Charley's 8th birthday party

On October 25, 2012, our Charley turned 8.

Our tradition has been that every other year he gets to have a kid friend birthday party.  This tradition started in Kindergarten.  He had pondered ideas for an entire year...but, when I excitedly suggested a Halloween themed birthday party, once in his life, he grabbed on.  Within minutes I had him committed and told him the plans were rolling so he couldn't change his mind.  

I knew I could come up with at home fun for a Halloween party...but a Ninja party...not so much. 

Some of his initial food requests were...a salad bar or a sandwich bar.   But we convinced him hot dogs would go over better and would be way easier.  But I love that our boy loves salad bars and making his own sandwiches.  

So here is the run down on his party.  

My blog is also my children's baby books...so, I apologize if sometimes it comes across that way. 

Charley, as your friends arrived (some in costumes and some not) they were invited to decorate a treat bag and a cupcake (that they would eat later).  

We had cupcake trays filled with all sorts of different candies...

(skittles, M&Ms, gummy worms, dots, skittles, sprees, candy corn, smarties, dots, and so many more)

Once they were done they headed outside, where it was about 40 degrees but they didn't care.  They played tag with your daddy until mama had things finished up inside. 

Once everyone was ready we gathered on the driveway, split into 3 teams of four, and were given a scavenger hunt challenge.  You all ran around solving clues and collecting envelopes that had cut out skeleton parts.  Once you all had all 7 envelopes their group had to assemble their skeleton.  The kids worked together and raced around and completed this task - way to quickly :)

The kids assembled the skeletons on the picnic table.

Afterwards we sang to you and ate the cupcakes...yes, before lunch, and WOO HOO! Outside.  

We all know that cupcakes and carpets don't mix  

At this point we moved inside and daddy had darkened the basement a tad.

We sat in a circle and I read a story in the dark and passed around body parts in bags.  

The kids giggled and had a great time.  

After the story we went around the circle and each kiddo made one guess on a single body part. 

Then I revealed the secrets. 

Since I had them in a circle we also guessed a few jars of candy.

While I was doing all this with the kids my mom and Ed whipped up the lunch and then I served it up.  

The kids had hot dogs, blue and orange finger jello, carrot sticks, and pickles.  

And juice boxes that I had decorated like mummies. 

Then we opened presents and headed back outside for relay races. 

Things like...walk with an orange balloon between your legs...pass the balloon under over to all your team mates, run with a skull head on a spoon, and then we had lots of extra time so we played about 5-8 recess games that I pulled from my arse...thanks to my teaching days.  

The kids had a great time, I think.  

I had a headache when it was all done.

I could have used a hot bath and a glass of wine, but instead got picked up immediately by a friend and went off to conquer my first 4 mile running race.  

 My mom was here and watched over Sydney during all the chaos and snapped a few pics on her camera too I am sure.  She pointed out little things that I didn't notice because I was so involved in the action.  She loved seeing the kids hugging and cheering during the relay races and she thought the kids sat down in a cute row during cupcake eating on the deck.  I wish I could have taken more pictures.  

I hope Charley looks back at his 8th birthday party and knows that it was planned with love, that his mom and dad sat up the night before organizing the scavenger hunt for plenty of time, and that he was so lucky to have so many fun classmates and neighbors come and make him feel so cool.  

I sometimes wonder if we will regret not throwing him a kid party every year.  But I truly believe in soaking up these younger years with at home parties where simple fun is enjoyed by all.  I know that probably in the near future he will request a buddy or two to sleep over and there will be no work on my part.  These years really do just keep going faster and faster.  And the every other year has to bring some appreciation, anticipation, and balance.  

Happy Birthday, Charley. 

You are the little guy who changed your daddy and I into who we are today.

You keep us challenged and make life so much more fun.   

Luckiest girl, I am.

Another year...seriously, it feels like just yesterday, when I was stressing about picking up sushi for you after just having Miss Sydney....and not really ready to go out on errands with three.

So you picked it up for us.

Isn't that how it is.

Mama, makes her own cake on her birthday.

