Happy 5th Birthday Jack and Luke

We've had quite a week celebrating the boys big birthday. We spent the 1st half of the week in Newport and Block Island, RI--which was really beautiful. The boys enjoyed themselves and loved being near the water. Jack is mesmerized by the ocean and Luke enjoys watching and riding on boats. Quinn is like traveling with a Cabbage Patch Kid. He hardly makes a peep and is content to go with the flow all the while with a huge smile on his face. I'm praying his peaceful personality persists. We shall see. HIghlights of the trip included the high speed ferry, the long car ride, the sound of the fog horn all night long, watching ferries come and go, lobster traps and being with Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop. Proof that when you are 5 years old, it really is all about the journey not the destination. If you ever get the chance to go, GO! It is worth the trip.

We came home and got ready for the boys big day on Friday and celebrated with a Rocket Ship party on Saturday. As you all know by now, I love themes. Planning their parties is the highlight of my summer. I start in the winter when I need something to daydream about. Dan gets on board the week of and lucky for him he did not don an astronaut suit this year. If you'll remember, he was in bright yellow polyester last year as the "Man in the Yellow Hat" for our Curious George party. We were grateful for a beautiful day with great friends and family.

As they turn 5, all the cliches apply...it goes by so fast, I feel like they were just born, hard to believe, in the blink of an eye, blah, blah, blah. The truth is we have all grown and changed so much in the last 5 years. We have learned more than either of our educations could have taught us and we have been stretched and strengthened at the same time. Yet, there is so much growing to be done which is a comforting thought for the times when I think about my boys growing up and leaving for college. Having twins is an enormous gift--a dream I have had my entire life but it doesn't come without its challenges. The highs and lows seem particularly intense but so is the love. We never take our little family for granted and thank God for our little world and every blessing.

5 years and 100,000 pictures later....documenting is essential, what can I say? I know someday Dan is going to be grateful for my well cataloged, Dewey Decimal system of pictures. He just doesn't know it yet.....