Seer Sucker Suits

We are going to a wedding next weekend and the boys are invited in addition to Mommy and Daddy.  To get them ready, we have been teaching them some dance moves (as much as someone like Daddy who has two left feet can teach) as well as getting them their first suit.  It is a seer sucker suit.  We went to JC Penney yesterday and got their pictures made in them.  And they look very cute, in spite of their color :)

Here are the pictures for your perusal:

Those are two cute boys, aren't they?

Mark's Birthday Party

On Monday, Mark had his turn for his birthday party at his daycare class.  The entire class was there for the party.  Many of the children had been at Pullen Park on Saturday so this was another chance for everyone to party. 

Everyone loved the cupcakes.  Mark even wanted a second one.  After it was over, we had about 35 minutes left before school was out so the kids had some good work time.  We were able to see what Mark does when he does "his work."  He moved sprinkles from one cup to another, he put pegs in the correct hole, he played with some frogs and cars, etc.   It was really cool to see him do work and how well he does the work.

Here are a couple of pictures from the party:

Daddy and Mark at the birthday party.

Daddy listening to the kids as they tell him about what they had done earlier in the day.

Mommy and Mark!

Mark shows Alex and some of the other kids how to do this specific type of work.

Mark shows off after putting everything into the glass.

Opening Birthday Presents

On Sunday morning, the day of their birthday, Jack and Mark had so much fun opening their presents from their party on Saturday. Here are the pictures to prove it!

Thanks to our friend from school, Alex Byrd for our tennis rackets and tennis balls!

Jack and his bucket of fun from his friend, Logan who lives across the street from Granna and Grandpa! He LOVES the bubble machine!

Mark and his bucket of fun from his friend, Logan who lives across the street from Granna and Grandpa! He LOVES the bubble machine!

Jack and his Sing-a-ma-jig from Alex Prichard! It is so much fun to make this thing sing!

Mark and his Sing-a-ma-jig from Alex Prichards! It is so much fun to hear this thing sing!

Thanks to our friends from church, Maggie and Claire for these Spiderman masks! Jack and Mark instantly loved them even though they have never heard of Spiderman. They thought they were catchers' masks to use when playing baseball! So cute! These kids LOVE sports!

Jack and Mark were so excited about their big boy underwear from Granna and Grandpa! No more training pants for these boys! Their big boy underwear has baseball, soccer, basketball, football, fish, turtles, monkeys and lots of other fun prints!

Jack showing off their stomp rocket that they got from G.G. They have had so much fun with this! It is simply a foam rocket that you put on the stand. Then, you stomp on the airpad and watch the rocket go high in the sky! It really is fun, even for us adults!

Birthday Minute Pictures and Letters from Mommy

Well, in keeping with tradition, we took pictures with each boy on the minute of their exact birthday! Now, this year, you will notice we were still in our pajamas. Since Craig's family was leaving to head back to TN mid-morning on Sunday, we didn't make it to church. So, instead, we had a lazy morning at home in our pajamas! But, we still had to capture the moment - even if it was at the breakfast table!

So, here are the birthday minute pictures of 2012:

At 8:43am on July 15, 2009 - We welcomed Jack David DeVault into our family!

At 8:46am on July 15, 2009 - We welcomed Mark Douglas DeVault into our family!

Also, in keeping with tradition, here are my birthday letters to Jack and Mark for 2012:

