Weekend Update: Birthday Edition

What a busy weekend!


Starting with Thursday...

I taught preschool Thursday morning, came home to do one last cleaning of the house (it is a wreck and Eddie's parents were coming in...). After rushing around like crazy for an hour, the house wasn't much cleaner, but we had to leave to get to tennis practice.  Cal reallllly likes playing tennis (shocker-- the kids likes playing everything!) and didn't want to miss, so Eddie got his parents from the airport and we met at the house afterwards. 

It was H-O-T out there so Maggie and I aired out our bellies.

We met Eddie's parents after tennis and then went straight to soccer practice.  Both boys participated in practice, which is always nice to watch! They were thankful to go to practice in case the game Saturday got rained out...or in case *someone* decided he was too scared to play in the game.

After soccer, we went downtown to Old Chicago for some pizza.  My parents came and joined in the fun!

Cal hitched a ride back to the car after pizza...

Friday, the boys went to school and I went to workout.  I picked up Eddie's parents after my workout and we ran a few errands and did some last minute birthday shopping for Mr. Cal.  We met Eddie for lunch and then picked up the boys! When we came home, "rest time" consisted of running football plays:

 ...practicing golf techniques....

After "rest time" we went to dinner-- we stayed in grubby clothes all day since we had been working out and outside...I am sure they were thrilled to see us coming!

We went to TCBY after dinner- in case we weren't full enough....

And I got this sweet picture of CEW 2, 3, and 4.

Saturday morning we were up and at 'em early with a 9:00 soccer game (kids were up wayyyy before that, obviously). And woke up on our floor (because...of course he did) and I looked down and saw him snuggling with Hank.  Maybe it isn't US he wants to sleep near...maybe it's the dog....

The whole morning, Andy must have said 8, 900, 765, 432 times "I don't wanna play soccer! No soccer! I don't wanna play.  Okay? I am not playing." Okay, fine.  I insisted he wear his cleats to the game and we left.  He was super anxious when we got there and warm ups were going on, but he participated....

He was super anxious at the start of the game, but I told him to just go out there and have fun...

But, he played and stayed in the whole game! He was great! Zero tears from this kid! He loved every minute of it....thankfully!!!! It was a miracle, really.  I was screaming like crazy I was so proud of him! He wasn't really doing much, but he was out there and that's all that mattered!

He even (accidentally) scored a goal! He was in awe... it was awesome.

Cal, on the other hand, played his rear end off! He scored 10 goals-- which, last season he was much more of a defender...he wasn't into attacking the ball, but this game he did just that!  He loved scoring-- he was dribbling the ball down the field and defending his goal and passing to his team mates.  It was really fun to watch him finally get it.  He was so cute out there...

After soccer on Saturday, CB and her man friend (!!!) came to town.  We spent the rest of the day riding bikes and watching football.  We also went by the pool for a quick swim, but it was pretty chilly (for us) and we headed back home for more games.

After the kids went to bed Saturday night, we decorated the living room and wrapped presents.  Cal got a HAUL from us and Mimi and Poppy and Shosh and Ah Ho and CB! 

When Cal woke up Sunday morning, he was SO excited! This face right here makes everything worth it!

After opening his loot and playing with everything, we headed to the park to have some time out of the house!

My birthday boy and I did a little spider swinging-- he said he was tired and was going to sleep on me.  It was heaven. 

Before we knew it, it was time to get everyone ready for the party! We had it at Pump It Up in Raleigh (it's on our side of Raleigh though...).  I am going to do a separate post for that though....

Sunday after the party, we came home and Andy was DONE.  He was just exhausted! He got a bath and then went straight to bed.  We let Cal stay up to open his presents-- he thought that was pretty cool ;) . When he finally went to bed, he was exhausted too. 
It was a fun and BUSY weekend!

CalBoy is FIVE!

5 years ago today, this little man made me a momma.  My heart is FULL of love for this sweet, caring, energetic, thoughtful, funny, amazing boy.  And so, on his 5th birthday, I decided to write him a little note...

My sweet CalBoy,

When you were born 5 years ago, I never dreamed I could love someone as much as I love you.  I knew I loved you the first time I laid eyes on you-- I fell hard and fast.  But the love I have for you has grown stronger and deeper every single day that I have known you.

On your 5th birthday, I want you to know how proud I am of you.  You are a GOOD boy-- you know the difference between what's right and what's wrong, and you try really, really hard to always make the right decision.  I pray that you will continue making right decisions and that when you do make a bad one (because, we know it will happen!) that you realize where you went wrong and you will do your best to fix it. 

I am forever grateful for your go-with-the-flow attitude.  You are always willing to go out and try something and very rarely do you even hesitate! You are always up to have fun and I adore your eagerness to try new things.  

At 5 years old, you are still a sports crazed kid.  You don't care a thing about much else right now other than football.  But you do still like golf and baseball and swimming and tennis.  And each of your coaches comments after each practice: "He is a really good kid.  He listens well and tries hard." What more could I ask of you?? I am SO proud of you when you go out there and you try your best.  I want to explode with pride when you try your best AND are a good sport-- this past Saturday at your soccer game, you not only scored a goal, but then you turned around and high fived some friends and then went over to check on some team mates that weren't very happy... I fell even more in love with you-- if that's even possible!

Cal, your energy level never seems to slow down.  I want to bottle your energy and drink it! (I never thought I would be the kind of person who said stuff like that because people used to ALWAYS say that to me...apparently I used to have a high level of energy...who knew!).  You go and go and go and go.... and then you sleep. I love watching to sleep.  Sometimes, when I come in to check on you and Andy at night, I will hold your sweet little hand in mine.  You never wake up- you sleep hard! But I hold your hand and I am amazed by how much your hands have grown-- actually, ALL of you has grown!-- it blows my mind! You are growing SO quickly!

One of my most favorite things about you is your laugh-- you have the best belly laugh I have ever heard.  Once you get going, your laugh just takes over.  I love it! It is one of my favorite noises to hear.  Especially when you and Andy are doing something silly and you start laughing- it's all over! Or when Bruce does something like pull your pants off... you get laughing too hard to make him stop!

When you were little I used to hold you and dread the day I wouldn't be able to hold you any more.  Thankfully, I am still able to pick you up...and thankfully you still like to snuggle your mom...because your momma LOVES to snuggle you!

I love watching you with your brother- and I am beyond grateful that he has you to look up to! I pray that you will continue to watch out for him and help him be a good boy like you.  He is learning from the best, if you ask me! You always make sure Andy is okay and while you guys fight often, you play even more often...and that's pretty special.  He is lucky to get a brother like you!

Cal, when we "argue" about who loves who more, I want you to know that you will never ever win. Because, my boy, I love you way more than you can even begin to understand.  It's more than I ever thought possible.  5 years ago you made me a mommy and my whole world changed...for the better.

You still hug me in public and willingly hold my hand.  I know that will come to an end soon...and I am praying it isn't anytime in the near future-- I am not ready.  I love your sweet hand in mine.  I love your arms wrapped around my neck.  I am not sure there is anything better...well, maybe when you give me a kiss by holding my face in between your hands.... that turns me into a ball of mush!

 So, CalBoy Williamson.... thank you for the past 5 years.  I can't wait to watch you grow and learn and achieve and have a blast.  You have rocked my world for the past 5 years...but totally in a good way.  In a great way.  I can't remember what life was like before you. And I don't want to. 

I love you all the way up to the Lord and all the way down to Florida.

Happy 5th birthday, Calvin!!!! I hope you know how much we all adore you!

Love, Momma

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Now that I am crying.... phew!