60th Birthday Party and Water Fun

We celebrated my father's 60th birthday this weekend.  I made a birthday cake for him (with help from Logan) and we spent the rest of our time playing and having fun outside.  I wanted to share some pictures of the boys having a blast in the water.

But first, here is a picture of the clown cake I made for my dad's birthday.  He got a kick out of it--it felt strange cutting into the clown's face and eating him, though.  Ha.

The boys had a lot of fun playing on the Slip N Slide

The boys playing in the Elmo sprinkler

Filling up their water guns in the water mat

Logan and Jacob looking for bugs

Jacob caught a spider with one of Logan's bug box tools--they are all looking at it here. Alex looks as if he is ready to run away, though!

Alex with crazy hair

Alex and Logan getting ready to have a pudding cup

Well, I'm off to the living room for movie night with my guys!  I hope you enjoyed the pictures of the boys.  Until next time . . .

My World

I am listening to Mellon Collie and The Infinite Sadness by The Smashing Pumpkins as I walk through my home picking up items and straightening up things.  Rain is pouring outside and thunder periodically booms through the sky as it answers the lightning's call.  Alex is at school and Logan is sitting in the recliner with his Tag readers and reading pen--every once in a while he looks up and watches the rain through the back door. I was thinking about how sick I am of the rain--I hate getting out in it to take Alex to school or to run errands.  It does add a new sense of adventure to an errand when it's pouring rain and thundering (and a 4-year-old is with you).  Logan sat and watched the rain fall on the patio for a while and then said, "Mom, my strawberry and blueberry plants are getting a big drink of water today."  Children are just so cute sometimes.  My two boys are constantly saying things that stop me in my tracks.  I am thankful that I am able to stay home with them and spend time with them each day--to be there during the little moments.  I don't wake up in the mornings and go to a big office or get paid a ton of money for my job duties--instead I have two bosses who have both stolen my heart.  They have these cute little faces, adorable laughs, and their innocence is a humble reminder of things I take for granted so often. Sure I spend most days doing laundry, helping with homework and projects, and cleaning up but I also get to eat lunch with them every day, take them outside and watch them play, build sand castles with them, watch movies or paint--I love spending time with them and I think I have the best job in the world right now. I get paid in hugs and nothing is more rewarding than a little boy thanking you for making lunch for him and then saying, "You're a good mommy!"  My world is a world of little boys--super heroes, sword fights, football, wrestling, bug hunting, club house meetings, and car racing.  It is also a world of kisses on a booboo followed by a band aid (which is a miracle cure for any boo boo),  reading the same book over and over again, making cookies just for the fun of making cookies (with two helpful little bakers), helping little hands hold a pencil and write their names, numbers, and letters.  My world is filled with kiddie music and movies I've seen a thousand times but still watch because a 5-year-old begs to watch it just once more and explains why it is, in fact, a really good movie! My world is reading bedtime stories each night, tucking my boys into bed, and hearing, "I love you, mom" as I hug and kiss them good night.  My world is Trix yogurt, Goldfish crackers, macaroni and cheese, and fruit snacks--My world is being there to see all of their firsts, cheering them on in everything they do, and encouraging them when they are struggling or frustrated.  My world is about teaching my sons to be good people--it's about the time out spot and explaining why certain actions have consequences and are not allowed.

There have been people--from time to time--who ask why I always talk about my children. The answer to this question is a simple one--my life revolves around them (their needs and wants) right now--they are my world.   I am very happy and feel right at home in my world.  I hope when my boys are older they can look back and cherish these little moments as much as I am right now.  They won't be little forever and I'm glad I am able to be here with them while they're little (and still think I'm great). Here's to my two amazing little men!

Stay-cations, Birthday Parties, and Thunderstorms

It has been a busy but fun week--we did a lot with the boys while Jacob was off work, had a few thunderstorms roll through, and had Logan's 4th birthday party.  We enjoyed all the fun things we got to do as a family this past week so I thought I'd just post some pictures to share with everyone.  Enjoy . . .

Jacob reading one of the boys' comic books to them.  We took them to a comic book store while Jacob was off and they each got to pick one comic book, one graphic novel, and they had huge Spider-Man coloring books so we bought one of those for each of the boys as well.  It was fun going with them to the comic book store and watching their expressions as they looked around at everything in there!

The boys in the Lego store.  They loved it.  Alex discovered that there are Ben 10 Legos, which was a huge deal for him!  It was a lot of fun.

