Ryan's 4th Birthday

 

Ryan's actual birthday was on Saturday.  I woke him up singing happy birthday to him. He sprung out of bed ready for his construction party that day.

We started the morning off right with birthday doughnuts.  Of course we had to have Ryan's favorite - chocolate glazed doughnuts.  

Second time singing happy birthday to him.  

Someone else enjoyed his chocolate doughnut!  Love this picture of this sweet sugar bear.  

After breakfast we surprised Ryan with his new big boy bike.  He calls it his birthday bike!  He was pretty excited.  We went right outside to try it out.  We don't have a helmet yet but will have one soon.  

Friday night we took the boys to Dewey's pizza to celebrate Ryan's birthday.  Ryan told us his favorite food is pizza.  I think it might really be ice cream.  He never passes up ice cream.  

Speaking of ice cream we took them to get frozen yogurt after pizza.  It was great and we all loved it.  

Saturday we took the boys to the pool in the morning.  It was beautiful and warm and we had to get out of the house so the boys wouldn't destroy everything before the birthday party that afternoon.  It was somewhat overcast so we didn't stay very long, had lunch then headed home.

Why does he look ten years old in this picture???  

Ryan had a wonderful birthday and I hope one he will remember for a long time.  He is growing up so fast and doing new things all the time!  I love this age!   Love him so much and couldn't imagine life without him.  We love him to the moon and back!

Ryan and Colton's Construction Birthday Party

 We celebrated Ryan and Coltons' birthdays yesterday with a fun and fabulous construction birthday party!  The boys had the best time with their friends.  The played so hard and just had the best time!  It was a wonderful day and I wouldn't have changed a thing.

The food table!  I loved doing all the little details of everything from the signs for he food to the cookies and the cake.  Everything turned out great and we had a pretty good spread. 

Another view of the table.

We rented a bounce house for the kiddos.  Initially I wanted to buy one so we could use it again but it would have been much smaller than this one and definitely not as fun.  Totally glad we rented it and didn't have to bother with set up or tear down.  Worth every penny!  The kids LOVED it and played so hard. 

Of course I made the cookies!  These turned out so cute!  

I made the cake as well.  Took different ideas from pinterest and my friend Kim's adorable construction party she threw last year for her boys!

Dump truck cookies for favors.

My friends Krissy, Anissa and Ruth

Ryan enjoying his party.  

Only picture I got with Ryan all day!  So bummed we didn't get a picture of the four of us!

The boys LOVED the bounce house!  Colton might have been in there more than Ryan.  I think he thought he was turning four yesterday!  He loved playing with all the big kids but he also had his friends there too!

Monica with Noah and Claudette with her boys Noah and Chase.

Sweet and sweaty little boy!

Our neighbors down the street Josh and Jake!

The sand box was seriously a bigger hit than I imagined.  The kids loved it and were constantly playing in it.  I would look over and there was always 4-6 kids playing.

Friends Joel, Lindsay and Scott.

We had a tent set up with drinks underneath and blankets set out for people to grab some food and picnic.  

Singing happy birthday to my sweet boys!  

The boys and kids loved the cake!  Sweet Lauren pictured on the right asked "is that real dirt on the cake?"  Can you tell they had fun?  They were all a sweaty and hot mess.  

It was a wonderful party and I wouldn't have changed a thing...just gotten a picture of the four of us.  It was so fun and everyone had a blast!  

Cannot believe my boys are four and almost two.  Where did the time go?  They are growing so fast and turning in to little boys before our eyes!

Cookie Dough Dip

Three words - Cookie Dough Dip!  

It's simply amazing and the most addictive dessert i've ever tasted!  And the toffee bits!!!!  I made this back in January for a super bowl party and I'm planning to make it this weekend for the boys birthday party!  It's so good and super easy!   I found this recipe on addapinch.com

Cookie Dough Dip

1-8oz package of cream cheese

1/2 cup butter

1 cup powdered sugar

2 Tablespoons brown sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla

1 cup chocolate chips

1 cup of Toffee Bits  

Directions:

1.  Cream together cream cheese and butter

2.  Add all remaining ingredients and mix until well combined

3.  Serve with chocolate graham crackers, regular graham crackers, apple wedges

It's so so good and one you will love.  

