Travis’ 40th Birthday surprise party

I couldn’t let Travis’ birthday go by without a bigger party, so I surprised him with a few close friends and co-workers.  I had planned the party for the 17th, 10 days after his birthday.  I never realized how stressful it is to plan a surprise for someone that you live with!  Since our new furniture had come in for the living room, I wanted to make sure the room was “finished” - not so easy when we had decided that we needed to hold off on spending more money on the house.  I also decided to repaint the eating area of the kitchen.  I was getting the feeling that T. was getting a little annoyed with me.  So trying to not pay attention to his reactions and trying to keep a secret, made me a little tense, and, in return, worried that he was wondering why I acting this way.  UGH – exhausting!!

The best part of the plan happened a week before the party.  I knew that Laura’s husband, Rick, was going to keep him occupied the day of the party and deliver him at 5:30.  But someone was smiling down on my plans and put Travis in MI for business the day before his party, only 20 minutes away from Rick & Laura’s lake house!!  So, conveniently, Rick invited Travis to stay in MI after his meeting and fish that night and Sat. morning.  Rick said he had to return Sat. night for his brother’s birthday party (meaning T’s party).  Genius!  And thank you to whomever made that all possible.  I was able to clean, decorate and prepare without worrying about him being around.

I even let Adam in on the secret the night before the party, which was risky, but he pulled through, even bragging that he had talked to Daddy and not mentioned the party!

It was a success, with Travis walking in not knowing what in the hell was going on!!  He was completely surprised and everyone had a really nice time.  I had t-shirts made up for us:

The boys and I had “My Daddy/Husband is 40!!!” on the front and “that’s old!!” on the back.  Travis’ said, “Vintage 1970, aged to perfection” on the front and , “my wife says I’m still hot” on the back.

The boys were so excited about having a party, of course, Alex associates that with cake!  Notice that in both pics he can’t get his eyes off the cupcakes!

And important note – do not get frosting in such a dark, strong color!  Look at their teeth:

Laura bought Travis and Rick matching fishing hats – we know they will be fishing and golfing together all summer long.

Alex modeling Daddy’s BMW hat:

Such a fun night!!!!

Easter fun 2010

We shared a lot of our Easter fun with Will so you’ll see him in many of our pictures.  We attempted to be creative and make cupcake bunnies.  Alex helped me make the cupcakes and frosting and he is looked on baking, especially licking the beaters!  Unfortunately, the bunnies look like rats!!  And putting frosting on donut holes was a lot harder than we expected.  So after making a few “bunnies” we gave the boys open reign to decorate.   Of course, all Alex wanted to do was eat the frosting!  (Smart boy!!)

   

We had a blast decorating eggs.  I only cooked 6 because I’m the only one who eats eggs, but watching them enjoy the coloring makes me think that I’ll do more next year and just live off of egg salad sandwiches for a week!!

 

 

 

The Easter bunny was very generous again, along with the grandmas!  I think the boys are getting a bit spoiled!!

 

In their Easter clothes!  The boys have been doing so well at church.  It’s motivating me to take them more often.

We had an initial hunt in the morning for what the Easter bunny had hidden.  Both boys had so much fun hunting for eggs.

After church, Rick, Laura and Will came over for Easter dinner and another egg hunt.  Unfortunately, a nice thunderstorm came through so the hunt happened in the house.  But the boys had a blast!!!  We had hid 3 colors of eggs, each boy having their own color to hunt for.  It worked really well and they were helping each other as well as finding their own eggs.  At this point of the day, Alex was done hunting so you’ll see Adam and Will in the pictures.

Daddy’s 40th Birthday

I think it my boys had a choice, we’d celebrate someone’s birthday once a week.  Adam loves the decorating and giving presents.  Alex loves the birthday cake!!

We were able to celebrate Travis’ big day outside, with the most perfect weather.  Trav came home around 5:15.  We had a very nice dinner, opened presents, had cake, and finally dragged the boys in around 7:30.  Then after the boys went to bed, T & I watched 24.  A pretty perfect day for Travis!!

Daddy’s new Gap Wedge

saying Happy Birthday

“we want cake!”

Alex just couldn’t leave it alone!!!

Worried about what girls think so soon???