Movie Night!  Jacob put some blankets on the floor and the boys grabbed their pillows and we rented a kiddie movie (Tooth Fairy).  One of my favorite things to do as a family . . .

We also went to the zoo--the boys had to have their picture taken on every statue we came across. It didn't rain on us, but it was cool and cloudy.  We were able to see most of the animals up close.

Logan's Yo Gabba Gabba birthday party!

About to blow out his candles

Iron Man masks

Logan made several bugs out of Legos yesterday afternoon.  He was so proud of them--he made a snail that really did look like a snail!

Playing Twister--it was hilarious to watch them!  Logan kept saying, "Mom! I can't reach!"  They had a blast!

Playing the Yo Gabba Gabba Party in my Tummy game

We had two or three thunderstorms come through yesterday--after the last one we went outside and the boys immediately found a water/mud puddle to jump in.  They were so funny!  Alex eventually got stuck in the mud and Jacob had to pull him out--when he pulled him out his flip flop remained stuck in the mud.  We reached into the puddle and felt around until one of us found his flip flop. When the flip flop was pulled out Alex clapped and cheered. 

Alex was running through the puddle and fell down--he slid into the puddle on his bottom and started laughing

Logan eventually fell in the puddle as well

I hope you enjoyed the pictures!  I'll do an entry on Logan's birthday party soon . . .

Mother's Day

This mother's day has been very special--thanks to my three guys.  The fun started on Friday when I went to Alex's school for his Mother's Day Tea.  He was so happy I was there--I felt very special that day.  He made some of the sweetest gifts for me and we had cookies and lemonade. He and his friends sang a song to the mothers and then recited a poem.  It was a really sweet event. 

This morning Jacob let me sleep in (which is one of THE best gifts any parent can receive).  When I walked into the dining area I found some beautiful flowers along with a sweet note from my husband.  He had signed his name and then let the boys sign their names as well.  It was so precious seeing Alex's and Logan's little signatures on the paper.  We recently redecorated our dining area and I mentioned at one point that I thought it might be cool to have a neon sign or something to hang in that area with the tin signs.  We looked at some online but they cost more than we wanted to pay (or so some one led me to believe).  Jacob ordered a red and blue OPEN sign to hang in the dining area.  It flashes and the red lights on it match our dining area. I was so excited about it! I also received some Wallflower refills from Bath & Body Works.  At one point Alex and Logan walked up to me--each holding a piece of paper--Alex said, "We love you, mom.  These are for you."  They each handed me their papers--they had colored horses for me and signed their names to them.  It was so sweet.  Alex said, "We made these for you, mom."  I am still trying to find the perfect spot to hang them.  Needless to say I am very happy and feeling extremely loved.  I thought I would share some pictures from Alex's Mother's Day Tea, as well as some pictures of the great things I received from my guys on this Mother's Day.

 Alex and me at the Mother's Day Tea.

Alex gave me this tile with his hand print on it for Mother's Day.  It was so sweet!  I love it!  He was very excited about giving it to me.

Two of the gifts I received from Alex at the Mother's Day Tea.  The gift on the right is a picture of Alex wearing his birthday crown on his birthday--he is sitting with the birthday bear.  He made the frame and his teachers put a magnet on the back so we could hang it on our fridge.  I, of course, loved this as well!

 The song Alex and his classmates sang to the mothers and the poem they recited.

The note from Jacob and the boys I found on the table this morning. (Logan's name is in yellow and kind of difficult to see--we're still working on it--but he is doing REALLY well!)

The beautiful flowers I received with my note. 

The OPEN sign I received from Jacob for Mother's Day. 

I hope all of you moms are having a wonderful Mother's Day as well!

 

A Week's Worth of Pictures

Just wanted to share some pictures with you all.  Above is the Rt. 66 sign we ordered--we thought it would look really good on that fence.  You can also see our rose bush.  It is always so pretty in the spring!

 The boys having a snack outside at their little picnic table.  They would live outside if I let them . . .

