Evan's 11th Birthday

Evan's 11th Birthday Interview:

1.  Who is your favorite person in the whole world?
My brother Brody.

2.  What is your favorite color?
Green

3.  What's your favorite television show?
"How to train your dragon"

4.  What's your favorite outfit?
My sailboat shirt (the one he is wearing in the picture above so that is probably why he wrote that...haha!)

5.  What sport do you like best? 
Soccer

6.  What song do you love?
"Where you are" by Hillsong Young & Free from church camp
  
7.  What's your favorite cereal?
Cinnamon Toast Crunch

8.  Who is your best friend?
Lee

9.  What do you want to be when you grow up?
An Engineer

10.  What is your favorite book?
Percy Jackson

11.  What are you really good at?
Math
Mommy will add with bragging rights that he has also continued to prove that he is an excellent academician and an outstanding reader.  His reading Lexile scores have continued to be off the school age level charts above those of average 12th graders, and he scored in the high 98th and 99th percentiles in his first Georgia Milestones test scores which included an intensive writing test.  He is an honor roll student although no school he has attended to date gives awards for that, and he will be entering middle school continuing in the advanced content curriculum.  

12.  Where do you wish you could go on vacation?
Italy

13.  What is your best memory?
The day my brother Mattox was born.

14.  What would you buy if you had $1000? 
A PS4

15.  What vegetable do you hate the most?
The ones I haven't eaten.  (At least he didn't say lettuce again.) 

16.  What food do you like best?
Steak

17.  What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
Mint

18.  What do you love most about yourself?
I'm smart.

19.  What do you like to do with your best friends?
Play outside

20.  What do you hope you'll get to do before your next birthday?
Go to Mexico

This year's birthday celebration was a bit of a milestone celebration.  At 11, he was excited to receive his invitation to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.  Hmmm, do you think he should attend all the way in England or maybe go to Ilvermorny here in the US?  Decisions, decisions. Haha!  Evan also received a special birthday cake from Hagrid who borrowed my kitchen for the task.  That night, our family enjoyed dinner out at one of our favorite local seafood restaurants and then came home to eat cake and open presents.  For one final birthday surprise, Grandma came and delivered his big milestone birthday gift...

An owl woke us up fairly early to deliver Evan's Hogwarts letter to his room.  It was complete with tea stained parchment and wax seal.  

When Evan arrived home from school, he found his letter and the cake Hagrid made complete with misspellings. 

After Daddy got home from work, we went out for dinner at one of Evan's favorite places called Fish Tales. 

Daddy was getting extra special love from Mattox. 

Evan was "pretending" to slap his mama because of this spicy seasoning on the table.  Ha!  He knows better.   He loves the big peel and eat shrimp now that he can peel them himself. 

Grayson was trying to hit him. 

The birthday boy with his special cake.  I just hoped there was no beard hair in it.  Haha! 

Blowing out his candles. 

Our big boy is 11! 

Brody couldn't wait to see what was in the present.  It was his very own laser tag set so he and his friends can play together.  

And then Grandma showed up with his first....GUN!  Yep, a real one.  Sigh.  Daddy felt he needed his own shotgun for hunting that would be easier for him to handle.  It still looks really long to me, but it isn't supposed to kick as hard. 

An Irish Family

Our family does feel a little Irish on St. Patrick's Day, especially Evan our little red haired leprechaun.  We just love an opportunity to dress in matching clothes and take pictures.  Okay, maybe that is just me.  Ha!  Some of the kids were not so enthusiastic this year.

This time it was Mattox who was not happy. 

Some tickling helped get him in a happier mood. 

And some pictures with Mommy. 

I love my little leprechauns. 

That one on the right is crazy! 

Now, Mattox is feeling more cooperative for sibling pictures. 

And even posed for some special Mommy and me pictures. 

But he wasn't feeling it when big brother Evan joined.  The bugs were beginning to annoy him. 

This sweetie was really beginning to get around on two legs. 

A beautiful lucky baby.  Well, his parents are the lucky ones. 

Celebrating Mattox's 3rd Birthday in NC

After Aunt Naomi's wedding, it was time to celebrate our little rainbow, Mattox.  Since we were already in NC with family, he was able to celebrate his birthday with lots of family. 

Mattox started his birthday waking up in a hotel room which is always a treat.  Big brother Brody made him a little birthday card.  

For dinner, we hit the local Pizza Inn because that is the happening place in town.  It was a late night and everyone was pretty tired from the events of the day, but we still had a good time. 

