Summer Send Off

September was a great, but busy, month.

We celebrated Luke's Birthday, said farewell to summer, had the Fun Run, Open House and ended by celebrating John's birthday! Whew...no wonder I feel like the entire month was a blur.

We made sure to send summer off in style over Labor Day. The boys had fun at the splash park and even ran into an old friend. We weren't planning on getting in the water, but great thing about boys...any shorts can become swim trunks! #winning

We then wanted to take them bowling. Sadly, these days websites can't be trusted to have updated info. We planned on taking them to a fancy bowling alley in Bartlett. We wanted to be there when it opened. When we were 3/4 the way there, our conversation turned to this:

John: Maybe we should call and double check they are open.
Me: But their website said they opened at 9am.
John: Just call.
Me: <sigh> fine....dialing number...listening the voicemail...<bigger sigh>
John: Check their facebook.
Me: Seriously, they would update their facebook and not their website??
Being in digital marketing, John casts me a 'do you really want me to answer that look'.

Sure enough, the correct info was on their facebook page. So we decided to head to a different alley, but still had an hour to kill. So we go to a party planning store. This is what my kids get into.

First Luke found this turtle shell and kept running around the store to then suddenly, without any warning, drop to the ground to 'go seep' in his shell. I seriously think a worker tripped over him at one point.

And this one....oh this one. I even have a dance he choreographed and told me to put on YouTube. People look at us and say things like 'apple meet tree' but I have no clue what they are talking about.

We finally made it to bowling and everyone had a blast! Labor Day success!

 

 

That afternoon we topped it off with our last round of swimming at Terry and Angela's pool. Gemma and Luke like to play beside each other. They don't really seek each other out, but they are similar in the fact that, that doesn't bother either of them. I think they really prefer that. Evan could not be more the opposite.  Gemma had had enough of swimming with the loud boys started to play tea party with Angela. Luke sat right down and joined her. It was one of the cutest little exchanges I have seen ever.

We ushered summer out best we could. We are summertime family. While it was a little bittersweet to see another summer end, I have loved every minute with these boys. 

Deep in the heart of TEXAS

We were SOOO blessed to have John's brother, Jason, his wife, Melissa, and their daughter Skylar come visit us in August. The boys had a blast visiting with their cousin.

We were able to go see Mamaws and spend some time with her. All of her great grandchildren loved running around her apartment.

 

We also went to the lake....and while this day didn't quite unfold like we wanted it to thanks to ropes in props and engines failing, we still got to have some fun on the water. And John learned a new skill!

 

The time they were here went way to fast as always, but we are so blessed we got to see them!

Luke finally turns FIVE - aka, we had his party

Since turning five is quite a big deal, we decided to celebrate with your first real birthday party at Sega. We invited as many sweet friends as the place allowed and TWENTY FOUR came out to celebrate YOU!

On Saturday, you helped me make the decorations. Now, I have always known you like this a particular way, but you outdid yourself with this. You were all insistent these streamers lined up perfectly. While I tend to pretty type A, I am not a perfectionist. You, sweet boy, had to have these rows perfect. No matter what anyone says, I did not laugh at your when you laid out on the floor crying because the crepe paper wouldn't line up straight.....I did NOT.

 

You requested a Spider-Man birthday party month before the big day. As any good mom does, I scoured Pinterest to only feel like a failure as a mother. After a couple glasses of wine and a good pep talk, I decided I could throw together a killer Spider-Man party without losing my mind. 

Even though I bought red table clothes and black streamers to make a 'web' on the table, once I got into the room, I found the tables were already red! I ditched the black streamer/web idea and made a 'runner' of blue and red balloons. This was a HUGE hit for the kids. Each one left with a balloon. They were much more excited over the balloon over the goodie cup (bag)! Each kid also got a Spider-Man mask to wear.

Again, when I was on my Pinterest Mom kick, I actually thought I could make you a Spider-Man cake. I bought blue cake, icing, food coloring, piping...I was set. When I broached the topic with daddy he said, "Oh baby..please don't." I had to laugh. He knew how stressful it would be for me to make it perfect for you. So I decided to make some blue cupcakes and call it a day. Trust me...you guys knew no different. 

  

Instead of goodie bags, I did goodie cups. Each cup had some 'web shooters', aka silly string, and a Spider-Man straw. Because really, who doesn't love getting sprayed by silly string? (Me...I can now officially tell you...me. I don't like it.)

The rest of this blog is pictures are you and your friends having a BLAST at Sega! I am so happy your first birthday party was this big of success!!

 

We went home to open presents from your grandparents!

Celebrate!

Luke...our sweet Luke. You turned 5 this year. A WHOLE hand!!

Your birthday fell on a Wednesday and we are so lucky your daddy got to come eat lunch with all of us to celebrate.

But on Thursday when we asked you if your were excited to be five, you empathically exclaimed, "NO! I am still 4. I am not five until my party," which was Saturday. No convincing could change your sweet stubborn mind.

You did get a new book donated in your honor to the St. George's library. Here's the great thing. Like most everything else in your short life, you knew exactly what you wanted. Mrs. Williams had all the books laid out and your ran to Ladybug Girl. You love these books! We read them over and over and over. When we got home, you made sure the new book had friends. :)

We ended the night with a yummy cupcake. It was the perfect way to sum up the sweetest day with the sweetest boy!