8 months LONGHORN Style

The truth is, I almost forgot to take an 8 month picture, and remembered just before this guy turned 9 months.  We were on our way to a Longhorn game, so we rolled with the theme!

La Familia

I am just not a fan of studio pictures.   Too stuffy.  I like taking pictures in a more natural state without the hand under the chin poses.   We have a fabulous gal who agrees with this philosophy, and when it comes time for her to take our pictures, we just head out to a park and have fun.  I think she does a fabulous job capturing that in our kids.

 

I just love Kaelan’s expressions.  That girl and her moods….a roller coaster of awesomeness.

I have two shots that were my favorites.  One that is just precious for so many reasons, and another that is just awful, but serves as a great memory keepsake.

We’ll go with the not so wonderful one first:

  This one right here is a winner.   You can see that not so sure look on my face.   Let me explain.  About 2 seconds after this shot, I was flat on my bum on the ground.  You see, I waved off my husband’s offer to help me up on the branch because I am tough like that.  What?  This little jump?   I can do this no problem…..  I could hear Doug’s voice as I bent my legs and gave a big jump and lift with my arms. “Babe, don’t go over.  Don’t go over!   Babe, you are gonna go ov…..”.   Sure enough, I gave a little too much oomph to the jump (not too mention the branch was slicker than snot), and I went completely over the branch and onto the ground below.  I immediately jumped up and yelled out to Melissa, “You got the shot, right?   Tell me you got that shot!”.      She laughed so hard she almost peed herself, but sadly, as soon as she saw me going over, she stopped shooting.   Look closely, you can see me hovering over the branch just a bit.  Poor Kaelan!   I think I grabbed a handful of her hair on the way down.  Lesson learned.   Let the gallant knight be gallant and take the help.

 

This is the other fave.   Just look at that little cutie.   Dad put him up on his shoulders for the hike back to the car, and when we got there he could hear him snoring.   We stayed asleep up there until we took him down to load him in the car.  Just precious, I tell you.   We had to use baby wipes to sop up the drool on Dad’s head, but he didn’t mind. 

The End

Rise and Shine, Birthday Girl!

Kaelan’s birthday fell on a weekday this year, so we had her party a little before her actual day of birth.   It is tradition in our family to have an honorary birthday breakfast of choice.   One year, Kaelan requested Mickey Mouse pancakes, another she had strawberry shortcake pancakes, but this year she had a simple request for a big blueberry muffin and milk.  That was simple enough to whip up and stick a candle in.

Dad and mom were busy the night before blowing up fifty balloons that we used to fill her room.   When she woke up,  she stumbled through the jungle of balloons and headed straight to the bathroom.   When she returned to the room, she was shocked to see all the balloons.   “Did you guys just do this?”, she asked.  Apparently the big shock and awe we were hoping for came second to getting to the bathroom for her morning tinkle.  She did not even see the balloons when she woke up.

 

One of Kaelan’s favorite books is The Secret Birthday Message by Eric Carle.   We used the concept from this book to create a special scavenger hunt for Kaelan.   She loved running around the house finding clues to her next gift.

Kaelan was thrilled to go to school on her birthday.   Mom brought some special Angry Bird treats to the school  later that day.

Kaelan and Daddy (and Seth) also had their traditional “You Say It’s Your Birthday” dance, but I recorded it on my phone and it is temperamental and not uploading right now.  Maybe I will buy it some new apps and it will be nice again.  Then, I will add the video.

 

That evening, Kaelan and her buddy, Darian were treated to an evening at Austin’s Park and Pizza.  They had a blast riding go carts, playing laser tag, and blowing all of mom and dad’s money. 

What can I say?  She is worth it.

An Angry Bird “Appy” Birthday

 

I blinked my eyes, and 6 years flew by.   Poof.   Just like that.

Somewhere in those six years (primarily the last 6 months), the world of technology chased down my little girl, and she became obsessed with the phenom known as Angry Birds.   From the first time she played the game on mom’s iPhone, she made it a known fact that her next party would indeed have an Angry Bird theme.

Great, I remember telling her.  Sounds awesome.  I was certain this fad would die off and she would soon be cruising the isles of the party store with me purchasing My Little Pony party gear…..or some other theme.   But alas, this gal’s heart was set on Angry Birds and it NEVER wavered.

Let me be clear on this.  At the time I begin planning and searching, there was very little out there to help me with my Angry Bird party planning.  Sure, now I am certain you can find all the AB merchandise you could ever want for a party….but then?  Not so much.

We did it, though.   With the help of the world wide web, some creative friends and our gal, Kiwi the Clown.   We did it, and at the end of the day our little Red Bird told us she had the best birthday ever. Whew.

Kiwi works her magic and creates an Angry Bird scenes  on Kaelan and Darian’s faces.

     Check out this creative décor.   No, I did not misspell “Happy” as I was told 294 times that day.   I was being creative.   Get it?  APPy?  As in App?

