Recaps of Austin's Big Days

I always like to recap each of the birthday boys' actual birthdays and what we did and how we celebrated. As you know, I'm all about recording some memories. =) So this is a recap of not only Austin's birthday but also his first day of preschool. Two super special and really fun days for our middle. 

Austin's 4th birthday started bright and early on Thursday the 3rd when we woke him and Garrison up for school and Austin was greeted with 4 balloons and lots of Happy Birthday wishes. He may have been a little out of it but he was still pretty pumped it was his special day and he was officially 4.

After getting dressed and ready for breakfast we continued with our birthday tradition... donuts, candles, and singing of Happy Birthday. Garrison even made sure Austin used his special birthday plate. They are always so adorable on their birthday morning. =)

We told Garrison and daddy bye since Baby A was here for the day and all the way out the door Garrison was saying the sweetest things to Austin. Happy Birthday Austin! I hope you have a great day today for your birthday! I'll be thinking about you all day! Have fun with mama! See you this afternoon for your birthday! It was pretty precious.

Later that morning was Austin's Open House at school. Terrell's mom came over to stay with Layton and Baby A so that Terrell, Austin, and I could experience Open House on our own. And we are so thankful because it was perfect and made the day even more special for Austin. He met his teacher and played with puzzles and really took in his classroom. And, we saw another family from our church there and someone we grew up with. So it was nice to see familiar faces even though our preschool is one town over. 

Austin got bubbles at Open House so while the babies were napping that afternoon, we went outside and played with those. I let Austin skip naptime as a special birthday treat. =)

Austin's soccer practice was cancelled late Thursday afternoon but since Garrison still had practice the whole fam went together and then Austin got to pick where we went out to eat afterwards. He chose his favorite pizza place. We were all pretty sweaty and gross but sure enjoyed our supper!

Once we got home we had cupcakes for dessert, let Austin open the cards he got in the mail, and then he received some special phone calls before bedtime. It was a normal Thursday for us but super special because of who we were celebrating. I think the birthday boy really loved his day and all the perks that came with it!

And yesterday was Austin's 1st day of preschool! Something I've been looking forward to for months simply because I know how much he's going to enjoy school. And I was right!! He had a "really, really, really good day!" =)

Dropping him off went really smoothly. He was just a tad nervous but mostly super excited and really confident. And as soon as I drove away I immediately wished I could be a fly on the wall and wondered what he was doing and how his first day would go. I could've cried but I didn't. I'm just so thankful we're able to send him to school this year. He is such a sociable little man I know he's going to thrive on the interaction with friends and teachers and I know it's going to be good for him to have some time away from the house and me and the babies. We are all very excited about his school year.

This is him running up to the car and waving to me when I came to pick him up. He was so excited and happy it made my heart about burst with joy. I just loved this response to his very first day!

His teacher put him in the car and said that he was smart, sweet, and cooperative and that they had a great day. Yay. =)

He was really excited about me asking him about his day (because everyday when we pick Garrison up from school that's the first thing I do), so I started asking away and he ended up talking the whole way home! I thought he might fall asleep in the car due to the 25-30 minute drive and being tired from his first day. Nope. He had way too much say to fall asleep. Haha.

Here's what I found out about the first day:

*There are 6 girls and 4 boys in his class

*He read a book, played with a puzzle, played with cars, colored, and painted.

*They talked about playground rules.

*They went to the potty. (Ha)

*They ate a snack... goldfish and a cookie.

*They sang a song before snack time.

*They sang the clean up song.

*He played with a particular girl and boy a lot.

*They played with another class on the playground.

*He loved the playground!

A successful and fun first day! The only thing he was disappointed about was not checking out a library book like Garrison (bless it, his school doesn't even have a library) and not bringing home lots of stuff in his book bag like Garrison. He did bring home some papers but they handed them to him as he was leaving the playground instead of putting them in his book bag. Hopefully he'll come to accept that his school is quite different from Garrison's but that it definitely has it's own perks. =) He's excited for Day 2 tomorrow, and that daddy gets to take him to school. 

