Success!

It's party time again!

I was going to name this post "A Smashing Success" but then I thought that things in my home being smashed and success don't really go together.

My children are surrounded by other children their own ages. All these children believe that a party must go along with a birthday. If I say, "It's Grandma's birthday tomorrow", they ask, "When's her party?" It's an automatic response. Even though there have been times that I don't feel like having a birthday party, I don't have it in me to break their little hearts by denying them their full birthday experience. This was another of those times.

The obligatory birthday banners are up. Well, they have been up for 3 months now. We never took them down after Josiah's party back in *clear throat* *muffle sound* January. I did take this one down after the party ended this time.


John baked the cake and I decorated it. It's a pretty simple cake this time. As I'm working on it, the cake decorating tool broke. I had to finish off Wheezy with a butter knife and toothpicks and forgo writing any messages on the cake. Sprinkles helped finish it.

We have seen and heard both Toy Story movies multiple times. This little setup with the army men was done for my own humor. John and I knew it was there. I don't know if anyone else saw it or "got it." I don't mind laughing alone at my own jokes.... unless they are out loud jokes. Right. Did I tell you that we went with a Toy Story theme since they are Nathan's favorite movies?

The movies are too old to have the theme on birthday decorations in the local stores so we made our own.

I spent two very late nights decorating the plates with my permanent markers. It was the first time I fully used my new set of 24 colorful array of markers. I had fun.

Zurg was one of my favorites.

Rex was great because I could draw and color him pretty quickly.

Andy was the other favorite of mine. Buster was special request by Josiah.

I made sure to get the girl characters done too for our young girl guests.

I made 31 plates. Josiah made one too.

The basic Toy Story theme plates were fast and, well, I made 6 of them.

Here's the birthday boy .... biting the table? He said his mouth was cold.

Noah had two helpings of cake and ice cream.

Our 26 guests included both friends and family. We had fifteen children ages 7 and under in our house at one time! I found a recipe for playdoh on the internet and mixed up a double batch of that in order to have one quieter activity. We liked the playdoh. I think I'll be making more of that!

After we ate cake and ice cream, Nathan opened his gifts. He wants to play with his new toys immediately. It took a little encouragement to keep opening packages for now.

Josiah and our friends looked on during the great unwrapping ceremony. It was a fun party! I'm glad we had it. Now there isn't another birthday party for 7 months. I'm sure we'll come up with another reason for a party though.

Super Birthday

Happy Birthday! Today is Nathan's 3rd birthday. A mere three years ago, he surprised us by being born 24 days early. I'm thankful for the blessing God gave us by adding him to our family.

Josiah gave him a Hot Wheels car for his birthday. He had wrapped it himself with paper he decorated. When Nathan opened his little package, I asked, "What's that?" His response was, "It's mine!"

Then he opened his other gift from John and me. As he was opening, he exclaimed, "WOW!"

It was a Superman cape and shield with a "breakable" chain. He wanted to put it on right away. John was quick to assist while I played with the chain and bragged about how strong I am.

Nathan kept running through the house saying, "Look at me! I'm Super Man!" I think he's super cute.

We had chocolate birthday cake and icecream after dinner. Later, I caught Nathan standing on a chair at the stove eating the extra icing out of the container. He denied nothing. "I'm eating icing!!"

Cuteness!

Aw! Just look at him! So cute! Noah is my cuddliest boy. In return, I find myself hugging, squeezing, kissing, rocking, zerberting, tickling, and bouncing him seemingly nonstop. It kind of reminds me of how Nathan is with Milo, the cat, except that Noah doesn't want to get away. He's just so darn adorable!

Chim Chiminy

John has begun to work on the roof. Yesterday, he repointed the chimney. He cleared out the old chipped and loose mortar, then redid the mortar, and finished it off by making a new cap for the chimney.

Yikes! This is steep. I climbed the ladder to get these pictures. I would not, repeat, WOULD NOT want to step onto this roof! I didn't even want to look down from the top of the ladder.

He got really dusty! I love that masked man.

Special Delivery

We got another delivery of roofing materials on Thursday morning. Lots of wood came on another kind of truck.

I know you've been hoping for more truck pictures, once you see one, you're hooked. So here they are. This one is a crane truck with a flatbed. I shall call it "Lofty" after Bob the Builder's blue truck with a crane because I like naming things. You'll see a very dirty John, Nathan, and the truck driver who is also the crane operator in these pictures. I didn't catch the driver's name so I shall call him .... "Tim."

Nathan is enjoying the show. Here's a front view of Lofty and our house which will be getting the new roof. Hm.... I haven't given my house a name yet.

"Look!"

To the untrained eye these may all look the same but there's a sequence here. See? Up, up, up...

A little more.... back now.... Okay, down!

Here's Tim operating the crane while John directs the wooden traffic.

I wouldn't have put in so many pictures but made the mistake of musing out loud which pictures should make the cut. Josiah let me know he wanted ALL the pictures to be posted. I'm a sucker for him.

Clara! That sounds like a good name for my house. It sounds old fashioned, yet pretty, and makes me think of a loving, caring, nurturing mama.

A job well done!

Who Knew?

I took a turn getting Josiah down to the corner to catch the bus to school.

Josiah and Nathan had so much fun running round and round this tree!

Who knew a tree could be so much fun? It's not even a climbing tree!

I told Josiah that it looks like he's running super fast in this picture. He answered that it doesn't look like he's moving at all. "See?", I say, "You're running and you're blurred because you were moving so fast." Then he says, "Look at Nathan. He's not fast. He's not even blurred."

Feline Curses

The boys seemed to be getting into everything so I looked around to see what would distract them. Distractions can be a good thing. Some are better than others. It's an art really. Finding distractions that end fussing takes practice.

Sarah: Look! Milo is sleeping in the pack n' play!
Nathan: My cat! I'm going to get him.
Milo: Curse you, Woman!

Milo: You'll get yours!

Milo: I'm trying to sleep here.
Nathan: Let me tuck you in.

Nathan: Lay down, kitty. Go to sleep.
Milo: Is this some kind of a sick joke?
(I didn't get a picture of the cat clawing his way out of the pack n' play to regain some peace.)

Nathan: I want to hold my kitty.
Milo: Great.

Nathan: Nice kitty.
Milo: You're lucky you feed me.

Nathan: Stay here...

Milo: Would you stop taking pictures and help me, you fiendish woman?!?

Chillaxing

Noah has commandeered this post with his cuteness:

There's nothing quite like laying around on the kitchen floor drinking milk from a bottle with my pacifier nearby.

Shh! Don't bring that up again. I have decided that I only like juice from a cup. Milk must be in a bottle!

Oh yeah! And when I'm done with this I'm going to pop that pacifier back in my mouth where it belongs.

Little Setback

Monday morning I woke up to SNOW. Where did my Spring weather go?

The swing set was certainly disappointed. After all, it has dreams of kids climbing all over it again and, then, this setback.

Not to worry, Swingset, it won't be long now until you're busy all day long with children swinging, climbing and sliding all over you.

Already the snow is gone and I just saw the sun peek out from behind the rain clouds.

I'm looking forward to summertime fun in the backyard! Cookouts, campfires, sprinklers, and sunshine are much anticipated!