We had some great games.  Daddy built a big sling shot that shot bean bags at pigs stacked up on blocks.   The initial test shots for this sling did not go so well.   The whiffle ball that we used in the early tests actually shot off over a hundred yards and shattered against the roof of a nearby home.  I think we (meaning dad) misjudged the power of the sling shot.  Plan B was to use small water balloons.  I shot that plan down as soon as I saw what was left of the first green pig target that dad shot it at.   I kept reminding dad that the idea was to let the kids shoot down the plastic pigs…..not take out armored military vehicles.   Plan C  had us use some soft bean bags, and the plan was both safe (somewhat) and successful.  Inside, daddy had the iPad set up to work through the t.v. and the kids could play.   There were also cardboard blocks and plush Angry Bird dolls.  There was also a table with the Angry Birds puzzles and board games.  And what is an Angry Bird party without a big, ugly, green pig piñata to smash? 

 

The “Little Man” spent a good portion of the party picking ladies.  He is a HUGE flirt.  I am pretty sure he got a few phone numbers that day.

I am not, and have never claimed to be a cake decorator.   I know Kaelan really wanted an actual Angry Bird cake, so I decided to try my hand at the fondant and see if I could come up with something that at least looked like Angry Birds.  I just bought a sheet cake and cupcakes from Sam’s, and then went to work.  Kaelan was satisfied with the results, but I warned her that I would not be able to make her cakes for her each year unless she did a ball theme.  Fondant balls, I can handle those.

I mentioned in an earlier post that Kaelan opted to have donations to her well fund instead of presents.   I am happy to report that she met and exceeded her goal.   The Angry Bird Fairy did leave several goodies for her, however, in appreciation for her caring heart.

  Kaelan and Dad’s Angry Bird impression….little scary, no?

 

Thanks for 6 wonderfully magical years, my little bird.   Next year, My Little Pony, okay?

7 Months Star Wars Style

"The force is strong with this one....."

Month by Month: 6

Month 6:

Well, so much for those standing in daddy's chair pics.  You would not go for that this month.  You kept trying to leap out of the chair, so we compromised with letting you creep around it.   This has been a month of compromise, after all, as we learn that we can't always have what we want.....it is a tough lesson, so we are starting early in the hopes of having you understand it by the time you are daddy's age (and that is old). 

Let's see, this month you have become way more independent.  Big sister started school, so the adjustment to not having her there to play with you all the time was a little rough at first.   It seemed the next best thing to having her near was having mama carry you around all day.  That just wasn't in the cards, so you pitched some pretty big fits and learned that slamming your head down on the floor in rage might not be the smartest decision.   That is the saddest thing to see little kids do, but I remember it was a quick lesson to learn for your sister, so I am hoping you are also a quick learner. 

 I HAVE already priced helmets online though, just in case.

The weather cooperated   a few times this month, so we were able to eat outside on the deck and enjoy the playscape.  You absolutely love being outdoors, and the swing is the bomb in your eyes.  I am hoping that the time of spending much more time outside is coming.   Fall will be cooler.  Fall will be cooler.  Repeat after me, FALL WILL BE COOLER!

You started a unique mode of transportation this month.  It is sort of an army crawl/rolly polly/back scooch not so much a crawl, but it gets you from point A to point B.   You still scream like tween girl at a Bieber concert anytime you are on your tummy and start to pull your knees up.   It makes me sad that this seems to hurt you, but as long as you are cool with the arm-ropo-scooch (my little nickname for the movement), I can deal with it. 

You really are all about the walking around stuff.  You zoom in little circles around your activity saucer thing, and you love having us hold your hands and walk you around the house. 

My back is very angry about this, so I feel very strongly that chiropractic college is in your future to make up for this time and the damage you are doing. 

You are still the best sleeper in the world.   Naps are much better, and night time is a dream.   Your sister has started sleep walking (which is a whole crazy blog in itself), so SHE is making sure the "no full night of sleep  for at least a year" rule stands.  

Okay, it is not that bad, but I will tell you we put a safety knob on YOUR door just to keep her out.....yep, it's that weird......

Your favorite food is still sweet potatoes and pretty much anything.  We mix it with corn and green beans and even apples.   You are also loving the chicken and apples baby food.  You started eating those little baby puff things this month.   It is quite hilarious watching you gum them until they dissolve.  We usually break them to bits for you and only give you a few.  You try so very hard to pinch them and pick them up, but  somehow they always end up stuck to some part of your body other than your tongue. 

Swear to the heavens, I found one in your diaper intact the other day.  This was strange considering you were wearing a onsie....and shorts.....and then a diaper.  I have learned not to question how things get in there, especially since the whole trapezoid puzzle block in your sister's diaper incident.

Never did solve that puzzle.....I make a funny.

Your favorite toy is still your Elmo floor gym machine.   Although it has a sit-up mode, you still prefer being down on the floor underneath it.   You love kicking Elmo every time he pops up to play peek-a-boo.   Which is cool because sometimes I want to kick Elmo, too.  

Did I just say that?

This month is going to be the last month you fit in most of your pajamas.  We feel like we put you to bed in them and overnight you grow and are busting out of them when we come to get you in the morning.   I missed the boat on having you wear many of your cute outfits because I thought they would be too big and then when I finally got around to putting them on you, YOU were too big. 

Stop growing up, kid.  It is depressing.

Well, we are going to skip the word from Dad this month.  He is in Chicago right now on business, and if I put this post off, Lord knows it may never get published.

I am off to buy jammies!  I Love You, my Little Sweet Tater!