Little Artist Birthday Party

This was technically our year to travel for their birthdays but since we had already done a couple of big trips this year and also had some smaller trips mixed in the boys opted for a party again this year. Since we finally had a completed backyard, we decided to host an outdoor party. I expected beautiful fall weather but unfortunately it was still in the high 80's and made for a pretty hot day. 

The boys picked their theme from a variety of options. They thought very carefully about it because it had to be something they both liked, they also wanted to make sure that it wasn't too much of a boy theme because they both invited quite a few girls and they wanted it all to match. They ultimately picked an Artist themed party. They picked out the exact bounce house they wanted and they picked some of the food options. 

We served Jimmy Johns lunch, had a bounce house, painted on canvases, had a piñata and games, opened presents and ate cake. We had 15 kids attend the party and unfortunately a few more that had to dropout at the last minute because they were sick. The boys had a blast. They went from one activity to the next at full speed with friends in tow. I would say it was a success and it all went according to plan so my OCD nerves survived. It was a great way to celebrate these two precious boys of ours. 

Bounce house that had a basketball hoop inside along with the slide. 

Lunch was Jimmy Johns sandwiches, chips, deviled eggs, grapes, pickles and potato salad. 

Kareth and Bam helped me to set up the decorations and painting tables. 

Sadie showing off her painting. 

These are the cupcakes that I made. They had funfetti, white and chocolate with vanilla buttercream frosting. 

Lincoln  - 9 

Logan - 7 

Logan being a clown and sliding down the slide sideways. 

Big kids time in the bounce house. 

L to R: Shannon, Mia, Jimmy, Vern, Marissa, Jacob, Dylan, Rylie, Sadie, Ruby, Lincoln and Logan

Logan pulling the first string on the piñata. 

Lincoln pulling his string. 

Sadie taking a turn. The piñata opened with the very last string that Shannon pulled. The timing couldn't have turned out more perfectly. 

Logan got a few Lego sets. 

Lincoln got a new football game. Auntie Genesis in the background making the list of gifts for us. 

Logan's nerf gun. 

Lincoln and his pile of goodies. 

Both boys got Heelys for their birthday. They have cause me a ton of anxiety so I'm not sure they are the best choice but they love them. 

The goodie bags for each kiddo that included a sucker that looks like a paint pallet, a paint color pallet notebook and pencil, a mini beach ball and fan that have paint splatter on them and a paintbrush box filled with skittles. 

Happy 7th Birthday, Logan!

My baby boy is now 7 years old. I remember when he was a baby, thinking about the day that he would be older like 6 or 7 and Lincoln being 8 or 9. I've always thought these years are the most fun in raising kids. Now there are days where I secretly, and selfishly, wish he was a baby or toddler again. Not that I want to go back to that stage of parenting forever but it's crazy how time flies and on certain days it would be fun to snuggle by baby Logan. I do really enjoy him at this age. We have a ton of fun together and we've also experienced more challenges than I thought too. 

Logan is an incredibly charming, silly, quick-witted, handsome little dude. He will forever in my mind be my baby though and so I probably spoil him way too much. His smile and laugh can light up a room and he's always keeping us on our toes and cracking wise comments. Logan is also a very hard worker. He actually likes to do project and chores (most of the time) and is quite the little work horse. He would prefer working or playing outside to anything at a desk or confined area. 

Logan doesn't love school, except for being with friends, recess and PE. He does happen to have a crush on his teacher so sometimes I can use that for leverage. He is a smart kiddo and his strongest subject is math. We struggle with staying focused and potty talk at school and I'm hoping it's a phase he quickly gets over. He's been in trouble a couple of times for chasing and kissing girls so he's clearly one we will have to watch closely as he gets older! 

The involuntary tic movement is still happening. It's been 10 months but he's had the same movement for about the last 4-5 months. He is obsessed with touching and smelling everything. If his nose doesn't get close enough to smell it then he touches everything and takes his hand to his nose. It is not as noticeable as some of his previous tics but I am not worried about him getting overrun with germs. We try to use sanitizer and not make a big deal of it but 

Logan still absolutely loves trains. They are the first toy he looks for in a store and he can spot anything related to trains. His favorite foods are pizza, hamburgers, hot dogs and fruit. His favorite TV shows are Phineas and Ferb along with SpongeBob. He loves movies and prefer something a little on the scarier side or super funny. He likes anything that will give him a thrill, especially rides and roller coasters. He is always up for an adventure. Logan has an incredible ear for music. He remembers tunes well, and hones in on complex movie soundtracks. He has awesome dance moves and great rhythm. 

