Cole Turns SEVEN!

Our little man turned 7 years old!  He's growing up so fast!  This year for his party he wanted a race car theme which was no surprise.  He's loved cars since he was a wee little one.

Cole's party invitation

Cole "driving" back when he was just two years old

Cole's cake was one of my favorites - a flourless chocolate cake with fudge filling (and completely gluten and dairy-free.)  It's so rich that a little goes a long way!  Cole even participated in making the cake by licking the frosting off the beaters!

The house was decorated with checkered flags and race cars galore!

The kids played with their car launchers while the guests arrived.

Cole enjoyed celebrating his big day with his family.

Cole & Nana Judy

Cole & Nana Bev

For his party lunch, he requested his favorite foods - chicken nuggets and fries!

After lunch was the much anticipated opening of the gifts.  Cole had many helping hands from his very curious siblings.

Cole had requested that we not sing 'Happy Birthday' to him this year.  But he was so excited about blowing out the candle that he changed his mind!

While planning his birthday bash, Cole had asked for two items for his party - a "Pin-the-Tail" game and a piñata.  I was able to locate the perfect piñata - a yellow race car.  All the kids took turns pulling the strings off one-by-one while anxiously waiting to see if the string they pulled would release the candy inside.  Cole was the lucky one to find the magic string that opened the trap door, letting all the candy pour out!

Since I couldn't locate a Pin-the-Wheel-On-the-Car game, I opted to make one instead.  The kids loved it!

Cole was blessed to receive many wonderful gifts.  He spent the rest of the day playing with all his new things.

Cole playing his new board game with Nana Judy & Casey

Cole watching his new Handy Manny dvd on his new dvd player with his siblings

To my dear Cole ~ You are sure getting big!  I realize that every time I lift you out of the car.  You are built like a rock!  Soon you will be carrying me around instead of the other way!

Heading home from the hospital

7 years later!

You are all about doing things yourself.  From helping yourself to a juice box to turning off the TV, you are always saying "I'll do it!" Speaking about TV, you are a bit addicted to the screen.  And you always watch it from your favorite spot on the floor right in front!  Your favorite TV show is 'Jessie'.  I'm pretty sure you've seen all the episodes.  A close second to TV viewing is playing the Xbox.  You love playing Kinect Sports (your favorite sport is boxing) and Lego Jurassic World.  Although we have a ways to go on learning how to be a gracious loser - you definitely don't like to lose!

You are a mover and a shaker and constantly on the go.  You love playing outside, throwing the frisbee or just running around in the yard.  You also enjoy spending time in our unfinished basement -  swinging, kicking the ball around, playing catch or driving your Dareway (it's like a segway for kids).  You are one crazy driver!

You love to drive like a wild man!  You are always crashing into the basement wall on your Dareway or off-roading with your battery operated toy car.  You've gotten it stuck in the tall grass too many times to count!  When we venture to North Dakota to visit Nana Bev and Popi Jerry, you are always eager to drive one of Popi's many John Deere tractors.  You think it's a blast!

You love music!  You're latest discovery has been YouTube Kids.  You love watching all sorts of silly songs and videos.  I often find you in your quiet space (the office) listening and singing along to the music on my iPhone.

You've never had much interest in books, although there are a few you've enjoyed in the past like Pete the Cat.  But now that you're a big Kindergartener, your love of books has really started to blossom.  You've been bringing home new books from the library every week and usually ask to have it read to you again and again!  You've also started to read!!  It's so fun to watch.  Recently you saw the word "mom" and said, "M-O-M, that spells mom!"



You are quite the clown!  You love being goofy, cracking jokes and making people laugh.  You are a big tickler and love to give tickles to everyone.  And you have the best laugh - deep and boisterous!  It's quite contagious.

You love riding horse.  You've been taking lessons for about a year.  Your favorite place to ride is outside up and down the trails near the horse stables. While you like to ride, you do NOT like to give the horse a treat afterwards - his lips and teeth are just a bit too scary for you!

You rise with the birds EVERY. SINGLE. MORNING.  This is hard for a mom who's a night owl.  You are up by 5:30 am (sometimes as early as 4:30 am!!) wide-eyed and bushy tailed. Luckily you have your morning routine down and enjoy your quiet time while the rest of the house is still sound asleep.

Cole, you are a such silly, sweet, energetic little boy.  We are so blessed that you are our son!  A very happy birthday to you!  We love you!