Happy Birthday Cash!

We now have a four year old! Cash is growing up so fast - and in every way. He is getting easier all the time as he tends to listen better, help out more, do more for himself, etc. He is taking on the roll of big brother much better all the sudden as well - rather than simply teasing Vanna to her limit practically every minute of every day, he tries teaching her things, helping her more and "taking care of her". Even Cash seems to notice how he's changing (at least physically anyway). He's always asking us to measure him and reminding us that he's growing when he says each night, "I eat my dinner all gone and I get big and big and big and strong!"

All Cash wanted to do for his birthday was "go swimming". We were planning a trip to see my side of the family the weekend before his birthday and thought, there's no better place to go swimming than Lava Hot Springs right? So off we went for a few days over Memorial Day weekend. We had such a good visit with my parents and even saw my younger brother and his wife - who are some of Cash's favorite playmates I think. We also visited with my sister and her three boys. They are a riot of fun for my kids to be around. Cash just idolizes them and their abilities to shoot guns, hunt, etc. We got to see my dad as well. We haven't seen him in about a year so that was great. The kids were able to reconnect and loved playing with his new, fancy wheelchair. We also got to see great-grandparents too. The weather didn't quite cooperate with us so instead of the swimming pools, we went to the hot pools in Lava and I don't think Cash even noticed, he had such a good time. I'm afraid he's going to think we have to go swimming every time we go to Grandma and Grandpas.

Cash and Vanna with Grandpa Hall.

Cash and Vanna with Great-Grandparents Bob and Beth. Beth just made me some beautiful doilies for our bedroom furniture. She's so talented and such a doll. I love them!

Of course, we can't go to Grandma and Grandpa's without riding on the four-wheeler! If you're wondering about Cash's goggles - they are practically permanently attached to him. He loves the water, his bath and his GOGGLES! He totes them around everywhere and he insisted we take them on the trip since we were going swimming!

The kids playing at the park during our visit. We timed that activity perfectly when a large storm hit just as we pulled the wagon into the driveway and ended our walk.

We got back from our trip the day before Cash's birthday. We celebrated his big day simply - we went to his favorite place for dinner, opened presents and had cake. When I asked him what kind of cake he wanted he said, "a big and big and big and big cake" (you can picture him standing on his tippy toes with his arms stretched as tall as can be, while he says this). And this is the best I could do. I tried a couple different stacking styles and even ended up throwing out an entire cake before finally resorting to the stacked cupcakes.

Cash got a bike for his birthday and just can't get enough of it. He cruises on it with no fear. I wonder how long it will be before he wants us to take off the training wheels.

What is now Vanna's bike (Cash retired it). She couldn't be happier with her hand-me-down. Cash also got cowboy (hats and guns) and baseball (a cap and mitt and ball) gear for his birthday. And a much needed new and improved sword - all the better to harrass daddy with.

Doesn't his face say it all? What a cute little cowboy!

The day following Cash's birthday, Grandma and Grandpa came back up here to visit us! Granpa wanted to try salmon fishing and this year was supposed to be one of the best runs he'd ever heard of so he and Ty went to Riggins and got absolutely skunked! Darn it. Unfortunately, with all the rain we've been getting over the past couple weeks, the rivers were blown out and although there were tons of fish (the nursery there said that they usually expect something like 4,000 salmon in the run and this year they expect near to 30,000), they just couldn't get to them.

Well, we enjoyed their visit anyway. I think Cash thought his birthday was never going to end. We went to the park with them, ate like kings, etc. One of the highlights of their visit was their volunteering to watch the kids while Ty and I had a romantic night get-away for our anniversary. We've never spent a night away from the kids since we've had them so this was a real treat. We stayed at the Ameritel Inn in Boise and went to dinner. Then relaxed in the hotel's jacuzzi and watched a movie. What a much needed retreat and definitely an Anniversary I'll always remember! Thanks Mom and Tab!!!

I'm sure I missed something in my journaling (and that's what I get for trying to play catch up on the past couple weeks) but let it simply be remembered that we love our little guy and don't know what we'd do without him. Life is such a party with Cash around. He's all fun and games and has such a happy-go-lucky personality to him that you can't help but smile when you're around him. Love you buddy!