Noah and Madison's Birthday Party

We did Noah and Maddie's birthdays together this year.  That will probably be how we role from here on out.  Brock's and Megan's birthday's are 6 days apart and Noah and Maddie's are 15 days apart.  Then we are just doing 2 (family) parties a year. 

 

I had planned on throwing Noah a friend party (Brock had one when he was 4) - but Noah made it very clear that he just wanted a family party - for weeks I tried to convince him (I didn't want him to regret it the day after) - but he was certain he did not want one.  He actually only had 5 requests for his party 1)A Power Ranger cake, 2) A Power Ranger Pinata, 3)He wanted at least 10 people there 4)He wanted his second cousin Millie there and 5)He wanted Payton Bell there.  Sadly we could not make the last one happen - Payton lives in Idaho - sadly that was all Noah could really focus on - the fact that Payton couldn't come.  When people would say, "are you excited for your party?" Noah would say, "Payton can't come, he lives in Idaho".  We sent him an invitation anyways and Payton sent him a present - so he felt better.  Thanks!!

 

 

 The set up

 

Noah's cake

 

 

Maddie's cake

 

 Brock and Megan did NOT want to be left out.

 

 

Madison's presents.  I don't know how people with 7 or 8 (or 12) kids continue to buy presents for younger children.  There was not ONE thing on this earth that Madison needed or wanted that we did not already have (that she would enjoy now).  I hate buying stuff "just to buy stuff" - but that is kind of what you have to do eventually - just to make it all fair. 

 She got a few new books (most our favorite are torn), a purse, a fisher price piggy bank, and some clothes.

 

Noah got some Power Rangers (it is my kids' new thing - I actually HATE Power Rangers and can't wait for this phase to pass - I keep trying to go back to the classic super hero's I could tolerate them), and this huge castle.

 

This has been the best toy.  He loves, loves, loves it.  It is the first thing he does in the morning and the last thing before bed.  He plays for hours and hours straight.  It is perfect for his personality.  He is meticulous about where he puts his pieces and likes it all set up right.  I love watching him play with it.

 

 

Madison was not interested in blowing out the candle.  But Brock was SUPER nervous about her being that close to fire.  He held her hands down the whole time (he actually has quite a bit of anxiety over Madison and making sure she is safe)

 She did grab a handful of frosting.

 

 It took Noah about 6 blows to get all four candles. 

 

 My helpers!

 

Madison's first "junk" food.  She loved it!  She dove right in and licked it clean.  She liked the sugar more than any of my other kids.  As many of you know watching this put my stomach in knots - still.

 

Then we just talked and played

 

 

 and did the pinata.

 

Pictures - both were eating suckers - I don't know why we didn't just wait - you can't see any of their mouths. 

 

 

Happy birthday Noah and Maddie.



Gardens

I was wondering how I would react to coming home from our vacation.  I had never been away from the children (read: schedules, feeding, demands, whinning, activities, etc) since they were born, I wondered if 8 days away would remind me of what "freedom" was and if my children's demands, like eating, sleeping, and talking, would annoy me.  I was so happy to find out that our vacation did EXACTLY what it should do - refresh me.  I came home SO excited about my life and ready to just tackle every challenge.  I was now ready to be a better mom, wife, neighbor, cook, cleaner, etc.  I felt like the world was my oyster.  After I got things back to "normal" - laundry done and put away and read half a million books to Megan - I filled our week up with activities.  This one was our first.

 

Discovery Garden's at Thanksgiving Point:

 

I die for this girl - she is almost at my favorite age (14 - 18 months), she is so sweet.

I die for this girl too - but for different reasons.  She is so brave and independent and strong and she doesn't even know it.  I hope these qualities stay with her throughout her life.  In about 2 seconds she was on top of this spider-web thing.  She climbed up and down with ease - fast, not even thinking about it.  I wasn't nervous at all.  I knew she would do it; I knew she could do it.  Other mom's were nervous to see her up there - I am sure they thought I was crazy for not being nervous.  It took Brock and Noah almost twice as long to figure out how to get up there.

