Brody & Tate's Party

The great thing about the past is you can chose how you want to remember it. As I've worked on this post and see the pictures- It looks like we had SO much fun. I almost forgot the disaster that was the Boys Birthday party. Maybe in a few years from now I won't remember all the drama. I'll just see the smiles on these cute little faces and think it was all a great day.

So now I'm sure I've got you curious on how this possibly could have been a bad day. Let's just say Murphy's Law came to play. (Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong). It started the snowy week leading up to the party. Thursday was going to be my big, "get the party stuff done" day. You know, last min errands, finish decorations all that stuff. Well with the weather and freezing temps. The last thing I wanted to do was go out. So what did I do instead? Paint! Mistake #1. Greg was out of town and I wanted to surprise him by painting and decorating the boys bathroom, (pictures will follow). Good idea, bad timing.

So now it's Friday I haven't done a thing for the party, Greg is still gone, so no help there and the boys are stir crazy from being cooped up. This was the day I tried to get everything ready. Mistake #2. But I did the best I could. It took me till midnight, but I got it done, staying up too late, Mistake #3. (I am a bear without sleep). So I wake up Sat. not feeling refreshed at all. Feeling quite stressed that I still had to make the cake, cut fruit and get dressed all before going to set up at 8:45. Procrastination, Mistake #4. We decided Greg should go down to set up, so I could have a little more time. Let's just say he wasn't too happy with me, I wasn't too happy with him... or me. I just hoped once we got there we could relax and have some fun. Yeah- Right!

We held the party at Union Station which is downtown. I had reserved a spot (or so I thought) in their diner for the food, cake & presents part. This was only going to be an hour or so, then we had a group pass to explore Science City, which is like a children's discovery play place inside Union Station. Greg calls me once he is there and tells me there is a LAN party already where we were supposed to be. WHAT?!!?! I said. I totally thought he was kidding, for a long time I thought he was kidding. That would totally be like him to tease me with that, but nope, no joke. There are computers, X- Boxes and T.V. screens all over the diner. I guess they said they rented it out a month before. When I called three weeks ago they said it was available. Problem #5. No place for the party!!! And the guests are arriving!

Greg talked with the guy I spoke to on the phone and he let us set up in another part of the building. A not private part might I add. He did a good job setting up what he could, but the other MAJOR downfall was that they have a deal with the vendors there and they wouldn't allow outside food where we had set up. They were willing to make an exception for the cake, but I couldn't bring out any of the food we brought. Issue # 6 NO FOOD! Are ya kidding me? I had gone to costco, what am I going to do with all this food? Plus we had three pregos there! This was turing into a BAD, bad day. I was so embarrassed.

So with no fruit, bagels or muffins to cushion the blow we started in with the cake. I had taken special attention to make sure the cake was dairy free. My good friend Kirsten's son is allergic to dairy & peanuts and I didn't want him to feel left out. I had a cake mix that was dairy free and I had made the frosting with soy butter and chocolate soy milk, it was really good. After all this trouble I covered it with graham cracker crumbs to look like dirt. Guess What- #7, the graham crackers had traces of peanuts in them. We didn't realize it till the damage had been done. He wasn't going to get to eat the cake anyway!!!!!AHHH! Can anything go right?
I was about to LOSE IT! And to top it all off, One of my friends couldn't make it to the party, Her husband had been having major health issues. I felt bad that her son would miss out, so I told her I would watch him so he could still come to the party. That's beautiful #9. He was out of control. I'm sorry, but he was. He wouldn't listen, he kept running away. He fought with the other kids, he opened the presents. Even Whitney, Miss Sunshine, had to get tough with him.
This whole event was turning into a NIGHTMARE!!! So if my smile seems a little off, now you know why. I guess we tried to make the best of things. I know it could have been even worse, maybe, somehow?

Once we got into the Science City it really was a lot better. That is a fun place. It was still rough with the three boys, but I think everyone else was having a great time and that's all I cared about. Brody & Tate seemed oblivious to the trauma all around them. They thought it was a great day and I'm sure in a few years so will I. But for now ... I am still trying to get over it.

