Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Party in the Kingdom


The weekend following the boys birthday we invited family over to celebrate and eat cake!  The boys were so excited knowing their big cousins were coming to play, as well as the Thomas gang.  The boys are obsessed with Ella and wish she could live here with us.  AJ even offered her his bed and he'd sleep on the floor.  What a kid.

Back to the kings birthday....we needed a kid kingdom!  Keith brought home a GINORMOUS cardboard box from work, and sacrificed his rearview mirror to do so.  About 3 feet stuck out of the jeep in the massive snow storm, so it had to be cut down big time, which was perfect anyways so we could peek over the top.  Coloring the kingdom was a kid jackpot, and although I planned other crafts with the kids (origami crowns for the boys and flower crowns for the girls) we never did get around to it.  I have a massive sticker collection from college scrapbooking days, and I'm so happy they got put to good use!

The boys and their Ella.  Wearing the one flower crown I fashioned before the party.
I desperately tried to find a cake topper fit for a king, but finally settled on zootopia figurines.  Little Judy Hopps has spent only a few daily minutes apart from Kaleb, he loves her so dearly!  Kman stared and stared at his little cake, wanting to eat it and have Hopps so badly.  It's tough being four-years-old and having mama tell you "please be patient, we need to wait."  So many thank you's to all who helped make this party so special for the boys.  We appreciate you all and send lots of love!


 

Monday, December 12, 2016

Kings

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY FOURTH BIRTHDAY KALEB JESSE!!!
HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY FOURTH BIRTHDAY AIDEN JAKE!!!!


This entire year King Kaleb and King Aiden will grow, learn, shine and wear a crown upon their head!!  Incase you've never heard of a Kings birthday, or Queens birthday, it is when you reach the exact age as the day of your birth.  Kaleb and Aiden are FOUR folks, born on December 4th 2012.  Yikes, four seems SO old!


The weekend of their birthday we were so lucky to be entertaining company at home and spent a wonderful day at Gigi and PopPops to celebrate a late Thanksgiving, early Christmas.  This was the second year the boys were fortunate enough to wake up and see their Bma, which is present enough!!!  



After plenty of hours catching up on WestWorld everyone set up a fun morning surprise for the kings.  Sweet Kaleb asked for a Zamboni, which came sitting on a playmobile hockey rink from Bma, complete with stick shooting players and brave goaltenders.  Aiden, also known as driver of trailers, asked for a "little tiny little trailer" that he could connect to his hot wheels red mac truck.  Give Aiden a stuffed animal and he'll affix a hitch to pull a trailer.  A fun window sill set up of all his trailer pulling vehicles put such a smile on his face.  These boys are so full of joy.



Birthday week continued with a day around town, lunch at the fantastic local coffee/chocolate shop, supply run to home depot and a visit to the nature reservation where a real life size game of candy land led us on a wild adventure!!!!!  We had a wonderful visit with my girlfriend Kristen, her mom and little Zoe, my pseudo daughter.  My heart bursts with happiness seeing her in person, and I almost cried when she held her arms out to me and gave me a REAL hug.  And, even though I didn't do a 3rd birthday balloon bath photo, the boys nailed it as wild kings this year.



So much love to everyone who sent birthday wishes, hugs and kisses to Kaleb and Aiden.  If you talked to them on the fourth, and asked about their special day, I bet they told you I made them apple granola crisp for breakfast.  HAHA.  This weekend concluded birthday week with a friends and family party at home.....which I will share soon!!!

Sunday, December 11, 2016

Belated Thankful Post


Truly it's never too late to be thankful, yet this Thanksgiving post is finding it's way to the blog 2.5 weeks behind.

The boys and I shared a wonderful visit back home in Pittsburgh and thinking about dinner is making me wish I had a giant turkey leg once more!  Every year I'm fortunate enough to share my Dad's kitchen with my sister Julia, who is a fantastic chef.  Playing sous works fine for me, and boy did I miss her this year!  We facetimed for kitchen hello's and help when I needed pie advice from the master!  

Dinner was beautiful, tasty, Aiden entertained family with his thoughts on politics and we are still, so, so thankful.

Uncle Dennis let the boys believe all the deserts were especially for them, Aunt Nan got to read bedtime stories and the boys new bowties from Aunt Jules made them extra stylish! 




Later that weekend the family joined once more to celebrate the beautiful life of Grandma Muriel.  We had a special unveiling ceremony at the cemetery, then spent the day sharing stories, dressing in her stupendous hat collection and feeling her love all around.



We are still in birthday mode over here.  Kaleb and Aiden are now four-year-olds.  Many thanks to all friends and family who helped us celebrate today!  I'll put up another post pronto.  Promise!!