Will Turns 5!!!

For anyone who has had kids and/or has followed this blog, must agree that our kids are growing up too fast!  Will recently turned 5 years old [and also means that Mommy and Daddy are also 5 years older.  ;-)  ] and we have many photos to share from his big day.  Will is a very bright, smart, imaginative and outgoing kid who is full of enthusiasm.  He loves to open presents and we are sure you will feel like you were part of this celebration seeing the energy on Will's face.  We just love it!

What could be in this birthday box?

Wow!  It is the Motorcycle Transformer robot!  Just what I wanted!

This is so cool!

Aw Mom...It is the book Runaway Ralph!  

I love this book series!  Look at all the cool pictures.

This is my new building set, ZOOB!  (So much for tinker toys and erector sets, these new kids sets are amazing and stimulate tremendous creativity and imagination.)  Will demonstrates how the set works in the 2nd photo.

 

Yea!  Another Runaway Ralph Book!

This is a good story!

Will opens a card from Grandma!  Thanks I always like money!

Will's big present for his 5th year birthday was a brand new bike!  As parents, we were glad to hear that he wanted a bike for his birthday as he has shown little interest in riding.  His preferred ride has been his scooter, but he did request a bike for his birthday and wanted to ride along with his sisters.

 We will never forget his reaction seeing the bike for the first time.  He was so excited...he was speechless...then came over and gave Mom and Dad the biggest hug he could give to show his appreciation...It was very sweet and almost made us cry! 

This is the coolest bike ever!

Will is always silly these days when it comes to getting his photo taken...however, he was nothing but grin from ear to ear for this birthday celebration!

What a beautiful cake!

Will takes a big breath and blows out his candles for a birthday wish.

One breath was not enough.

Will also had his Birthday Circle at his Montessori school to celebrate his five years with all his friends at school.  Will was so proud to share his life's story through each year since birth.

For each year, Will takes a walk around the candle with the globe

Will is so excited!

Will poses with his birthday board highlighting memorable events throughout his life.   Superheroes, static hair, sunglasses and being a wonderful son all come shining through

Happy Birthday, Will.  We love you!

Amanda Loses a Tooth!

After a long wait for a very wiggly tooth to fall out, Amanda finally gave in to allow someone to provide the tooth a little assistance to break her tooth loose!  She was agreeable and so excited because she knew the Tooth Fairy would make a visit, as she did for her sister Natalie.  Below, Amanda holds the surprise box left by the Tooth Fairy as she eagerly awaits to open the gift!

Amanda tries to smile and show the missing tooth.

Amanda opens her present from the Tooth Fairy....what could it be?

Yea!  It is two dollars!

Wow!  What a beautiful smile!

2014 Tholstrup Family Reunion

From Virginia Beach we headed South to South Carolina to spend the week at Aunt Ann and Uncle Sheldon's house on Lake Keowee.  We all had a great time visiting with the Taylors and the extended Tholstrup Family.  Even more special was Grandma Zena being able to made the trip from Tennessee to enjoy all the family festivities.  Here, the entire gang poses around Grandma for a 4th of July family portrait.  

Sheldon, Elizabeth, Carson, Will, Meaghan, Natalie and Amanda pose with Grandma Zena!

Here is a great photo of Firecrackers Amanda (left), Natalie and Will trying to get Grandma to bring out a big smile!  (Grandma Zena does not like photos!)

Earlier in the week we all had fun doing all kinds of fun water sports and outdoor activities.  Lizzy enjoys a good book floating out on the lake near the dock.

Aunt Ann casts a big smile for the camera.  

The kids love the water and Amanda loves jumping in from the dock to make a big splash!

Wow!  It must be a hot day because Aunt Ann is rarely ever found in the water.  Here, she helps Will practice his swim stroke after jumping in from the edge of the dock.

Natalie likes floating on top of the water!

There is an awesome pool and water slide at the lake that all really enjoy.  There are many water games, sports, food and drink to be found here.  Amanda practices her water entry skills.

Nothing but big smiles from Will after his turn on the slide!

Next is Natalie to give the slide a whirl!

Will gives it another, and another, and another and another and another trip down the cork screw!

After the pool, it was down to the beach for more water fun.  If someone knows what Will is doing...please let us know!

On the beach they had kayaks, paddle boards and floating trampolines to enjoy.  The kids had never been out on a kayak and both Natalie and Amanda go for a spin.  Natalie is up first.

Next is Amanda.

Carson gives the paddle board a try.

Will goes for a ride with Dad.

Meaghan find a new use for the paddle board...we think it was an escape opportunity!

The floating trampoline was huge fun!  Amanda is first to bounce as high as she could.

Both Natalie and Amanda give it a try to leverage each other's bounce.

"Hey Amanda!  Where did you go?"

Uncle Clarence takes the paddle board out for a spin.

As does Aunt Melody, who was a speed demon on the water!

After the beach activities, it was back to the pool for some refreshments and some water games.  The life guards were having some fun with the kids and challenged them to gather as many diving rings from the bottom of the pool as they could.  All participants were winners and were able to select the ice cream of their choice!  Below, Natalie, Amanda and Will were first in line as soon as they heard ice cream!

Yummy!  This chocolate ice cream is good!

Wow, I will dive for rings anytime for this treat!

You can always tell how much Amanda likes something by how much can be found around her mouth and on her nose!

Will had such a large snow cone, he had to sit down in the sun for a few minutes to take a few bites.  Aunt Ann stops by to see if she can have a bite.  NO WAY!

Wow Dad!  This is almost as big as my head!

I still think I can eat it all!

Riding the boat never gets old!  Here, after the pool, Will changes into his superman underwear, goggles, life vest and silly smile to help drive the boat home.

All the kids took turns during the entire week and Uncle Sheldon was such a sport to coach each captain.

Uncle Clarence sits in the back of the boat with Amanda...both look like they are up to mischief!

Amanda, Natalie and Dad enjoy the breeze on a hot summer day.

Natalie, Mom, Will and Day snap a quick selfie!

Natalie, Mom and Will prepare to watch a beautiful sunset.

Carson, Uncle Clarence and Amanda talk about how much fun they had all week.

Lizzy, Will, Meaghan and Natalie also enjoy the view.

Cousin Sheldon and Aunt Melody think we all are crazy!

The end of our vacation was on the 4th of July, where we not only celebrate the birth of out county, but also the blessing of having such wonderful families.  We had a great time with everyone and many thanks to our hosts for allowing us to crash their otherwise calm retreat on Lake Keowee.  We will end this post with a photo from the 17th green overlooking the lake....

And some amazing shots of a gorgeous sunset.