Justin's 2nd Birthday

We had Justin's 2nd birthday party last weekend at Noah's Ark, a small water park for kids. Justin has so much fun every time we go to this place, but he had the time of his life with his dad and all his buddies. They have back-to-back parties at this place, so we had to quickly set up after another party and then clean up our mess before the next one. It was so nice to come home to a clean house after the festivities were over. :-) Thanks to everyone who came out to help celebrate! Here's a bunch of my favorites from the party.

Invitation from Envied Invites

Noah's Ark plates

Pool party cupcakes: the teddy graham is "laying out" on the beach
Party favors: animal crackers and water torpedoes
Justin having the time of his life! He loves this place!


Derek & Justin playing in the water fountain

Noah steering the boat

Hooray, Justin is two

A picture with almost of all of the kids with some dads in the back helping out
The three amigos
Hilary, Shane, & Kaki
Wendi & Shannon

Jenise, Tracy, Katie, Jennifer, and a few of the kids

Heather, Leslie, & Emily
The Wilson crew: Luke, Dawn, Lily, Grace, & Gary
Hall clan: Mike, Emery, Kim, Lily, & Aubrey
Papa Snuf, Birdie, Shannon, Derek, Justin, Kaki, & Shane

Big thanks to my parents, Shane & Kaki, & Hilary for helping with all the cleanup!

Happy Birthday Justin!

Two years old, yes he is. Two years ago today that this little boy came into the world and changed our lives forever. Tried to make the day a little more exciting than the normal Sunday A.M. We went in his room singing "Happy Birthday". Picture on the left is last year's birthday. Both of his pajamas are baseball themed - that is not intentional.

We then made pancakes and bacon and sang the song again. I didn't realize he had trick candles, so we had to keep blowing them out. Notice the same drop-dead look as last year...

A much happier two-year-old!

After church we went to Chili's, for the sole purpose that I thought they would sing happy birthday to him and make a big deal of it. But no, all the waitress did was bring him his chocolate shake and leave. He only ate french fries for lunch, and then devoured the shake. Sounds like his mommy - I could live on fries and chocolate dessert for every meal.

Happy Birthday, sweet boy! You are such a joy to wake up to every morning (even if it is before 7am every day...).

'Dis Hat, Mommy

Last weekend we were getting ready for a walk, like we do every morning. I put on a hat because it had been over 48 hours since I had washed my hair. Gross, but back to my story. I put on a pink LA Dodger hat. Justin always associates Derek with the hats. So Justin decided that he wanted a hat too. We go to the large selection of hats on the back of our closet door and started going through every one of them. Justin kept pointing to "dis hat". When I finally figured out which one he wanted, it was the other pink hat with a Starburst logo. He wanted to be like mommy. So we both wore out pink hats around the neighborhood while we walked Roxy. Derek was mortified...

Sophie's Birthday

We went to Azuma's, a sushi restaurant, for Sophie's birthday this week. I actually enjoyed what I ordered! And we finished with cupcakes from RJ Goodies, thanks to Emily. It's been fun hanging out with this group of girls over the past year. We've all been slowly moving around in the same circles of town. Some I met through my brief stint in Stroller Fit and others at the park, three of our boys will be at the same Mother's Day Out program, and all six of us frequent the Y on a weekly basis. It's been such a blessing to make friends that not only have children that Justin adores but that live close by. With two buns in the oven, the group of six kiddos is about to start growing. Starting at the top L-R: Leslie, Erin, me, Sophie, Heather, & Emily.

Where's Miss Kitty?

Brooks & Barrett came over to play this week. They got the privilege of meeting the neighborhood cat. She reminds me of Hank, Nick & Wendi's old cat, in the sense that she loves to wrestle with Roxy. So "Miss Kitty", as we call her, went through a loose board in our fence. The three boys were beside themselves trying to get her to come back. Here's Brooks trying to convince her that our backyard, with 3 little boys and a hyper dog, is much better than the solitude of the neighbors' backyard.



Miss Kitty spying on the boys. They haven't noticed her yet.


There's Miss Kitty!

Would you giggle...

There is this Wiggles CD that Justin asks for at least 3 times a day. Every time we get in the car he wants to listen to Yummy Yummy. Driving me crazy, I tell you. Anyways, I showed Derek the other day how Justin knows every sounds effect on the CD and when to act out those sounds. We were both dying laughing. The Giggle Song is my favorite because Justin always pretends to be laughing when Jeff (the singer) is giggling. Sorry for the unsteadiness of the video - I think I must have been bouncing around as well until "the laugh".

Don't ask about the outfit. The shirt is from Walgreens (yes, you read that right) because Derek came home one day with it saying it was the funniest shirt ever. Never has my husband bought Justin an article of clothing. And of all places to buy it and of all shirts. He obviously has not gone to baby showers to see all the cuter "chick" shirts. And Justin is wearing a non-matching bathing suit bottom around the house. Don't ask - it was one of those afternoons...

