Best Birthday Party Ever

Sawyer had her Hannah Montana birthday party this weekend. And according to a number of the party goers, it was the best birthday party they had ever been too.

What made it so over the top? Well, to start off the girls played musical chairs (to Hannah Montana, of course) in order to determine their seat at the table. Once they took a seat, they had a painted jewelry box sitting in front of them that they needed to decorate. We had jewels, puffy princess stickers, glitter glue and letters so they could personalize their own box.

I have never been to a kids birthday party, where they were so quiet. The girls were so into decorating that there was very little talking. It was kind of funny. Once they finished with their jewelry boxes, they moved onto making bracelets. I had bought a kit that had 1200 beads in it...and the girls had so many choices, they loved it.

They played Hannah Montana BINGO, and I was shocked how much fun they had doing it. Everyone seems to love BINGO...especially when I set it up to make sure each girl won. They won their goodie bags...since they needed them to put the candy they gathered from the pinata.

To be honest, I was very disappointed in the pinata, since it fell to the ground after the first whack it took...but the girls just destroyed it and scooped up all the candy...and never complained.

The girls did get to dance to Hannah Montana between activities, and that seemed to keep them happy.

Sawyer had a great 7th birthday party, and I was so happy with how it all turned out that I was still smiling after it was all over. The only issue I have with it now is....how do I top it next year????

Happy 1st Birthday Reed!

Reed had a fabulous 1st Birthday.
He had cake not only for lunch, but also for dinner.

Dad came home from work just to be able to watch Reed enjoy his birthay cake.

After a tentative start...Reed dove right in.

And then later...we went to Grandma and Grandpa's house and he got to try his cake again!
He was in heaven!

How much better does it get???

One Year

It's been 12 months and Reed has shown me that as much as I dread getting up before 7am every day, as much as I long for extended naps, a clean house, an afternoon to myself, a dinner I can make without interruption...I am willing to give it all up for just one of his gappy tooth smiles, followed by his infectious laughter. I am by far his most favorite person in the whole wide world...and it's wonderful to be loved by such a darling little boy. A little boy with the most amazing blue eyes.

I had Sawyer and I felt like my life was complete. Every woman deserves to have a daughter. It's so wonderful to have a little girl to dress up, play with and share all the girly stuff with.

But Reed has changed my mind. My life was not complete. Life is not complete until you are loved so unconditionally that even if you are the one to bump his head into something...he wants you to take care of it. When your little boy walks up to you and gives you a big, drooly, open mouth kiss...it makes your day. Having a little boy is so much different than having a little girl...and I am so glad I didn't miss out on it.

This month has been fun. Reed has been trying to label things, and his names for some items are priceless. A car is a rmmm...rmmmm. His way of getting Sawyer's attention has now become a yell. When he wants her...he just gives a yell in her direction.

I am now Mama, or Mom...depending on his mood. And when he wants more food...he says mmmm and then laughs. Thank goodness I'm always around to translate his new language.

Any thing with wheels has to be pushed around. It's been so nice to have him push a car around, while Sawyer and I play dolls, because he's entertained and not messing up our game.

Reed loves to play with hair...but then just as quickly likes to pull it. We can't seem to figure out how to get him to stop...since he seems to think it's soooooo funny.

Having Reed has been so wonderful. We couldn't have asked for a better baby.

Happy 7th Birthday Sawyer!

Today was Sawyer's 7th birthday. She started off the morning by opening her new pink Nintendo DSi. She was so excited to be able to have the DSi in pink, rather than blue. She quickly started playing with the built in camera and the voice recorder. It's a great little machine, and I look forward to many quiet hours of enjoyment!!!

At school we were able to bring in cupcakes and stayed as the class prayed and sang to Sawyer. She has the cutest teachers. They are so wonderful.

We had a family birthday party in the evening. Sawyer ordered up pizza and cake.

We enjoyed watching her open her mounds of presents and it was especially funny when Lauren pointed out that she was opening a present that had panties in it....

and eveyone could see her panties!!!

Earlier in the week Sawyer went to Red Robin (her favorite) and they sang the birthday song to her...as she stood up tall on a chair. She loved it...almost as much as she loved eating the ice cream sundae.

First Day of First Grade

Sawyer is officially a First Grader at Riviera.

My little tiny 6 year old is now at school all day.

Her favorite part of school, besides recess, lunch and then the other recess?

She loves reading. What a good girl!

The Great Wolf

During the last few days of summer vacation, we went to The Great Wolf Lodge. It was fantastic! What an amazing water park. We have been reluctant to go up there, because who wants to go to an indoor water park. Being outside is part of the fun. My children and I love love love love love summer, and the warm sun and swimming outside. But, there is something to be said about not having to worry about the sun beating down on your children, and reapplying sunscreen, and needing to find shade.

Sawyer was in heaven. She couldn't get enough of the wave pool, the huge slides, the tubes, the dumping buckets. It was a dream come true. She never wanted it to end.

Sawyer has always been my water baby. She's just been drawn to the water, so I shouldn't have been so surprised when Reed didn't want to leave the water park. He actually kept playing until we made him go back to the room. And this is not a very tame water park. You are going to get soaked...even in the baby area. Fountains are going off, water is shooting out of flowers and the "roof" of the toys leaks. Reed was never fazed by the surprise of water shooting at him, in fact he kept pointing to the big kids area. Since he is stable while he walks...he just kept walking up to the big kids slides. He was ready to slide down. The lifeguards all loved him, since he kept waving at them and then showing them how he could blow bubbles...without me holding on. He has no fear. When he did suck down water and choke (which happened a lot), he never once cried. He just stood up, looked around and kept going. Can't wait to get him in swim lessons.

Cookie Monster

So Reed has become my little cookie monster.

Any cookie, any flavor, in any container...he wants it!!

He's figured out how to turn lids...

He's figured out how to open baggies...

Oh boy!!!

A Walk in the Park

We've been enjoying Sawyer's skills as a bike rider...and have been exploring the great bike trails around Salem. Reed, usually being my very content baby, decided he wanted to get out on one particular walk. We let him push his own stroller for awhile. We decided if he wasn't going to ride in it, we might as well let him push it. But he quickly realized that pushing the stroller meant going slower...so he raced to catch up with Sawyer.

And being the wonderful big sister that she is...she waited for him.

Snake in the Grass

While filling the kids pool, I had to run back inside to get something. I carried Reed back to the house, and as I rounded the tree, I thought I stepped on the hose....but it moved. I looked down to see a snake trying to get away...and wrapping itself around my other foot. I did what came naturally....I screamed!!! Thank god I also had the presence of mind to keep holding onto the baby. The neighbors dogs tried to jump the fence to come save me...Sawyer ran out of the house, as I was running back in. It was a heart pounding experience.

Sawyer went to find the snake, take pictures, and mess with it. I have no idea whose daughter she is, but she couldn't possibly be related to me!

Once the pool was filled...the babies still wanted to go play in it...I, of course, was out there in my boots!!!