HUGE THANKS to both my mom and Terrell's mom who held down the fort at the house with Layton and Baby A so I could take Austin and pick him up on his very first day. They have both been such a help to us this week!!

And I think that's a wrap on my middle baby's big days. So thankful for him, his birthday, and his great 1st day of school!!

The Rest of our Long Weekend

To sum it up, the rest of our long weekend was wonderful. We were able to rest, relax, enjoy lots of downtime, enjoy lots of family time, and our kiddos had tons of fun. The whole weekend was such a blessing. 

On Sunday after church, Terrell's side of the family all came over so we could celebrate Terrell's and Allison's belated birthdays. Terrell's mom made lasagna and then we had some of Allison's leftover Harry Potter birthday cake. Everything was soo good and we had such a good time together. 

After cleaning up and opening presents we let the kids head out to play on the water slide. We were able to keep it all weekend so we enjoyed it to the fullest. Big time. The cousins had so. much. fun. playing on this together Sunday afternoon.

There was a game of water slide tag...

And even a huge downpour that blew through. They just kept right on sliding and having fun while we kept dry under the tent. =) The best way to play in the rain!

 

After all of our company went home on Sunday and Layton woke up from his nap, mama and daddy both tried out the slide. Ha! Terrell does it every year but this year was a first for me. This was my fun mom moment of the weekend. =) 

Practically flying down the slide and landing in the huge pool of water at the bottom, (and going under!), was crazy! It was a shock to my almost 32 year old self. Haha! But I continued to slide over and over and over again, much to the joy of my big boys and the fascination of my baby boy. And then I got up as fast as I could so they wouldn't come down right behind me and pummel me! It really was a lot of fun even if I did get a few bumps and bruises. Ha.

Monday turned out perfect. We all slept late. Then I went to the grocery store all by myself while Terrell let the big boys enjoy the slide one last time and Layton napped. 

They got a good hour and a half on it before it was picked up. This picture looks really sad but they weren't upset, just thankful. And they both told us so. =) Plus pretty curious to see it deflated and all rolled up. 

We played Austin's new game Hungry Hippo together as a family before lunch and then had a nice rest time before going over to AnAn's and Frankie's for supper. They grilled hamburgers for us and treated us to a yummy Labor Day meal. =) Garrison had soccer practice so him and Terrell were a little late to the get together but shortly after they arrived, a rainbow was spotted. It was so pretty and so special for all of us to see!

Speaking of special... This picture is presh!! Anna captured it after supper and it's the sweetest. All of my boys love their uncle Frankie!

We are so thankful for our full of fun, celebrations, and family time long weekend! It was a GREAT one! =)

Austin's 4th Birthday Party

We had Austin's 4th birthday party on Saturday and it was a huge success and super fun for our middle man!  And everyone else too! In the past we've always avoided Labor Day weekend for his party but this year it worked out for the best and he even had a few little friends who were able to come. We had the best time celebrating our favorite 4 year old!

Austin chose to have a Georgia Bulldog football party and this was one of my easiest parties ever to plan. And so fun! This was our first birthday party to host in our own home and that made it pretty special too. Plus lots of work. =) But everything turned out pretty perfect and it was all totally worth it because Austin LOVED every second!! 

Megan created the cutest invites for us again! She does the BEST work!! We were smitten. =)

Traditional birthday party family pic!

My parents got the water slide for us again this year and it was a HUGE hit just like every other year. It's the best entertainment and fun for all the kiddos! BIG THANK YOU to Granna and Papa!! Also, Terrell was able to use the AgSouth tent and cooler and it worked out perfect for all the grown-ups. Plus the really little ones were able to enjoy the water table and baby pool. =)

My mom came over early to help me with set-up and last minute party prep, so she got a picture with the birthday boy before all the party fun started. This little man was just so happy and excited the whole entire party. And it just made my day to see him enjoy everything so much. =)

I used my "sofa table" for some decor and the party favors. 