Here, look silly like me

Chance came over today to play with Justin. He didn't realize he would have to play dress up as well. Justin grabbed these rings that went with a water splash pad that unfortunately got a hole in it a few weeks ago. He came in the house wearing them, and then decided that Chance should also wear a ring on his head.

Then Justin decided to wear them as bracelets, just like mommy. So nice that he has learned to improvise with his toys.

Bubble Bath

Justin conned me into getting some Thomas the Train bubblebath at Target the other day. So he has started his first batch of bubble baths this past week. Who doesn't love a good bubble bath? He had resorted to showers over the last month, but now he is loving the bathtub again.



His new thing is counting, "One, two, .." and he can't say three yet, so he likes for me to finish it for him before he jumps and falls. He'll do this anywhere - as you can see, the bathtub as well. In the pic he is getting some air before falling down in the bubbles.

Lily's 1st Birthday

We love our eclectic mix of neighbors. We really love the Wilsons because their son, Luke, & Justin love to play with each other. And how nice to walk 2 houses down to have a playmate. Luke's younger sister (who will be be in Justin's grade if we hold him back a year), Lily, turned one on Thursday. Since she is the third child, her mom decided to do a last minute get together for the video camera as proof that she did have a birthday party. I'm sure the more kids you have, the more similar your story is to this one.

Big sister Grace, Dawn, & Lily. Lily & Gary.



Denise & Krikor. Me & a little boy who is sticking out his tongue.


A can of Cream Soda that was bought at the 99 cent store. I loved it so much because it just looked like a white trash beer can. Justin found a cowboy hat - he looks hilarious!



Cupcakes for the birthday girl. Luke eating a chocolate one.


Sweet Lily with her cupcake. Birthday princess!

Love & Respect

All I can say is, "Read this book - it will change your marriage!" Seriously, Derek & I have both been reading this book and keep saying how this book was written just for us. It's up there with the Five Love Languages on must-reads for married couples. This book has really shown Derek & I how easy it is to get in the "crazy cycle" of petty fighting. We will read a section and point out important stuff to the other person. We loved it. Go buy it, and make your husband read it to!

All boy

It's been raining a lot here! Everyday the rain comes suddenly, stops for a bit, and comes right back. Justin had been a little under the weather himself, so we had a lot of alone time this week. 30 minutes before his nap I looked outside and saw him sticking his head in about 2 inches of rain water in our dirty little pool. I tried to find my camera, and by the time I took some pictures I realized my lens was foggy from going to a very humid outside. So the pictures are a bit hazy. He had a blast, we changed clothes, and he took a very long nap. Sometimes boys just need to get a little dirty (don't worry Wendi, the shirt is spotless!).

Winkflash

So my favorite professional photographer has a blog. I only realized this a few weeks ago. I am bummed that I never even thought about the possibility. She took our family pictures and Justin's 1 year photos that we sent on our Christmas card. I want to take pictures just like her! My buddy Tracy joked that Chubbyhand was an option for a name for me someday. That's a long ways away. So now I check out the Chubbyfoot ideas when google reader lets me know I have something new to look at. She started talking about she was using Winkflash for a cheap professional style canvas portrait. Look at her two examples here and here. I first want a daughter, then a tutu, then 4 canvases arranged like that! I love the colors and the angle of the photos. Now if I can just get a good enough photo to even put on a canvas....

Necklace

So I know a lot of friends want a necklace with their kids' names on it. I still don't know if that's my thing, but that's probably because the thought of wearing something other than my wedding ring just sounds annoying. And to think that due to the tightness of my wedding band and teh summer heat I haven't even been wearing that. Anyways, back to the point of the story. Saw this necklace on Celebrity Baby blog that you read about here. I actually like the simplicity of it, and you have to be pretty close to someone's neck to realize what the necklace is all about. That's why I like it, because of the simplicity of it.

Instead of the bella band....

Apparently there is a market for non-pregos to cover up the difference between a short shirt and a low pair of jeans. Blush is a topless undershirt that goes around your waist to make it look like you have a layered look. Don't know if I would like this or not - meaning, would it be more helpful then just wearing a tank top underneath? They have sizing for pregnant girls as well, but I think I will stick with my bella band. Anyways, thought this might be helpful for some. Read it on MomDot, a blog that sends way too much info out so I have to pick and choose what to read.

One other tidbit I read at Real Simple's Blog was Kix by Katie, a method to prevent your long jeans from getting stuck between your foot and the heel of your shoes. They are a one time wear only, which for someone like me who doesn't wash my jeans that often, I could make that last a bit longer than most. Three sets for $12. May have to try it out for all those times I wear heels these days. :-)