4th of July Weekend

It was our last weekend in NY

So naturally we had to have one last shopping trip to wegmans.

One - to prepare for our road trip to Ohio

Two - Buy some goodies for a weekend full of parties.

Andrew was sick at our friends' bbq.

Just wanted me to hold him. He kept asking to "go home" but we didnt want to leave, and Samantha was having a great time with her friends. My friend handed me this therapy in a glass (below) and he snapped right out of it, it was a miracle. Bouncing up and down and laughing

wa

We stayed super super late... threw the routine out the window 

Samantha stayed overnight and we left around 11 pm ... with a wide awake Andrew (hes never tired)

The next day I made these little pineapple cookies to bring to my Aunt's 4th of July party

They were so cute and even tasted just as good as they looked.

I knew since he was up till about midnight the day before, that he needed to nap.

Samantha came home and fell asleep on the couch for 3 hours, and I walked in our little village for probably the last time that day... enjoying the cute scenery and good old Main Street.

He napped and then was in a pretty good mood for the next party.

As she was spoiled last year with presents, cake and more,... the same stood for this year. 

It was so nice. 

We stayed up again till around midnight that night due to the fireworks, etc. 

Andrew's first firework experience, and he did great... as long as someone covered his ears (hehe)

We came home, and put the kids to bed, and I got to work on her little birthday table as I always do, and hung balloons from her door as usual. 

Six. 

Man did that go fast... I wonder if i'll feel the same way when she's twelve.

Six seems so big. 

Not a baby, not a toddler, not even a Kindergartner anymore.

Geesh. You cant stop time.

But I just still cant grasp that I have a child this old, and this fast.

Monster High Birthday { Sassy is 6 }

Today we had a little party for our soon to be six year old... 

Her official birthday is one week from today. But our move date is 4 days after that.. so I had her friend birthday party a little earlier this year for a good reason. 

I had done my usual prep for months.. Finding and making cute garlands and accessories, matchy matchy plates, napkins, serving trays. I could easily love staging houses and planning parties.. I love it. And even though this was the last party in this packed up chaotic house.. I spared no expense to do what I always have done at her celebrations in the past . I didnt want her to feel any different about the fact that we are moving very soon.

The treat boxes were packed and tied with hot pink tulle

Garlands, Balloons, Candy and Tables were set up.

The lovely western new york weather...*sarcasm*.... forced us to have the party INDOORS...

This was a bit of a game changer.. but we had so much fun anyways.. 

Samantha kept telling me it was "the best day ever".. so I dont think the kids cared where they were .. the party was perfect in their eyes. We had her favorite Wegmans pizza for lunch and her friends and her chatted it up and sat around the little tables and chairs we had left 

She has some of the sweetest friends.
We're gonna miss these girls.

She requested a pinata... So we browsed Party City, online stores and even Walmart .. But I couldnt stomach paying almost $30 for something that would be destroyed in 5 minutes or less.

So good ole Pinterest to the rescue.

I cut up an old box and made a 6... the hardest part was the tissue paper fringe. Just time consuming. But it was super easy. I will NEVER pay for a pinata .. its gonna be a DIY thing for me. Im excited to try new shapes and holiday pinatas..

I've never seen such a mess of candy, toys and stickers disappear faster.

The kids loved it, so thats all that really mattered.

After the Pinata .. Samantha wanted to do the cake/cupcakes.

She wanted to "save the presents for last Mama, its my favorite part"

Six. Oh boy.

She was elated. And just as it should be for my little big girl

Onto her favorite part.

I just love her face and her friend's face in this picture.

She was opening this friends' gift. I just think its so cute that her friend was just as excited as she was.

As people began to leave, each guest got a Monster High goody bag.

I chose the zebra takeout boxes to hold all the goodies, and tied hot pink tulle and pom-pom tags of course

Here is what was in each box

Homemade Raspberry Lip Gloss, Bubbles, Lipstick Pen, Monster High Stickers, Pink Lolly, Monster High Pad, and Eraser, & Pink and Black Gum Balls

The lip gloss was a diy 

I got the small containers from the Dollar Tree. 

I melted some vaseline and added pink edible dust (wilton) and raspberry drink mix 

Stirred until it turned pink. 

Then I put the mix into a ziplock bag, and snipped off one end to fill the little pots without a mess. 

I glued a monster high logo face on each one.

I made my first pinata for this party and my first tassel garland

A few new Monster High girls she got today.

I think these things are hysterical.

We had so much fun today

Silly and Sweet end to a fun day.

Celebrating Andrew George

My big guy is three

The previous post was about how I felt about having a three year old now and reminiscing this day (below)

Its a chilly day today.. 15 degrees... It was 55 when he was born. 

