Party for the Birthday Boy

I am not a party planner. So when Chet's birthday was coming up I was really hoping he would want to do a fun thing with Tanner and I like Mariah did. But he told me that he had figured out that if he had a party he would get more presents...I didn't think he would put two and two together like that. So we had a party.

Chet's birthday really snuck up on me. The weekend before we went on our little vacation and my brain is special and can only focus on one big event at a time. So as we were getting ready to leave North Carolina my sister in law said something about Chet turning five soon and I remembered that I hadn't bought anything for him yet...mom of the year over here. I frantically ordered his gifts on Amazon and prayed they would get to our house on his birthday, which was in two days. I know, I really am terrible.

Chet was very specific about how he wanted his birthday to go. Balloons needed to be hung up and he wanted all his toys greeting him on the couch first thing in the morning. Breakfast was to be chocolate chip pancakes with whipped cream and berries, and he wanted a candle in them. Tanner got done early with didactics so he brought some doughnuts home to round off our healthy breakfast.

 Luckily Grandma Young had given me Chet's present when she came out in June so he had one present to open that morning. He was so excited about his new built with his name on the back. He ran right into his room and changed into his cowboy gear.

A few weeks ago we made little snack bags for people in need at FHE. Chet was so excited to get to help people and prayed every night that we would find someone to give some of the food to. I took the kids to Chick Fil A for lunch and took the long way home. I had forgotten about school starting at the University so what should have taken ten minutes took about an hour. But at a stop light I saw a man with a sign and was able to give him one of our food bags. He was eating some of the food before the light turned green. I told Chet Heavenly Father answered his prayers for his birthday. Chet had the biggest smile on his face. 

When we got home the birthday presents hadn't arrived but we usually don't get the mail until the afternoon. The kids stood watch for a good twenty minutes outside and when I heard the UPS guy pull up I was sweating bullets just hoping he would have Chet's presents. And he did! Another of Chet's prayers answered on his birthday. We got him Legos and a Bow and Arrows and he has played with them all every day. 

He requested homemade tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner. I had to go to mutual that night but they got ice cream with dad and played with the birthday toys some more.

We had his birthday on Friday when some of his friends didn't have school. Chet really wanted Chewbacca cupcakes but I really didn't want to spend an hour decorating something that would be destroyed within seconds. I've seen my mom do it too often. So I let the kids make their own Chewbacca cupcakes. Squirt some brown frosting, slap on some candy eyes and call it good. And Chet was so happy!

 Chet created a three-eyed Chewbacca and was quite proud of his handiwork.

Eliza was a little dear and slept through the whole party. 

I'm so grateful for my Chet boy who is so easily pleased. Here's hoping he stays that way! 

Smoky Mountains

We had been planning a trip to Williamsburg for several months and the kids were so excited. But then Florence the Hurricane decided to change our plans. We were able to get a refund from our hotel and two days before Tanner's days off we decided to go to Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

Right when we got to the Smoky Mountains we decided to stretch our legs with a hike.

The whole hike ran alongside a beautiful creek. 

 Austin did so well on this 2.5 mile hike and only had to be carried a little ways at the end. 

 Though the Smokey Mountains are smaller than mountains out west it still felt good to be amongst mountains again.

After our hike we went to the town of Cherokee, NC. It was such a cool little town. All the street signs were written in Cherokee and English. We were sad to see that the Cherokee Indian museum and Village closed at 5 pm. We got there about ten minutes after five. If we ever go back to the Smokey Mountains that is definitely something I want to do. There were some men that were doing Native dances on the street and the kids had fun watching them. We learned that Eliza does not like drums. At the end of their dances they asked if anyone wanted to dance with them. Mariah was the first up on their little stage. Austin would only go up if I went with him and Chet flat out refused. It was so cute watching Mariah concentrate so hard on dancing in perfect time with the drum beat.

On the drive back to Gatlinburg we saw these big guys. These Elk were way bigger than the ones we saw in Logan, UT. 

The next day we decided to splurge and go to Dollywood. 

 They have an old fashioned coal powered engine that went all the way around the park. Besides being covered in soot at the end it was pretty fun. 

 Austin even took a power nap on the ride.

 Although it was hot and humid Eliza was pretty content the whole day.

Sometimes it's hard being two at an amusement park. Austin wanted to go on all the same rides as Mariah and Chet and was pretty sad he couldn't. I don't know if Dollywood purposely hires the elderly to work at their parks but they were all so cute. Most the little kiddie rides were manned by these sweet little old ladies who would say things over a microphone like, "What does a duckie say? Wave to your meemaw and papaw!" All in the sweetest southern accents. That was probably my favorite part of the whole park. 

