growing up...

Braxton turned 4 on Saturday! He is growing up so fast and Jeff and I still feel like it was yesterday that he joined our family.
I have had "birthday" on the brain for the last several weeks. Planning parties and scheduling events but amidst it all I have often stopped to wonder who has grown up more in the last 4 years...Braxton or myself?
This boy teaches me so much every single day and I am such a better person today than I was 4 years ago. He is so kind and thoughtful and he is the first one to say, "mom, I love you," for no reason other than he really does.
Thanks to all our wonderful family and friends who joined us in helping Braxton have such a great birthday! He is well loved!
Sunday was the last Horrah! We had family over for pie and ice-cream and had a great time. Bryce was able to come down from Canada and Chelsey came too. We were really glad they shared the day with us.
Braxton has been asking and asking for a "real" fire engine and was thrilled when Bama and Umpa gave him one as a gift. This toy basically consumed him for the rest of the night.
Braxton got all of his favorite things....exavators, front loaders, emergency vehicles, lots of gum and gum balls, ball clothes, movies, working clothes...and on and on...
cuties:)
For Braxton's party at Preschool we made these cute little jack-o-lantern rice krispie treats. We had fun making them and Addy had fun eating the scraps!
Braxton is such a big help and loves projects like this one.
Adelle and I got to go to Preschool with Brax on his birthday celebration day. We had such a great time watching him work at school and play with his friends.
Ms. Mimi gave Braxton this special crown and a construction machinery book. He was so happy.
On his actual Birthday Jeff made us all a yummy breakfast...Braxton's favorite waffles and bacon! For lunch we went on a beautiful walk/picnic to the park. I told Braxton we could bring whatever he wanted for lunch. He chose peanut butter and jelly sandwiches:) That night for dinner we got pizza and crazy bread as Braxton requested.
Braxton and his friends at his party after a tour of the local fire station.
Gramy and Papa Ashmore and Auntie Erin and Auntie Gabe and Uncle John and Uncle Ryan sent Braxton a special birthday package for Arizona. It arrived right on his birthday! He scored once again. All the presents were individually wrapped and he loved opening every single one! Lots of fun books, ball clothes, movies and once again....bubble gum, his new obsession!
Braxton loves getting packages. He also got a special birthday letter from Uncle Brent in Spain!
Here are the kiddos in the fire engine at the fire station. They had such a great time there and the firemen were so accommodating!
Chief Braxton driving the engine.
This is what he put on for the rest of the weekend. The back pack is playing the role of air tank since we don't have one of those.
Jeff and I created this fire engine birthday cake. Braxton loved it. It was so worth the effort!
That basically sums up a very fun and eventful week. We are resting for a few days before Halloween.