Andrew's Party

Today we celebrated Andrew's birthday. I decided to do it this weekend rather than next Saturday because next weekend is the 4th of July. We never do anything for the 4th and frankly none of our friends really do anything either but I still feel kinda bad planning his birthday on a national holiday. Maybe it is strange of me but it still feels funny. Anyway! Andrew wanted a Bolt themed party and I was baffled on what I could do with the cake. Artistic I am not. He insisted he wanted "laser eyes" on his cake. So this was the best I could come up with. Nothing but some cake gel and Nilla Wafers but Andrew was satisfied.

The pinata only lasted a few minutes. But every kid got one swing. It truly broke with the last kids swing which worked out perfectly.

"Happy Birthday to You!"

I just had to share this one! Never is a little lady happier than when she is sharing someone's treat!

Super cute with the Grandma Meow

Making out like a bandit.

Andrew got a whole bunch of Lego sets and other cool stuff. He is currently building one of the cars. He has really gotten into the Lego thing lately and it is nice to be able to give people the easy hint of Legos. Plus they are relatively cheap. I always feel bad telling people expensive ideas. I hated it when they were into Thomas because NOTHING Thomas is cheap. Anyway, Andrew had a wonderful day and was so thrilled to be celebrating his birthday. Now he just has to wait until Thursday to officially turn 6!

Birthday Party=Pinata!

To Andrew a birthday party is not a birthday party without a pinata. For the past 3 years now we have had one for his birthday. As his party is this Sunday it was time for the pinata to get made. The first year he asked for one Eric and I went the easy route and bought one. All was fine with it except that it was almost impossible for little kids to break. They are made out of cardboard boxes and frankly take a teenager to truly bust them open. Plus they are not cheap! Last year we made our own pinata for his party and it was much easier for the little ones to break unassisted.

This year Andrew wanted a Bolt themed party. And Bolt like the Disney movie, not something you get at the hardware store. We are truly terrible about letting our kids see new release movies so when he saw it on vacation he thought it was new. Unfortunately it wasn't and the stuff for the party was difficult to come by. I found some. Just paid more than I wanted to for it. But you are only 6 once right? And the rest of his party is relatively low key and I make most everything for it myself. Anyway. The pinata is supposed to be a black disc with a green lightening bolt on it. I tried. I don't know that Andrew will be terribly satisfied with it but the darn things only last about 5 minutes before they are busted open. We shall see how he responds in the morning. Last year I made a speed racer helmet and he had some other looking helmet in mind. Too bad buddy. When this mom is working with a balloon and paper mache you get what you get.

I am starting to really wonder how many more years I will be making pinatas though. They take a lot of time and effort for such a short satisfaction time of breaking them. I guess I will make them as long as he keeps asking for them. As long as the rest of the kids don't jump on this pinata bandwagon we will be ok. Otherwise I see a lot of time with tissue paper in my future!

T-Ball Party

This weekend Andrew had his t-ball party. It has taken me a few days to post this info because I was incredibly annoyed with the whole thing. Hopefully I will manage to relate the event without too much cynicism. After much discussion and confusion it was decided that the party would be at Alfy's in Lake Stevens. No problem. Almost all parties are at Alfy's these days so that was not unusual. We had kicked in our money for the party and the trophy and all was well. A couple of days before the party we got an e-mail telling us that the kids pizza and pop would be included but parents and families had to fend for themselves. Once again, no big deal. So the day rolls around and I call ahead for our pizza. The party was set for 1 and that is WAY late for us to eat lunch so I knew that if I didn't have food to throw at my little ones the second I walked through the door I would have a meltdown on my hands. Plus Alfy's is always busy with birthday parties and such on the weekends.

Off we go to the restaurant. We got to the place and I go to pay for my pizza. As I am paying the team mom walks up to the counter to ORDER. Why was that not done ahead of time? When it comes to little people it is pretty standard. Cheese pizza, pepperoni pizza and maybe Hawaiian. Then, THEN! she tells me that she didn't realize that Alfy's had half price pizza until 2! WHAT??? Who in this area of Washington doesn't realize that? And since they were having half price pizza until 2 they had plenty of money to get pizza for everyone! Thanks a bunch! My pizza was not only already ordered but sitting on the counter waiting for me. So I told her I had called ahead and ordered and not to worry about us. I then asked her what side of the party room we were in so we could go sit down. I then received shocking news. Apparently she didn't reserve the party room and we were just going to sit wherever. Ok what? At some Alfy's that would work. At the one in Lake Stevens..... not so much. The seating is horrible. It is actually getting to be kinda a problem for Eric, the kids and I to get a table that will fit all of us. All the spots are booths and small booths at that. Why would you plan a party for a t-ball team of at least 12 kids (and all their family) in an area where there is barely room for 12 people? I couldn't believe it. We ended up sitting on the other side of the restaurant (all the booths on the side they were sitting were taken). Who doesn't reserve the party room at Alfy's? Seriously!