The boys and I were playing outside (finally decent weather - meaning in the 40's!). Adam had been riding his bike so he had his helmet on, but at this point in our day, he was walking, not on the bike. A group of girls, around 12 or 13(??) came walking towards us and as they got closer, Adam says, "Mom, I'm going to take my helmet off." The girls say hi and ask what Chance's name is. After they passed I said, "Why did you take your helmet off?" Adam says, "Because I didn't want them to think I looked silly with my helmet on." I asked why would he look silly and he said, "Because it has ducks on it and I don't want them to see me with helmet with ducks on it." How did this start already!?!?!?!

I was so excited when we went out because when Adam went for his bike Alex said to me, "Alex's bike? Ride Alex's bike?" and he ran over to the 12 inch bike that is now his and tried to get on it! He didn't have much interest before winter so this was so great. Of course, the training wheels are on it because Adam first learned to ride without training wheels on that one. And I had no idea where Travis had put them. So I pushed Alex around bent over the bike, but with a huge smile on my face. I imagined telling Travis would being surprise and delight and sure enough, he was so happy! The training wheels will be back on the bike tomorrow and we are planning a nice family walk!!

Adam sold me out

So a few days ago, Adam and were in the car after dropping Alex off at school. And I was thinking about my plans for the day and Adam had asked me to turn up the radio so The Backyardigans were cranked up. Of course, I got pulled over right by the school for speeding! (I'm surprised I didn't have any phone calls from friends because it was drop off time and everyone was out.) Anyway, I was going 7 miles over so the officer gave me a warning. Adam is asking a ton of questions, "Are you going to jail?", "Were you really going fast?". And then he asks, "What is Daddy going to say?" Not thinking, I said, a little under my breath, "I'm not telling Daddy." Big mistake!!! Adam says, "But, Mom, we don't lie". I tell him, no I'm not going to lie - I will tell him. I just know that he'll be disappointed and rightfully so. Adam tells me that he wants to tell his whole class that I had been pulled over by a cop for speeding (he hadn't been to school yet that morning). I ask him not to, that it is embarrassing because I broke the law and he starts pleading, "Come on, Mom! My friends will love the story. I have to tell them." At this point I'm so mad at myself and getting mad at Adam so I tell him, whatever, do what you want, but I am telling Daddy because it's my story to tell.

Fast forward to that evening at dinner. Travis hadn't been home for more than 10 minutes and Adam says, "Mom. Did you tell Dad what happened today?" And I say, "No, Adam, but I will now" and I look at T and say "you aren't going to like this". And I tell him that I was pulled over today for speeding but I got a warning. And Travis just shakes his head, not really reacting. So Adam says, "And I told everyone in my class today. And they said that it is really bad that mommy was speeding and it's really dangerous." Travis tried to hide a chuckle. Adam then asked, "Dad, are you mad at Mommy?" My most-awesome husband just said, "She's a big girl. She knows what she is doing." Adam, this story will come back and bite you in the rear one day!!!

Mom, whoever loses, wins

Adam is a dawdler. It takes him forever to get dressed, brush his teeth, etc. So to get him into the car and buckled faster, I tell him it's a race. I have to buckle Alex and get myself in and buckled before he is done. Normally, I slow a bit and he wins (and loves to win). Yesterday, it was just me and him in the car and he was taking forever so I rushed and I won. I start laughing and he says, "Mom? Today, why don't we play it so whoever loses, wins?" Always negotiating!!!!
We are having to really reign him in on the Wii. Since we bought him Sports Resort, he is so obsessed. That would be bad enough, but he also HAS to be in control of the remote! It drives me nuts! He wants to be the one running the whole show. Wii was my idea and I have created a monster!!

first trip away for mom and dad

So most of you know about the trip T and I made to Tucson a few weeks ago. I really wanted to blog this for my "journaling for the boys". It was our first real trip away and Grandma Carol came to stay with the boys. After taking her on the "tour of our morning drop off" and leaving her with a two-page "this is how our day usually goes" and emergency contact list, we left the three of them to their fun. We know how much Adam loves Grandma - he wants nothing to do with T and me when she is around, but we weren't sure how Alex was going to do. No worries! All went well. Just like normal, they were late their first morning out because Alex had pooped just as they were about to leave. Grandma and Adam enjoyed a few mornings at Starbucks. And Alex got his Target popcorn and a trip to Petsmart. Grandma sounded exhausted but extremely happy and the boys didn't really want to us so I'd say it was a success!! And Trav and I enjoyed a really great get-a-way. Now we just need to schedule the next trip!!!!