Happy 5th Birthday Elan!!

Well, our baby boy is officially a WHOLE handful!! It's so hard to believe that five years ago it was just me and Jay- I really don't remember life before children. It has flown by so quickly and it has been so much fun (well, for the most part!) watching Elan grow into a smart, funny, full of life, independant, Sports Center lovin', Braves biggest fan, Preds die hard little boy. Elan is such a precious blessing in our lives. We can count on him to make sure we're always wearing our seatbelts, question us if we drive by a stranded driver on the road and ask why we didn't stop to help them, be the first one awake every morning- ready to watch Sports Center (like father, like son) and be the first one to want to help- especially if it's cooking or cutting the yard! I wanted to share some of my favorite pictures of Elan from the past five years (so many of them aren't digital, and I didn't take the time to scan them ALL in, aren't you glad! :))...

Elan's first little "official" grin... Elan's 1st Birthday
Elan's 2nd Birthday Elan's 3rd Birthday
Elan's 4th Birthday


Elan's 1st Predator's game
Elan's 1st ride on his tricycle




Elan has always loved to play in the rain...

I just wish I would slow down and enjoy these precious moments more...


We celebrated Elan's birthday with a Pirate party at the YMCA pool. We have spent a lot of time at the pool this summer and Elan is officially an independent swimmer! We had such a fun time at the party and he said every present was his "favorite and what is has always wanted"!!

Emery had so much fun at Elan's party and loves her big brother SO much!

Elan took some time from swimming to shoot hoops with Mr. Matt



Every present was his favorite...
Little pirates
Elan loved the "pretending chest" from Aunt Alli, Uncle Jon-Micah and Caleb! It as several dress up costumes, etc.

The youngest party goer- baby Cole White
On Elan's birthday, we let him choose where he wanted to eat dinner after church and he chose Texas Roadhouse- his favorite. Although, when they all came out to sing and put him on the little pretend horse- he was not so excited anymore...


When we asked him what he wanted for his birthday, he said he wanted to go to Turner Field to see the Braves play... and so he did!! Elan, Jay and my dad headed to Atlanta to see the Braves play the Nationals (or the Washington DC's as Elan calls them) and Jay said Elan was on cloud nine the entire game. They even got there 2 hours early to watch batting practice, etc. In the ninth inning, the Braves came back to tie the game and my dad and Elan put on their rally caps and waved their "hommachocks" (aka tomahawks) the best they could, but the Braves ended losing by run. Jay said that Elan just cried and said if he came back to the game tomorrow, he just knew they would win... he watched them win from home the next day... not sure if they won or not. The day after they went to the game, we were sitting around and Elan found his ticket to the game. He looked at me and said, "Mommy, we need to put this in a special place so that we'll always remember my very special memories of me and daddy and grandaddy at the Braves game". That's really what is all about- making special memories with them!!
HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY ELAN!! We love you so much!