So needless to say he had to pretty much stay indoors today.

We arranged his gifts on the table.. and he shouted "open presents now!" which I think is the FIRST time he was all excited to open presents.. He didnt even care that much at Christmas just a few weeks ago

He got right down to business...

A new garbage/recycling truck.

He was smitten. 

Played with that thing ALL day.

He also got new diecast car set, a Cuckoo Clock (hysterical) Tractor Set from Sister, A Backyardigans DVD, and a Delta Airlines Airport set 

Sam and I headed out to get a few things for his little party later in the day.

I love setting up party stuff.

No real theme, just blues and reds and yellows, But his truck cake ended up being Orange.. so .. 

I had leftover cake and homemade buttercream, so I froze about a dozen un-dipped cake pops (just the cake and frosting rolled) and then I made a few blue ones. 

Drink station ;)

And I had made these sugar cookie "3"'s about 2 weeks ago and froze them/forgot about them till the party almost was starting. 

We ordered some pizza, and had snacks. 

My homemade salsa/chips, carrots and dip and popcorn, chips

As soon as we were done eating, we mentioned presents again, and he ran and sat down so fast.. he was ready.. he likes this "present opening" thing...

Then cake... He was so excited too.

I know I keep saying he was so excited.. but i'll just preface that he was into NONE of these things when he turned 2. I made him a huge construction cake.. he took one bite and spit it out.. And Samantha opened all his presents last year.. (which is why she looks teary-eyed here... She had to accept that he FINALLY wanted to participate in his own party)

We were laughing so hard because he kept digging his fork right into the big cake.. He poked off all 3 Oreo wheels and went to town.. He had never had an oreo until yesterday.. so we were amazed.. haha..

He sat and ate and ate and ate frosting and cake and oreos... 

He was so happy ... We were so happy.. 

The party was so much fun.

and just like that, he's 3.

I have a 5 1/2 year old and a 3 year old.. with no plans of another baby... thats kind of sad... 

But then again, we're getting into the stage when its become a LOT easier, and Im grateful for that.

But if I could just blink myself back into the hospital room with him for a few hours.. That would be okay too..

Andrew is 3

Andrew will be three years old on Saturday 1/31.

To say it has flew by is both true and untrue. 

We've had our days when we are wishing him to grow up so he passes certain stages, or can talk more, or eat more, or SLEEP for heavens sake...But there are also days lately when we look at him and say "gosh he's been so good lately"..

I recently went to a friends house for lunch and she said repeatedly. " I cant beleive how well he listens!"... I looked at her with the most puzzled face.. But he does listen pretty well. 

I think people may have boys that are like this too, but since we had easy peasy Samantha Jane, Andrew puts us in first time parent mentalities a lot of the time, because we have dealt with so many new things with him, and are still learning as we go. 

I still remember the day he was born pretty vividly.

I began to labor at home - I had no idea what this felt like either.. never had a contraction or anything with Samantha - I was induced.

Around 6pm I started feeling pains.. By 9:30pm they were coming every 5 minutes. I called the doctor .. took a shower and went back to bed, thinking it was pre-labor.. Then woke up at 1am with blasting pains coming every 2-3 minutes.. I was STILL in denial... But we called my mom and waited for her to come over while we headed to the hospital. When I got to the hospital I had dialated to a 3 already... so got me all hooked up.. I didnt last too long without drugs.. It was pretty painful and I was already exhausted. Pitocin made sure I had a LONG LONG hard labor... It was insane.. I had developed a high fever, needed oxygen, watched the sun rise and set without baby coming. I remember hearing all the babies in the other rooms crying as they were being born, and I just broke down.. Then finally it was push time. My poor little angels head was stuck for quite some time. It was probably very painful for him as it was for me. I pushed until my eyeballs felt like they would project out of my head. And finally big 8 pounder came out wailing away...and he never stopped... ahem

Anyways.. 3 years later and he is no longer colic.. at least most days.. haha

Andrew George

You are 3!

You weigh around 36-37lbs? - We need an official yet from the Dr.

You wear a size 6 diaper

You wear mostly 3T and 4T's 

You are so tall, Im sure youre in the 80-90% for height

Food:

Dont be all ready for some big list.

He is so super picky, but I do attribute some to his food allergies so he gets a partial excuse.

Pepperoni, Bacon, Homemade Jerky 

Bananas,  Apples (sometimes)

Puffs, Yogurt, Pretzels, Chips, Snacks, Oatmeal Cookies (My homemade.. I have to keep a stash in the freezer) Pumpkin Muffins (Another favorite)

Milk, Juice, Water

Its a short list.. and a daily struggle. I hope it changes some day.