Daddy, picks up his own take out dinner.

This is our season.

Happy Birthday, Ed.

This year you have three littles that giggled when I reminded them that it was your birthday.

They sat this morning making lots of "half" birthday cards.  Half...because they would get half way finished and start a new one.  So very proud...but nothing complete.  

It is a Tuesday...which means you have to be the man of the house and go earn the bacon.

So you can't go have a big party and go bowling with your tribe of little people. 

And it is the middle of February, so there will be no beers being enjoyed outside during the late afternoon sun. 



And I know you would love to spend the day snoozing on your parent's couch.

You know, the one that sucks you in and makes anyone that sits on it...drift off to slumber.

Nope you are off being the hardworking father and husband that you are.

And tonight I will try and satisfy you with a yummy dinner...of some sort.

And maybe a french silk pie.

And we have a few gifts.

And I will smile all day knowing that I was so lucky to be part of your everyday moments during your 35th year of life.  And I can't wait to see what your 36th year brings.

Luckiest girl, I am.

Simple birthdays are the best.

One of the things I was reminded of this past weekend at the mom retreat was that keeping things simple so that I can feel present and take in all the moments is so important. So much of the time you can get wrapped up in what you think you need to do, what you think you should do, and what others will think, that you can lose the joy. And if mama is stressed out and feeling overwhelmed about things...well it can just make everything spiral out of control.

Ed and I decided a while back that we would start official friend b-day parties once Charley was in Kindergarten. And from there we would alternate years with family focused birthdays and friend birthday celebrations. This year was a family year and Charley was okay with it all along.  Henry couldn't understand how Charley was having a birthday without a big party.  At one point on Monday he said firmly, "MAMA!  You HAVE to let Charley invite some friends over tomorrow." 

Because of travel and family coming into town we have to put off the activity choice that Charley will get to do. So that is still coming. However, yesterday, multiple times he said that this was the best birthday ever and that made me chuckle. Because it was all so simple in my mind.

I am the type of person who can get wrapped up in presents and feeling like I am not doing enough. But Ed kept me in line this year. And BOY HOWDY I am glad he did. The couple of very simple presents that we indulged Charley with were welcomed with excitement, happiness, and thanks (a basketball door hanging thingy, a wii game, and the Lego Creationary game.

We always hang the same birthday banner, in the same place. I made him his special breakfast.

We went to lunch at school with him (a new tradition). We brought balloons and sub sandwiches.

Note the windows and how dirty they are...and that would be why our kids come home sick all winter :)

I made him his dinner choice...pasta with alfredo.

And he had seen this football cupcake stand thingy at Michael's a week or so ago and requested that. I checked with him on Sunday and he still liked that idea. So Henry and I went to work.  My go to chocolate cake/cupcake recipe is on the back of the Hersey's container!

When he got home he was soooo excited to see that we did it. When he arrived home he said, "WOW MOM, you did it!" And I replied, "I did. And I think I did a pretty good job." AND HE SAID, "YOU DID AWESOME! THIS IS THE BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!"

Daddy made it home for dinner and presents and they they set off for the Scout pack meeting.

He had Aunts and Uncles and grandparents call and wish him well. He got some exciting mail. But overall he felt loved and special. And that is what birthdays are all about. And starting this morning...he can start planning his 8th birthday friend party!

Happy 7th Birthday, Charley.

This past weekend I escaped active mama duty and surrounded myself in the quaint New England autumn country side, with other mamas who strive to make the most out of this season of our life.  And as we went around the circle to introduce ourselves we shared the ages of our children.  I honestly was distracted for a few people's introductions as I realized that on Tuesday I would have to say I was the mom of a 7 year old, 3 1/2 year old, and 9 month old.  7 YEARS OLD.  WOW! 

That is school aged. 

That is big kid. 

That means I am no longer a new mama but a mom with more experience....right?  ugh.

That means I am moving from the mama who is called upon for more physical needs (food, diapers, holding, soothing, bathing)  to now dealing with more of the emotional and "tough" stuff that comes along with raising children. 

