I am a firm believer that birthdays should be celebrated extravagantly - though not, necessarily, expensively. I just like lots of celebrations and decorations and as much buttercream as is humanly possible. That made Jones's sixth birthday my kind of occasion. From the time he woke up in the morning until he hit the hay way past his bedtime last nite, some kind of celebrating was going on, and I am so grateful for the way things played out. First up, he opened his gifts from us first thing in the morning, as is our custom. He'd asked for a Herbie car with a wagon behind it (ever since seeing "The Love Bug" on a Movie Nite at church, he's been a little bit obsessed with Herbie) and a $12 digger / dump truck combo from the Dollar General. He got both things he was asking for and a few little extras, to boot - among them dinosaur day-of-the-week underwear and a Captain America racecar that he can paint himself.
From there, he headed to school, but he was only there long enough to go to chapel, because at 8:45, his class and the first graders boarded an HCA bus bound for the US Cellular Center in Asheville. Their first field trip of the year just happened to take place on Bobby Jones's birthday. "Pete the Cat" was the play they saw (Jones even wore a Pete the Cat mask!), and afterwards, they had a picnic lunch at Carrier Park in Asheville. When we were leaving the theatre, Jones told me, "I can still do all the fun things I did when I was five!" He seemed excited - and, quite honestly, surprised - by this fact.
Naturally, I was THRILLED to be along as a chaperone on the big day. I took cupcakes for the kids, all of whom were SO sweet to Jones. They kept coming up and telling him happy birthday. Their great behavior and excellent manners spoke VERY highly of both their parents and their school. I was SUPER impressed. I was even more impressed (or, should I say, RELIEVED) that Jones chose to ride the bus instead of in his mama's minivan. When it was time for me to leave after lunch, a quick kiss and a wave were all I got, proof that six must be a very mature kind of age! After school, we picked up his construction site cake (it had a digger on it; that's why Jones picked it. It's also why I had them write, "We dig you, Jones. Happy 6th birthday" on it) at Ingles and then headed to pick up Jones's Clyde First Baptist buddy Luke, who joined us and our family at Chuck E. Cheese's for dinner and fun.
Chuck E. Cheese's seemed louder than usual to me. That didn't stop everyone from having a great time - especially Jones, whose favorite ride was probably the Mack. He did it a million times in a row, saying he had to make some "dewiveries." He got lots of great gifts - definitely more than he needed - and then we headed home, by way of dropping Luke off. While Jeremy got the boys ready for bed, I put Jones's new "Cap 'Merica cubbers" (Sissy gave them to him) on his bed. He settled in, all "comfy cozy" and ready to rest up for what we pray will be a spectacular seventh year!
That selfie stick I bought before we left for Fall Break sure is paying for itself, huh???
This is Jones with classmates Aiden and Noelle. Loretta, the fourth student in K5, didn't make the trip, for some reason.
Jeremy's cousin Carrie has a daughter named Lila, who'll be 7 in May.
Carrie was expecting her when Jeremy and I met, and she was just a baby at our wedding. I've had a soft spot in my heart for her ever since the boys were babies, and she named her twin dolls "Jones" and "Freddie" in their honor.
Little Lila never ceases to be so sweet to the boys, and even on those times when they've completely ignored her or had no idea how to respond to her adorable shows of friendship, she's continued to sprint up to see them anytime they show up in the same place.
I will never, ever forget this about her, and I will ALWAYS love her for it.
Yesterday was no different. The boys and I walked in to Uncle Ronnie's funeral, and Lila was there before we could even take a seat on a pew in the front of the church. While we drove to the graveside services, the boys and I decided it'd be a great idea to invite Lila to join us in today's planned viewing of "Peter Rabbit."
Jones asked her as we walked into the family dinner after the burial. I added to his invitation, "... if you're available." Her face got as bright as her beautiful blonde hair, as she said, "I'm available!" Later, after I'd arranged everything with Carrie, I told Lila, "Guess what: you get to go with us tomorrow!" She spontaneously wrapped her arms around my waist in excitement.
