Boogie is 9!

9 Years ago this sweet boy made me a mama.

Happy 9th birthday to my Boogie

My sweet Boogie is 9 years old. I can't even believe it. And I'm pretty sure that I didn't post about his last birthday or about his first communion last year. I feel like the last year has been a blur.  And I am really trying to catch life before it just flies right by me.

This year Boogie was invited to celebrate a friend's birthday with a trip to a local museum. The trip just happened to also land on Boogie's birthday. Intrigued with the idea of going to a museum, he excitedly accepted the invitation. However, the closer the date came, the more apprehensive he became. He didn't want his birthday to get lost.  So we made a plan to celebrate with his special birthday breakfast and dinner the day before his birthday so that he could enjoy the outing with his friend. We also planned that Daddy would go with him. More than anything in the world, Boogie wants to hang out with his Daddy. So we were able to give him that, and a day at the museum where he geeked it out with his friend.

We were fortunate that both his and his sister's soccer games were canceled and we were able to have our traditional birthday breakfast with him.  We allowed him to open one of his presents and spent the morning playing "Settlers of Catan" which, by the way, is a game that many of the Green Bay Packers play together.  That night we let him choose the restaurant and my parents joined us for dinner.

The next day we went to church and right after he and Hubby left with their friends to visit the museum.  When they came back exhausted we ordered pizza and Hubby picked up a yummy ice cream cake.  And we topped it off with presents. It was awesome.  He was thrilled to get his very own tablet. He is an avid reader and it made sense to get him his on tablet where all of his books are in one place and not all over our house.  I am happy I can set the timers on it, but he's been pretty compliant on when to give it to us and when to turn it off.  This will make packing for our beach vacation a little easier this year. He'll have all of his books at his fingertips.

Camp Half-Blood versus Camp Jupiter

We celebrated with a birthday party with friends today.  Boogie finally decided on a Camp Half-Blood birthday party.  Anybody who has read Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series will understand the reference.  With the help of Boogie's godmother, I made Camp Half-Blood and Camp Jupiter t-shirts. Hubby organized the games between the two camps. Boogie's godmother came to the rescue to help me clean the house because I realized that having a nursing infant makes it really, really difficult to get anything done in a timely manner. Thank you, A!  We served camp food: hot dogs, hamburgers, watermelon, and lemonade.  Almost all of the friends that we were invited were able to come.  It was a lot of fun. Most of all Boogie had a great time. Hubby was pretty amazing getting everything coordinated for the games and I am very grateful he took the day off so he could help out with the birthday party during spring break.

9 years of friendship for these two campers.

Boogie with his best friend since birth on his 8th birthday.

7th birthday

5th Birthday and excited about dragons.

6th Birthday

4 and excited about dinosaurs

3 and still loved trains

2 years old and almost a big brother

1st Birthday and learning to walk

5 is Fabulous!

Buggy turned 5 years old last week. I still can't believe it. She has always seemed grown up that I think she has always seemed older than she is.  Even at ages 3 and 4 she was a big help to me.  Her height also makes me forget that she is younger than I think she is.  But no, she is only 5. Thank you goodness! I don't want her growing up too fast!

Cousins celebrating being 5 years old!

We celebrated my sweet girl with an annual family party with her cousin who is 3 weeks older.  The two of them have celebrated every birthday together.  This year we celebrated the family party much earlier than we usually do and this time we celebrated it at her cousin's house.  It is usually at our house in late October. This time, we celebrated in early October. Poor Buggy thought we were not including her in the birthday celebration because it really wasn't her birthday, yet.  She wondered aloud if her cousins would think to give her presents. I had to assure her that it was a celebration for and for her cousin, and yes, she would receive presents.  She had a wonderful time and the weather was perfect. The cousins spent most of their time playing outside and soaking up the sun.