Mariah and Chet's favorite ride was the river ride. They were soaked at the end but they thought it was pretty cool. 

There were two roller coasters at the park that Mariah and Chet were tall enough to ride on. Tanner took them to the first one and they had no desire to go on the other one after that. So I guess they aren't quite ready for the big kid rides. 

The water park was already closed which was a bummer but Mariah and Chet still managed to get soaked at their little splash pad area. Austin still isn't a fan of water being splashed in his face so he steered clear of the water and played with the giant blocks instead. 

At the end of the day we went to their bird show and got to see all kinds of different birds and learn so much about them. They had the birds fly right over our heads. It was pretty cool. 

The next day we began the drive home but right before the exit decided to brave the storm and go to Greensboro, NC to visit the Hiltons. They were so welcoming to us even with only a three hour heads up. I wasn't planning on us being away from home on Sunday so Mariah, Austin and I borrowed church clothes and Tanner and Chet went in shorts. It may have been the first Sunday where Tanner didn't change right when he got home from church. 

 We love being with family!

 These guys loved Molly

 Jack is nearly 2 months younger than Eliza and almost the same size as her. The Crossley boys don't mess around. 

Mariah and Annalie were so excited to be twins on Sunday. 

It was fun to see the Smokey Mountains but even better being with family. 

Five Years Old

One year older! I love these interviews and seeing how he has changed over the years. 

Mom: What is your favorite color?

Chet: Black (He has yet to really commit to a color. So far this year his "favorite" color has included pink, orange, green, and blue.)

Mom: What is your favorite food?
Chet: Hot Dogs (This boy can eat about anything. He isn't too happy with beans, but he'll still eat them. He really loves berries, bell peppers and cherry tomatoes.) 

Mom: What is your favorite animal?
Chet: Horse (Makes me so happy!)

For at least six months Chet was drawing horses every day. Most of his artwork ended up on his walls and they were covered with all his horses. Some had all his family and friends riding on one horse, some were being roped, like the one above, and they all had varying amounts of legs. Although the amount of paper used each day drove me crazy I was kind of sad to see this phase end. 

Mom: What is your favorite book?
Chet: Superhero books

Chet loves superheroes and I love this picture. I did not prompt this pose one bit. 

Mom: What is your favorite movie?
Chet: Robin Hood and Davy Crocket (Davy Crocket was a favorite last year too, his love for that mountain man is true.)

 Maybe living in Mountaineer Country has something to do with it. 

Mom: What is your favorite song?

Chet: Home on the Range (He and Austin ask me to sing that every night)

Mom: What is your favorite dessert?
Chet: Jumbo Pops (Birthday gift from his primary teachers. If it has sugar in it, than it is a favorite)

Mom: What do you like to do for fun?
Chet: wrestle (no surprise here)

Mom: What is your favorite thing to do with Mom?
Chet: Play with her

Mom: What is your favorite thing to do with Dad?
Chet: wrestle him

Mom: What is your favorite thing to do with Mariah?
Chet: Play Indians (Native Americans if we're going to be correct)

Mom: What is your favorite thing to do with Austin?
Chet: Play Cowboys

Mom: Who is your best friend?
Chet: Dad (Made my heart melt!)

Mom: What do you want to be when you grow up?
Chet: A Cowboy

Though he has gone through many phases this past year, one that has stuck is the cowboy. He is still planning for the day when he can go work with Grandpa Young at the ranch. In High School I always said I would marry a cowboy, but having a cowboy is even better. 

In public Chet is very quiet and reserved but in his own element he is a bundle of energy that is always on the go and never stops talking. He really wants to do what's right and tries his best. He loves to make others laugh and gets so excited to serve. Chet tries so hard to be patient with Austin, which isn't always easy to do. I love to hear the conversations they have in their bedroom at night. 

When Chet decides he wants to do something he works at it until he can. When he got a new bike without training wheels we worked hard until he could ride it. Which then inspired Mariah to learn to ride without training wheels. He also worked hard to learn how to tie his shoes. 

After fixing his own hair

Chet has really strengthened his testimony of prayer. On multiple times he has prayed for something lost and has then been able to find it. His favorite scripture hero is Captain Moroni from The Book of Mormon and I can see similarities between the two. Chet wants to be a righteous leader to others, he stands up for what is right and tries to help others choose the right too. He is a hard worker who wants to serve others. 

Oh how we love our Chet boy!