Starting the Year Off

We began the year with another birthday-- Doug turned 30!  It was pretty low key kind of day since we
(and the kids) were recovering from a 5 am airport run (had to drop off all of our Christmas house guests) but we still managed to get out and celebrate with his family yesterday evening.  Needless to say, birthdays are quite exciting to all the kids so he had a few helpers when it came time to blow out the candles.

Happy Birthday Babe!

It's a party

The festivities are now over... and we had a good time.  Let me share a bit of Caleb's 4th birthday party!

I made a last minute decision to make it a themed party-- a camping themed party.  This was quite hilarious to Doug... since Caleb's never been camping (allergies + asthma + tent = not good) but nevertheless, Caleb was excited.  Although, he made sure to let everyone know that it was only a "pretend" camping party.  No actual camping was to take place.

So, if you know me... the decor mattered.  But this year the party decor budget was small.  So I actually managed to pull it off for... drumroll please... $1.25.  Just the cost of one roll of twine from Dollarama (sidenote... should they not now call it dollar-and-a-quarter-rama?) and a lot of online/recycling bin scavenging.  Here are the details.

Found in my own home... jam jars and tin cans from the recycling bin decorated with twine for treats and cutlery.  I clipped a bunch of random flowers from my flower beds and stashed them around the house.  I was going for the whole wildflower look... and since my flower beds are looking a bit wild these days, it was a great place to start :)

I spy another chalkboard... I had a couple stashed downstairs (all the other chalkboards are currently on a summer wedding tour... possibly coming soon to a wedding near you) and added them to the decor.  The cupcakes... s'more cupcakes.  After googling 'smore cupcakes' and researching various options and recipes I went with Betty's recipe.  Thanks B.C.  It was definitely not dairy free... but I was reassured that they were tasty.  There were many many other fabulous looking smore cupcakes recipes out there-- ones that involved homemade marshmallow meringue and others requiring the use of a blow torch... but I decided to play it safe.  Betty Crocker is definitely within my range of baking abilities.

We needed some kind of hanging decor.  I hate balloons... more specifically the aftermath of random balloons wandering around the house and then the trauma that Caleb goes through every time one of his beloved balloons pop... so I decided to go with bunting.  Totally free... just go check out Lindsay's blog for instructions and a free flag download.  I just printed them off at home, hot glued the flags to more of that dollar store twine, and hung it around the dining room.  When Caleb woke up from his nap he walked into the room and said "wow Mom... that looks so pretty!!"  I gave him a big smooch :)  If only he would have known how much fun his mama had crafting it up all afternoon without his "help".

Oh, and I wrapped all his presents in newspaper... and tied it all up with twine.  Oh la la... matchy match :)

Treat bags... paper lunch bags.  I used these gift labels-- available to download and print for free online-- tied up with that dollarama twine again.

Even Emerson benefitted from my dollarama shopping spree-- new hair elastics.  She seems to like them-- although she went down for her nap with two pony tails and awoke with none.  I found one elastic in her crib.  The other one is MIA.  I'm thinking I'll likely find it in her diaper someday soon.

Caleb says he really really doesn't like her pony tails.  He thinks they look like horns.  He went on to express his strong dislike of pony tails on ALL women-- even his mama.  For some reason, they just don't do it for him.  Let it be know to all the ladies-- if you ever (like in 20 years or so) want to attract Caleb's attention... pony tails are a major no no.

After dinner (hotdogs for the kids... of course) they went on a dinosaur hunt.  I gave them all dollar store flashlights-- very needed at a camping party-- and told them to go find all the dinosaurs that were "hiding" around the house (dinosaurs also courtesy of dollarama).  They loved it.

This picture cracks me up.  Caleb's expressing his enthusiasm.  His two buddies are in the background thinking "How much sugar did this kid eat?  What is in those cupcakes anyways?"

Then it was time to sing happy birthday and blow out the candles.  Caleb blew them out well... and he also managed to spray his mama in the face as well.

Caleb enjoyed his cupcakes... well... at least he enjoyed the icing and chocolate on top :)

And then it was time for presents.  I set up the kids ikea tent in the living room to house the gifts.  I had planned on setting up our real tent in the backyard for them to play in... but alas... the weather's been quite unpredictable.  But the living room tent was still fun.

Let's say opening gifts was a group effort.

It was a fantastic party.  We had fun.  Caleb felt special.  And I discovered a newfound love of Dollarama (seriously... they've got some good stuff... I could write an entire blog about how to decorate your house and parties will dollar store finds!)

Today... the aftermath.

Lego building... play dough making... treat bag consuming... backyard bubble blowing... party leftover eating.

And half way into the day I looked down and realized a treat bag race car sticker had been inconspicuously placed right on the front of my shirt.  Nice.  Classy.

Nothing says... "Hi.  I'm a mom." like an outfit accessorized with race car stickers.

Celebrating Caleb's 3rd Birthday

Those of you who know Caleb will understand how important and exciting July 21st is at our house. Caleb absolutely LOVES birthdays. He sings Happy Birthday to anyone and everyone all year long-- at birthday parties, while we're driving in the car he'll create a birthday medley for everyone he knows, he'll sing to people he doesn't know, to his stuffed animals... it's a big deal. I woke up that morning to find Caleb staring at me... waiting for me to wake up-- "It's time to start my birthday Mommy".

First activity of the day-- Caleb and I went out for a birthday breakfast. When I was a little girl, my Dad would often take me out for breakfast on my birthday. Since breakfast is Caleb's favorite meal of the day, I figured we should carry on the tradition. So off to ABC we went!

