Chloe is 6!

You are SIX, Chloe Grace! Today we celebrated you, sweet girl. You woke up to streamers and balloons and a special birthday outfit. Daddy surprised you with some yummy birthday donuts that you got to eat on your special plate. You didn't ask for much for your birthday, but were so happy to open up a pink mailbox and rainbow loom! Mommy made you a special birthday bag with all kinds of little goodies that you opened up at school with all of your friends. It made you so happy when they sang a special birthday song just for you and even happier when you saw your birthday cupcake that Mommy put in your bag. Snack time was your favorite time of the day on your birthday! After school we headed to California Adventure and rode Soarin' Over California for the first time. We surprised you with a special, yummy dinner at Ariel's Grotto. You were in awe of all of the princesses as they each visited you at our table and wished you an extra special happy birthday. A few days later we had all of your adorable friends over for a mermaid and surf swim party. You had so much fun swimming with all of your buddies. The highlight of your party was opening your amazing mermaid fin from Helena and Mandy. If you could be anything in the world, it would be a mermaid, so this tail is a dream come true for you. You swam, danced, and played with your little girlfriends. You were so excited to have your own mermaid cake and have everyone sing happy birthday just for you. At the end of the evening you got to jump into your pile of presents and open up all kinds of treasures! 

You have had a beautiful year of growth, Chloe. Here's a little snapshot of you!

• You have the kindest, most genuine heart. You love everyone. You are thoughtful, inclusive, and the sweetest friend. Other mommies compliment your sweetness all of the time. It warms Mommy's heart to know that others recognize how sweet you are. 
• You love school and love learning. You sometimes get frustrated, but Mommy has learned that it's because you want to understand and do well. You like to repeat what you've learned like a little teacher.
• You love dance and are so happy dancing at McCoy Rigby on the Broadway Babies company team. You've had 1 competition so far and did so well shining up on the stage. Your confidence has grown tremendously this year. Daddy and Mommy are so proud of your growth, commitment, passion, and excitement to go to class every week. 
• You started gymnastics too this year. You started out a little unsure of yourself, but your strength and belief in yourself grew pretty quickly. You loved the bars, beam, and floor time. 
• You love "crafting" and being creative. All you need is a box of markers, construction paper, glue, and scissors. You draw people so well now and love accessorizing with hair, bows, and clothes. 
• You write your name beautifully now and can even write it in both upper and lowercase letters. 
• You love pretend play with your brothers--dressing up, playing store, family, mermaids, cats, and doctors!
• Your favorite shows are Sophia the First, Little Charmers and Shimmer and Shine. 
• You love blasting your music on your cute Hello Kitty CD player and dancing and singing to the tunes. You take over the living room with your routines and sassy dancing. 
• You absolutely love clothes and shopping. Picking out clothes every morning is a pretty big task for you and Mommy as you don't like Mommy to tell yo what to wear, but you need Mommy in your room helping you pick out your outfit for the day. Most often you change a few times a day. Sometimes you dress yourself like a budding fashionista and other times like a spunky Punky Brewster! 
• You love getting your nails done whether it's a mani/pedi from Grammie, Nonnie, Mommy or a special visit to the salon. 
• You have so much beautiful hair with enough curl that it bounces when you walk. You tell Mommy every day how to do your hair.
• You love calling people by nicknames that you made up: Daddy = Goy; Mommy = Mom-moose; Clayton= Cay-Cay; Easton = Easton Boy; Penny = Laynie Girl
• Your infamous response is, "I am GWEAT!" 
• You love to eat, especially bagels, donuts, string cheese, frozen blueberries, pasta, and treats!
• You are Mommy's best sidekick, a dream come true baby girl, and a have the best pout that makes us all laugh!

We are so excited, sweet Chloe Grace to watch you grow in confidence, faith, and beauty this next year. We know that you are going to have so much fun in kindergarten and that this extra year of growth was so beneficial for you. We are blessed by your kind heart, silly personality, and genuine love every day. God gifted us the most beautiful little girl. We love you, baby girl! 

Clayton is 6!

Clayton Joseph, today you are SIX! You love getting older and have looked forward to this day for a very long time. You woke up on your birthday to balloons, yummy donuts from Daddy, lots of birthday kisses and cuddles and got the present you'd been asking for for a very long time, your very own Fit Bit!!! You screamed when you opened up your Fit Bit and couldn't wait to start competing with Ms. Lansdale for steps. Mommy sent you to school with a special birthday bag that you got to open up with your classmates after they sang the birthday song to you. Mommy even put a special cupcake in your bag for snack time. Right after school we headed to Disneyland to celebrate you and Chloe. We went to California Adventure and rode Soarin' Over California for the first time and then had a delicious dinner at Ariel's Grotto. A few days later we had a Surf and Mermaid party for you and all of our friends in our new backyard. You had the best time swimming with all of your buddies, having water balloon fights, playing basketball, and eating your very own cake after everybody sang a special happy birthday song for just you. Finally at the end of the party you got to dig in to your mountain of presents!

This last year has been full of highlights, Buddy. Here's a snapshot of you!

• You are extremely organized. Everything has its place and you know where everything is. 
• You are an amazing big brother, who is always looking out for and playing with Chloe and Easton. You do sometimes get a little bossy pants, but understand when Mommy talks to you.
• You LOVE playing sports and we LOVE watching you. Clayton, you are a gifted little athlete. You had an excellent season of soccer on the Stormtroopers with Daddy as your coach. Next you played your last season of clinic basketball on the Warriors with Coach Daddy and absolutely dominated the court. People complimented you all of the time. We then headed over to Placentia Pony baseball where you played with your best buddies, Ashton and Parker on the Diamondbacks. You excelled at first base and pitcher and did so well hitting off of the machine. You had a great season and Daddy loved coaching you. Next, we headed to the football field for your first season of flag football. You did amazing and had so much fun. You threw and caught a few successful touchdown passes and ran the ball several times to the goal. We are your biggest fans, Clay. It makes both Daddy and Mommy so happy watching you play sports, Buddy!
• You love school and you love to learn. You are reading higher level BOB books and hopefully soon will be reading regular level 1 books on your own. 
• You wish you were going into first grade because you are so excited to play on the big playground with bigger kids. You connect better with kids a little bit older than you because you love playing sports and are very mature for your age. 
• You are the sweetest, most loving and sensitive little boy. You are very in tune with your feelings and the feelings of those around you. You are a friend to everyone. 
• You love to be silly and talk about farts and poop with Daddy and Easton! 
• You love the Warriors and Steph Curry. You enjoy watching sports games on TV and beg us daily to go to a real NBA game. 
• You love playing swords with Easton and building legos to be displayed. You enjoy pretend play with Chloe. You don't play with toys much, but you love playing all things physical and active. 
• You are super dependable and responsible. Mommy can count on you always to help her and she always trusts you to make good choices. You are a leader, Clayton Joseph.
• You have an inquisitive brain and you always want to know more and understand better. You are super smart!

We are so excited to see what this next year in kindergarten has in store for you. We look forward to watching you grow as a student in school and as an athlete on the court and field. Daddy and Mommy are thankful each and every day that God chose us to be your parents. You make us both so happy and proud and fill our lives with so much JOY. Happy Birthday, Brother Bear!!