST DAY WITH THE BABY GATE" picture!
Connor's expressions are even surprised ha ha!


A little picture with the birthday decor: