Okay, so Amai turned 4!!! For some reason this birthday has been extremely bittersweet for me. Her first birthday felt like such a rite of passage for me, like it was my first birthday instead of hers- we had made it through our first year of parenting and that is such a huge accomplishment. By her second birthday, we were pregnant and had just found out we were having a boy, and her third was a blur because we were in the thick of dealing with a six month old with horrible acid reflux. This one sunk in a bit more, and I’m just amazed at how old Amai seems all of the sudden.

There are days that I am thankful never to have to go through again. Like the day that Amai punched a girl in the stomach at mother’s day out, or the day that she stripped naked in the ups store, or even the day that Asher pooped four times in a row in his infant carrier when we had just loaded up and gone to the park for a picnic. There are moments of sheer terror as you watch your little boy dive head first off the back of the couch onto the floor. And there is just the simple exhaustion of doing ten loads of laundry each week, chauffering here and there with all the activities, the parties and playdates, the cooking, the cleaning, the disciplining, the playing. Not to mention squeezing in time for prayer, time to get dressed, time to exercise, time to spend with my hubby.

But I love it. I would never trade a minute of this life I have with anyone else I know. I’m so thankful that God has blessed my life like he has with my husband who is the finest man I’ve ever known, my strong-willed little girl and my fearless little boy. They are the best things that have ever happened to me. They drive me to my knees, which is where I need to be dwelling anyway- and I’m thankful for this season that is teaching me to dwell at the feet of Jesus like nothing else ever has. I’m not a perfect mom- I definitely have moments where I am glad noone is around to see that I just yelled at Amai or that I’m so tired I just let the kids tear the house apart while I sit on the couch and watch. But I’m thankful for it all, even despite the hardest days. The days may pass slowly at times, but the years seem to be flying by.

She had a wonderful birthday party, filled with so many friends who came to celebrate with us. The food was devoured so I’m assuming that everyone liked it. It was so hot outside, but people went out in the back to play anyway. And of course I rushed around making sure everything was going accord to plan- while keeping eye on each child. Amai had a wonderful time and even got a bike from the Bobbetts (thanks Nanny and PawPaw!)

Here are some pics from the party…

Above- most of the kids playing. Below- my good friends, Stephanie and Sharon.

Above- Chris and I laughing in our kitchen (which you can tell is taking soooo long to finish.) Below, the food and gifts.

Above- the cupcake butterfly from Kroger. Below- my nephew Knox.

Above- Knox and my niece Secily. Below- our friends’ daughter Eisley and my nephew Boone.

Above- Amai sweating outside, and then inside opening gifts. Below- our friends Matt, Jami & Eisley.

Above- Amai with her bike- she absolutely loves it! Below- singing happy birthday to Amai- she blew the candles out before we even got to the second line of the song!

Above and below- she loved it all!

Below- the next morning, she and Asher climbed up on their little chairs and when I came in the kitchen Amai said, “Don’t worry mom, we’re doing the dishes. So cute!

And here’s the recipes for the two awesome dips. I got them from my sister-in-law Meredith, who got them from someone else as well. Enjoy!

Avocado Bacon Dip
1 Pkg. zesty Italian dressing mix
1 pint sour cream
3 avocados cut up
6 slices bacon, cooked crisp & crumbled

-mix all and serve
-use thick corn chips

Spicy Black Bean & Corn Salsa

16 oz. can cooked black beans – rinsed
16 oz. pkg. frozen corn kernels
1/2 C. chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 C. chopped green onions
1/4 C. chopped red onions (I left this out for the party)
1/3 C fresh lime juice – yes it needs to be fresh- the stuff from the bottle tastes different
3 T. vegetable oil
1 T. ground cumin (I only use 2 tsp.)
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 C. chopped ripe tomatoes – I use Roma tomatoes b/c they produce less juice

- mix all items except tomatoes
-cover and chill at least 2 hours- up to overnight
-add tomatoes and serve with Tostito scoops