Jack,
First of all, I have to say that I am more and more proud every day to call you my "son." Being your mom is the most rewarding thing I have ever experienced. There are no words to describe the love that I have for you; it truly is indescribable! You bring me such joy even in the little things in life! Over the past year, you have grown so much developmentally. To think that last year at this time, you were just stringing two words together and now you are talking in sentences. And, your manners are so impressive for a child your age. To hear your sweet voice say, “Excuse me, Momma” and “Momma, may I please have more…” just makes me smile every time. I love to watch you continue to learn new things each day. You are amazing! You are definitely still a Momma's boy so far and I love that! I love the smile on your face when you are in my lap or when I am snuggling with you. I’m not sure who smiles bigger…me or you! I love it when you snuggle up to me and say, “My Momma!” You may look just like your Daddy, but you have my personality! I love the way you are so cautious and so particular about where everything is put away. You are such a rule-follower. I love to watch you eat your favorite foods -- your mac & cheese, carrots and push-up applesauce! You have grown up so much this year and are becoming so independent. After I was so intimidated to start potty-training, you made it seem so easy! I love to hear you ask to do things “all by myself.” I also love that you have such a sweet, caring and loving personality. Your daycare teachers and Sunday School teachers continue to always comment about it. When we go out in public, people are always stopping by to compliment us on your behavior! I think it is so fun to take you to sporting events…you love them all (football, basketball, baseball, soccer) just like me and your Daddy! And, I must say that your athletic skills so far are amazing for your age. Your coordination and ability to hit a baseball pitched to you is absolutely amazing! You can shoot a basketball from a long range with unbelievable accuracy for your age. I love that you and Mark get along so well and obviously love each other so much. It is so rewarding to watch your relationship with Mark develop. You two are so close - I sure hope it stays that way! It has been really cool to see you two continue to look out for each other this year! I love it when we give you a compliment and you reply with “and Mark?” I can't believe that you are 3 years old now! It seems like just a little over a year or so ago that you were born - but they do say that time flies when you are having fun. And, I am having FUN being your Mommy! It has been a great journey so far and I can only imagine what the future holds. I look forward to many more fun times and memories ahead. I pray that God will continue to bless you with health and happiness and many more birthday celebrations to come! I love you with all my heart, my Jack-a-roo! Love, Mommy

Mark,
First of all, I have to say that I am more and more proud every day to call you my "son." Being your mom is the most rewarding thing I have ever experienced. There are no words to describe the love that I have for you; it truly is indescribable! You bring me such joy even in the little things in life! Over the past year, you have grown so much developmentally. To think that last year at this time, you were just stringing two words together and now you are talking in sentences. And, your manners are so impressive for a child your age. To hear your sweet voice say, “Excuse me, Momma” and “Momma, may I please have more…” just makes me smile every time. I love to watch you continue to learn new things each day. You are amazing! You are definitely still a Daddy's boy so far and that is really cool to see! I love it when you stop playing and run to see me and give me a hug when I get home from work. It is so rewarding to me. You may look just like my side of the family, but you have your Daddy's personality! I love the way you are so laid back / easy going and adventurous. I love how much you love to sing - it is so sweet to hear! I love to watch you eat your favorite foods -- your yogurt, Japanese hibachi style chicken and rice (and even the onion soup!) and carrots! You have grown up so much this year and are becoming so independent. After I was so intimidated to start potty-training, you made it seem so easy! I also love that you have such a sweet, caring and loving personality. Your daycare teachers and Sunday School teachers continue to always comment about it. When we go out in public, people are always stopping by to compliment us on your behavior! I think it is so fun to take you to sporting events…you love them all (football, basketball, baseball, soccer) just like me and your Daddy! And, I must say that your athletic skills so far are amazing for your age. Your coordination and ability to hit a baseball pitched to you is absolutely amazing! You can dribble a basketball with unbelievable control for your age. I love that you and Jack get along so well and obviously love each other so much. It is so rewarding to watch your relationship with Jack develop. You two are so close - I sure hope it stays that way! It has been really cool to see you two continue to look out for each other this year! I love it when we give you a compliment and you reply with “and Jack?” I can't believe that you are 3 years old now! It seems like just a little over a year or so ago that you were born - but they do say that time flies when you are having fun. And, I am having FUN being your Mommy! It has been a great journey so far and I can only imagine what the future holds. I look forward to many more fun times and memories ahead. I pray that God will continue to bless you with health and happiness and many more birthday celebrations to come! I love you with all my heart, my Marky! Love, Mommy

Pullen Park - home of the Birthday Party

The boys celebrated their birthday by having their party at Pullen Park.  There were lots of friends and family that came to celebrate. The boys had friends from school, church, neighborhood and other friends and cousins. We had 24 children and 31 adults.  The party started at 10 AM at one of the shelter's at Pullen Park.  The kids played with beach balls, cornhole, sidewalk chalk and bubbles.  After they did that for a little bit, the kids played a game where we filled in a color coded train with matching M&Ms. 