Anyway, we ate our pizza, Andrew got his trophy and certificate and we went home. That was it. No cake or cupcakes or anything. At least the trophy is cute. That was the one redeeming factor of the whole thing. I ended up taking Zane out to the van after just a little bit because he threw an enormous tantrum in the middle of the party. Not that anyone could really hear him. We were on the other side of the restaurant you know. Hopefully this will be the only time this type of thing happens. I have no desire to be a team mom but man! Was a reservation and some communication that hard?

Princess Lovey

The other day I was playing with Lucy and my old Cabbage Patch Kid doll. I was changing the clothes she was wearing because I had a ton and the outfit that she currently had on needs new velcro in the back and it was annoying me. Anyway, I pulled down the box of doll clothing and let Zane and Lucy pick out a new outfit for Casey Sissy (the doll). They chose this little dress my mom had made with red and blue boats on it. In the box was this additional skirt made out of the same fabric. Zane immediately decided that it was perfect for his lovey. I thought it would be just a phase for a few hours and then he would take it off. Well, it has been about a week now and I see no signs of him wanting lovey to not wear his "princess" (Apparently the skirt is called a princess when you put it on an elephant) In fact, the boys went camping last night with Eric and we didn't let Zane take lovey's princess in case it got dirty. He found it this morning as soon as he got home though and wanted it put back on the silly thing. I think it is kinda cute. Eric..... not so much. You are only little once though right?

Graduation Day 2009

I knew the day would arrive but I didn't realize how quickly it would get here. Andrew graduation ceremony was adorable! He looked so cute in his graduation cap. Some of the stuff wasn't a surprise because I had been in the class when they were practicing but it was super fun to see the kids up on stage singing. I did pretty good through the whole performance with not crying but I got a bit teary when they signed the song "What a Wonderful World" Although that song can do it to me even without my baby up on stage so there you go!

Zane was SUPER excited this morning to go to Andrew's school. He kept asking when Andrew was going to get there. Of course by the time the program started he was asking if it was over yet. Someday he will MAYBE appreciate these milestones.

I made Andrew wear something handsome today. He wanted to wear a tank top but I told him he had to dress up a bit. His whole class looked really good. Aren't they all adorable!

At Andrew's class!

Andrew and his teacher. He is going to miss her a lot! He didn't want to come home from school with us after his graduation reception. They had cake and punch for the kids and parents. It was very cute. Andrew wanted to ride the bus home but I don't think there is any kindergarten bus today. Besides he would have been the only kid left in the class. Crazy boy. Tomorrow he gets his last bus ride of the school year. I am sure he will miss riding it over the summer!

We also got his report card today. He did wonderful just like we knew he would. He is sailing on toward 1st grade! Congratulation Andrew Tyler! You have done an AMAZING job this year!!!

Painting Fun!

We are currently painting our house. The majority of the work got done on Tuesday courtesy of a sprayer that we borrowed from a friend. Now we are only left with all the trim work. There is a limited amount that I am able to do. Since we have two stories a lot must be done on a ladder and Eric has forbidden me from climbing on to one. (I periodically have to hand him stuff when he is on the roof but he yells the whole time) So I am doing what I can.

Andrew in particular has been super excited to paint the house. Today I worked on the garage doors which was perfect boy painting. We made the kids paint in their undies because they don't have any clothing that I am excited about them getting paint on. If you think about it it makes sense. Most adult painting clothes are old stuff with holes/rips/stains on them already. You don't go and put your nice clothing on to paint when you know you are potentially going to ruin them. Anyway, that is the story about the underwear. The boys did a great job. Zane lost interest very quickly but Andrew stuck with it until I was done. I am going to have to put on a second coat but all in all it looks pretty good. The frame around the garage will be black. We just haven't gotten there yet. I will for sure post more pictures when we are done.

Halfway done!

My two helpers.

What the black trim looks like.

Big Girl Trike Rider

Lucy has been enviously watching Zane ride the trike around the driveway and desperate for her own turn. It is hard because even though we have a small bike that Zane could ride he wants to stay on the trike. So, until he moves up Lucy is kinda left in the lurch. This afternoon Zane was sleeping on the couch and Lucy woke up from her nap. We went out front and she immediately went for the trike. The first non-negotiable with any bike/trike riding at my house is that you must wear a helmet. Period. I don't care how much you hate it. You will wear it or you will not ride. We have a old Thomas helmet that is too small for Zane now that I tried to get on Lucy. She fought at first but then resigned herself to wearing it. I think seeing the trike in the driveway helped. Plus she sees the brothers with theirs on all the time and it must look normal to her. Anyway, on to the trike!

Her feet are obviously not long enough to reach the peddles but who needs peddles when a brother will push you around the driveway.

Happy Girl on a Trike!

Such a super star big brother!

Now I am just going to have to deal with it when both Zane and Lucy are awake and wanting to ride. Doesn't happen that often but it could be a problem. I need to start prepping Zane now so it is not a shrieking nightmare when it does. Seriously, you can't spring anything on that kid.