the party aka "boy heaven"

The BIG 6

We had Tanner's birthday party at the Special Kids and Families Therapy Center.  It is amazing, I must say...so many fun things for every age.   Climbing wall, trampoline, slides, basketball...what more could a boy ask for?  Add some Nerf Guns for favors to be used during the party, of course, and 400+ bullets...HEAVEN! This party was a breeze...we just showed up!  I did end up having to clean my house..ugh...bc we had the parents drop the boys off at 4:30 and pick up at 8:30...the boys just rode with us to the center.  So "type A" me needed it sparkling for the 5 minutes each parents saw it...Can we say "I have issues?"
After we played, it was time for pizza, video games and strawberry cupcakes.  It cracks me up that Tanner wanted pizza bc he is very lactose-intolerant but he loves some dough, sauce and sausage!  Of course, he choose a pizza joint with oodles of video games so we brought lots of quarters for the boys.  I felt like they were playing lots of games with there $3-4 when I realized my Dad was parked by the coin machine putting $10's in and passing out more quarters!  It brought back memories of the arcade in the Hilton at the beach from when we were little...lol!  Needless to say the boys had a great time...I hope the parents enjoyed their 4 hours and hopefully their kiddos went to sleep as quickly as mine!!

birthday boy

The BIG 6th Birthday


Today was Tanner's day. He had lots of big ideas for how to spend his 6th birthday.



Donuts were a must.  This is a really sweet tradition we stole from our friends.  On the boys birthday mornings we go to Howard's and get a donut...Chris always joins us even on work days. It's fast, easy, cheap and the boys love it.

The new bike was a big hit.  He was sooo excited.  This was a gift from us and both sets of Grandparents. Tanner loves to ride his bike and we wanted to get him a really nice bike for those long rides heloves so much.

Forts and Nerf Guns

The other view of the fort

Aunt Shelley brought GiGi's by the house! Lemon is a favorite.

The zoo...he is running away so I can't take a picture.

Very tired family...it's time for dinner.

sweet boys
You should see the other photos from trying to take this one...it looked like "wrestle mania!"

123456

Happy 6th Birthday to my sweet Tanner.
I can not believe my sweet baby boy is turning 6.  You are so polite, extremely particular and so motivated.  You are a precious friend and a very generous big brother.  You are so hard headed yet so very sensitive. You are perhaps the most hard-working little boy that exists...you would spend your entire day helping people if you could. I see so much of myself in you maybe that is why I am so protective over your sweet heart! No matter what you do or become...I will always be your #1 fan!! I love you so very much.

What you asked to do on your birthday:
For Daddy and Sam to stay home.
To go get donuts.
Then to drink a smoothie for some energy.
To ride your bike.
To go to the zoo with the family and Aunt Shelley.
To do some work around the house.
Then to do some more work around the house...paid this time.
To go to Target and "browse" with his $.
To ride some more bikes and maybe to go look at new bigger bikes.
To go to Taekwondo.
To buy nerf guns for all of his firends coming to his birthday party.
To eat strawberry cake.
To have a swordfight and a nerf gun fight with Mom, Dad and Sam.
To play outside.
And now you're thinking but you assured me there was more!




Things you love:
Magic Tree House books
Magic School Bus Books
RobinHood
StarWars
Knights, Dragons and Castles...battles
Mac and Cheese...made with almond milk
Swordfighting
PillowFights
Shut the Box
Taekwondo
Yolo..bc they always have a dairy-free choice
Pineapples
War...card game
Cooking especially if the rolling pin is involved
Bike riding
Central BBQ
Chucky Cheese
Wild Kratts
Monopoly
any science experiment
the History channnel

You told me you want to do or learn:

Lose another tooth
Stay up later than Sam now because he's 6
Run a 5k
Ride in a bike race
Read the next Magic Tree House book
About the stars..."Can I stay up late and watch the stars?"
Why a jet is faster than an airplane
If we can make dairy free cheescake
Play the violin
Have all your friends over for a playdate at the same time
Spend the night with a friend:(
Have a friend spend the night
Spend a whole weekend at Big D and DeeDee's
Teach Jackson to fetch...good luck!
Go duck hunting

wintery walk

Christmas afternoon, Chris and I took the boys to Shelby Farms to go on a hike.  We'd both run the trails on Christmas Eve and seen deer so we were hoping to see deer on the walk...no such luck but it was still lots of fun!