BRODY IS 4!

Last Tuesday was Brody's fourth Birthday!

I had so much fun looking back at these pictures. My baby has become a little boy so fast! The picture of him with his "Big Brother" shirt is just crazy to see. He was still so little, but he and Tate are best friends now and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Brody is so sweet to Tate and he loves to play with his baby. Here are some other FUN facts about Brody. He likes wearing his glasses-They are broken right now, typical. Brody is doing great in school and is even pointing out commas as we read stories together. He still loves to play cars and make them crash, that's his favorite. He is a good friend and loves to be around other kids. He loves to make you laugh! I think we have a future class clown in our midst. He has started quoting movies now... I am so proud! He has a crush on the Little Mermaid ( and I'm pretty sure it's because of her swim suit- I'm in trouble!) Every morning with out fail he comes to me and first thing he asks for is (warm) "lemon -honey juice". I made that for him once when he had a sore throat, now he loves it and wants it everyday. I know- It's a little strange. Brody has an AMAZING memory. His reasoning and comprehension are way beyond his years. I often have to remind myself that he is just a little kid. He is SO smart! He is such a joy to be around, there is NEVER a dull moment with Brody.
Happy Birthday Buddy! (To which he'd say- "My name is not Buddy!"(from the Incredibles. His first movie quote)
We love this KID!

New Love(s)

I got to be a helper for Brody's pre-school Valentine's party. It was so much fun. I was in charge of the craft. We decorated hats with little "love bugs" on them. It was so fun to see him around his friend. I think that's been the only hard part about school, that I am not with him to watch him learn and interact. He seems to be doing great and always loves to go.



Another Mom brought Valentine's cookies for the kids to frost and eat. Brody couldn't figure out why you needed to put the frosting on the cookie before you ate it, Why not skip a step and put it right in your mouth.


As we were sitting there eating cookies and talking about Lightning McQueen, Brody blurted out, " Mommy, That's Avery, she's my girlfriend." The funny part about this to me wasn't the fact that he has a girlfriend, He talks about Avery all the time. But it made me laugh that he just said it so matter of fact in front of all his friends. I guess they must all know already as well. Should I be worried? He turns 4 tomorrow and has already had 5 girlfriends, Oh brother!
Brody & Avery


Now that Valentine's Day is over dose that mean I have to change my layout? I really like it, I think I'll keep it for the rest of the month. Hope you don't mind. Don't worry, I know it's over.

I also wanted to post a few pics of one of the project I've been working on. Ever since I came home from AZ I've been making a real effort to FINALLY get organized. (I tend to be a pack rat, not my best quality... I'm getting better). One of the tips I got from a friend was to set aside a special room just for toys. We'd wanted to put a playroom in the basement, but just hadn't done it yet. We've had lots of other projects to work on. Finally we made it a priority and finished- I LOVE it! These last few weeks have been the best, cleaning wise, ever. Our house is SO much easier to take care of now that the toys are under control!
Here it is before-
Actually this is much better than before. I had already spent most of the day cleaning out the many boxes that filled the room when I thought, Oh I should take a before picture.


And Voila!
We still plan to put in flooring, better lights and of corse put pictures on the walls, but for now, it's great. The toy shelves are the best because they make it easy for the boys to clean up, and I don't have to do it all!
We let Brody open an early B-day present, the jump castle from Dad & Ann Marie. It was perfect to keep them busy while I finished putting the room together. Thanks- They LOVE it!
It's clean, now everyone is happy! (I took a long time to build that awesome train track. I came back down 5 mins later and it was ripped apart! Not doing that again.)

Playing Catch-Up!

Okay, Let's see.... I've dusted off my camera and downloaded it's contents. What is on here that I haven't talked about? bear with me, I think this is going to be a long post!