Buggy and friends cheering for the yellow knight

The weekend before Buggy's birthday I took her and two of her friends to Medieval Times.  She has been wanting to go ever since her big brother went earlier this year.  I wish we could have invited more people and included her friends' families, but tickets are expensive so it was a little party.  The girls had so much fun and I have to admit I did, too.  Buggy's eyes went wide when they announced "Princess" with her name during the royal announcements.  She whispered, "I'm a princess!" Yes, Sweetheart, you are!  The girls cheered for the yellow knight and were most excited to see the jousting.  While the yellow knight did not win, he did throw his last carnation to Buggy just after he kissed. It's still sitting on our dining room table, still a brilliant pink.  We ended the evening with cupcakes and at our friend's house where we were able to include the rest of the families in the celebration.  It was wonderful and fun and Buggy was happy to be with her friends.

The Princess caught the flower from the yellow knight

We ended the month long celebration on her real birthday, October 22nd.  Buggy brought cookies and juice pouches to her preschool for snack.  Her teachers made a big deal about how much they think she's grown.  She felt special the whole day.  We took her out to dinner to our favorite family restaurant. We were joined by my parents and we were waited on by one of my former students. (I'm starting to feel my age when I meet my former elementary and middle school students outside of school and they are waiting on me at a store or restaurant!).

Family photo!

We ended the evening with opening presents on mommy and daddy's bed where they were waiting for her.  Her brothers helped and she "ooooohhhhhed and ahhhhhhhed" over each present.  We took a selfie family picture and I reveled in the miracle that is my daughter.  She amazes me and I feel so blessed to be able to call her mine.  She and her brothers are truly God's gift to me and their father.

I look at my blond haired daughter with her wide blue eyes and I am reminded to find the good in all things and people, to be kind, to be thoughtful, to be grateful, to love, and to be loved.  Buggy came at a time in my life when I was struggling with bullies at work, feeling let down, and feeling frustrated with so many things. She is God's reminder to me that even through great challenges, good things can happen.  She is the sunshine in my life. She has my heart.

Happy 5th birthday, my sweet Buggy!  I love you to the moon and back. Love, Mama

Just Born!

One is Fun!

Two is "tu-tu" perfect

Three is thrilling

"Four" ever Daddy's girl!

5 is fabulous when Daddy is a super hero!

Buggy's 4th Birthday

The Birthday Kids!

Buggy has been celebrating her birthday for a week. We started with a family celebration a week ago Saturday. We did a joint family birthday party with Buggy's cousin B. They are barely 3 weeks apart in age and have been sharing celebrations since their baptisms.

This year we did a Super Hero themed birthday party. We haven't quite introduced our kids to Super Heroes yet so Buggy wasn't quite sure what to expect. They know of Superman and Batman and but have never seen a movie or cartoon and their only exposure has been from other kids or what we've seen down the aisles in Target.

My sister-in-law was a huge help this year coming up with a game, coming early to help set up, and staying later to clean up. I've been preoccupied with quite a few things recently and I was really grateful for her help.  We each had pinatas for the kids to hit, one for the big kids, one for the littler kids.  This year we decided not to do a craft and all of the cousins entertained themselves very well by running around the backyard, playing on the swing set, playing the game my sister-in-law created, and playing with random toys around the house.

Gifts were a huge hit and I was thrilled to see that B. loved the super hero cape we had gotten for him.  He immediately put it on and ran around the house as we all cheered and laughed. It was neat to see him so excited and watching his cape stream out behind him. It was perfect! The birthday kids looked like they had a good time and so did their 17 other cousins.  My poor niece E. broke her arm earlier in the day.  She was a trooper and I never heard her complain, though she was more subdued and looked like she was in pain. My nephew M. is healing from his brain injury, but looked a little sad not to be able to run around with the other kids. He still has a few weeks to go before he can resume normal activities and that has to be hard for a tween.  We were able to extend the celebration with a sleepover with one of Buggy's cousins. This was a real treat for her and for L.  They are just months apart in age and while we've been able to do a few play dates the girls see each other mostly during family gatherings. I hope to make play dates more often with L's family as the girls get along incredibly well.

Trying to get a picture with the Birthday girl.

Monday, October 22nd was Buggy's actual birthday.  Buggy and I went out for manis and pedis and treated our selves to a girls' day.  We took it easy and opened presents when Daddy came home from work. Buggy called Lolo and Lola and invited them over dinner and we all went to our favorite family restaurant for dinner and dessert.

