"Two" Wheelin' Leo!

hello, Dudes!
this is so fun!!!

cake #1--dirt bike mountain scene

So I like themed cakes, but I also like cakes that look good and if you didn't know, I'm seriously the world's worst froster! I make good tasting cakes, but they look terrible, really. So, I ordered from Costco (love them!) and decorated them myself. I was actually sort of impressed with myself, if I can toot toot away! (and Kathleen, Queen of Cakes, I expect you to be impressed too ;)

cake #2--riding through the countryside cake

incidentally cake 1 looked a little neater, but hey, I do what I can and I did include ducks!

Leo got his party started with some bubble action...he started pretty early so we thought it best to dress down so not to ruin his party outfit

adorable or what?!

I tried to get Leo to pose with Uncle Stacy and their matching bikes, but he was too busy, luckily Sophia volunteered! ;)

biker siblings

Sadly, this picture does not show my tattoo sleeve arm, what was I thinking, we should have switched sides!

biker chicks!

Leo taking Soph for a ride

She's going to ahead and take herself for a ride...atta girl!

Mr. Shelby

Aunt Cathy and the birthday boy

ready to make a wish!

okay, this was just cute...he was blowing at the cake, not exactly on the candles...Sophia eventually had to step in and help

opening presents was mostly a solo job for Mommy but he came round when he saw something he liked...balls and trucks!

Tom, Lara, Cooper and Cathy lounging after the madness

Anne and Aunt Gayle chit chat and observe the craziness

Sophia cuddles with Baby Cooper

Leo's party was a big success! We got him a Power Wheels Motorcycle, which we anticipated would be the big hit of the party. Luckily Jodie and gang let us borrow their PW Jeep so at least there were two driving options! While we're in the car Leo loves to see motorcycles, he gets so excited each time he sees one. Even when we're just playing outside if he hears a motorcycle from afar he will lift his head and look around...he's obsessed...already! ;) So, the idea for a party was born!

Our craft station was "be a biker" which included mustaches (a huge hit by the way, with everyone), decorate your own biker bandanna, and of course...tattoos!

The kids played like crazy, we had tons of food, inspired by the bar scene so the menu included chicken wings, spinach artichoke dip and fried mozzarella sticks. I had a milk bar so the kids could sample chocolate, strawberry, root beer, and banana milk, and of course, tubs of ice cold beer for the grown ups!

Leo was exhausted but clearly had a fantastic time and hasn't stopped playing with all the wonderful presents!

Surfin' Safari!

the kids worked on their fish sun catchers, they were a big hit, especially the glitter paint

love this picture of mom and daughters!

Stacy and his kids too!

blowing out her candle! Yay for ice cream cake!

I don't know what she opened in this picture but her face is priceless! She was so sweet opening all the presents she was so gracious exclaimed that whatever it was was exactly what she ever wanted...multiple times. It was very cute!

I also loved this picture b/c it is so typical of present opening with a herd of kids surrounding her...funny!

why do I even bother with the family picture?!

Grandma lounging pool side

Bama and Cody hanging out

this is the only picture I managed to get of Sophia in the pool (with Emma) and it's still not very good! It was hard to capture water scenes :( because all the kids were having such a splashing good time!

Leo talked Daddy into shooting hoops...good thing Daddy is so strong!

Sophia's party was splashtacular! She's been really into "surfing" for a while now, I'm guessing it stems from her favorite Barbie movies and for a while she was insistent on getting an actual surf board for her present, but luckily I finally talked her out of that. She settled for a Dora kick board which she then used similarly to a surfboard and we were both happy with that, especially for $7.99 ;). We had her party at the Matt Ross Community Center, a place we frequent, and they have a great pool. We had 12 kids, including Sophia and Leo, which I thought was a good number. Thankfully I had many parent and family helpers otherwise I would have been a nervous wreck with all the paint and frosting and drinks and everything else! ;) For our crafts we painted fish sun catchers and then did a beach sticker scene, plus of course we had cake and opened presents. Then we all got to swim, swim, swim! It was hard to socialize in the pool, and hard to get pics, but fun was had by all, and that really is the most important thing! She is enjoying all her presents and loves to play with them each day. It's so hard to believe she's 4, she really is growing up so fast!

Sophia Turns 4!!!

ooooooh, what is it?!

Big Girl in her Booster Seat!!!

a little coordination makes a happy birthday!

So I haven't really had time to sort through the party pics, but I thought I'd at least throw up a few snapshots. Sophia had a great day! She was so excited to turn 4 and was just so precious all day long! I asked her to come downstairs and let Walter out shortly after she got out of bed so she would discover her stack of presents! We came down and she tore into them. Her big present was a flower/butterfly booster seat, something she has been excited about! Then we got her a Dora kick board (begged for this item!) and a personalized beach towel. Leo picked out a nice set of Tinkerbell silverware and some gel pens for her. She loved each gift and was anxious to take her kick board and towel to her party. First we had church, where b/c I opened my fat mouth about something I am now teaching Sunday School. (luckily I co-teach with a super awesome lady and we think a lot alike!)After church and our first Sunday School class we headed home to change into our suits and head to the party!