Next, it was time to light the candles on the cake.  This year we sang Happy Birthday twice...once for Jack and once for Mark.  After everyone ate cake (the kids ate cupcakes) it was time to go ride the rides.  We went and rode the train, the boats, and the carousel. 

Everyone that came got 5 tickets.  It allowed the children to ride the train, boat, and carousel, while also allowing one parent to also ride the train and carousel (no parents are needed to ride the boats).

The boys had a fantastic time.   They played with their friends and also had a great time riding the rides.  It is so hard to believe that they are already three years old.  Time flies when you are having fun.  We had a photographer take some pictures at the party.  We will have more pictures from the photographer in a later post.  Here are some pictures though that some family and friends took for us:

The birthday boys - Jack and Mark

The birthday family - Jack, Mommy, Daddy, and Mark

Jack's birthday cake

Mark's birthday cake

Jack blows out his candles on his cake.

Mark blows out his candles on his cake.

It's a bunch of cousins - Jack, Macy, Mark, and Kate!

The boys try to steer the boat in the water.

Mark and Jack show Daddy how to ride the horses on the carousel.

All Aboard!  Here comes the Pullen Park train!

Jack's Birthday Party

Friday afternoon, we had Jack's birthday party at his daycare room.  Some of the kids in Jack's class were on vacation so we had a smaller class than normal, but we had some good quality time with all of the children. 

Once we got to the room, we saw that all of the children were doing some "work."  Work in the classroom means anything from artwork, reading, playing with legos, trains, blocks, etc.  They work with one specific item for a while.  When they finish playing with it, they have to put it back up on the shelf where they got it from.  It is very impressive. 

Everyone washed their hands and then sat down at the table for the cupcakes.  Jack brought over the birthday bear, which is a teddy bear that the birthday child gets to keep on his birthday (except during play time outside).  Jack loved the birthday bear. 

The kids started eating the cupcakes and smiles were everywhere.  Well, we couldn't see all the smiles as icing covered lots of faces. 

After they finished the cupcakes, Daddy and Mommy read several of the kids' favorite books to them.  It was a lot of fun. 

It was a great birthday party and a fantastic start to birthday weekend.

Here are a couple of pictures from the party:

It's my birthday and I have the Happy Birthday Bear!  - Jack

Mommy, Jack, and the Birthday Bear

Daddy, Jack, and the Birthday Bear

Getting ready for cupcake time.  5 kids and one big kid.  Oh yeah, and one Birthday Bear!

That is one happy child. 

The birthday child with the birthday sign.

The Starting of Birthday Week

This past Sunday started Birthday week for Jack and Mark.  Nothing more symbolic of that than to put up the birthday flag.

Daddy shows Jack and Mark how to put up the flag.

Look at our birthday flag.  - Jack and Mark

We can do this on our own, Daddy, honest!  - Jack and Mark

Mommy and her smiling boys next to the flag underneath the mailbox.

Play Date

On Saturday morning, one of the boys' best friends from school, Alex Byrd, came over to the house for a play date.  The three of them play baseball and other sports every day at school.  Their teachers always talk about how well they play these sports together.  Friday night at prayer time, Mark prayed that Alex will come over tomorrow and that they would play "baseball, basketball, soccer, golf, lacrosse, hockey, and tennis."  Well, that is what happened.

The three of them play all of these sports in our back yard.  They had a great time.  Alex's parents, Heather, and I all watched in awe as the boys played so well together.  For example, they would determine who would pitch, hit, and catch.  It was very cute.

Here are a couple of pictures from the morning:

Mark, please put your golf club down.  Did you not get the memo?  - Jack and Alex

Mark gets ready to get the ball back to pitch to Alex, while Jack catches.

How did I miss Mark's curve ball?  - Alex

After a long morning of playing sports, nothing relaxes us like a few minutes with our recorders.  - Jack and Mark