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Jan 5 2015

bug turns three

Posted by hayley
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Nothing like a family birthday to get me back in the blogging saddle!

This weekend we celebrated Bug’s 3rd birthday. Our kids can have big Pinterest-worthy themed parties with friends on alternating years. But on the “off” year we do a smaller family celebration where all the decisions for the day get to be made by the birthday kid. Want chocolate ice cream for lunch? Sure! Want to see the latest movie or have a friend spend the night? Ok. Want me to stop unloading the dishwasher right this second because you’ve set up an urgent game of Candyland? Bring it, gingerbread boy. You get the idea.

2015 is a family year.

First thing — fresh outta bed — he wanted to open his gifts. Duh.

Bugs 3rd Bday

Batman legos and the face to go with them. “You wanna piece of this?!”

Bugs 3rd Bday

Bugs 3rd Bday

By request, Bug was served chocolate donuts with whipped cream and blue sprinkles for breakfast.

Bugs 3rd Bday

Unfortunately the weather was crummy all weekend, so we had to stay indoors. No one was complaining though, since we spent time jumping at our local trampoline park. Although terrified of the trampolines, Bug is entirely content falling into the huge foam pits for an hour.

Bugs 3rd Bdaywpid5325-Bugs-3rd-Bday-2.jpgBugs 3rd Bday

Red Robin for lunch because they have the “red motorcycles.” Mac N Cheese and oranges are Bug’s favorite foods these days and Red Robin delivered on both counts. An ice cream sundae and cute waitresses singing to him didn’t hurt either.

Bugs 3rd Bday

The rest of the day was filled with playing with new toys and a few friends popping in to deliver gifts. After dinner Bug blew out 3 candles on his race car cake and happily enjoyed every. last. bite. Happy Birthday Big Guy!

Bugs 3rd Bday

Bugs 3rd Bday

 

Tags: birthday, bug
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Nov 10 2014

thirty three and me

Posted by hayley
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We’ve been lucky. In almost 12 years of marriage, Handsome has never missed a Christmas or kids’ birthday — which is a small miracle considering how frequently deployments and training trips take him out of town.

My birthday is another story; almost always a casualty of his military schedule. We’ve only spent 4 together. So this weekend, when a lovely friend offered to watch both our kids for the night Handsome jumped at the chance to make this birthday special.

I woke to snugglebugs in bed and roses from my love.
wpid5202-33rd-Bday-3.jpg  wpid5200-33rd-Bday-2.jpg

Songbird offered to make us lunch and then the kids and I shared birthday chocolates.
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My seat of honor was decked with a bow and he never sleeps on me anymore. Best. Ever.
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3 hour roadtrip with Handsome at the helm, watching the colors blaze by.
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Washington D.C. dressed in the glory of fall and an afternoon in the National Gallery of Art.
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Got to see the only di Vinci painting in the Americas and admire Renoir.
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Traipsing through an art museum with Handsome is very entertaining. He finds humor in things I would have otherwise missed and keeps me from taking ‘real art’ too seriously.

Like baby Jesus flipping the bird and the birth of the “westside” gang sign (circa 1500).
wpid5238-33rd-Bday.jpg  wpid5234-33rd-Bday-2.jpg

I listened to the adult audio tour, but he liked the kids version. Doesn’t this resemble Bug?
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Degas ballerinas and my favorite painting of the day— like a 17th century candid Instagram.
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Matching lunches in the sculpture garden before we checked into a fancy downtown hotel.
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Does this room mean I’m gonna get lucky? Only in D.C. can you potty with the presidents!
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Handsome surprised me with a trip to the spa and then I got my game face on.
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We walked hand in hand under trees wrapped in lights to dinner. Lobster bisque, steak and cake.
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On the way home we wandered the aisles of Ikea… kidless. Yeeessss!!!
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It was the best birthday in years! So far, thirty-three agrees with me. :)

Tags: birthday, our life
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Oct 24 2014

6 years of songbird

Posted by hayley
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“The days are long, but the years are short.” This sentiment resonates so deeply with my experience in mothering and no more greatly then on the birthdays of my children. This month, we celebrate six years of the fun and light that Songbird has brought to our lives.