This year I decided to do a separate friend party for Buggy. Usually our friends come to the big family gathering, but this year we decided to separate it and give Buggy her unicorn/fairy/rainbow party with her friends. While I don't relish having to plan two parties, bake two cakes, plan two menus, decorate the house twice, and make sure it's super duper clean between the parties, it was really nice to relax with our friends.  It was just my best friends and their kids and it's probably the smallest party we have ever hosted for our kids.  With just 9 kids and and 7 adults it was totally manageable. I also gave myself a break with the menu and we did pizza.  For Buggy's hero party I ordered an ice cream cake, but for the rainbow party I made a cake. It all evened out in the end.  I'm usually running around like a mad woman for the parties and this time I was able to sit back and actually have a conversation with my friends. It was like a big play date instead of a party and the kiddos had fun playing together.  Definitely low key and perfect.

Rainbow Cake!

Buggy went for her 4 year old health check up yesterday.  She is one happy and healthy kid. The doctor thinks she will be about 5'7"-5'8" when she's done growing. The doctor said she's tall and thin. (The doctor predicted Boogs will be about 5'9"-5'10" when he's done growing).  Buggy is growing so quickly and I can't believe she's four years old. I did ask the doctor about Buggy's heart and this year she was scheduled for another cardiology check up.

Buggy was born with 3 small holes in her heart. Her last appointment was when she was two years old.  At her two year old cardiology appointment the cardiologist said she doesn't need to be pre-medicated for dentist appointments and she can keep training for the Olympics ;) However, it is always in the back of my mind and it's something I pray about every night when I pray for Buggy. I pray that she continues to be strong and healthy and that her heart stays strong and healthy.

Inside the rainbow cake :)

The pediatric cardiology nurse called me today to see if we could come in for Buggy's 4 year old heart check up. While I was expecting to make the appointment it's still unnerving. I kept up happy chatter with Buggy as I explained each of the procedures during her appointment, but it's still unnerving. I don't want Buggy to think anything is wrong with her, and really there isn't, but to see my baby girl hooked up and to see the various pictures of her heart is just....um, indescribable.  Really.  It's terrifying in the sense that I'm always waiting to hear that her condition has worsened. So far, so good. It doesn't sound like the holes have closed and her pediatrician said that the longer the holes are open, the less likely they will close.  Because of Hurricane Sandy the pediatric cardiologist did not make it to today's appointment, but will call me tomorrow with the results. So I wait.

But my beautiful Buggy is still a healthy happy little girl. She is a devoted little sister and helpful big sister. She is my right hand and I love the way she tells me she is my best friend and will always be my daughter.  I love her heart. I love the way she loves others. I love when she tells me about her "gross spurks" and how things are "ahind" me when I am looking for them. I love how calls our cat "Ebby-ose" because she can't say Berlioz.  I love that she loves to go running with me and how she wants to be the Incredible Hulk for Halloween.  I love the way she sits next to me on our big chair and half and fingers the blankets while I crochet them for others as if she is bestowing a bit of her own love and prayers for whomever the blanket is made.  I love her and I love her heart. We are so blessed to have our sweet Buggy.

Just Born!

Buggy's 1st Birthday

Buggy's 2nd Birthday!

Buggy Turns 3!

My Big Girl is 4!

Wild Kratts Birthday Party

Party-goers in their Creature Power Suits

My 6 year old son is a HUGE fan of the Kratt Brothers.  Chris and Martin Kratt are brothers who created a television program aimed at educating children in biology and ecology. They have a show on PBS called Wild Kratts.  My son often speaks of the Kratt brothers and he brings home writing assignments sharing how he wants to be an animal biologist and work with the Kratt brothers some day.

I made Wild Kratts the theme for Boogie's 6th birthday. I was having trouble coming up with some ideas until I looked on Pinterest. Are you on Pinterest? It's become my #1 "go-to" for birthday party ideas. Thank goodness! Piecing ideas from various websites and blogs I created a Wild Kratt party that Boogie and his friends went wild over.