Charley, 7 years ago your daddy and I were no longer just a man and a woman, a husband and a wife, we became a mama and daddy.  We became a team.  We became parents. 

There is something special about the role each child plays in a family...the first born, the middle child, the third, the youngest...etc. 

You sir, are our first born.  And you get the glory of all the firsts.  But you also get the over protected and over thought out parenting.  We aren't always relaxed and we sometimes realize what we should have said, done, or decided after the fact. 

But you made us a mommy and daddy and that morning was so life changing it is hard to put into words.  And we can see that you are turning into a pretty darn cool person! 

As we celebrate your "Family Birthday" this year (every other year you get a friend party or a family celebration) we celebrate what a great young man you are becoming.

So here are 7 things I love about you.

1.  I LOVE what a great big brother you are to both your little brother and little sister.  Your hand reaches out for Henry's naturally.  You think about him and try to include him more often than you should have to.  You run and get diapers, give hugs, and talk to your sister with such love.

2.  You are a learner.  You get excited to learn.  You have become a reader and this makes me SO happy. 

3.  Your LOVES are all BOY.  You love LEGOS, StarWars, Nerf guns, boy scouts, and playing outside.  You have dirt under your nails most days and holes in the knees of your jeans.

4.  You love to play games and you really like to win. 

5.  You have always travelled well, slept well, ate well, and enjoyed family outings.  You make going places and doing things fun.  One evening I was feeling like not such a great mom and your daddy said, "You are doing a great job and you know that because we can take our kids anywhere and we don't have a fear that they are going to make a scene or be a handful."  You have become the strongest role model for your little brother.  And eating out, movies, plays, 7 hour car rides with just mama, going with mama for a haircut or pedicure, visiting relatives, and tagging along for adult meetings are a breeze when you are along for the ride.

6.    You are up for learning new things and adventures.  Soccer, flag football, basketball this winter.  Tying your shoes, skateboards, crafts, baking, and more. 

7.  Your awareness that you are growing up and able to do more independently but your patience with us as we aren't quite ready to let you bike to school and other "bigger" kid privileges. 

Charley, this year you will have a family birthday.  You haven't totally decided what we will be doing for our family activity.  And since I was gone last weekend and this weekend we have family visiting for Halloween...it will be 2 weeks before we can do whatever it is that you are dreaming up.  But today you requested pancakes with whipped cream and a candle.  We will be coming in to have lunch with you...we are going to bring you sub sandwiches and a few balloons... (a new tradition for our family).   Tonight you will have your requested meal...which I am still confused about.  And you have requested football cupcakes served on a platter that you saw at the store...so Henry and I will be baking this afternoon.  You have your first official Boy Scout Pack meeting...which you are excited about.  So it will be a busy day but one filled with lots of joy.

Happy Birthday, Char Bar!

 

Henry's birthday update...

Henry had a wonderful day.  He woke up bright and early and opened his gifts!  He laughed at all the cereal and was excited about the other stuff he received.  He gobbled up a bowl of cookie crisp cereal (my reasoning for the cereal....fun boxes to wrap and Henry likes his sweets and typically i do not let them have more than one sugar cereal in our cupboard at a time ...so to have several at their disposal is pretty exciting).  Then we took Charley to school.  Henry arrived home a little quiet.  I think he realized the party was going to happen and Charley wasn't going to be there for part of it. 

Late morning he had a few friends arrive.  Henry took about 45 minutes to warm up to having them here.  Which was why I didn't think having a party was something that needed to happen this year.  But he finally left my side and played with his buddies. 

They played a game of hot bag (like hot potato but they pass goodie bags around). 

I used my mega griddle that I got from my brother for Christmas and whipped out grilled cheese sandwiches for everyone and we spooned up cheese balls from the GIANT container that was exciting for all the kiddos - since we moms don't indulge in this purchase....ever. 

They all ate up a cupcake after overwhelming Henry by singing Happy Birthday.  Charley arrived home and Elly popped over for a quick birthday visit.  Daddy arrived home and off to the doc we went.  I had my 37 week appointment.  I am now 1 cm and 50% effaced...my doc still thinks I will go late because of my history.  But still fun to hear some changes are happening. 

