This is by far the hardest birthday post I have done---I mean look at you, you're SIX and in kindergarten. How can this be? I swear you were just channeling your inner Scuba Steve last week...
But yet here we are, going to sleep one last time as a 5 year old...
& waking up as a 6 year old. In years past I've taken the day off to do something special and fun with you but not this year, this year you had school & you didn't want to miss your birthday celebration day there. It also happened to be "yellow" day at school so we threw on your soccer jersey from the spring and what do you know, you were number 6 on the team---fitting.
I look at these pictures of you and I am in complete awe. Not only are you almost too big to pick up and carry to your bed but you are so damn smart too. Dad and I would love to take all the credit for that but we tip our hat to Ms. Brenda on that one!
You are still as intense as they come but we have quickly figured out its also one of your best qualities and we wouldn't change it for the world. You may get worked up about things easily but you love so deeply & truly have one of the most caring hearts.
You love being outside. It could be playing soccer, riding your bike, playing baseball, helping dad and I pick up dog poo---it doesn't matter, fresh air is a must for you and you could be outside all day long if we would let you. & we're almost there, you're almost big enough and old enough to do a few more things on your own---but not just yet so please let dad and I enjoy our time with you for a little while longer.
You still sleep in your underwear. We actually refuse to buy you pajamas as you wear them for like 5 minutes and then off they come when you jump into bed. & on those rare occasions where you don't stay in bed and come back down to "tell me one more thing", Dad and I chuckle. Here comes this 50 pound kid in his boxer briefs, puffing out his chest---oh, I have pictures and they can be used at a later date in your life so you better make sure to be nice to our momma.
Most of all, I love your greetings. It doesn't matter if I have been gone for 4 days on a business trip or if I ran to Sonic to grab a drink, the greeting is always the same. The second I walk through the door you look up from what you are doing and run as fast as you can with your arms stretched out as wide as you can. I back up in fear that you're going to take me down and at the last second you slow up just enough for me to "lift" you up. You wrap your arms and legs around me in the biggest hug ever which is followed by the sweetest, "I missed you, Mom." I won't always be able to lift you up but I promise to never stop trying as long as you never stop running to me.
Kaden wanted to look extra nice for his Grandma Sara when she arrived.
My opponent meant business.
Justin took Kaden to The K for a boys night to celebrate completing his first week of Kindergarten. The kid was on cloud 9.
After being gone and not seeing my boys for an entire week, we headed to the zoo.
Logan found the word's longest peanut while eating out with his dad, he was so proud that he asked Justin to send me a picture since I was traveling for work.
The boys at yet another Royals game.
www.harrysjoy.com
The annual Mizzou picnic at the Independence Center.
It's that time of the year again, a year older and another birthday party to plan. I feel that I am constantly planning birthdays but truth be told, I only do it twice a year and I can't even imagine what it would be like to have 3 or 4 kiddos…3 or 4 birthday parties to plan.
This year Kaden has taken an interest in magic so the theme was fairly easy to come up with but everything else didn't really fall into place until about a month out. At first we threw the idea of having it at Shawnee Mission Park and then venturing over to Theater in the Park for a showing of Strange Magic but it wasn't starting until late and I just wasn't sure it would go over as I wanted it to so I kept brainstorming.
I threw out the idea of having it at the house again but I told myself that after Logan's last party that we wouldn't be having anymore at our house. Not because I didn't want friends and family over but because I didn't want to decorate for it & I hate the clean up---it drags on for days.
Finally, I settled with a park, near our home & left it at that. Location is always the hardest part for me to figure out in fact, I already had his invitation and color theme picked out, I just needed to finalize the details. So without further ado,
Prepare to be MYSTIFIED and AMAZED...
Back to Etsy I went for the invitation. I seem to always find something that I like and if there are minor tweaks, for instance, flipping the orientation to add a picture and then changing a few words that most store owners are more than happy to help. This gem is brought to you by, 3 Little Monkeys Studio, and so are all the other printables--one stop shop this time around.
We decided that since Kaden was starting to get into magic and liked to "perform" his own magic tricks that we would hire a magician to entertain the kids but more on that later. First the set up and the birthday boy.
The shelter at this park is rather large and you can certainly rent it but at $150 for 2 hours, I just didn't see the value in it. You can use the shelter if no one else has it rented for free but you take the chance of it being rented or being busy so we threw in our picnic table and benches just in case.