3 Months:

6 Years of Songbird

1 Year:

6 Years of Songbird

2 Years:

6 Years of Songbird

3 Years:

6 Years of Songbird

4 Years:

6 Years of Songbird

5 Years:

6 Years of Songbird

Songbird entered our world at just over 6 lbs, and now at 6 years old, she stands as tall as my chest and can eat three waffles in one sitting. She rarely lacks in the arenas of confidence and self-control, although she daily laments boo-boos due to her propensity to lose track of where her long limbs are in space. A rule follower who plays fair, she enjoys being given the leadership roles in life. This also makes her a stellar big sister who thoughtfully includes her brother in whatever play scenario she’s dreamed up for the day, as long as he wants to assume whichever role she assigns him.

Songbird has an adventurous spirit that loves to hear you whisper “You can do it!” — and to watch her as she tries. Beneath her up-for-anything attitude is the most tender of hearts. Even at this young age she is able to read situations and can be extremely sensitive to tone of voice. But that emotional intelligence most often manifests in her huge capacity for empathy and compassion for others. Insightful beyond her years, Songbird has numerous inquires per day about how the world works and why.

For the past few months her interests have revolved almost exclusively around horses, unicorns, pegasuses, pegacorns (wings + horn) and all things equestrian. At least once a week she asks me what “special talent” God has given her and, after much discussion, she usually decides it’s using her imagination or her artistic abilities. These days it can be hard to get a genuine smile from her with a camera in hand, but occasionally I succeed. She is sheer joy and can’t fathom my long days without her.

6 Years of Songbird6 Years of Songbird

Tags: birthday, songbird
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Jan 13 2014

construction birthday bash

Posted by hayley
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construction birthday party

There really were no other theme contenders for Bug’s birthday this year. Diggers are on that boy’s mind all day, every day. Not sure if it’s the big tires, the dirt, the loud engines or just the manliness of it all, but he’s hooked.

construction birthday party

construction birthday party

construction birthday party

construction birthday party

Three times I attempted to bake his cake. First one was a loss due to a terrible recipe. The second bubbled WAY over the pan, onto the stove bottom, and sent smoke rolling out of the oven. At 11pm the night before the party, the third one imploded, and I finally conceded to buying one from the grocery store. We did, however, do the digger “embellishing” ourselves.

construction birthday party

What’s a party without a few games?

I painted the stripes on these play cones and secured a cut extension cord with orange duck tape to make the rings.

construction birthday party

Gotta love neighbors willing to donate moving boxes! Bug had a blast knocking over the big kids’ towers. This city *might* become a living room fixture for the foreseeable future. (See tutorials for the digger and dump truck)

construction birthday party

construction birthday party

construction birthday party

The cashier actually asked what I was making when I rolled up with a 20 lb bag of rice. Imagine her look of confusion when I said I planned to dye it blue and let my son dig in it!

construction birthday party

construction birthday party-construction-birthay-21.jpg

construction birthday party

construction birthday party

All 10 kids in attendance got a “hard hat” and safety vest.

construction birthday party

construction birthday party

Bug was not feeling the vest, but happily donned the hat for awhile to open gifts.

construction birthday party

construction birthday party

construction birthday party

Can Momma get a picture with the birthday boy? Pleeease?

construction birthday party

Please.

construction birthday party

Maybe I should have bribed him with cake.

Turns out the store bought cake was really moist and delicious. Bug voted with his fork – an empty plate/full belly approval!

construction birthday party

construction birthday party

construction birthday party

SOURCES: hard hats, safety vests (I added the orange duck tape), neon duck tape, rice tub (bought just one for $20 in store, not sure why it shows set of 4 online) , gel food coloring for rice, CAT mini machines, caution tape, tableware, platters, streamers (Dollar Tree), striped straws, beverage server (Home Goods), “2” candle, “2” dump truck shirt (directions here). I designed the large Happy Birthday poster myself and had it printed as an engineering print at Office Max. Then used spray adhesive to attach it to foam core purchased at Dollar Tree.

Tags: birthday, bug, construction party, party decor
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I'm Hayley. Wife and mother by day, DIY enthusiast by night. Fueled by sweet tea and jelly beans, I own power tools and know how to use them. Consider yourself warned.

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