Gavin Turns Five

Can't believe it, but it's true.  Last Friday was Gavin's birthday and he turned FIVE!!!

 He had his birthday party the week before his birthday at Bounce n Play.  It was a lot of fun and he felt so special.

This boy has some serious concentration when it comes to blowing out candles.

 

Gavin and his friend Jayden from preschool

Gavin and his friend Abe who happen to live two houses down the street.

The day of his birthday we took in Captain America shield cupcakes to preschool.

 We let him open one present in the morning and he happily spent then entire afternoon building a new Lego set.  This boy and his love for Lego's is remarkable.  Between friends, parents and grandparents he got 5 Lego sets for his birthday, all of them for kids between the ages of 8-12 and he was able to build all five without any help.  He's one amazing Lego builder!

  It was all he could do to wait until 4:30 when Bret and Abby both came home to open the rest of his presents.

 His requested Batman birthday cake.

 Here's some more of that candle concentration

Five Things I Love About Gavin:

1.  He is an amazing big brother.  He is so attentive to Grayson, plays with him, helps keep him safe, and loves to make him laugh.

2.  He is teachable.  He is taking swimming lessons right now with three of his buddies and one thing his teacher comments to me all the time is how teachable and coachable Gavin is.  He listens and then works to apply.  That's going to be a great skill for him to have his entire life.

3.  Gavin is full of life and energy.  Sometimes I love this more then other times, but it really is one of those things that makes Gavin who he is.  

4.  Gavin has a strong desire to make good choices.  He thrives off of positive reinforcement and beams when he is recognized for the good decisions and choices he makes.

5.  Gavin is aware of the needs of those around him and looks for ways to help.  I think this is remarkable for a boy his age.  One example is if he has candy that he knows is a favorite of one of his siblings, he saves it for them.  I can always count on Gavin to do what he can to help others be happy and to be a good friend.

We love you Gavin!!!!

Where I've Been...

These last few months have been hard.  And somehow writing about it, or even the normal little things and activities, here on my blog has not been the thing I've wanted to do.  But my own personal journal sure has seen a lot more of me then usual.  The uncertainty of what direction our path would and should take has been nothing short of a roller coaster.  And just when I think we have our answers and things figured out, more curve balls get thrown our way.  I'm grateful for friends and family who help put my perspective where it needs to be, who listen and encourage, who strengthen my faith with their own, and who recognize and acknowledge that this has been difficult.

As it stands now our home is on the market, we're planning on moving to Charlotte North Carolina, we're in the full swing of spring craziness, and Bret is gone 4 days out of the week.  It's a challenging time that's for sure.  I can't even think about what it means to be leaving this place we love so very much.  It is painfully hard.  But we always knew this day would come, we moved here knowing it was not a permanent place for us, no matter how badly I wish it was. And depending on the final outcome after this next year there is always a possibility that we could come back here to Charlottesville.

I think I've come back to a place mentally and emotionally where I can get back to blogging.  I think about the little things I've missed and haven't captured and it makes me sad.  No matter how much I think, "I'll remember this" or "there's no way I'll forget this"  somehow that's not the case.  Little moments are not always remembered and that's the whole reason for this blog of mine.  And so as I attempt to get back in the swing of blogging and to get caught up I realize and remember that this is a much needed outlet for me that I really do enjoy.

And so I think it's safe for me to say I'm back to my blog and the reason why I started it.