Half Way To 18. . . . I Can't Handle Thinking About It!

HAPPY 9th BIRTHDAY KALE!

I mean when your kid comes out this BIG

(yes this was the DAY he was born)

you can't help but think he will grow up fast.

But 9 years - really?

Really?

Weren't we just celebrating him turning 2?

I look back and realize what a lucky mom I am.

If you would have told me that I would have 4 years between each one of my children I would have laughed in your face.

"No not me. Just get the chaos over with."

That's not how it happened for us.

I used to dwell on it a lot -  I would get frustrated, then angry, and then sad.

But I remember the day that Kristopher was born and I as every mother feels, felt a little sorry for Kale that he wouldn't be the "only one" anymore.

And all of a sudden I realized how lucky I was as a mom.

 I realized that I had had 4 whole years with Kale - just me and him

  (and his dad - when he wasn't at school).

4 years - not many moms can say they had that long to love on just one child.

And he had 4 years of his own love bottled up inside to give away too.

I am so lucky to be HIS mom!

He got 4 baseball tickets for his Birthday

so he took Grandpa, Dad, and Kristopher

OUT TO THE BALLGAME!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KALE!

My house was a crime scene. . .

When I asked Kale what type of party he wanted for his birthday this year -

without hesitation he answered,

"James Bond - oh yah man"

(OK he has never seen James Bond - but I think he wants to be just like his dad and if that means having friends over to watch the new James Bond on Blue Ray well then by all means he wants to have a James Bond Party)

Well since I didn't think a James Bond party was quite appropriate for a bunch of 9 year olds, we compromised with a detective party!

The guests arrived to find the house taped off as if a crime had been committed!

(One of the boys even told his mom that people were going to think that there was a real murder) 

At the front door they were met by this sign:

Inside they received their name badge, disguise kit and magnifying glass.

Introducing our Detectives. . .

And the search for clues began

up and down the stairs, all around the house

finding clues. . .

and when all the clues were found they had to figure out where the birthday party had been taken. . .

They were master detectives and it didn't take them long to figure it out!

And so to Roundtable Pizza we headed for the PARTY!

And how could they not be acting like this when they just ate all of THIS!

After pizza and presents it was time for the cake!

And if that wasn't enough to cram into one night we also had pack meeting that night

(the reason Kale is in his scout shirt)

where Kale received his WOLF!

What made the night even more special was Kale's best buddy Jackson also got his Wolf that night too - they have had so much fun in the wolf den and will miss Sister Onstott a lot!

The night ended with leftover pizza in the fridge,

very tired sleepy kids,

new toys in the playroom,

and me crashed on the couch!

New Toys

I decided the party yesterday was completely worth it because today my kids spent the entire day playing with brand new toys.

The only thing I had to do today was cut open the packages and unwrap those annoying twist ties.

My day was wonderful.

My house is somewhat put back together.

My kids were entertained.

Here is just a sample of what they did today.

He loves his new sprinkler. . .

She wasn't too sure at first. . .

but had a great time watching her brother do flips and turns and somersaults through the water!

It almost makes me want to throw another party. . .

oh wait - I am!

Kale's party is on Friday!

P.S.  Have you heard of the meanest mom?

And NO I'm not talking about myself (although I am pretty mean at times)

Check out  www.themeanestmom.blogspot.com for a really cool Mother's Day Giveaway!

It was MAGIC. . .

Kristopher had his BIRTHDAY PARTY today.

His first real birthday party with friends and everything.

And boy did we have a MAGICAL time!

First,

everyone put their magic capes on and made their very own magic wands.

Then we played

Pass the magic hat. . .

Then we had a

MAGIC SHOW!

(how cute is that with all the kids in their magic capes with their magic wands)

He needed a volunteer. . .

and the birthday boy was quick to jump up.

He had to pick a card

and keep it a secret from the magician.

But, the magician was too smart for him.

After the Magic Show

we had some cake and magic punch!

(if you ever want some fun put pop rocks in soda - so fun)

Next came PRESENTS

My face pretty much says it all!

And then we had fun hitting a PINATA!

And finally we sent everyone home with a magic goodie bag . . .

and we realized how much fun MAGIC can be!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUDDY!

He made it to 5!

There were times I wasn't so sure between his many trips to the ER and our power struggles , but

Today we had a party. . .

Family style.

We met over at Grandma and Grandpa's

for a little dinner,

some presents,

and some cupcakes!

And you better believe he got that "BEN TEN" watch that he has been wanting since Christmas. Every time we go to the store we have to go STARE at it for a few minutes and go over again that as soon as he has enough money he can come back to the store and get it.

He's my smart one and decided to just ask for it for his birthday.

This morning he woke up and instead of saying

"Today is my birthday"

he woke us up to

"Today I get my Ben Ten Watch!"

And we ended the night with our

BIRTHDAY BUBBLE BATH!

I really do love this boy.

I love that he was such a good baby

when I needed a good baby.

I love his smile.

I love how smart he is

(most of the time)

I love that he remembers things that I don't.

I love his determination.

(for good or bad)

I love that he is mine.

Tomorrow we have our "friend" party.

And we plan on partying with 24 of them!

KRISTOPHER IS FIVE!

FIVE years ago today Kris

made his QUICK entrance into our family.

We have

BIRTHDAY BUBBLE BATHS

in our house.

(We take them every year but we only get pictures until we are 5)

YEAR 1

YEAR 2

YEAR 3

YEAR 4

and check back later for YEAR 5!

Check out my little brother. . .

Funny he doesn't seem so little anymore!

SPRING (i need a) BREAK and EASTER

SPRING BREAK 2009

We had cousins visit. . .

My sister celebrated her 30th birthday and had her 10th wedding anniversary all in one week so they drove down from Oregon, dropped their two girls off

and headed to San Francisco to PARTY. . .

But they were not the only ones who PARTIED

We had quite the PARTY while they were away

and these TWO

became instant best friends.

Even at the Easter Egg Hunt

we couldn't separate these two.

And now I will apologize to my sister because her other daughter. . .

no matter how hard I tried would not let me take a picture of her. . .

and believe me I TRIED!

EASTER 2009

Karalyn needed a little help to get going

but then she got the hang of it

and by the end of the hunt she was a pro!

He's done this a few times

can you tell?

He was as determined as ever.

And she was NOT content on watching.

And finally. . .

The Easter Bunny Came!

New swimsuits!

What a surprise

(actually they get swimsuits every year - just another little trick I learned from my mother)

Does it get more Easter than this????

All dressed up in our Easter Best!

I melt for boys in suits!

Especially these two!

and don't even get me started about how fun it was to dress HER up for Easter!

And of course you can't have Easter at our house without an Easter Egg hunt in Grandma and Grandpa's Backyard!

SO TODAY IS THE LAST DAY OF SPRING BREAK

and I let my kids decide what they wanted to do!

Of all the things they could have chosen. . .

we had breakfast at DENNY'S!

Kale woke me up this morning by saying

"Mom, I had dreams about the Jr. Grand Slam all night"

and tomorrow

WE GO BACK TO SCHOOL!