I wanted a little gold for his birthday since this is his "golden" birthday.  He was born on the 3rd of March and is 3 years old.  I bought him a big birthday hat that had gold trim and used gold plates for the cupcakes.  I was going to buy cupcakes, but Aunt Naomi had tons of leftovers from her wedding.  Since they were blue and white, they worked just as well. 

He loved his candles this year. 

He was able to blow them out himself, but he did have some help.  He would not leave his hat on if I didn't hold it on. 

Baby likes cake too! 

I found this little Polo shirt at TJ Maxx with 3 on it so it served as his birthday shirt. 

Lots of icing mustaches.  Sweet sweet boys! 

On Sunday, we celebrated a little more before we came home.   We ate lunch at Great-Grandpa's house and then enjoyed more cupcakes and present opening. 

He gets a little shy when everyone is singing to him. 

Daddy helped him blow out his candle. 

Cousin Grady helped him open his presents. I found the cutest little Beagle dog that talks and walks and is very hyperactive for a good price at TJ Maxx and got it for Grandma to give him.  He loves dogs so it was a hit. 

Little brother liked it too.  Great-Grandpa just enjoyed watching his little ones play. 

When we arrived home, his present from us had been delivered.  I had wanted to buy him the new Teddy Ruxpin at Christmas, but I am glad I waited until it dropped significantly in price.  I had a Teddy Ruxpin as a child that my brother had bought me with his own money.  Sadly, it never worked, but I never got rid of it and still loved it.   Mattox's does work and is a lot more high tech. 

Everyone enjoyed listening to Teddy talk and tell stories. 

Naomi & Scott's Wedding

March started with two special occasions.  First, our little Mattox turned 3 years old.  Second, his Aunt Naomi married her true love on his birthday.  It was a very special weekend to spend with all of the family.  Love was definitely in the air!

First, we celebrated the happy couple at the rehearsal dinner at a local Mexican restaurant.  I loved Naomi's dress. 

Eddie and I wanted a picture with his sister, but Brody could not be left out. 

Cousin Grady is very excited about his new dad, and Papa James and Grandma were happy too.  Grayson just wanted food. 

The groom was the most excited groom I have ever met.  He wanted everything perfect and did much of the work himself.  Aunts Dava and Homa are always a huge support, and Aunt Dava's best friend Nell played the piano beautifully. 

Some of the special touches at the reception were a popcorn bar, and rustic metal and wood baskets with wedding favors in them.  

Naomi arranged these wildflower centerpieces herself.  I loved her theme of baby blue with burlap and lace.  The corsages were ready. 

Her bouquet was just beautiful. 

The wedding cake was simple and lovely and delicious.  The cupcakes even doubled for Mattox's birthday celebration. 

The groom was ready.  The church is very special as the church Eddie's grandpa pastored for many years at the end of his career.  They got new stained glass windows a few years ago that are just lovely. 

The simple church decor was perfect.  I loved the greenery and burlap and lace bows that the bride made. 

The decor on the piano was dedicated to all of the family who have passed away including Grandma Mattie, Grandpa and Grandma R, Mattie, and many more.  

Rowena, Grandpa, and Aunt Homa waited for the bride.  Aunt Homa stood in for Grandma Mattie. 

Cousin Grady enjoyed his treat for walking down the aisle as ring bearer.  Naomi was walked down the aisle by our dear friend James.  Her father attended the wedding, but he did not walk her down the aisle. 

The couple exchange their vows, and their new family of three perform the special sand ceremony showing they are becoming one.  

The couple is very happy to finally be married.  Papa James and Grandma and Grady were happy too.  Naomi's veil was just gorgeous. 

But these boys steal my heart! 

The wedding attendants and family

The bride and her mother

The bride and her father

Brother and sister

The Bride's family

I just loved that shot of Brody's happy face.  Evan was signing the guest book.  I thought it was a cute and fitting addition to the guest book table that Grady added his transformers.  

I love my handsome big three year old.  I don't know what big brother Brody was doing to him.  The wedding photographer captured these shots. 

Sweet cousins and friends. 

The Bride's whole clan. 

A special uninvited guest showed up to steal the show.  The kids showed him lots of love.  This cute little fellow had a limp from an injured leg and was kind of pitiful but very sweet.  He apparently hangs around the church a lot. 

Four of the most handsome men.  

Eddie and one of his best friends and cousin Jason and the couple with the bride's father and Uncle and Aunt. 

Our little family.  Well, we added one but the more the merrier right? 

Inside, the reception was in full swing with good food and conversation. 

The couple cut the cake and were very neat eating it. 

The special toast.  May they live happily ever after!