First things first...they always have to find a good walking stick.

Skipping stones

"bear" tracks

Afterwards, we stopped by my parents to grab a bite to eat and by that point the boys needed a restroom break as well.  We loaded back up and headed over to Starry Nights at Shelby Farms.  It has been a few years since we have taken the boys...my parents had taken them the last 2 years.  It was lots of fun...Sam was really into it!  He kept saying, "look ewree-body i finks its a ___  no actually i finks its a ____".   Everybody had to have their windows down so the heat was on high. 

christmas morning

How do you do your Christmas?
We sit "Santa" gifts out and they are unwrapped.  The boys get three gifts from Santa because the wise men brought baby Jesus three gifts.
The boys shop for each other and wrap the gifts for one another. This is really sweet.
Chris and I give the boys a gift from us.
And the stocking goodies are from us not Santa.


Some of the Santa things bug me...I do not prefer to hear parents say "if your good santa will come" or "santa's not coming if you act like that".  REALLY?  Don't use that on your children...just have consistent discipline.  They should not think how must stuff they get on Christmas moring is a reflection of whether they are a good or bad kiddo.  So we don't use Santa to try to make the boys behave.  It's very simple he comes and brings the same number of items...3...every year...because that's what Jesus got! Sorry to rant it's one of my many "soapboxes".



Sam got his OWN skateboard...super exciting!

Legos were a big hit for Tanner and I think Chris too!

My sweet Sam loved the candy...not suprising...this was pre breakfast!

Tanner has been begging for tickets to The Magic School Bus...of course since he wanted to go Sam wanted to go also SO Chris and I gave the boys tickets.  Tanner is thrilled...we have read every book from the library at least 2 times!  It's a "family date"...the show is at 11:00 so maybe lunch after with a trolley ride!

pure joy

pure joy...this is what it is all about
it makes parking and shopping with the crazies worth it


To see the looks on their faces Christmas morning is so precious.  The boys were so excited they could barely contain themselves. 
We have a special tradition...each year before the boys rip through the stuff we stop to reflect on Jesus.  Each family member has to tell what our "gift" to Jesus will be.  What will work do or work on during the upcoming year that will glorify or honor God? We videotape our answers so they can be remembered!
Now it's time to bust into the toys!

christmas card 2011

christmas eve

Christmas Eve...after 3:00 church...Big Dee and DeeDee's!

first stop

Christmas Eve Eve with Nana and Pops!

re-cOOperAting

 

GAMES AND FORTS

Things are looking a little better around here!  The boys still have nasty coughing spells but no fevers and the energy levels are back up...in a good way.  Since we have vegged in front of the TV for the last few days, I decided we needed a TV break not a jammie break...lol.  Nothing like spending the day in your jammies cause it means you don;t have anywhere to be!!  We spent the morning playing games and then building forts.  Since it had been LAZINESS around here the boys were really excited to play with each other.

OUR FAVORITE GAMES

*Memory

Shut the Box...you play individually...in my top 3 to recommend

Apples to Apples JR.

Blurt

*Barnyard Bingo

*Go Fish

Toot and Otto

*Zingo

*Bingo

*Yatzee Jr.

*Connect 4

*Boogle Jr.

CLUE

Checkers

Chess...i can't play but T can go figure!

Monopoly...the real deal...Tanner could play for hours!

*= ones Sam can play and understand

Every fort needs weapons...light sabers, nerf guns and baseball bats!

We played Memory when Chris got home. Sam is getting really good.  He got 2 matches in a row and was SUPER EXCITED...hence the blurriness!! Big prayers we are healthy for Christmas:)