Boogie modeling a creature power suit

I dusted off my mom's old Kenmore sewing machine about a week and a half ago and committed to making 10 Wild Kratt t-shirts. I wanted to make vests, but the price of the felt was way more than I was willing to spend. Fortunately, a local crafts store was having a sale on t-shirts and I was able to make the "creature power suits" for a lot less than I originally thought. Now, my sewing isn't great, but it doesn't seem like anyone noticed. I made the design using felt I found at the craft store. I was able to make two t-shirts worth of designs out of one piece of felt. Awesome!

Polar Bear Creature Power Disc

After making the trademark paw on the t-shirts, I glued a bit of velcro to the main paw and made creature power discs that I could velcro on the front front of the shirt depending which animal we were featuring.  With a bit of card stock,  clear contact paper (left over from all that elementary school teaching I did back in the day!), and a printer I was able to print out creature power discs.  And to give credit where credit is due, this is the site where I was able to get the creature power discs.

I made cheetah tails using leopard print duct tape from the craft's store. I just doubled up the tape and we had the kids place the top part of their cheetah tail in a back pocket to play a little cheetah tail tag. Think flag football without the football. We had kids running around trying to pull each other's tails. Loads of fun and a little bit silly.

We played "platypus egg hunt" and I hid candy filled plastic eggs in the backyard. Afterwards the kids played "platypus egg race" by putting plastic eggs on top of spoons held in their mouths. They had to race around on a course and drop their eggs in a basket without using their hands. Again, silly but a lot of fun.

We made beaver dams out of pretzel rods and chocolate frosting. No pictures, because watching my son eat like a beaver just ended up being super gross. But again, loads of fun.

The Wild Kratts "Tortuga" Base

I made a pull apart cupcake cake shaped as a turtle. My decorating needs work. It didn't help that the red gel frosting pen I used didn't set and it looked like my turtle was bleeding from it's mouth. Oh, well. Nobody noticed or were too kind to say anything and I have to stay doing the cupcake cake was totally the way to go. No cutting slices for the kiddos. They each got a cupcake and they were happy.

We ended with kids answering animal trivia questions in order to earn their next creature power disc. I loved putting this party together for my son. I was able to use my crafty side and make shirts that I never thought I would make in a million years.  Another benefit of being a stay-at-home mom. I have time to pull together my creative ideas and make them work!  It did my heart good to see Boogie's friends wearing their creature power shirts to school this week and hear them talking about creature powers and the fun they had.  Yay!  Boogie loved his party and I was so happy to pull it together for him.

Party Favors: Animal crackers with animal facts printed on them

Cheetah Tails

Hubby demonstrating how to play the Platypus Egg Race

And they're off!

Mr. Bananas' Birthday Bonanza

We finally celebrated Mr. B's 1st birthday last week. We kept it small by inviting family (if you count 15 cousins, 3 uncles and 4 aunts, and all of the grandparents being a small get together...we still missed a few relatives who couldn't make it!)

I was talked down from having a pinata, picture banners, and craft projects at the party. Instead we left it as it should be for a 1 year old's birthday with cousins playing, lots of food, cake & ice cream, and gifts.  My mom was very helpful and came to give me a hand which was awesome, since I accidentally double-booked Mr. B's birthday for the same day that I was attending a baby shower for a friend. Oops!

Mr. Bananas enjoyed his day in the limelight. He enjoyed all of the attention, and for the first time I saw him gravitate towards the other kids (who were not his siblings) in play.  He didn't actually play with them, but he joined the group, bopped around, and tried to pick up toys to be a part of the gang. It was really cute.

We went with a monkey theme because, well, we call him Mr. Bananas.  He had some wonderful presents, but I have to say that his "baby book" was my favorite.  His Godmother (my SIL who attended the birth) put together many of my blog posts referring to my pregnancy with him and his monthly summaries in a book. It was the most touching and perfect gift. And, yes, I know that it took her a really, really long time to put it together.  I've been reading my 3rd pregnancy journey via his baby book and I love having that reference to his life. I wish I had known about blogging with the other two so that I could have kept a better record of my pregnancies with them.  Though, they each have a traditional baby book. I might to go back and fill in with what I remember.