Austin's framed invitation and the cups of favors... which held iced cookies, a UGA pencil, a red or black silly straw, and a football whistle.

Terrell's mini helmet signed by Mark Richt, a tray of iced cookies for the grown-ups, a framed picture of Austin, and a wire basket full of mini Georgia footballs (courtesy of AgSouth) that all the kiddos got to take home...

We finished our paint project just in time for the party! It's still a little bare in our dining room and foyer but for now we're just thankful we're done with painting! I did some simple centerpieces on the dining room table and my parents' card table we borrowed. I think we had just enough seating for everybody thanks to us having a "kiddie table" and my in-laws bringing over their kiddie table.

The cake table!

Austin picked out the cake himself after we looked together at several online. Even though I had a few favorites I was rooting for he was really sold on this one and it turned out perfect. And so yummy!! My boys are all fans of strawberry cake so we went with half strawberry, half vanilla. Sooo good!!

And our favorite detail of the cake was that the bulldog was eating a tiger! So perfect given we reeeally dislike tigers and our brother-in-law is an Auburn grad! Hahaha!

I added a few touches of football and red and black on my countertops too. And the only thing we bought were the solo cups. Everything else I had. Yay. =)

Water slide fun! This is what all the kiddos did upon arrival until it was time to eat. They were so fun to watch!

Even Layton enjoyed it a little before hanging out at the water table and baby pool. =)

After getting everyone dried off we came in for lunch. We went with hotdogs, chips and dip, and fruit. We kept the menu simple and everybody seemed to get full. A win-win. Right after everyone finished eating we went straight to the cake. Singing Happy Birthday to my boys every single year is one of my favorite parts of the party. And I felt pretty special that he still chose for me to hold him even though we offered him a bar stool to stand on. =)

After enjoying cake and ice cream we moved right along to presents so the kiddos could all head back out to the waterslide. Watching Austin open presents was soo fun! He was so animated and excited and THRILLED over every single thing he got. 

(Who knows what's going on with my other children in the background...Ha!)

This picture is blurry, but I had to include it because this was his reaction to every gift. He was just so excited and thankful for every single one. 

After opening presents all the kiddos went back out for more time on the water slide. They all went up and down it 50 times I think. I know my big boys loved it and had a ball. I almost wish we just owned one it was so fun for them. =)

Once the party wrapped up and everyone had gone home and Layton was down for his nap, we turned on Austin's new movie for the big boys. They were still wound up from all the party fun but we knew they were tired and needed some down time... or maybe that was just us. Haha. (A definite perk to having an early party!) About half way through the movie our birthday boy crashed. An obvious sign of birthday party success! He had so much fun and played so hard and just enjoyed everything to the fullest. And we loved celebrating with him and watching his joy! 

Happy Birthday again Austin Selph!! We love you and are so thankful for you!

Happy Birthday Austin!

Austin you are 4 years old today!! 4 years ago today at 8:37 AM on Saturday morning of Labor Day weekend you made your appearance and changed our lives for the better. We've been smiling, laughing, and enjoying life with you every minute since the moment we met you! What a blessing these 4 years have been!! 

While this particular year has been a really fun one, it's also been known as the year of the meltdown. Because while you are the most fun, sweet, loving, precious 4 year old I know, the year between 3 and 4 was one full of meltdowns. It's a tough and emotional year! HOWEVER, we've turned a corner and are seeing less and less! You really are growing up and it's oh so bittersweet. You are super smart, really mature, a laid back and go with the flow replica of your daddy, and one of the sweetest little guys I know. I just LOVE being your mama!

A Peek at a Day in the Life of You!

You start the day early on school mornings because we have to wake you up around 6:30... but most mornings you're up and at 'em in a happy mood. (You sleep past 7 on weekends!) So far, you have the smallest appetite in the family and eat the smallest breakfast. A Nutri Grain bar and some dry cereal is your typical breakfast. Most mornings after Garrison goes to school you watch a show, have just a little independent play time, and then you're my special helper. We take Bailey out together, water the flowers together, you help me clean, you follow me around, and you're my assistant with the babies. We also play lots of games together (your favorite hobby!) while the babies are napping and mix in some educational fun too.