Caleb's birthday smile...

Beginning to get impatient... come on Mom! It's time to get going!!

Finally... chocolate milk. It always saves the day.

Instead of colouring with the crayons... Caleb does something much more fun. Peeling the paper off of the crayons. It keeps him quiet and entertained for quite a long time as we wait for our food at restaurants. I fully support this activity :)

My breakfast is finally here! When I asked Caleb what he wanted to eat for breakfast, he said "Bacon". When I asked what else he wanted to eat... "Sausage". Am I surprised? Nope. If you read this post from last week you wouldn't be either. Caleb happily dug into his breakfast and enjoyed his processed meat.

Next stop-- shopping. Caleb needed to pick up a few little treat bag gifts for the kids attending his party, so we stopped by a dollar store. Not a easy task. Taking small children to dollar stores is quite stressful. There were way too things at Caleb's level that could be pulled off the shelf and then discarded on the floor. As I struggled to bend over and pick up the discarded items (not an easy task at the moment), Caleb was already running around the corner to start on the next aisle. We survived... the store survived... and we managed to make our purchases.

Caleb stopped by his favorite ride... the train. As we pulled into the parking lot of this particular shopping centre he made sure to remind me, "Don't forget your money Mommy... the train's in there."

After a little stop at the pet store (no pets were purchased-- just observed) we headed home for naps :) When Caleb awoke, it was time to hit the pool!!!

We spend many summer afternoons in our backyard pool. I'm loving the pool these days because it gives me a chance to cool off, and for hour each day... you don't feel pregnant as you float in the water! Caleb also loves the pool. After a liberal application of sunscream (aka sunscreen) he will happily swim the afternoon away until his "cheeks start chattering". Caleb always wants to play pretend games in the pool-- "I'll be a shark and you can be the alligator Mommy." or "I'll be the alligator and you can be the duck Mommy." Lately I've suggested that maybe I should be the whale. So now Caleb pretends to be a baby humpback whale who is lost searching for his Mommy (inspired by an episode of the Diego cartoon).

There are no pictures of me in the pool "pretending" to be a whale-- nor will there ever be.

Here's Caleb and Daddy enjoying the pool during the party.

Caleb and his buddy Isaiah floating in their "boats".

And finally the guests have all arrived... time for dinner! Caleb and Isaiah had their own kids table (as the one other child at at the party was only 3 months old... much too young to sit with the boys!)

Blowing out the candles! After many attempts, Mommy stepped in the help out.

Time to open presents! Caleb was quite spoiled this year-- he received lots of gifts a three year old boy would love-- puzzles, lego, a track for his cars, games... many things that will keep him occupied in the next few weeks!

All in all it was a fun filled day for our family! Caleb had a great birthday, and since the party I have enjoyed many quiet mornings as he is quite enthralled with all of his new toys and games.

One more thing... as I put this post together I noticed something quite remarkable. Caleb is wearing the same shirt in every picture-- can't remember the last time a shirt has survived the entire day on that kid. Maybe a sign of new 3 year old maturity?

We'll see :)

3 Years Ago...

My baby boy was born...

Happy Birthday Caleb! I love you...

Birthday Party Extravaganza

To celebrate Caleb's birthday, Doug and I decided to throw him an awesome birthday party. There were friends, burgers, cake, balloons, and lots of presents-- all the essentials of an awesome 1st birthday party! My good friend Anj was the party photographer-- here are some of the great pics she took of the evening:

Caleb and his Auntie Kristi


One of the rare times that Micah gets to drink pop... (stay tuned for the after effects)

Welcome to the party boys!

Caleb was really excited that all of his friends could make it.

This one just melts my heart-- Keziah, you are so pretty!

What do you think they're talking about? Wedding plans, maybe?

Grandma and Keziah

Remember the pop? Here's what happens when a three year old and coke mix!

The birthday cake!

Singing happy birthday... At one point I thought he would break into tears, but he managed to hold it together!

Give me my cake! I've waited all year for this!

First bites... this is pretty good!

Mom! That's my cake!

Opening presents... and starting to get sleepy... not a good combination.

And once Caleb went to bed... everyone else decided to break in his new toys! Who knew toddler toys could inspire so much fun for a group of adults!

Thanks for coming everyone! Happy birthday buddy!

Happy Birthday to my little Boy

Happy Birthday Caleb! I can't believe you're a one year old already! It has been so incredible to see you grow from a tiny 5 lb baby boy, into a fun, active, joyful one year old!

Just days before you were born... I thought we'd have more time together... just the two of us.



But you came 6 weeks early... before you, I, or anyone was ready. You were so tiny and fragile.

But so peaceful and beautiful amidst so much pain and hurt.

The first time we met... I waited days to see you... and it was worth it. You were cuter than the pictures the nurses brought up to my room!

And then we got to go home together. Even though life was still not as is should have been, I was still so happy to have you home.

You slept, and grew, and smiled, and cried.

And all of a sudden you didn't look like a preemie baby anymore!

You smiled and laughed when the rest of us were crying.

And started to bounce around!

We went places together...

And snuggled in bed together to watch some TV when it was raining outside!

You started to eat all kinds of new foods... and loved them all!

And before I knew it, you were sitting on your own, then rolling, and now you're crawling and racing me around the house getting into trouble!

What a fun little man you've become. We have so many good laughs and giggles together.

I love coming into your room in the morning to see you standing and laughing in your crib. You're always so happy to see me. What a great way to wake up!

Caleb, this year has been less than perfect... but I am still so thankful to have you with me. Know that I love you deeply, and am so proud to be your mommy.