Sophia had a Surfing Safari party at Matt Ross...pictures to come soon! All the kids had a great time and then we finished up her day at Red Robin, one of her favorite places! She really goes there for the balloons and the french fries (endless baskets of fries, for those of you unfamiliar) and wouldn't you know it, their helium tank was out so no balloons. :( There was a minor meltdown but the french fries cheered her right up! ;)

Right now I'm still in party mode getting ready for Leo's big shindig. I've had a hectic week so I'm just hoping everything will come together before Saturday!

Big Boy!

I think this picture says it all, really. Leo has been more interested in sitting in "big" chairs and a few days this week for lunch he wouldn't allow me to put him in his high chair, so I decided I'd dig out the booster and see if he liked it...I'd say that's a resounding YES! :) So far he's already gotten more use out of it than Sophia I think! She sat it in it for a day or two and then said she was done with it. I think he likes being boosted up towards the table and I like it too, it makes him more stable than just sitting on his knees.

In other news he had his first play date this week too! Yipee! We know a little boy who was born just a month before Leo and it's apparently taken us 2 years to get them together! While Sophia was in school Wednesday morning we headed to their house and Leo and Alexander played together so well! I didn't bring my camera, which is so unlike me, but I'll have to get some pictures next time. I also befriended a neighbor walking down my street yesterday whose son turned 2 two weeks ago. They live a street away and we've chatted only once before. Turns out her son doesn't have many boy friends either so we exchanged numbers for future play time! I'm really excited for Leo. I did worry (surprise?!) that it would take forever to find friends of his own. He likes to play with Sophia's friends and of course Francesca and Adeline are near his age, but they have a while to go before they all will really interact. Plus, I'm proud of myself for branching out and asking for someone's number. I can be shy, which I know some of you will balk at, but it's true!

Finally, even after only a few speech therapy sessions, Leo is really increasing his talking. We have tried to introduce more signs as well, but he's getting clearer and using more words. In the car just the other day he eagerly announced...I'm going to be 2!!! I was astonished and pleased! Go, Leo! We're still working on it, but so far so good!

Leo's First Day

He just did not want to actually put the backpack on! It was a little bit big, but still!
he got right to work on the bead maze with Miss Carolyn

after school we celebrated this milestone with a little Dairy Queen

Leo ate his Dilly Bar, but...

...he preferred Bama's Nutter Butter blizzard!

Cheese!!

Leo did great on his first day! He didn't cry and had a great time! There are only 6 kids in his class, which I love! People don't like Mondays because they have so many days off and although that annoys me too, I'd rather him have a small class size and miss a few days than have more kids. Both his teachers had Sophia so I know them and at least she charmed them so much with her sweetness that I'm hoping that will win me more slack with Leo's rambunctiousness! ;)

Celebrating Baby!

My dear friend, Jodie, had Baby Adeline on the 31st so Julie and I threw her a 'Welcome Baby' shower. She had gestational diabetes and wasn't feeling too hot throughout her pregnancy so we wanted to wait until she could have her cake and eat it too! ;)
This was a few days before the shower and my actual first meeting of Miss Adeline. The kids and I had some sickness going so we didn't make it to the hospital.

sweet baby looks like Mama

Leo was all about trying to get to her and cuddle her!

Renaissance Festival

Leo trying out the dragon bridge

If only I were a little bit taller...

riding the swings...Leo is on the right, Sophia the left. It is powered by nice teenage boys and the kids loved it!

rose arm painting*

Sophia morphed into a beautiful fairy

Leo getting friendly with the sheep

he never met a cheesecake he didn't like...even one covered in chocolate and skewered on a stick

this one chose a gigantic ice cream cookie sandwich, I may have been more persuasive with this choice

* first off I'd like to officially declare my disgust for face painting. Of course my kid loves it and seeks it out at every event like a moth to a flame. My issue is that although this "new" style of face painting is cool, it takes way too long and costs way too much. We waited at least 30 minutes to then pay $10 to a woman who was totally bitchy and kept telling my 3 y/o to sit still or her flowers would look like a dead dog on the road. Really, lady? I would think with 90% of your clientele being 12 and under you'd be a little fucking nicer!

Anyway, on a lighter note, we enjoyed the Renaissance Festival over Labor Day weekend. We felt a little rushed with nap time imminent but we saw (and ate) as much as we could. Leo really enjoyed the jousting and Sophia was thrilled to pick out some fairy wings that she'll also be using at Halloween. Charlie and I wished we could go back and have some time to ourselves to watch the shows and have a beer, but alas, probably not this season! Going to the Festival always brings back such fond memories of my dad that I hope we continue to go year after year.

Since it was such a beautiful day we ended the evening by dining on the deck. It has been many, many weeks since that happened last and it was so fun! Here's a few pics...

Sophia and Leo love having their own table...too bad it's a perfect Walter height!

this boy does love his mac and cheese

snuggles!!!