After the doc we headed to Buca's for an early dinner.  The boys enjoyed big bowls of pasta and we all shared Henry's big birthday treat.  He got to blow out the huge birthday candle there too.  When we got home Ed helped set up the new train set addition and I have a feeling that will keep the boys busy for the next few days. 

Henry had a hard time settling down for bed...maybe the big brownie sundae kicked in...maybe we are just hitting the terrible threes right off the bat.  I don't think we had a terrible 2s with him.  So I am prepared for some challenges this coming year. 

I think he had a great birthday and I asked him often if he was having a great day and he always answered yes.  I think all the choices we made - a tiny friend gathering, daddy coming home early, dinner out, and some family playtime was perfect for this little man. 

Tomorrow he turns 3 and he is prepared!

So today Henry was in party planning mode. 
He and I ran to Target to get cupcake mix.
While there he handed me three packs of Star Wars party plates and said,
"Mama we get these.  I invite lots of friends."

When I was loading the car with the groceries I told him when we got home I would need to sit down and rest for a bit.  He responded, "But what about getting ready for my party."

The kiddo is so excited but also so focused on having a party just like Charley.  All day my mission has been to have him share things he wants - not what Charley had.  So when we went and picked cupcake toppers I didn't let him pick the Lego candies.  And when he announced that we would have his party outside, I explained that his party would be inside because it was snowy and cold.  And when he mentions kids that Charley talks about from school, who have never been to our house, I explain that he is not having the same kids. 

I know that when all is said and done tomorrow - having a couple ( 3 since he is turning three) little friends that we see quite often for a cupcake, a game of hot bag, and a lunch nibble...he will be happy as a clam. 

Here is Henry busy at work getting ready for his day.

And to prove that I did not use left over holiday paper to wrap his presents....here is a shot of our "going over board" present pile.  Don't panic - many of those packages are actually boxes of cereal.

This little boy could hardly settle down for bed tonight.  He is so excited - and so am I.  He is such a joy to our life and it is amazing to me that three years ago I was heading to bed, feeling like an overdone turkey, not realizing that when I woke up I would get to finally meet the little guy that had been kicking me all those weeks. 

Which reminds me ...we have those same moments of anticipation these days and this time around Henry gets to go through the amazing transformation of being a big brother. 

Happy Birthday, Charley!

Kids are so excited about their birthdays...but I think as moms we catch our breath on our child's birthday. 

We realize how long the days often seem, but yet as another birthday passes we are left wondering where the years are going and why they keep picking up speed. 

It seems like just yesterday when this little guy turned 1. 

And today he turns 6.

As he headed back to school after a nice fall break I yelled, today is your first day of Kindergarten as a 6 year old.  And he proudly smiled and nodded. 

My first son is now out of the first five years of life stage and is now coming up quickly on the double digits.

So today I will share 6 (and only 6 of the infinite number) things that I LOVE about this boy...

1.  I love that he tenderly loves his brother.  Whether it is taking his hand, sharing his toys, keeping watch, not leaving him out, or wanting to come home after school instead of going on a play date because he knows Henry is waiting and anticipating his big brother's arrival.

2.  I love that he is growing up into a fine young man in his own time, but without too much of a struggle...whether it was going from breast to bottle, diapers to potty chair, crib to big boy bed, preschool to kindergarten, non-reader to reader...it has been pure joy watching him grow and progress. 

3.  I love how he eats like a champ.  He has always eaten without being too picky or complaining much.  I love that I can send things like carrots, grapes, bananas, pears, celery, cucumbers, apples, broccoli, and oranges to school for snack and he enjoys them all.  Lucky.

4.  I love how he is beginning to show me more and more that I can trust his choices in friends and activities.  I don't have to spend as much time figuring these choices out myself.  I can follow his lead and am realizing that he does know who he is comfortable with, who he enjoys, and what he likes to spend his time doing. 

