Peyton is FIVE!

I have a 5-year-old. Peyton turned 5 on June 4th and we celebrated in full-force with a Pump it Up party (bounce house place) Peyton has been asking for a Pump it Up Party for 2 years and asked for a Lego Police theme party to go with it- I was able to pull it off!  Gigi and Dandy came in town the day before so we did a little family dinner with Bebe and Papa and then the party the next day with his school friends, some soccer friends, and neighbors.  It was such a fun day celebrating our Peyton.

What to say about Peyton at 5?  Peyton- you are one of a kind.  You are thoughtful, sweet, calm, and have an engineering mind.  You love to follow lego instructions and can put complicated sets together all on your own.  You love police and catching the "bad guys" and have told me you want to be a policeman when you grow up. You love rules and do your best to follow them. You try so hard to be perfect at your legos, building blocks, etc. that you can get frustrated and need lots of love. You may be just a little bit of a perfectionist :)  You are affectionate, adore tickling and playing with your giant baby brother, have started to enjoy super heroes, and love Busy Town books.  You eat only a few things but do like totinos pizza, cereal, yogurt, french fries, vanilla ice cream and pudding, orange juice (with calcium!) and sprite :) You started T-ball last month and are so good! All those days hitting golf balls with Dad has really created some great hand=eye coordination. You love to play quietly and usually struggle to keep your baby brother and sister away from your toys.  Our house is overflowing with legos but I wouldn't have it any other way. You like bugs. Even dead ones. Potty words make you giggle uncontrollably and you love being the oldest in your class.  You are full of so many interesting questions and are just trying to figure out the world. You have this awesome way of gesturing and talking with your hands up in the air and squinting your eyes and I get such a kick out of it. Some of the things that come out of your mouth stop me in my tracks and make me laugh out loud- like when you call me "Meredith Price" (inside joke) You just completed swim lessons and are doing pretty well with your free-style. You are so nice to your friends and that makes me the most proud. I love you, love you, love you and credit YOU as beginning this beautiful family for your Dad and I. You make me the happiest Mommy in the World and I can't wait to see what you will do or ask next :)

Nolan enjoying his brother's birthday cupcakes

Messy birthday cupcake clean up! This might be one of my most favorite pictures ever. Their 2 grandmothers giving the a sink bath. Precious.

Pump it up Post to follow! Peyton had the BEST time at his party. 

Happy 5th Birthday to my first baby, my Peyton. My "Stinky Winky Binky Boy."

Last Day of School

This was Mallory and Peyton on their first day of school- Pre K 3 and  Mother's Day Out. September 2011.

Here they are on their LAST day of school- Pre K3 and Mother's Day Out.  May 2012.

Oh My goodness, Peyton grew!  He lost some of his "baby face". And as usual Mallory dressed herself for the occasion, I wonder if this dress is any indication of the college she will attend :).  Both of them are taller, leaner, and just look less like my little babies.  What a difference a school year makes.

We are so blessed to have a wonderful preschool and MDO for all 3 children.  Peyton has loved his class, teacher, and friends in his 3-year-old class.  He is confident, sweet, and loves all of the hands on learning he receives.

Mallory adores school. She has developed a special bond with her teacher- Ms. Joan.  I don't know what she is going to do without her next year!  If you ask Mallory, "Who Loves You?" she immediately shouts back, "JOAN LOVES ME!"  They are kindred spirits those 2 and exactly what Mallory needed in her life this year. We are so thankful for her year with Ms. Joan.

On the last day of school we joined Peyton on the playground for his end-of-year picnic.  Nolan joined in on the fun too.

Now we  anxiously wait for the beginning of summer school (I'm already ready!) and then a new year with Peyton's last year of preschool.  It will be the last year of a house full of preschoolers/toddlers with long days at home and daily life without a schedule.  We plan to make the most of our time all together!

Batman and Foofa

I don't know that it gets any more precious than this.  These 2 wanted to put their costumes on at bedtime.  Mallory was sleeping on Peyton's trundle bed because Big Peyton was sleeping in her room and they decided to sleep together. When we checked on them later we found them like this.  Batman and Foofa, 4 and 2.  What a magical moment.

Chim Chimeree- Again!

When Mallory was 13 months old I found this.

Now Nolan is EXACTLY 13 months old and I just found this. Same fireplace.  Different Baby.

In true Nolan form he appears to be eating the ashes and soot rather than just playing in it.

How did this happen? I was on the computer in the same room and thought the 3 of them were quietly watching Curious George.  I heard Mallory say, "Nolan has YUCKIES!" and turned around to find this.

Is fireplace diving a new developmental stage for 1-year-olds?  I couldn't make this stuff up!  And we just recently let our guard down and took down the box that usually blocks the fireplace opening.  The box is now back up!

Scene of the Crime. Where was Batman when I needed him? He usually alerts me about this type of stuff!

 On the way to the shower!

Don't worry, I removed that piece of rock from his mouth as soon as I snapped this picture :)  Baby boy is now all clean.


13 Month old Babies!!! You keep me on my toes and know how to make an ordinary morning a lot more interesting!

Through the "I" of the "I-Phone"

I take a lot of pictures on my phone throughout the day, it is probably the more "realistic" view of our daily life.  I never post or print them so thought I would do one big post of our most recent I-phone pictures, unedited :) And lately Nolan has been eating my phone and getting it wet which has caused the picture quality to be a little grainy.  I hear the newer I-phone takes better pictures, (birthday hint for Marshall!)  

Here is our daily life the last couple of months.  When it is mostly just Me and the Three.

Nolan shares his mother's passion for all food.  Here he is with Spaghetti.

Mallory's hands after dying Easter eggs.  She looks like Elphaba from Wicked. 

Sweet Mallory and Tootsie in the pew at Easter.  

Posse! 

Dressed herself in her bathing "tuit" and one Ugg and one tap shoe.  That is style.

One of Peyton's pieces at his "art show" during their lesson on Martin Luther King. It Reads "I have a Dream....I dreamed that I have a garbage truck.  I wish I had 1,000 but I don't need 1,000. " That is so Peyton :)

Mallory found this friend at Sams Club.  She is wearing a bathing "tuit" top, shorts, and dress shoes for this occasion. 

Nolan eating dirt.  This boy loves to be outside more than anyone I've ever seen.

Rub a dub 3 Yates in a Tub.  It is always a party at our house.

Peyton and Mallory showing their Valentines Day treats to Nolan.

Easter Hunt at School

How we roll at Central Market.

Ear Tube Time with Papa

Garbage Trucks for all

Swiffering in Gigi's tap costume and a first communion veil

Mallory's room after her first "nap" in her big girl bed. It was spotless when I put her down.

My Little Ham

She truly is a fashionista. How many 2 year olds do you know that would match a "bucket" to use as  a purse to her dress?  And yes that is a binky, she started wanting one at 2 1/2 years old. 

Shades with Uncle Nick

Peyton has so much passion for his Busy Town books- I find him asleep like this most nights.

1st birthday cupcake at Bebe's

The BEST way to grocery shop!!! Seatbelts for all!!!

Easter Egg Hunt Day at school

This is only scary if you don't know our dogs.  They are just looking for food on or around Nolan :) Not Nolan himself. 

Free entertainment :) Peyton and a Garbage Truck

I love babies in animal towels.

Overall I love my days with my little people. And am so glad I have a phone to capture all these little memories.  I've been thinking about the quote "The Days are Long, But The Years Are Short" a lot lately.  It is so applicable of my daily life with these 3. A good reminder to enjoy these precious moments as much as possible.  Especially when they end their day all clean wearing a hooded towel :)