Boys' 3rd Birthday Party

The boys' Mickey Mouse pool party finally arrived (we moved it due to bad storms on Sunday). The weather last night was gorgeous!  It was 80 degrees and low humidity.  Couldn't have asked for better weather.  I have to admit, I didn't take any pictures!  Thankfully a few of the older kids grabbed my camera and snapped some shots.

This is the only picture I took before the party started.  I said, "Boys, smile for Mommy!"  This is Luke's funny man smile...

 A friend brought minion cupcakes from the movie Despicable Me.  So cute!  They were a hit too.

 Ella was excited to see her friend Bianca from preschool.

 Bianca and Ella

 Gabe is enamored with trash trucks.  He was so excited to open this one from Thomas and Jackie.

 Luke loves fire trucks and they boys carried their trucks everywhere; even to the playground.

 I ordered the cake over the phone and have to admit I was less than thrilled with it.  I thought it was very ummm, unattractive.  But the boys didn't notice!

 Gabe blew his candles over and over and over but was actually blowing the side of the cake.  It was hysterical.

I put the video of the boys blowing out the candles on Facebook.  For some reason it won't load to the blog.

Happy Birthday boys!

Cherry Bowl 2013

Today Lilly swam in a championship meet called Cherry Bowl. All 13 swim teams from our town compete in the all day event. 

We left in the 6 o'clock hour...

The kids hang in "Tent City" under a team tent. The older kids blast dance music and our sweet little team sings loudly for hours and hours. 

The meet kicks off with a parade. Our theme was zombies. Something about being "un-dead-feated."

It's a long day but the kids make the most of it. 

Lilly (pink cap) ready for her 25 backstroke where she swam a best time. 

I worked the clerk-of-course for half of the meet. The perks were this awesome view from my staging area. 

Lilly had a good meet (it's an honor to be invited) and walked away with a new swim bag, new practice suit, and a new cap (I'm a sucker but I secretly love it). 

Modeling her new suit...

So proud of you Lilly! You had a great swim season. 

 

 

 

 

 

Luke and Gabe Turn 3!

Our babies are 3 and as Luke tells me, "I'm not a baby I'm a BIG boy!" when I call him my "baby boy."  Wahhhh!

The boys woke up and Luke was soo excited to open his presents.  Gabe wasn't as excited but was happy to watch at first.

 By the time everything was opened the kitchen was a mess but everyone was happily playing.

 Of course Gabe liked the abacus the best.  Gabe loves all things educational.

 We're having a birthday party with friends on Sunday and the theme will be Mickey Mouse so the boys enjoyed coloring some Mickey Mouse pictures yesterday.

 Our neighbors took our chair that I took all the boys' baby pictures in so I stopped over and ran into their basement to get a 3 year shot of the boys.  They look way too grown up.  

 Thomas and Jackie stopped over to give the boys sets of golf clubs.  They love them!

 We finished the morning with some Mickey Mouse pancakes.

Lukey felt like giving a grouchy face to the camera.

 For lunch we went to Chick Fila with the Parkhills.

 For dinner we ordered pizza with friends at the pool and we took the boys cakes up for everyone to enjoy (and yes, we'll be repeating with a pool party on Sunday).  For their actual birthday, Luke wanted a fire truck cake and Gabe wanted a trash truck cake.

I wish I had video of the boys chatting after cake.  They were deeply enthralled in a conversation.

We love you so much!  We can't believe your 3 already!  I feel like you were just in my belly.  

Happy 3rd Birthday.

Baby Boys Are 3!

Personalize your own free photo slideshow

More about their birthday tomorrow...

Surprise!! 39 Years Young

Andy planned and threw me a surprise 39th birthday party and boy was I surprised!  The surprises came in waves...

...the most amazing came first!  

There was a terrible storm at 10 o'clock in the morning.  Andy was at work and I was at home telling the kids we were going to just hunker down for the day.   As the sky and house grew very dark and the wind and rain picked up, my front door flew open.  I ran to see who it was wondering who on earth would be out in this weather.  My sister Stephanie and two nieces, Brooke and Bailee were standing there saying, "SURPRISE!"  Andy was behind them all.  I was in total shock!  I didn't know what to say and was so confused!  Andy then told me that he flew them in as a surprise for my birthday.  I was floored and ecstatic.

The second surprise came a couple days later when I was working on the computer in my dining room with a swim team rep from our swim club.  She was teaching me how to use the computer data base for preparing swim meets.  Andy walked in and tossed a brochure on the keyboard and said, "Surprise."  I glanced down and couldn't process it and told him I'd talk to him when we were done.  After we finished on the computer I read the very cute invitation he had created.  I then learned that he had planned quite an extravaganza and thank GOD he told me a day early.  I needed the time to come to terms with it...

...and clean!!  Ha.

Andy did an amazing job and it was wonderful seeing many friends and I had a really nice day/night.

Andy pre-party

 The morning of my actual birthday I was at a swim meet with Lilly while Andy, Stephanie, Jackie and Thomas were hustling and bustling around the house preparing, cooking, and decorating.  When I got home Jackie told me I was going to get a pedicure.  I felt so spoiled!

 Thomas brought the balloons.

 Andy rented a huge inflatable water slide for the kids and an inflatable bouncy house.

 Steph and Ella

 Oliver and his bow tie for the party.  You can't see it well.

 Sister and nieces!

Sisters!  

We missed Sherry and the rest of the family but I know summer is busy.

Nieces

 Andy and Brian

This is the only picture where I see Lilly!  She's in the purple swim suit.  She was busy having the time of her life.

 Thank you Andy!!!  It was the best.

Oliver enjoying the kids and the slide.

 Day turned into night.  The party continued with good friends and great conversations.

 Andy's brother Bill and his very sweet girlfriend Christine.

 S'mores!

 My friend Christine showed up late after a previous commitment (and drove an hour).  It was really awesome to catch up with her.

 Grateful for my friends.  Kristen and Stephanie are a constant in my life.

 The bitter end...  When everyone left, Andy, Jackie, Thomas and I had a little fun with the camera.  So grateful for them in our life.

Thank you Andy!! I love you.