5.  I love that as much as he enjoys playing Star Wars, Legos, and other boy things with his boy friends; he also has a solid base of girl friends who he enjoys just as much.  His first playgroups were all girls and many of them are still some of his most special friends.  I love that he sees beyond the pink and pigtails and enjoys all kiddos. 

6.  I love that he has always been a pretty good sleeper.  He napped until he was more than 4 years old.  Bedtime has always been very routine.  And lately, he is able to room with his rambunctious little brother and settle him down at night so they both fall asleep rather quickly and smoothly. 

There are tons more that I could list here.  But I am going to keep it at 6 because his time is up playing his new Cars Wii game with his daddy and brother.  And bedtime should have been 45 minutes ago.  He has a pile of new books and the choices are amazing...I wonder what he will read about tonight...space, his body, places around the world, how things work, or an adventure with the Magic Tree House kids. 

Happy Birthday my son...even if you push me a little each day to increase my patience or creativity, I know that this time in my life as your mother, still living in my nest, is precious and passing by so fast.  And soon enough you will spread those wings of yours and soar out on your own.  So I will treasure the challenge of being your mama and take a moment tonight to sigh and realize that your birthday was also my first BIRTH day and you changed my world in such amazing ways on October 25, 2004. 

Love,
Your mama 

Lego Birthday Party Details...

I have had quite a few people emailing me asking how the party went for Charley...he turns 6, officially, tomorrow!  You are asking for details, so I will let you know how our first official KID birthday went. 

In the past we have done family parties with relatives, not our entire family...just a few randoms who could come.  We also did a little surprise party for Charley with his playgroup when he turned 4.   But this one was the first one where we let him do the inviting.  He got to pick the friends without mama and daddy thinking about our family friends.  We decided long ago that we would do what other friends do and say that he could have 6 friends since he was turning 6 (however, we did count the neighbor sisters as one). 

We also decided last year that we would do kid birthday parties every other year.  So last year we celebrated as a family and he loved it.  I don't doubt he will be excited about next years family birthday.   I am so glad we waited til this year to do a kid birthday party because I really enjoyed just having the kids and not trying to entertain the parents too!  I could focus on the kid fun to be had and just deal with a kid menu :).

I was late getting our invites out.  I am a spur of the moment kind of person.  Once he had settled on his guest list and we noticed that more than half of the kids were girls...I felt the need to guide him in his party theme.  When I suggested Lego's...just plain Lego's...and gave him some of my ideas...we were on our way.  I got my ideas on the Internet and out of my own little head.

Here was the invite..and I have to say that being the spur of the moment mom that I am when it comes to this kind of stuff worked to my advantage.  I composed the invite online, emailed it to the office supply store in our town and had 12 copies, I made extras for family, printed in color...for only 7 bucks!  WOO HOO! 

I had things pretty much scheduled down to the 10-15 minute interval.  There was no time for chaos or running wild.  Ed was smart and about an hour before the party said that one of us should be in charge, and that should be me, and that I should just tell him what to do.  Instead of both of us trying to run the show.  So he mainly got the lunch ready (which he did an amazing job at) and checked in on me and made sure I had everything I needed at all times. 

When the kids arrived we swept them down to the depths of our basement...some of you who know us might be cringing...but don't worry...we had the half of the basement that we had cleared out long ago all cleaned up and decorated and it was a perfect space for the group to run, dance, and play.  When they got downstairs we had the Lego table set up and lunch bags out with their names on the bags.  They sat and decorated the bags (for their prizes) and chatted.  The group was very diverse...which worked to my advantage.  Most of the kids didn't know each other at all so they were all a little shy. 

Once bags were decorated and standing off to the side we circled up and I did the teacher thing...made them do introductions. They all told their name and how they knew Charley.  It was really cute!   Then I had them get into two random teams and we did our first of a few relays:

1.  Spoon Relay:  Using a spoon, carry a Lego across the basement and put it in your teams bucket and race back and pass off the spoon.  Each player had to go a number of times!  There was lots of cheering.  They loved it!  We did this one twice.

