Birthday Month!

On September 18, Matthew turned 6 and a week later Libby Lou turned 2! Which made me come to an amazing realization: I had 3 babies in 4 years and one week. No wonder I'm in the gym 5 days a week getting my you-know-what kicked by a professional bodybuilder, and running on my own outside of class. But that's a whole other blog. Operation Work Butt Off or OWBO.  I digress...

I had birthday hats for the birthday kids and wanted to get their picture, but this is what I got:

Being close to family has been wonderful. My parents came down the weekend before Matthew's birthday to shower the kids with gifts. That's really no exaggeration, let me tell ya'! Then on Matthew's actual birthday we had a small celebration with just us at home. On Libby's birthday, Matt's whole Chicago-land family came to celebrate. We were having so many parties, that over breakfast one morning, Matthew asked me if he was really six yet. "Is today my real birthday, Mom?" How cute. My kids are truly loved. Thanks family, for coming to par-taaay!

At one point during the gift openings, Libby was so excited about the present Grandma and Grandpa got her, but she couldn't open the packaging (seriously! What's with the Fort Knox packaging!) and took it over to Grandma, running her little legs in place, shoved the gift in Grandma's chest and said very loudly and intensely, "DOOOOO!" Meaning, "Could you please help me open up my present Grandmother Dearest?"

I forgot to mention that our good friend, Andrew came down in between the two parties:

He got Matthew and Natalie tennis racquets and lessons because although he supports Matt's basketball, his real love is tennis and wants the kids to concentrate on that REAL sport, as he says. He got the Jr. Federer and Jr. Sharipova racquets. They love their new sport!

And on two the final birthday celebration with Matt's family:

 Aunt Joyce's birthday is right after Libby's, so she got a present, too...her first pair of Lululemon pants! I had to photograph the momentous occasion. If you've ever worn Lulu, you understand. 

 Natalie was the sweetest sister. She had a great attitude, and was genuinely excited about her siblings' gifts.

 This was going on in the back yard...

While this was going on in the front yard...

And this was my favorite guest of the weekend:

Thanks for the awesome memories, family!