20 Questions with Jude

Here are Jude's annual answers to his birthday questions:

I am missing last year's due to my blogging break, but you can see his answers from when he turned 3 here. 

Jude is 5!

Back on November 12th, Jude woke up 5! He woke up to a decorated door and 5's all over the house. We had donuts and candles and sang happy birthday! Hard to believe he is already this big...a whole hand!

As part of our tradition, Jude got to choose a gift to open first thing in the morning....a new backpack!  All of the boys were so excited to have a day of celebration.

I got the special treat of spending a couple hours with Jude at school that morning. He was recognized during chapel and shared birthday treats with his class. Jonah was in heaven joining in on everything too.

That evening, we had a family get together with his favorite meal, spaghetti and meatballs! And cupcakes, of course. 

The celebration continued into the weekend. Jude and I had a special date night at the theater...just the two of us. We went to see The Christmas Carol musical and then out for frozen yogurt afterwards. Love my special time with him. He was sure to pick out a special outfit saying he wanted to "look handsome" for Mommy. Sweetest little Dude. 

Tried out his new soccer goal from Grandma and Grandpa at the park on Saturday. 

And finally, Sunday was his party day. Many friends and classmates joined us at the Junior Museum to celebrate our big 5 year old, dinosaur style. He loved it from beginning to end. And Mommy loved how easy the party was. Such a great venue!

Happy birthday, Jude Dude! 

This sweet boy has a pizzaz for life and is full of spunk. All that know him, know he has a super silly side. And even though he is easily frustrated at times, he shows so much love and compassion for others. He adores big brother, Eli and wants to do everything just like him. He is a sweet big brother to both Jonah and Theo. Jude is wicked smart and is getting smarter every day. He loves to read and "do math." He is developing the sweetest heart and a passion for his Savior, Jesus Christ. We are so lucky to be his parents. God truly blessed our family with this kid.

Jude, we love you to the moon and back!

three months old

Theo continues to fit perfectly into our family. I cannot believe how much he has grown and how fast the months are flying.

Here are some fun facts about Theo at 3 months: 

Our handsome little man is growing and thriving! He is getting too big for all of his 0-3 months clothes and is ready for size 2 diapers too (signaled by his second ever blow-out on his 3 month birthday.)

Theo had his first sleep regression this month thanks to the time change. He has been sleeping worse than he did as a newborn, but things are looking up and I think he is settling back into a better nighttime sleep pattern. (Please!) 

He is definitely awake more during the day and has started to enjoy laying on his play mat a bit. He seemed to forget how to roll over (tummy to back), but enough tummy time helped him remember that trick. The little stinker also loves to watch TV and will crane his neck to see it. 

I adore it when they conk out in the middle of playing. 

This month, Theo also celebrated his first Halloween by visiting pumpkin patches and dressing up as a lion. He was clueless but super cute and clueless. 

Theo adores it when people talk to him or sing to him. This will usually bring a smile to his face. I cannot get enough of his smiles! 

biggest smile EVA!

He continues to love his brothers and his brothers love him. Each of them asks to hold him regularly and is eager to help out...as long as there is no crying involved....then it is a little more challenging and they are less likely to want to help...but they do anyways. Mama loves her helpers! 

Happy 3 months to you, Theo!

For fun: Jude and Jonah at 3 months

Veterans Day Parade

We went downtown to watch the Veterans Day parade and honor our Vets. 

There are a lot of groups and bands that march in this parade. It did not keep the interest of Jonah at all, and even Jude got a bit wiggly and needed to wander.

After it was over, we took the boys up to the top floor of the Capitol before hitting the road to go grab some lunch and head home for naps.....

Someone did not make it home before crashing. 

Thank you to all who have served so that we can live freely. 

Donuts for Dad...er...Mom

Jude loves to sing and perform. He had been practicing for and looking forward to Donuts for Dad at his school for a long time. The night before the BIG day, Daddy found out that he was going to have to miss out due to a work meeting related to the Legislature's special session. Daddy was devastated (Jude was too!), but there was nothing anyone could do about it. We scrambled to get make it work, and I was able to go in Daddy's place. Talk about a special treat for me!

Jude was a star up there, and I could not stop smiling while watching him. I'm such a lucky Mama. 

I was sure to take a lot of pictures and videos to send to Daddy. Jude was excited to share all of the gifts and goodies he had made with his dad when he got home that evening.

Happy Halloween from Our Big Top

We kicked off Halloween weekend 2015 with some pumpkin carving fun. Jonah and Theo were both sleeping, so it was perfect timing for Eli and Jude to carve their own pumpkins with minimal help from Mom. 

 

The next morning, it was Jonah's turn to decorate his pumpkin and Mommy decided on paint for his. I gave him complete artistic freedom and he had a ball...

...which ended with him shouting, "TA DA" because his pumpkin had enough paint, but his hands needed another coat. The joys of being 2!

Totally loved that Halloween was on a Saturday this year, but with a 3:30 Gator game, we still ended up rushing to get ready and out the door. Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Kristi, and Uncle Steve came over to watch the game and eat dinner with us before we started ringing doorbells. Kelly Claire was able to come out trick or treating for a little while with us too. So fun!

We went with a circus theme this year, and we decided early enough that I was able to make all of the costumes.  Eli's red jacket was a Goodwill find that started as an 80's jacket with the perfect collar but too many zippers. After some cuts here and there and some added gold trim, it became an amazing jacket fit for a Ring Master and Lion Tamer!

Jude told me right away that he wanted to be a clown with crazy hair, but not poofy hair. I picked out some fabrics and worked with a pattern for the first time. It wasn't perfect, but I made it work. His suit and yarn wig turned out adorable. I honestly don't think I've ever seen a clown as cute as this one. 

He named himself, "Silly the Clown." 

Jonah was a perfect Strong Man, and since he doesn't really like wearing costumes, his minimal outfit was perfect. He loved his tattoos and carrying around the dumbbell that Daddy fashioned for him from pvc and styrofoam. 

And Theo rounded out our act as the littlest lion. I made him a yarn mane and tail and snapped some felt on a yellow sleeper....viola! Instant lion!

We did one lap around the block. It was the perfect distance and the just the right amount of candy.

Our trick or treaters had a great time. Jonah got into it and walked/ran the entire way asking for more and more "cannies." 

Post trick or treating hair...it was HOT.

Theo was a clueless lion but happily rode around in his stroller. True to his normal self, he was as content as he could be. I wanted to snap a few extra pictures of Mr. T in his costume on his very first Halloween.

Such a happy lion. And pretty darn adorable, if I do say so myself. 

Happy Halloween, from our Big Top to yours!