 This week is teacher appreciation week--we tried to be creative with the little gifts Alex gave his teachers.  His school sent a letter home last week with a list of gift ideas to bring every day this week.  We had a lot of fun with it.  On Monday, Alex took school/office supplies to his teachers.  The list said to bring a flower of your choice on Tuesday--we bought some flower pots and wrote "A+ Teacher" on them and then Alex planted some pretty flowers for his teachers.  I wish I had thought to take pictures of them before he took them to school.  He was really proud of them, though.  Yesterday, the list said to draw a picture or write a letter to show/tell your teacher how much they mean to you--I'll tell more about this gift later (I DO have a picture of that one!) Today we had to take any kind of apple.  I found some apple shaped Post-It notes at Target and bought a package for each teacher. (One can never have too many Post-Its!) Tomorrow, Alex is supposed to surprise his teachers.  We bought some paper sacks (super hero sacks, of course) and Alex colored them.  We then filled the sacks with breakfast bars and muffins.  I have heard the teachers talking about how some days they don't have time to eat breakfast--we thought this would be something they could stick in their desk and if they don't have time for breakfast they can grab a breakfast bar or something. 
Alex also wanted to do something for the office staff at his school.  He has been going there for about three years for speech therapy and we have gotten to know the office staff fairly well.  We decided to make a box and fill it with breakfast goodies.  We took a Popsicle box and wrapped it in blue wrapping paper and put a picture of Alex giving a thumb's up and standing by the chalk board "Thank You" sign (more on that in a minute) and added some pretty pink paper to it.  Alex said, "The girls in the office will really love that!"  Alex then covered the box in stickers.  I told him he could put any stickers on it he wanted--and he did.  Disney, smiley faces, dinosaurs--you name it he put it on the box.  Alex then helped me fill it with bananas, raisins, muffins, and breakfast bars. When we were finished we both stood and looked at it and Alex said, "This looks really cool, mom!"  I'm glad he is happy with it.

The breakfast goody box Alex made for the office staff.

Now back to Wednesday. On the list for teacher appreciation week the students were asked to draw a picture or write a letter (as I mentioned before) to show/tell their teachers how much they mean to them. Well, Alex can't really write yet and he didn't like the idea of drawing a picture for his teachers--he rolled his eyes and said, "That is what everybody will be doing!"  Instead of writing a letter or drawing a picture I wrote "THANK YOU!" on the boys' chalk board and told Alex to stand beside it and I would take his picture.  I said, "One, two, three . . . CHEESE!" and Alex gave a thumbs up and made the cutest expression.  It turned out great and was a BIG hit with his teachers! 

Jacob gave the boys little mustaches and gotees one day.  The boys thought it was great!  They kept running to the bathroom mirror to see their reflections! 


Tomorrow is the Mother's Day Tea at Alex's school.  I am looking forward to it and will try to take some pictures to share with every one! 

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!!  :) 

It's already May?

I can't believe it is already May!  May is already off to a busy start here--Alex had a children's author visit his school yesterday.  We bought one of the author's hard back children's books so Alex could have her sign it when he met her.  He was very excited about it. When I picked him up from school he quickly pulled the book out of his back pack to show me where the author signed it. He said she read one of her books to them and talked about how important the pictures are and how important it is as a writer to work with your illustrator.  He really seemed to enjoy it and was really proud of his book and the author's signature!

Alex holding his new book--and the author's note to Alex along with her signature!

Alex and Logan with Alex's new book.  He is VERY proud of it! 

We have also been busy putting the finishing touches on our dining room and our patio--as well as the rest of the yard. We ordered some new tin signs for the dining area--we decided it would look cool to just have a wall of tin signs.  We also purchased a hot dog cooker and a mini Coca Cola fridge.  We fill the mini fridge with sodas for the boys--when they are allowed to have a soda they can go to the mini fridge and pick one. We are really happy with it.  We have ordered one final thing that will be the final touch to our yard.  We are really happy with it.  We bought Logan a turtle sand box as part of his birthday gift from us.  The boys want to play in it every day and have a blast making sand castles.  They'll use pine cones to make a gate or wall around their castle and use grass and flowers as flags.  They even pretend their action figures are knights and toy dinosaurs are dragons.  It is fun just sitting and watching them--although I have to admit making sand castles with them is also a lot of fun!  We had an old swing that was given to us--it is a swing that my aunt and uncle had as far back as I can remember.  It still works great but was in dire need of a paint job.  So, Jacob and I decided on the color and we painted it.  We also purchased a cushion for it to add to it visually as well as adding a touch of comfort to it.  We enjoy going outside with the boys and are happy with how the swing turned out--so of course, I wanted to share it with those of you who read the blog!

Our patio--as you can see it is covered in outdoor toys for the boys--they have so much fun out there!

Logan sitting at the little picnic table.

The newly painted swing

The dining room complete with new tin signs, a mini Coca Cola fridge, and the hot dog cooker!