I cannot get over how precious this child is.
To be honest, I think her kindness to the boys means even more to me, because I know the kind of relationship her mama and their daddy had as children. Carrie and Jeremy were the babies of the Boone girls and grew up as thick as thieves. The specialness of this second-generation relationship is not at all lost on me - especially as my boys don't have too many other cousins close in age to theirs.
So off we went today.
On our way to pick her up, we reminded the boys that not only is Lila our guest - she's also a lady, and ladies go first. Apparently, they took it to heart - at least, Jones did. As we left Carrie's place, Jones yelled to Carrie, "Don't worry! We'll take care of her!" and when we got out of the car at the Carolina Theatre, Jones said, "Ladies first" and let Lila climb out before him. I was confused, though, as he immediately sprinted ahead of her when we walked to the building. "If ladies are first, then why did you run ahead?" I asked. Jones said, "So I can get the door for her."
Well, then.
All three kids did great watching what was an absolutely ADORABLE movie. Jeremy pointed out that I may have enjoyed it even more than they did, which is entirely possible, because James Corden. Come on.
Lila chose McDonald's for lunch after the movie, and then we dropped her off at "Antcy's" house (which is how the boys say "Aunt Nancy"). It was a wonderful way to spend a morning and the first of many more that I hope we'll be spending with little Miss Lila.
I am a firm believer that birthdays should be celebrated extravagantly - though not, necessarily, expensively. I just like lots of celebrations and decorations and as much buttercream as is humanly possible. That made Jones's sixth birthday my kind of occasion. From the time he woke up in the morning until he hit the hay way past his bedtime last nite, some kind of celebrating was going on, and I am so grateful for the way things played out. First up, he opened his gifts from us first thing in the morning, as is our custom. He'd asked for a Herbie car with a wagon behind it (ever since seeing "The Love Bug" on a Movie Nite at church, he's been a little bit obsessed with Herbie) and a $12 digger / dump truck combo from the Dollar General. He got both things he was asking for and a few little extras, to boot - among them dinosaur day-of-the-week underwear and a Captain America racecar that he can paint himself.
From there, he headed to school, but he was only there long enough to go to chapel, because at 8:45, his class and the first graders boarded an HCA bus bound for the US Cellular Center in Asheville. Their first field trip of the year just happened to take place on Bobby Jones's birthday. "Pete the Cat" was the play they saw (Jones even wore a Pete the Cat mask!), and afterwards, they had a picnic lunch at Carrier Park in Asheville. When we were leaving the theatre, Jones told me, "I can still do all the fun things I did when I was five!" He seemed excited - and, quite honestly, surprised - by this fact.
Naturally, I was THRILLED to be along as a chaperone on the big day. I took cupcakes for the kids, all of whom were SO sweet to Jones. They kept coming up and telling him happy birthday. Their great behavior and excellent manners spoke VERY highly of both their parents and their school. I was SUPER impressed. I was even more impressed (or, should I say, RELIEVED) that Jones chose to ride the bus instead of in his mama's minivan. When it was time for me to leave after lunch, a quick kiss and a wave were all I got, proof that six must be a very mature kind of age! After school, we picked up his construction site cake (it had a digger on it; that's why Jones picked it. It's also why I had them write, "We dig you, Jones. Happy 6th birthday" on it) at Ingles and then headed to pick up Jones's Clyde First Baptist buddy Luke, who joined us and our family at Chuck E. Cheese's for dinner and fun. 
Chuck E. Cheese's seemed louder than usual to me. That didn't stop everyone from having a great time - especially Jones, whose favorite ride was probably the Mack. He did it a million times in a row, saying he had to make some "dewiveries." He got lots of great gifts - definitely more than he needed - and then we headed home, by way of dropping Luke off. While Jeremy got the boys ready for bed, I put Jones's new "Cap 'Merica cubbers" (Sissy gave them to him) on his bed. He settled in, all "comfy cozy" and ready to rest up for what we pray will be a spectacular seventh year!