Sleep:

Dont ask. Lets just say he'll be in a crib till hes 10.. just kidding.

He wakes at least once -- most times more than once.

Goes to bed around 8:45 - 7:30-8.

Naps.. sometimes they happen, sometimes they dont.. but he ONLY naps in the car or on the couch.. Crib nap days have been over since Sept 2014, and I miss them so much. BUT on the flip side.. He is probably better without one.. I get everything I need to get done, blogging, cooking, baking, cleaning, laundry.. while he's awake anyways.. He plays independently A LOT which is a huge blessing. He likes to play alone,

Likes:

Airplanes, Garbage trucks, His Kitty & Debbie (Blanky)

Daddy, Momma and Sassa

Carl (meow)

Playgroup

Ms. Nancy (his speech teacher)

Going to the store with Mama

Building with blocks 

Making Cookies

His Bottle - Thats our bad habit.. we're working on it.

MUSIC! _ Favorite song in my iphone - Taylor Swift "Shake it Off" - He knows all the words.

Doing the Dishes

Vocabulary:

He was tested (my own instinct persued)

and found a slight speech delay. So he gets speech services 2x a week for 25 min. 

Its so nice.. his teacher has become a friend also, and she can see how hard it is for us some days with his resistance. But most days he loves playing with her sitting and reading books, etc, and I truly think it has made a great difference. Its like school at home. He is speaking in sentences and has so many new words. He can finally tell us exactly what he wants.. Some things only Mama can decode.. but we're working on it. 

Dislikes:

Vegetables (ha!)

Sleeping with clothes on

Chocolate (not my child!)

His allergies: I'm certain that his sleeping is related to dust, air particles, things we try to get rid of but are just there. We do our best.. but his skin sometimes flairs up so bad that he scratches till it bleeds.

Food wise, we avoid ALL nuts pretty much that's it. The rest of the house can eat all the nuts and peanut butter we want, but not this little guy. 

He is sweet 

Kind

Loves his big sister to no end.

Waiting for the bus to come home every day is so adorable.

He wants her to play with him right away... and some times I can leave them alone and they take care of each other.. sometimes I cant leave the room... depends on the day.

We've pretty much made two clones of ourselves. 

Samantha is my mini me and Andrew is Mathew's.

So at least we know sometimes how to interpret or navigate certain things.

Its so funny how different boys and girls are, especially these two.

One thing for sure is I NEVER judge any other mothers, and I admit I have.

You never know anyone else's situation or child, or life. All of it is hard. We do the best we can with what we have. Thank you Andrew for teaching me this! ha!

Frozen 5th Birthday Party

Of course this year she chose her theme way in advance.. FROZEN was to be the theme.. as if we had any other choices...

So I started party prep way in advance like I usually do. 

I had a ton of ideas.. and I started with painting these ball jars with white acrylic paint & then spraying them with sealant.. to be either vases or silverware holders

I also started on this canvas about 2 months prior to go behind the dessert table.

They ended up being utensil holders.

And I found the teal flower plate at Michaels.. and it all just started coming together. 

Frozen mints from Party City, and Samantha picked out the cake plates and napkins from the Dollar Spot at Target a few months ago.

I kept the party food pretty simple. 

Water bottles, Mom made mimosas, and we had Frozen Blue Lemonade. 

The party was at my Mom's house, and she has a covered patio, which worked great for the dessert table, present area, etc.

The dessert table included, Marshmallows, Frosted White Animal Crackers, Gumballs (Target) and Taffy in blue and white (wegmans)

She was so excited 

She had her little Elsa inspired outfit and new necklace on .. and I sprayed her hair white.. which looked more like grey, but she LOVED it.

Another reason for having the party at Moms was her pool, which almost every kid used!

I had printed out Anna and Elsa coloring sheets, and also had wooded snowflakes with sequins and glue, so every girl made some snowflakes to take home decorated in frozen colors.

She got some adorable gifts, including a new Frozen backpack! I checked that off our school supply list! 

She had so much fun with all her little girlfriends

The cake was a homemade blue funfetti/sprinkle cake with a new bakery style buttercream recipe I found. 

The favors

 I put the favors in berry baskets I purchased from Etsy.

The favors included:

Bubble Wands

Birthday Cake M&M's

Princess Wands

Frozen Pencils

Frozen hair clips in muslin bags

and 

The necklace kit below

The littlest guest even got a party favor!

Sam and her friend Annabelle went for a swim after all the guests left 

It was such a fun party 

Then we were off to another family bash.

There are so many family members from all over that visit during the summer, and my cousin had a bbq that evening. We checked out their music room, and Sam loved playing the drums.

It was a long day.. and as I instagrammed, I started and ended the day with cake.. 

Not such a bad thing.