2.  Then they ran the tongs relay...they had to grab a Lego with cooking tongs, carry it to their bucket, and drop it in.  The kids liked this one too!

3.  Lego grab:  Then I split them up into teams of two and sprinkled duplo Lego's all over the floor.  They had to take turns with their teammate running out, grabbing a lego, and bringing it back to their bucket.  THEY LOVED THIS ONE! 

4.  Then we did the Lego drop...they knelt on chairs and each had 6 Lego's to drop into jars.  This one went over okay.

All of them got to pick a piece of Halloween candy after each race!  Very exciting!

Ed popped down periodically to check in and I think he was in awe, as was I, that the kids were all cheering and though they were loud it was the right kind of noise.  So fun! 

He told me that the pizzas were finishing up.  So I circled them up and we played a few rounds of bingo.  I had Charley stack 12 duplo blocks together so I could easily hand out the playing pieces.  I made the cards with stickers that I had on hand.  I wasn't sure how this would go over but they loved it and would have kept playing but Ed announced lunch was ready. 

We had hoped to have the whole party outside but there was a little rain earlier in the day so we used the basement for the kick off of the party.  But by lunch it was nice out so we had them eat outside...a parents dream!  Juice boxes, pizza, finger jello cut into Lego sized pieces (red, blue, and yellow), and apple slices. 

Ed had the pizza cut into small squares and the kids just reached out and filled their plates. They were so hungry for lunch that they all chowed down but the conversation that started up was so darling. They all shared about their last birthday parties. I thought it was so cute how some went bowling, some had family gatherings, some had sleepovers, etc. It was cute how they showed excitement for each one.

After eating they watched Charley open his presents.

Then we sat back down for birthday cupcakes. They were still all full but they gobbled down some of the brightly frosted creations.

As they started to bounce I could tell things were about to get a little crazy so I grabbed the large Lego block with the index card attached and announced that it was SCAVENGER HUNT TIME! The entire group listened to the rules (They were to stick together as a whole group and wait to read the clue until everyone was there). I read the clue and they took off. We had one secure reader in the group who took charge of reading the cards. They bounded around the yard as a group, even Henry kept up. The final clue led them to the enormous leaf pile that we have been raking up and slowly adding to our compost pile. Buried in the leaves was a large bag with a tag that said, "Bring to Charley's mom." They ran it over to me and we headed to the drive way for a game of Hot Bag!

Hot Bag was a birthday family game when I was growing up. We loved it. It is played like hot potato but instead of a potato you pass bags with their take home goodie in them. You play until everyone has ended up with a bag...playing music and when the music stops the person holding the bag takes the bag and puts it behind their back to open once everyone has a bag. The kids LOVE this and you can make it take as long as you want. The game ended right at 1 but I had told a few parents that 1:15 was probably a better pick up time.

So after they opened their goodie bags and found Halloween strobe skull flashlights in them, we circled up to play "Lego, Lego, Who has the Lego?" (otherwise known as Doggy Doggy Where's your bone?)

The kids had all played this before so I ran through the directions quick and we began playing ( One person hides their eyes and sits in the middle of the circle. You sit in a tight circle and secretly pass a Lego behind your back and the leader says stop the person with the Lego holds it slyly behind their back. Everyone tries to look guilty to make it hard for the guesser. The guesser has 3 guesses to see if they can figure out who is holding the Lego.) The kids enjoyed it. Everyone got a turn and by the time we were finishing up the last persons turn parents were pulling up!

The whole thing went super fast and super slick. Ed was amazed that we had no out of control or moments when we were thinking "when is this going to be over".   It never got too loud. Toys weren't touched. Everyone looked to be having a good time. The volume was all cheering and laughter!

I can see how an at home birthday party can maybe be more stressful.  The entire time leading up to the party you fear that the house is going to get wrecked, they aren't going to be entertained, they won't like the activities planned, you won't have enough planned, the kids won't get along...etc.  Where at a bowling alley or gymnastics center you know they will be entertained.  But I am glad we stuck to the good old fashioned birthday party.  And I think all the kids had a great time.