Thank you, L. for that incredible gift of your time by making Mr. B's memory book. It is something that will be treasured forever.

So here's to having a 5 year old, 3 year old, and a 1 year old!  When did you get so big, Mr. Bananas?  I must say, that there are days that I wonder if I can manage having three when life seems so overwhelming, and then I look at my three little monkeys playing so well together and realize that this is the life I was meant to have. Enjoying my children, celebrating their births, and being their mommy.

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
The fruit of the womb is a reward."

Psalm 127:3 New King James Version

Continuing the tradition of homemade cakes. (Banana cake with chocolate frosting in the middle!)

My Monkey checking out his Monkey cake

Happy birthday to you!

Playing with (around?) his friends.

One of my favorite pictures. Mr. B. with his Godmother, surrounded by cousins.

New animal book!

The 1st born cousin with the youngest cousin=LOVE

Cousin Birthday Party

This year is the first year that Boogie was included in a larger cousin birthday party.  Instead of individual parties, we and our extended family agreed that it would be easier to celebrate the kids' birthdays by seasons. Boogie joined the Winter birthdays this year and we celebrated his birthday along with 8 of his cousins (that's almost half the clan!)

Instead of inviting a ton of outside friends we kept it small (relatively) with just the cousins, a couple of cousins from another side of the family and a few Godparents who are not part of the clan by birth or marriage, but definitely still a part of the family.  The party took place in a bounce house (a warehouse filled with inflatables).  The cousins had fun bouncing with another and celebrating together.

I liked this set up, because being part of a family, especially a large one, means that you will inevitably have to share.  Boogie shared his birthday with his cousins and loved it. He loved spending time with them and being part of the group. He's easing his way out of being one of the "little" cousins :)

Boogie's Godmother and her family were invited. She has a daughter who is Buggy's age. Buggy enjoyed running around and holding hands with her friend C. They were a cute pair trying to help one another enter the bounce houses, racing each other down the slides, and climbing the "mountain" in the dino house. I wish I had gotten pictures.

Mr. Bananas loved the attention from his Godparents and whoever was willing to hold him.

I am exhausted after the party even though there was very little for me to do but keep an eye on the kiddos. I think it's a little overstimulating to be in a large warehouse with kids bouncing all over the place.  It was a fun day and most importantly my sweet Boogie was able to celebrate with his cousins and be a part of the group.

His actual birthday isn't until the end of the month and I'm planning a very small "friend" party with some of his kindergarten buddies.  But I think this celebration will tide him over until then.

Happy early birthday, Boogie Man!

A Veggie Tastic Birthday

My Pinkalicious Girl 

My daughter turned 3 a few weeks ago, but we finally celebrated with the extended family this past weekend. We hosted the birthday celebration for Bug and her cousin B. who is 3 weeks older.  Between scheduling conflicts and Bug coming down with the stomach flu last weekend, this was the soonest we could celebrate.

We decided to go with a Veggie Tales theme this year and it was a lot of fun.  Bug enjoyed having her family around to celebrate though when I told her that the family was coming over she said they were there to celebrate her cousin's birthday. She didn't realize they were there to celebrate her as well.

I had a lot of fun creating her cake (super easy this time!). We made her a Bob the Tomato cake with strawberry cake mix. I tried looking for red velvet, but since that was available at our store we went with strawberry. What better for my girly girl who loves pink. We even had pink strawberry ice cream which was a big hit with the girl cousins.

My uncle watching the kids hit the pinata

As with every birthday I tend to go bigger than the average bear.  I like a good celebration and I love celebrating the births of each of my children.  Hubby made a super cool poster for the kids and I put together a slide show of the kids.  We had a ton of food and my oh-so-favorite empanadas from our local Filipino restaurant. YUM!  My mom also made lumpia and pancit to round out our honey mustard chicken and fried rice.

It was neat to see how much the 3 year olds have grown.  As with any family gathering it was very busy, but a lot of fun.  The kids play really well together as they have gotten older, the adults are able to relax a little more.

The party was a hit and we enjoyed celebrating another year.

Our Bob the Tomato Cake

The 3 year olds