My good friend Kristin has two beautiful girls and is expecting a boy soon. Melessa, our very talented friend, let me help out with Kristin's shower.
Cute Kristin opening gifts
True to Melessa style is was fabulous. The decor was beautiful and we played the funniest game. Kristin doesn't like to be the center to attention, so there would be no belly measuring going on. Instead we collected baby pictures from all the attendees and made a game card for each person to match the adult to the baby picture. It was really fun and also a great way to decorate! It was harder than I thought, but everyone said mine was so easy to guess because I looked so much like Tate. What do you think?

As our party favor Melessa and I put together another CD. This time it had fun lullabys on it. We picked songs that we thought you might hear in a posh baby boutique. It was a lot of fun to do. I picked most of the music and she designed the covers, They are beautiful!

I think we might have to start a business out of this. My fav songs from this were The Sweetest Gift by Ewan McGregor (love him!), Lullaby in Ragtime by John C. Reilly & Godspeed by the Dixie Chicks. Who am I kidding? I loved all the songs. If I get a chance I'll make a playlist for it like I did for our twilight ones, but for now.. Back to the update.

Continuing with Wither's week, Kristin's little girl Rylee had her 5th b-day party at pump it up. We ALL had so much fun. You can tell by the boy's pink faces that they were playing hard, but they weren't the only ones. Greg and the other Dads had fun pretending they were Gladiators and Kirsten(Hobbs) and I were able to tumble in one of the blow up courts and relive glory days gone by.
Tate had as much fun in the car as he did on the slides and things. Don't we have that at home? Come on play with something else!
Boys w/Izzy
sweaty brother hug
Greg & Tate having fun on the slide
All the run down kiddos after an hour of play

Oh this was random- One night a week or so ago, Greg put up a tent in Brody's room. (Don't ask me why, Just for fun I guess).
Brody loved it and slept really well that night. Nap time the next day was a totally different story.
Needless to say the tent came down, during nap time. It was short lived camping trip, but he had fun anyway.



Another crazy thing out here in the midwest has been our weather. It has been very weird and un predictable!
Two weekend ago it snowed, normal for this time of year. Then that following Monday it was warm, sunny and 64 degrees! All the snow had melted and the leaves were out and visible again. It was like Fall in February.
That next day, Tues. It rained all day,I mean ALL DAY. Then Wed. Snow again, a few inches this time. It just barely melted away Friday night. Weird huh!
Here are some pics from the crazy weather.... It's kind of fun to have so much variety, but all in one week?
You just never know what to plan for.
Tate examining the snow.
He decided he doesn't like it.
How about now? Nope-Tate is still not having fun, but Brody loves it and is about to start making snow angles
Inside with Hot chocolate, now that's a good time!
Is it fall? Look at all those leaves! Where did they come from?
Is Brody actually wearing SHORTS!?!
It's warm, the sun is shining and Tate is happy to be outside!

Really it snowed again? Brody Begged me ALL day to go out and play, he is ready to head out. I've learned my lesson with Tate though. He and I will watch Brody from inside!

The last thing I have here on my camera was Brody's big Monster Tuck weekend. Saturday Greg took Brody to see Monster Jam! He LOVED it, enough said!


Oh, and how could I not mention the start of the new season of LOST!! I am so happy it's back on the air, especially that the writers strike it over, (YEAH)! That means we will get our complete season. I've never really been that into a show before, but then again there's never been a show like this before. It is AWESOME!!!!
So that's basically been our year thus far in one post! Hope you enjoied it.

Human Tetris

I know- Where have I been lately? I'm sure you've all been checking in everyday to see what's new and.... nothing. Sorry- I've actually been spending a lot of time organizing the house. You know the kinds of things I should have done when we first moved in almost three years ago! Oh well, better late than never.
I do have a family update coming soon. I just need to download some snow pics from my camera, but until the I hope you get a laugh from these videos.

This first one is from an email I got today. I thought it would be fun to share with Valentines coming up and all. Maybe you can learn some new moves to put on your loved one.
Kissing Test


This next clip is SO funny, Seriously hilarious! Glenn sent this one. I guess it's a game show in Japan. I think it should be a new event for American Gladiators.
Here is Human Tetris

Hope you enjoy!