may 13, 2012

Eric and I both turned 33 this week.  Last weekend we celebrated by sending the boys off to the grandparents and enjoyed a low-key, relaxing weekend.

We also ate dinner at P.F. Changs.  It was delicious, as always.

We also went to see The Five-Year Engagement.  We caught up on The Killing.  We went to The Parade of Homes.  And we slept in. (cue the angels singing!)

This weekend we celebrated Mother's Day.  Charlie gave me a drawing that he made of me.

Cannon gave me a card that he made at preschool and then was disappointed that there wasn't much in this holiday for him.

We had cupcakes.  Unfortunately, they look better than they tasted.

But most importantly, we celebrated another year of this life.  Another year together.  Another year blessed beyond measure.

march 7, 2012

Happy Birthday to a very special Grandpa!  We love you!

january 7, 2012

Happy Birthday Charlie!  I know every mom says it, but how is it possible that you are already another year older?  Today you turned seven.  So crazy. 

You have been talking about your birthday for months.  Especially since you have become such great friends with Abe at school.  You just couldn't wait to invite him to your big day.  We played games and ate hotdogs at Wahooz and then later had dinner and cake with all the grandparents.  I couldn't stop smiling as I watched you play with your new little buddy.  He is such a great kid and I love that you have found someone that is so much like you.  You guys get each other and that is so awesome.

Happy birthday dude.  You are the coolest seven year old I know.

Cannon is 3!

I had big plans for a monster themed third birthday party for Cannon, but with my dad's surgery and all that has been going on with that, time just got away from me.  Luckily, he really had no idea that the day was coming and was happy with how the day turned out anyway.

The weather was beautiful on Saturday so we thought it would be the perfect time to make a trip to the pumpkin patch.

 Charlie thinks corn angels are much more fun than snow angels.

Charlie wasn't very interested in picking his own pumpkin.  They were either too big or too dirty and he gave up pretty quickly.  Cannon of course was the complete opposite.  He was totally into it and was trying to pick up pumpkins bigger than him.  

We had the grandparents over for dinner and to do presents and cake.  The only thing I had put together for the party was the cake.  I copied it directly from this one.  I had the bottom made at a local bakery and then I made the cake pop eyeballs.

Cannon and GG had spent some time in the morning playing funny birthday songs on YouTube and he seemed to catch on pretty quickly that it was his special day. He was loving it.  He spent most of the day singing "Happy Birthday to MeeeeEEEeee" songs and once he saw the candles lit on the cake he was yelling "Birthday song! Birthday song!"

Happy Birthday Cannon!  We love you, dude.

By the way, this was my first time making cake pops.  My review:  a lot of work and way too sweet.  I don't think I will be making them again anytime soon.  Too bad because they are so stickin' cute.

six!!!...

A special little boy in the Smith household turned six this weekend. We have spent the last few days celebrating him and all the amazing things he brings to our family. I don't remember being as reminiscent of his actual birthday in the past as I was this year. Throughout the weekend, I noticed I kept thinking about that day that he was born. It was the scariest day of my life. I had never felt so helpless and terrified. But it was also one of the most wonderful. Six years ago, this little boy made me a mama.
The boys got gift cards to Build-A-Bear so we started the day there. Neither of them have really been into stuffed animals (or plushes, as Charlie calls them) so we have never thought to take them there. They really liked it. They were quick to decide on their animal. Charlie picked the monkey and Cannon picked the panda bear.
Cannon holding his panda's heart and making a wish. You can see he was very serious about this.

Charlie didn't like the noise the stuffing machine made.

Making sure his panda was filled just right.

Naming their new friends. Charlie had already decided right away that his monkey would be named Monkey Man. Cannon had no idea so we came up with Pongo.

Charlie had gotten a kid's meal coupon for Rainforest Cafe from school and decided that is where he wanted to celebrate his birthday.

Another failed attempt at a group shot.

Cannon loved when the little show would come on. The lights would flash and there were rumbling noises.

They sang happy birthday and Charlie got a birthday sundae. We were lucky enough to have our friend's Heidi, Tanner and Chloe at dinner with us, but of course I forgot to get pictures of them. So typical.

Then we headed home for cake and presents. We didn't really have a party theme going on so we went with the good ol' standby for the cake. Charlie can always use a little Spongebob.

It was a very, very good day.

cannon is two.....

Since I figured Cannon may have an opinion on what kind of party he wants next year, I took advantage of being able to choose this year and I picked an owl theme. It was a very small party so I didn't really have to do much, but it was fun to put together a few fun details for the day.

I started with some invitations. Luckily, I only had to make a handful of these, so I added a lot of stitching and detail.

Then I made a plush version of the owl to put into the cake. We decided to go with a Nothing Bundt Cake again. They are just so GOOD.
Banner and balloons. The ballons were the biggest hit of all with Cannon. He was not happy that they were tied to his highchair so I had to take a few off for him to play with. He calls them "noons".
The little goodie bags I made for the guests. I made each of the boys a t-shirt using a freezer paper stencil and some bleach using this tutorial. They all turned out different and the boys loved them. The bag also included a toy skeleton and a sucker/crazy tooth toy thing.
I didn't really get any good cake photos. Bummer. The light in our dining area is pretty poor and it was dark outside by the time we did the cake, so I was forced to use the flash. Charlie got a little excited and blew out the candles before Cannon had a chance to, but I don't think Cannon even knew that he was supposed to blow them out anyway.

The boys were very helpful to Cannon with the present unwrapping. They were all unwrapped in no time. Even though the toys were much too young for the bigger boys I think they were so excited with just the thought of new toys that they wanted to play with them as much as Cannon did.
He LOVES music so he thought this toy was pretty cool.
Getting his groove on.
It was fun to see Cannon enjoy the day. I am not sure he really understood what was going on, but he was happy that there were balloons, cake and presents so I would say it was a success.

He played with the older boys the whole time and I am pretty sure he thinks he is 4 or 5 too. He has really grown up these past few weeks and I definitely see a little boy nowadays. No more babies in this house!