Happy Birthday to our favorite Olympic hopeful

We were all pretty obsessed with the Summer Olympics here chez Heit.. so Campbell thought an after school 'lympic theme would be apropos for his big 5th. Lots of games were planned and even Jadyn's big kid neighborhood friends donned their leotards and did some gymnastic exhibitions.. everyone came in patriotic / athletic garb and was ready to play... however, after one relay race, all jumped in the pool to beat the heat and that's where all the partying went down..

Jbird researched and baked/ decorated this cake for her brother single-handedly!!! Huge hit!

Big first day of Kinder

Campbell's first day of kinder coincided with his 5th birthday this year. Big day! He was so nervous... packed his (awesome cape-included superhero--thanks, NanaB!) backpack a good week before, asking anyone who would respond all about Kindergarten.. overheard telling Jadyn (who had yet to start school)... "J, you know, Kindergarten is a pretty big deal"

and already wilting from the heat-wave, we said goodbye for the (whole 3.5 hours) day..

1-11

Leo's first and Jbird's 11th are only 2 weeks apart (with Easter sandwiched in between this year) so we celebrated together! Kicking off the carnival theme party year! Never enough pictures to capture all of the memories made at the birthdays...

The honorees!

Campbell and his idol, Jake (age 10)

Auntie Juya and baby Parker

Hazel!

Emma, Frenchie, Kaia, Bird and Ashley.. the ladies.

Cousins and cousins..

Oh Leo, the celebrating continued all spring...

March 28th in the rear view...

Birthday treats

Campbell coerced me into staying home from school so he could be with Leo on his "real" birthday... and he was determined that he would learn to walk on this day... first things first, he needed a cake (cupcakes) from VGs.

ONE

Dear Leo,

How did a year pass us by so quickly? We have had probably 24 hours of sleep all year, so I will do my best to recall all of your sweetness and stats to date.. as I slack on printing pictures for your grandparents, filling your baby book and keeping up with all of the things I am supposed to do. You are by and large a jolly fellow.. always smiling for the ladies and getting free samples and balloons at the groceries.. the John Hamm of babies, some might say. You are a busy guy, and if the front or back door are left open, you are sure to escape. A fast crawler and almost-walker, you love the outdoors and following your brother and sister. You're a little chihuahua.. thinking you're a big dog, ready to ride a bike or play basketball. And speaking of dogs, you love them..not afraid at all.. night and day from your brother (and me).

You yell for Campbell and Jadyn calling them both "Bra-brah" at the top of your lungs... and only say "Ma-ma" meaning MORE... food.... I will make it what I wish, I guess..

Your laugh makes us all crack up. Tickling your chin or your bowl-full-of-jelly belly is hillarious.. but Campbell can make you laugh just by being himself and doing little shows for you or whatever boy thing he is doing.

You weigh 23 lbs, have barely two teeth, and, as mentioned, you have had constant ear infections this fall and winter, which, I suppose can be the scapegoat for your middle of the night wake-ups... I just think you were born wanting to party all night. I'm blaming the Chris Farley manner in which I ate when pregnant. rad... I know, I know, it's fleeting.. and having you fall asleep on me won't happen for very much longer.... and I appreciate your warmth and soft little dimpled baby fingers.. and those cankles... kill. me.

When I look at you today, I remember the day you were born being scared... looking at Campbell thinking he was such a little baby, how could I love another little person so much? So crazy how love multiplies... no one, no feeling is replaced, it just grows and adds and we literally never knew life without you.

When you look at these less-than-stellar photos, please do not think it had anything to do with your awesome outfit.. you loved rocking the vintage sweater suit, even transitioned to the short sleeve polo sweater mid-day when the temps warmed up. You're growing up so fast.. gotta squeeze you in some more outfits before you're a picky man like your brother. Happy big birthday, son.

xxoo

And dad turned..older

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Location:Fancypants Four Seasons

Fan-cee Four

Still celebrating.. C got to choose dinner locale for his bday.... a little something for everyone @ fancy Islands. ha.

a fake moustache never gets old

FOUR.

Dear Campbell,

It is mind-blowing to me that you are now of the age where you will remember these birthdays, school days, beach days... until you are old and gray like me. However, you have an impressive memory already.. and are always shocking us with your Chris Farley "member when..." moments even now...sort of frightening, really. You love to talk and ask a million questions.... I love your curiousity for the way the world works. It is important to you to know how people are related, where they came from, names, locations, etc. You are always enthusiastic and love hearing what the day is going to bring as we have our "coffee" together most mornings... always an early bird, you still are.

You are not shy or intimidated by people (maybe dogs) and have many friends (and just as many imaginary ones).. but your best friends are Jbird, Leo, and Townsie. As I mentioned, you have an excellent imagination. You willingly play house and school Olivia and Kate.. just as easily as you play dinos, guns, and surf-contest-wipeout with T, and idolize Jake's ability to make Lego creations and his impressive quiver of nerf guns. Following Dad and your Poppis around is a favorite of yours... Dad could be driving to the dump and you are full of excitement to ride along (even if you have to hide your eyes so they "won't see you" in the car when the sign says "no children allowed")

You love counting off the family members when we are together... "1,2,3,4,.... someone is missing!!!" if it is early and your big sister is asleep... or dad is away at work. Since your brother has been born, you relish the chance to talk to anyone about him... you are so proudly the "big brudder" and tell everyone about him. You got to go to preschool with Nana when he was born and are so eagerly awaiting the official start of your school year right now. You love pretending to do homework, building things (even if it's really just jamming a screwdriver into an outlet..umm), swimming (you are now unofficial mayor of the neighborhood pool as you eagle-eye from your room), riding bikes and skateboards.

You are still careful and cautious.. hall monitoring everyone, looking both ways 9999 times before crossing the street (most of the time) and a notoriously finicky eater. You love helping me bake but do not always love to lick the bowl. Your favorites are still milk, chips/crackers/carbs, spaghetti and meatballs.. and random things like seaweed and beef jerky.. and of course, just to get my goat, you love cold cuts. You take care in what you are wearing and enjoy shopping (raised under the racks at Macy's while I "worked" .. my retail training has paid off... or bites me in the ass as you are also very picky about your clothes).

I always say this, but you lead the way and help me be more snuggly. You still love cramming your head under my chin, just like when you were born.. I know the time is not far away when you will be (even more) stinky and huge and hairy and won't want to climb onto my lap or into my bed and stick to me like a barnacle... you measure distances by hand-holding... "will you still be able to hold my hand if you are all the way over there??... can you reach my hand still to hold, mom??" ...so!! I just have to try hard to be present and remember all of these times... when you wake up and tell me "The sandman hit me in the face with a whole bag of sand last night" as you rub your eyes and join me for our coffee klatch.
Happy year ahead! xoxoxoxoxox