It wasn't rented but there were at least 5 parties being held there so I opted to set up away from everyone else for a little more privacy & not to be mean, but we weren't hiring a magician for every random person at the park…
But back to the decorations---the magic wands were super cheap. I actually thought they were going to be smaller than what they were but was presently surprised when they arrived. Added a little tag and boom--one party favor done. Other party favors consisted of magic tricks the kids could all take home.
For this birthday I decided to go a different route for the cake and cookies---the cake was made my no other than my great friend Tiffany. Tiffany has been taking a few cake classes and she makes some of the best tasting cakes/cupcakes around and this cake was no exception. I sent her an idea and we talked about it briefly and she delivered on all counts. Plus, the fact that she made the cake made it that much more special.
I couldn't deviate away from our MoMo Roo and Shanna's amazing cake pops. These are always the biggest hit of the party and always, I mean always, the first to be devoured.
In the past I have used Icings by Ang for our cookies but here recently another friend started her own little business and I wanted to send some love her way. I've had her cookies more than once and let's just say, they're deadly, like I can't put them down!! I shared the invitation with her and we exchanged a couple ideas and I mean, seriously, how cute are these cookies?!? And as cute as they were, they were just as yummy. If you have a party to plan and looking for some yummy & cute cookies, check my friend Sarah out---High Heel Sweets.
Every picture has a wink in it now…
As our party guests arrived they played on the playground and once they burned off some energy we called them over for the main event. I wasn't sure how to go about finding a magician so I just googled Kansas City and Magician and website popped up with a number of local magicians and their websites. I checked out a few of the pages and I settled with Eric from Eric Vaughn Magic. He not only did magic but he did balloon animals too and provided some comedic relief for us adults during the show.
He started the show off with making Mr. Tinkles appear…
I really wish I would have captured this on video because I am still wondering how he made a rabbit appear with what he was working with---fire, paper, and a round cake pan with a small flat lid. Mind Blown. & Mr. Tinkles sat in his box for the rest of the show and watched just like one of the kiddos.
Eric also asked for volunteers from the kiddos, Jacob was quick to raise his hand and then fell madly in love with Mr. Tinkles.
For the very last trick, Kaden got to help---and Abby. Abby hadn't seen Kaden for a few months and was just tickled to be around him again.
After the show was over, Eric made balloons for all the kiddos, some he had to make two balloons for because they popped their first. He was so great with the kids and stayed until each kid was happy with their balloon. Would recommend him to anyone looking to add a little fun to a party.
I kind of forgot about the camera strapped around my shoulder and didn't get a single picture of the balloons, of the kids playing on the playground---except this one which was right before everyone parted ways and only has half the kids in it anyway! I thought I was doing a pretty good job documenting but the two hours flew by pretty quickly and before I knew it, it was over.
Another successful birthday party for the books. Thank you to all our friends and family who came out to celebrate Kaden's 6th birthday. It just keeps getting better and better watching this group of kiddos grow up together.
And I have already been told that next year will be a Hulk Bowling party…YAY, another Superhero party!
Ever since Kaden start pre-school in November of 2013, Logan has been begging to go as well. We've just kept telling him that when Kaden goes to Kindergarten, you will get to go to pre-school. & of course when August 13th came around and we walked Kaden into his school for his first day, Logan was asking when he got to go. & he has asked every day since. Finally his day had arrived.
And just like with Kaden, the night before we took baths, sat out his clothes for the morning, read a couple of books and we tucked him into bed. The kid was smiling ear to ear as he laid his head down on his pillow and he woke up with an even bigger grin. & some sweet, crazy little booty shaking dance. I'll have to have him re-enact it because no matter what mood one might be in, this would have made you smile ear to ear as well.
As soon as he was done with his booty shaking he jumped out of bed and got his clothes on---Logan is our slow poke when it comes to getting out the door but not this morning, he was itching to get out on the highway.
The whole way to school he kept repeating his teachers names---"Ms. Donna, Ms. Sharon and Ms. Jane. Right, Mom?" You got it down pat Logan.
We pulled up a few minutes late due to traffic---it's crazy how traffic changes once school is back in session. He jumped out of the car and was making a beeline for the door when I had to call after him to stop so I could capture one last picture before he headed through the doors at John Paul II.
As we walked through the doors we heard kiddos crying. I instantly got a little worried that he wouldn't want to go. We walked up the same stairs that we had climbed day after day when dropping Kaden off and there in the hallway was a little girl that wanted nothing to do with pre-school. Logan walked on by and through the classroom door where he ran into 3 more kids that weren't having it. I focused his attention to putting his bag up and gave him the biggest hug and kiss and walked him over to the circle to join his other classmates. He beamed at me with pride and waved goodbye and told me he would see me in a few days as I was off to the airport for a work trip.