We are so incredibly blessed to have Logan in our family. There are days that I will admit that little boys are a tough and they make me want to bang my head against the wall but at the end of the day, I remind them that I love them - no matter what.  I can't imagine our lives without this sweet boy. One of my favorite things each day is when I get a "squeeze like a lemon" from him. I'm even lucky to sometimes get to cuddle him. I hope that he continues to develop, mature, be healthy, be kind and build a friendship with his brother all while letting his sweet personality shine. I love him to infinity and beyond. Happy birthday, Logos, Bubba, Love bug! 

He woke up to a few balloons and a little sign to start the day. 

I got to take lunch to him and sit with him for his special birthday lunch. He picked McDonald's hamburger happy meal. His friend Kayden got to join us at the parents table. 

This silly boy was making all kinds of faces when I tried to get a picture with him. 

He got a train shirt for his birthday. 

Lego airplane set that he's been wanting. 

He got to pick where we ate dinner at for his birthday and he chose his favorite restaurant, Red Robin. 

They brought him a birthday sundae but he wanted to celebrate with donuts instead.

Halloween 2016

We stuck with our annual tradition of dinner out and then to the costume shop to pick from the wall of costumes. The boys each had in mind what they wanted to be but we had to go finalize that and see all the options. Normally we will get to help influence them a little bit but this year they picked all on their own and were very adamant about what they wanted to be. Lincoln pulled off the cutest Harry Potter and Logan was the Marshmallow Stay Puft Man from Ghostbusters. 

We had three different events to dress up for. The first was the costume parade at school. Lincoln's teacher didn't even recognize him at first since he had black hair and was in full costume. Logan got a ton of compliments on his awesome blow up costume. It was a little hard for him to navigate and see but he made it work. The second was the ward trunk-or treat party. 

In keeping with tradition of last year, we met up with Bam Bam, Kareth, Roger and Shannon for dinner and Trick-or-treating. We went to Kareth's house this year since she has the best neighborhood for trick-or-treating. The boys loved playing with Shannon and passing out candy.

School Pictures

Every year I say the same thing....I can't believe my baby boys are growing up. Lincoln is in fourth grade and loving school. Logan is in first grade and would rather be home or outside to play than be at school. Both have their strengths and their growth opportunities but overall they are learning a ton and having fun. 

Business Trips

I knew I would be traveling with my new job but I didn't think that one of the weeks that I had to be in Denver for mandatory training, would also be the same week that Ricky was already planning on being in Las Vegas for the ABC convention. We couldn't believe it. Thankfully Auntie Michaela was on fall break and didn't have any plans so she was able to stay with the boys at our house. 

She had to get them to and from school, get homework and dinner done and everything else from Monday after school until late Friday night when I got home. That is the first time the boys have been with someone other than Tutus, and away from us, for that long. It's fair to say that Ricky and I were extremely paranoid and super stressed about it. I am so thankful that it all worked out. 

Ricky taking a break at the convention on set-up day after hours of putting up the display case.

Natalee, Ryan and Ricky at the show.

The Schwab buildings in Denver are absolutely beautiful. It was so nice to have a fancy place to work from and to be two minutes from the campus instead of the hour plus commute I have at home.

October Misc.

There are always random things that happen in day to day life that I try to capture in hopes that the boys will appreciate them one day. Here are a few things that happened in October. 

This is a drawing that I got from Logan during church. It melts my heart every time he makes something like that so I had to take a picture. 

Logan had to do a habitat project. He chose to research and focus on the scorpion. This is the finished product on the habit display. He also got 100% on his report and the entire project!

Lincoln had a 4th grade genius project to complete. He was to research a topic and then present the material in any way that he wanted to. He chose to make the above model and then reported on facts about the Civil War and the weapons they used. He too got 100% on this project. 

Boys doing Scout things. I am sure they are learning something but mostly it's just a lot of fun for Lincoln. 

Lincoln and Jacob being silly. 

I got to have a girls night out to celebrate Kareth's birthday. We took her to the Melting Pot since she has never been and has been wanting to go there to try it out. It was a success!

In keeping the tradition alive, Kareth received her awkward blanket at dinner. 

Lincoln drew the above little boy by starting with the word, boy. It was a trick her learned at school and showing us ever since!

Logan drew this red Cardinal. 

This is from Logan:" I like you mom have on even more better I love you mom." That little guy just melts my heart. 

Logan made a candy corn man. 

We are SO proud of Lincoln. He is a great student and math is a strength for him. He got to put this cool sign in our front yard for a week because he completed all 12 of his multiplication math fact quizzes.