And she doesn't even think she is that "cool".  She is just like, 'ya, I climbed that, why wouldn't I?"  I really think I have got a good handle on how to raise her.  SOMETIMES I still get "in it" with her.  We both REALLY like to be the one in control and we will get into power struggles often, and neither one of us is going to back down.  But she knows her place and I am (starting) to know mine.  I potty trained her over Labor Day weekend.  Easiest thing I ever did.  By Saturday at noon she had it down.  A few accidents through the week, small ones that just didnt' "make it" in time.  I am saying this here because the HARDEST thing about potty training her was the power struggle.  We got "in to it" several times.  If she even feels like I am controlling her she will push back - hard.  It is hard for me because most the time I think my boys prefer when I control them or their situation (I don't think that is good - but it is what it is).  Anyways, my point is, actually I think I forgot my point.... basically she climbs really well, she knows who she is and what she wants, and we are fighting less and less.  :)

oh - did I mention we went with the Curren's?  We did, and we love them!

I am happy to say that a month after our vacation I am still feeling refreshed and invigorated towards life and my responsibilities blessings :) 

South Carolina Part 2

On Wednesday Jason and I went Kayaking, while my dad went golfing, and my mom and sister shopped. I didn't take my camera on the kayak, but we went with this really nice French family who was on a 3 week tour of the American East Coast. He took several pictures of us and told me he would email them to me when they got back to France. If he actually does I will do another post with them.

Almost all waters in this area has alligators. I knew where we were kayaking had them, I - for some reason - thought they would all just be small ones. I told our guide that I really wanted to see one. After about an our we hadn't seen one yet, I asked him how big they get anyways - he said some were 16 feet - most around 9 feet!!! Holy Crap - just kidding - I did NOT want to see one. The thought of a 16 foot alligator surfacing next to my Kayak made me squeal. I would freak out! We did end up seeing one - about 10 feet from our kayak. I think he was about 6 feet - Jason says 4. Either way, way scary and way cool.

On Thursday we went to Drayton Plantation. This pond behind us had a lot of alligators. There were about 7 watching us take this picture. But they were just little 1 foot guys (that was what I had expected on our boating trip).

This house was so cool because it has not been restored or maintained since the 1700's. We got to walk through the whole thing. It was beautiful.

Then we went to the beach again and actually swam. This time we went to Folley Beach - a little more "touristy".

My dear husband spent most the time walking up and down the beach collecting sea shells and sand dollars (at my request) to take back to our children. I could only find one sand dollar - but obviously needed three. Jason is a better "finder" than me. So he agreed to the task.

My older sister Katie, and her husband, Travis, joined us on Thursday.

 

 

 

The ocean is a little unnerving just after watching Shark Week.

My mom forgot her swimming suit - so she swam in her clothes.

Then on Friday we went and spent all morning walking downtown Charleston. This was amazing. It is so beautiful and so historic. We spent about 2 hours - just Jason and I - walking around this beautiful city. It was very romantic :)
 

My mom had my camera in her purse and I forgot to get it when we split up - so I didn't have it.  So here are just some online pictures I found.  These pictures do not do the city justice.  We actually spent about a half hour sitting on a bench swing on the end of a pier looking out at the ocean.  That may have been one of my favorite moments on the trip.

Then in the afternoon we took a 4 hour car drive to Greenville to attend the South Carolina Reception.

 

I am so mad at myself - I didn't take any pictures at the reception - it was BEAUTIFUL. Brooke's mom decorated the whole thing and it was stunning. Brooke and Michael looked adorable (I would too after a 10 day honeymoon!)

This is a picture just outside the reception



James and Vivian (my "adopted" older brother and his wife) drove up from Orlando with their two kids to be a the reception - we hadn't seen them in over a year - so it was so fun to see them and their kids.

Me, Ashley, Katie, Vivian
 

Then on Saturday we went to Brooke's parents house for some good ol' Carolina BBQ (it was amazing!) and opening presents.

Then we went to downtown Greenville to do a little site seeing and shopping. Downtown Greenville is beautiful. These falls (below) are just in the middle of it. Totally natural - just running through their downtown - so cool. 

Our whole family (minus Daniel) - sorry Dan

The Logsdon's or "Brazilians" - as we like to call them.

It was a great week.  We are so so grateful to my parents for giving us the opportunity, and for the Kunzlers for their hospitality.  Brooke comes from an amazing family - and although they are not really family to me - it feels like they are.  We are also so grateful to all the people who watched our kids - we could not have done it with out them - PLUS our kids had such a great time we didn't have to worry.  Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!