Lunch is probably your favorite meal of the day. Your typical lunch is a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or ham and cheese cracker sandwiches. You love chips, grapes, and raisins, so you have those lots with lunch too. After lunch and clean up time, you get to play on the Kindle or iPad or watch an episode of one of your favorite shows and then it's your nap/rest time. We've done away with your naps on the weekends but during the week you still take a short nap almost every afternoon. I have to keep it short on purpose so you can fall asleep at bedtime!

Immediately following naptime we pick Garrison up from school and the craziest part of our day begins. We get home and y'all enjoy your snack before we tackle a little homework. Then you and Garrison watch a show and unwind a little, then we usually do more homework with Garrison, and then y'all have some fun play time before we get ready to head out to soccer or choir... or on Tuesdays relax at home! Our evenings at home are yours and Garrison's favorite time of day!

You are an amazing brother! You are Garrison's best playmate and friend (and miss him terribly while he's at school) and Layton's best entertainer and ring leader. Haha! You are good about sharing with your brothers, good about thinking of them and including them, good about forgiving them (another sweet trait straight from daddy), and good about loving them. You give lots of hugs and are the most affectionate little man in our family. You forgive and forget so easily and have no idea how to hold a grudge. You are happy and fun almost all the time and your brothers are so blessed to have you!

You love playing baseball and soccer and are quite the attentive little player. You follow directions well and take your role on the team pretty serious. =) We have loved watching you play team sports this year and are super excited about the upcoming soccer season! You are also a big Braves, Hawks, Falcons, and Bulldogs fan. Watching sports together and cheering on our favorite teams is one of your favorite things. 

Fun Facts at 4:

*You are very cautious and like to play it safe. I can really appreciate this trait as your mama!

*You never meet a stranger. You will wave, speak, high five, shake hands, or carry on a conversation with anyone. You are the social butterfly of our family and are the best little people person I know!

*Your love language is still physical touch. You love being held, sitting in laps, hugs, kisses, high fives, and back scratches. =)

*You aren't a fan of the dark, getting water in your face, intimidating amusement park rides, or eating your vegetables. 

*You LOVE board games and card games. This is your current favorite hobby and we usually play at least 1 game together a day. 

*Your favorite foods are Nutri Grain bars, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, tacos, spaghetti, chicken tenders, cheeseburgers, grapes, and lots of chips.

*Your favorite TV shows right now are Wild Kratts, Octonauts, Sofia the First, and Miles from Tomorrowland. You really love just about anything.

*You start preschool next Wednesday and you're both super excited and sort of nervous. Open House is this morning! I can't wait to hear all about your friends, teachers, and new adventures. I think you're going to love school and do great!

*You still have quite the imagination and love sharing stories about your (imaginary) school day with Sally, your imaginary friend. 

*You are such a sweet son, brother, nephew, and grandson. You are loved and adored by your whole family and keep us laughing and entertained constantly. We are so thankful you are ours!

Happy 4th birthday to our priceless 2nd born, Austin Carson Selph!! We love you more than you know and are so excited to celebrate with you!!

***And just because I'm in a reminiscing mood... here's a look back at my middle man's arrival. How has it been 4 years already!?! Feeling a little emotional over how fast we got here, but oh so thankful to have the privilege to watch him grow!***

Austin Is Here

Austin's Birth Story

Garrison Meets Austin

(I'm skipping Friday Favorites tomorrow due to all the party prep going on around here. This is our first time to host a birthday party in our own home so things are busy, busy, busy! Plus we're hosting Terrell's side of the fam on Sunday after church and celebrating Terrell's and our niece Allison's belated birthdays. It should be a fun couple of days! And we're super thankful to have Monday off!! Hope you have a wonderful, extra long weekend!)