Jesse's birthday was SO much fun! Seriously, I love 5 and 6 year-olds. It's the BEST age! They all just had a blast! This party involved no stress at all, which was great for me, too :)

Indy running away from the boulder.

Blowing out the candles!

Helping Rainbow the Clown

He got awesome presents-lots of lego.

The last of the bunch getting ready to leave. Rainbow the Clown makes the coolest balloons-the kids loved him!!

After everyone left we had a little present to give Jesse. 

Brad was so proud of this find, and you've never seen a boy more pleased with a present!  

OKAY so, the whole day I was looking at Jesse, remembering him as a baby boy.

I loved him so much. Like every parent, I literally thought he was the smartest and most beautiful boy. Yes, I knew that every parent thought that, but I really thought in my case it was just the truth :) Even so, I stressed and stressed and stressed and worried and worried about him. He had to eat the right food, get the right amount of sunlight, couldn't sit in his carseat too long, had to be held all the time, smiled at the right amount, read to, listen to uplifting music, oh my goodness (I would not want to go back and watch myself do that! Painful!)  But yesterday as I watched my handsome boy, so kind and loving to everyone, so fun and active and happy, spiritually mature (more so than me I think) I felt as though I had crossed some sort of threshold. So far, we'd done a pretty darn good job and whatever me, and Brad, and God, and church and extended family had done- we had done a darn good job! 

I feel so eternally blessed to know you and your amazing spirit, Jesse. Thank-you for your example to me every day and for making me want to be a better person. He's 6!! SO BIG!!!!

P.S. Next blog post is an Afton post. She's at such a cute stage and I have to record some of it!