Our Day

 

We have had a really fun day today!  Ryan is doing camp this week.  He LOVES it and talks about camp first thing every morning.  He has a couple friends from preschool at camp so he's enjoying being reunited with some buddies.  

Our routine has been to drop Ryan off at 9 then Colton and I head to the gym.  Today I needed to go to the grocery store after we picked up Ryan.  I packed a lunch for Colton and we had a little picnic in the car before picking Ryan up.  

After naps we headed to a park where is was CFA family fun night.  It was full of free CFA, bounce houses and free ice cream.  What else is better on a summer night!  The boys had a blast!

Of course the boys loved their CFA chicken sandwiches.  

They got to play with some sidewalk chalk.  

And a summer night would not be complete without some ice cream!  They were a hot mess by the end but they had a blast!  Totally worth it!!

Who Am I?

Over on Kelly's Korner today she is talking about what surprised you about motherhood.  I started thinking about that question.  There are so  many things that surprised be after I became a mom.  

I was surprised at how hard it would be to do simple tasks like make dinner or run to the store when I forgot an ingredient for dinner.  I was surprised at how little free time or me time I actually have.  Even though I love spending time with my kids, the time I spend alone is little. 

Being a wife and mom is a hard job!  It's easy to lose yourself and forget who you really are!  You get wrapped in your day to day responsibilities and you forget.  When you become a mom you quickly become everything to every one.  You are the care giver, cook, maid, referee, encourager, listener, problem solver, cleaner, taxi driver and the list goes on.  

I love the song by Matthew West titled "Hello, my name is"

The lyrics are:  Hello my name is Child of the One true King

I've been saved, I've been changed and I have been set free

"Amazing Grace" is the song I sing 

What love the Father has lavished on us

That we should be called his children

I am a child of the one true King.

(C Bear eating ice cream and watching me eat an ice cream cone)

It is so important to remember I am a child of God first and foremost.  That's my identity!  Everything else falls behind that.Not wife, not mom, not daughter, not friend but I belong to God.  When I take time and remember I am a child of God, all my other responsibilities in life get easier.  I have to work on keeping Him first and not my priorities.  It's definitely a work in progress.

TGIF

This morning I took the boys to have their 2 and 4 year pictures done.  I would normally wait until July after the craziness of their birthdays settle down, but last year it was SO hot in July.  I decided we would do their pictures now then in the fall we will do family pictures.  

I always get nervous when we do pictures because you never know how they are going to act and if there are going to be meltdowns.  The boys did AMAZING!  Probably our best shoot ever.  I cannot wait to see the proofs from Amy.  I meant to take some iphone pics but I was totally distracted trying to get them to smile.  Oh well!

 We met up with my friend Anissa, Elizabeth, Quinn and baby Caitlyn.  The kids had a great time and Anissa and I enjoyed catching up.  

So I broke my word and we decided to take the boys to a mexican restaurant last night.  I thought the chips and salsa would keep them happy and occupied.  I am glad to report it was a great dinner and we all enjoyed it.  The boys ate pretty well and Matt and I enjoyed a margarita.  It was a good Friday and great start to the weekend!

Pool Time

Today was our first pool day of the summer!  This morning I thought it was going to be too chilly and I was prepared to tell the boys we wouldn't be going to the pool. I went to get Ryan and the first thing he said was "were going to the pool, yay"!  How could I deny a little boy of some pool fun.  So I told him we would go but the water was probably going to be cold.  

I did my 9:45 CRT class and took a shower afterwards then got the boys and headed outside.  (Our gym has an amazing outdoor pool).  We changed and slathered on some sunscreen and hit the water.  It was surprisingly warm.  I was pleasantly shocked.  Ryan took off playing in the water and was so brave.  Colton on the other hand was very timid.  

The pool has a zero grade entry and we stayed in the shallow end.  Colton eventually warmed up and loved playing in the water!  He even made friends with this sweet little girl and they spoke jibber jabber to each other.  

Ryan was so brave and had so much confidence in the water.  He was like a fish!  Of course I was right there with him the whole time.  He jumped off the side and doggie paddled a ton.  He is going to be a great little swimmer.  Colton had a blast too!  It's going to be a great summer!