fortnerfamilyhappenings: My, oh my, how the years fly by...

Holt’s 4th year is in the books and I cannot for the life of me figure out where it went. I am now the mother of a four year old on the verge of adulthood. Holt has seen and done a lot this year and, looking back on it, I think it has been wonderful. He has grown so much in just 12 months and has turned into a regular comedian. He is full of Holtisms that keep me laughing and has a tender heart that is quick to leap with joy for others when they are happy and break with sympathy when he knows someone is sad. He is such a little man and, to me, the brightest, sweetest most wonderful little boy in the entire world. I am so glad that God’s plans are not our plans and that he saw fit to make us parents to such a wonderful little boy. I cannot believe it has been four years since He came into this world. The day Holt was born it was rainy and cold; on his birthday weekend every year since, it has been nothing but sunshine and glorious weather. We were blessed with beautiful weather again this year and Holt had his usual cookout with friends and family.

He was so patient. I thought the cardboard was going to give out as many times as I had to open it up form him to "just look" before the party

Holt had been asking since Christmas, for a baseball helmet, so I found a youth sized and gave it to him the night before his birthday (he saw it wrapped and on the sideboard). He wore it around the house until bedtime and then when I tried to get him to take it off for bed, he informed me that he was going to sleep in it. I had to go in and take it off once he was asleep.

Harper Ann helped decorate

This makes me smile

One of my pet peeves is whining. I am not very tolerant of it and Holt knows this. Well, the boys started clicking their bottles together and said they were drinking wine. I have no idea where they got this, but they kept on, so I went over to Holt and told him I didn’t want to hear anything else about wine. He looked at me and said, “But mama, I’m not talking about cryin whine I’m talking about drinking wine.” Well in that case...

So glad the Krutzs could make it.

Emileigh's bakery in Oxford did a wonderful job again this year.

Present opening is a group sport

Holt's Easter suit from Ma

The Chainsaw and Weed-eater turned out to be the best presents of the day.
He's just like his daddy.

Joey is such a big kid.

Sweet Mary, what a difference a year makes for you too.

Joey and Lisa came again this year. Joey and I were in the same section and I owe my law degree to Lisa, as she kept Holt in the afternoons while I was in class or doing my internship with the US attorney’s office during my last semester of law school. They are some of our dearest friends and we are so thankful that they continue to love our kids the way they do. It means the world that they would drive across the state to come to Holt’s birthday.