We FaceTimed that evening and when I asked him about his day he told me that he got to see Abby. Abby went to Ms. Brenda's as well and Kaden and Lily (her older sister) went to John Paul II together last year. He was so excited that he not only knew a little boy from his baseball team but now he had another friend. & he has been smiles every day since. This kid has found his element & is loving every single minute of it. Crazy how emotional I was with Kaden but with Logan, it was so different. I think it's because we've been through it with Kaden already and he saw Kaden have so much fun and he has been patiently waiting his turn. Well that time is here and he isn't looking back.
My sister-in-law is celebrating her 40th birthday on the 30th of this month and a birthday this big deserves a BIG celebration. She's not one to like attention so a party in her honor was out, surprise party or not and a night on the town just isn't her style--which I totally get and can appreciate it. But we still needed to do something.
Our Disney cruise had just fallen through so I threw out the idea of a girls trip after having reached out and spoken with one of her good friends. We both thought it was a great idea and we had our fingers crossed that Becky would too---luckily it didn't take too much contemplating on her end, she was in.
So we planned it. It would be Becky, myself, and our MIL Janet, Becky's mom and her sister, and then a friend and her mother---seven girls were headed to Cabo.
The only thing, it was the first full week of school for Kaden and Back to School night for the parents and Colton's first full week of school too. Kim's boys were starting first and second grade so she was going to miss their first day too. However, it was the only week that would work for all of us so we bought our plane tickets, booked the rooms and started collecting swimsuits, or at least I did.
Our flight was bright and early---well not so much bright---on Saturday. Adam and Becky picked up Janet and I at our house and then we headed to Becky's mom house to pick her up. We were loaded up and ready to go and then Adam announced that there was a problem, I thought the car had broken down, we had gotten a flat or something but then he proceeded to say that he had gotten us a limo and better yet, he had mimosas for us. Well done BIL, well done.
We arrived in Cabo just before noon but we weren't able to get to our rooms so we weren't at the pool until around 4 or 5 but we made the most of our first day and we started the second day off exactly how we would be spending the next 6 days---drinks in hand.
I packed enough running clothes for all week but only managed to run twice, once around the property at Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach and then once in the gym.
The beach at the resort isn't one that you can really utilize. We went down and captured a few pictures but the waves are too strong so there is no swimming and trust me, I'm wasn't the least it upset after seeing the power and height these waves had. Although feeling the ocean on my feet felt pretty amazing and I can think of worse ways to start a Monday.
And a 40th birthday celebration at the beach wouldn't be complete without our own celebratory cups--we needed something that was pool friendly that could keep our drinks cold. If you are thinking that you need something similar check out The Shop Around The Corner 3.
We did a little shopping and visited Cabo Wabo.
We hung out all day and most of the early evenings at the pool enjoying happy hour, playing Cards Against Humanity, getting random people to dance as they walked by.
I got in some light reading, first with Paper Towns and then Stephanie loaned me Grey as she blew threw it in 3 days. It was quite the page turner and I would highly recommend it & don't tell my mom it doesn't have a single thing to do with a western, she may be disappointed.
We swam with dolphins---we had a few people in our group who were a little nervous about it but by the end of our time with Poseidon and Audrey, they were ready to do it again.
We toured the #1 golf course in the country---surprisingly, it isn't that expensive to play here either.
And we made it over to Lover's Beach or Divorce Beach or the Arch, whichever you want to call it. The beach here was a little bit calmer than at our resort but it was a LOT busier. We were headed out to the Office--which we have heard wonderful things about but was closed for two weeks so we headed next door to the Mango Deck.
We arrived at the Mango Deck just in time for a wet t-shirt contest and lots of jaws needed to be picked up off the floor. & the next thing I knew, the DJ was announcing a birthday in the house for Becky and I immediately looked at my MIL and told her Becky was going to kill her. They led Becky down right in front of the stage, gave her a piece of cake and then we all sang Happy Birthday to her & luckily, that was it. We were all a little relieved.
We had such a wonderful time celebrating Becky and all of her glorious 40 years. & as much as I enjoyed the time away with the girls--only having to worry about myself---I was so ready to get home to my boys and my hubby. Seven days was a long time without getting to see their faces or to really talk to them and to love on them. I'm not saying that I won't ever go on another girls trip but the next trip I go on will be with my boys, all three of them. Till we meet again Cabo.
