Jedi Training Camp--AKA Gymnastics BDay

OK--I'm nuts when it comes to parties.  Love them and I swear in another life I will be an event planner.  Secretly it's one of my passions to throw a fun party.  Ian had his 5th birthday party at All Around Gymnastics and they did such a great job with the Jedi Training Camp.  Starwars is his newest passion and we had so much fun with it.  Kids loved taking home lightsabers too!!!  Seriously--would love to do this all the time but with every fun event is a bit of learning that comes along.  What did I learn? 

-Parent drop off parties are still lots of fun!!  I wasn't sure about it this year but it really was a blast.
-Kids really get it at 5.  (Example- we had a small cake for Ian decorated with Darth Vader that was at most a 4 person cake.  Well--the kiddos at the cake end of the table had a very heated and engaged debate on how all the kids at the party were going to get cake when the cake is so SMALL...  I loved it!!)
-5 year old kiddos are not quite ready for sparkler candles--I think I terrified half of the kids at least 3 peed their pants--not really but it was definitely an attention getter)

-5 year olds can have a TON of fun!!!!!

Silly Sweet Naughty and Nice Luke Man



What !?!?!  I have a dirty face???



You have to be kidding me!

Fine--maybe it's dirty but YOU will not wipe it off!!

Even Batman loves a good lollie!!

Tiny Town

We wrote a letter for Oma and mailed it

Clean shave

No 5'clock shadow here

Ian and his best buddy Owen

Ian is the traffic director for Owen and Nicholas

Ian's school had a tiny town and it was so cute to see the kids work in the minature town.  Ian and I worked at the hardware store, mailed a letter in the post office, Ian had a shave and a cut in the barber shop, drove the cars through the car wash and went to the city hall to meet a police man.  Serious cuteness!

First Sleep Over

We had our first real sleep over and how much fun!!  Mia and Eli had a blast spending the night and all four kids played SO well together.  It was a blast to see them all gel together.  I think it will be the first of many.

Happy 5th Birthday!!

My big man really is getting BIG!  My super sweet first born turned 5 this week and it seems like such a big birthday.  He has officially left the preschool stage and it now a BOY.  He has had such a break out year-shedding lots of his shyness and really taking on a bolder personality.  Can't believe it was just 5 years ago that Marco and I jumped into the most amazing jobs that we could ever imagine.  It's been such a wonderful trip and getting to see the world through his eyes has been oh so fabulous!  We've had lots of fun, laughs, giggles, tears, screams and it just keeps getting better. 

Everything I thought I knew...

Well--I wasn't expecting this one...  MR LUKE at 20 months has figured out how to climb out of his crib.  WHAT....  today after a struggle for nap and going back to his room three times to console him I thought that I had won.  It was really quiet in his room and after a small little victory dance, I went down stairs.  It was about 10 minutes and I hear the click of the top gate shut and boy oh boy the little man was on the stairs with a guilty grin 10 miles wide.  I still can't believe it !!!  What now?  This is new territory for mamma--I guess we will be shopping for a big boy bed this weekend.

So Luke is officially my little monkey climber where his brother was definitely the jumper.  I put him back in the bed and was asking him what he did.  In true Luke fashion (no words..  just action), he used his arms to pull his body up just enough in the corner to swing his leg up and over.  Voila out of the bed!!!  Big SIGH...  but I have to love his determination.  Ian is my child that will talk, or dare I say whine, you into submission (maybe a corporate lawyer or UN negotiator in his future).  Then I have the child that goes in a room, accesses the situation and walks right in to take what he wants!  All the while flashing a charming little smile so you forget he just took your watch (sales--definitely sales in his future).

Wow what you start figuring out about the world while raising children.  It's so obvious just how different personality types are and how they start to emerge far before the child has the maturity to formally express himself or herself.  So early you can see what drives a child and generates the energy that makes them go.  It's also so beautiful to see those personalities navigate the world and how they treat the world differently.  Truly a ever changing battlefield!!!

Sometimes you win.... sometime well you win

Ok there are days when the kids are just so funny how can you not write it down.  Ian and Luke fill every minute of my day with fun, laughs, screams and giggles.  Sometime in the last couple of months we have achieved this amazing balance but boy do they get the best of me some days!  This was one of the days that they both amazed me in the best and funniest ways.  Many days I fail to see the beautiful moments that happen every day.  It's so easy to get caught up in what has to be done, where you need to be, what you have or don't have that it's nice to stop and take a breath.  In those small "breathing" moments it's so wonderful to take some time to see what incredible little people I am blessed to have in my life. I don't want to forget the silly little moments-

-When we were getting ready this morning Ian decided I wasn't keeping up with the laundry as I should.  He took it into his own hands to "really get his socks and undies clean and taken care of.." and loaded up the washing machine.  I love it!!! Some girl will thank me in the future if he is already doing laundry!
-Dinner really rocked tonight and Ian was especially enthusiastic about eating of all things, MEATLOAF??  He told us it was the best meal ever and decided it was so good he should "slap his mother"! thanks Marco.  Haha
-Luke has been super snugglie lately and nothing melts my heart more.  We have a new morning routine where Marco gets him up and he snuggles with me for about 15 minutes before we really have to get up.  It is is an absolutely perfect way to start the day.  This morning was particularly special because I was lucky enough to get snuggles form both of my boys.  Can't beat that !!!  Even this night owl can love these mornings.
-Luke blew my mind when he counted out one, two, three, four...  we have been practicing anytime we walk up the stairs or do repetitive activities.  I count just to expose him to the numbers or get him to move along.  I was floored and so proud of the little smartie!!
-I am also trying something new with Ian--those cute ears are having lots of trouble listening.  Ohhhh so frustrating to say things over and over and over and over then end in yelling .  So my new zen is allowing Ian to choose and getting one chance.  I am sooo trying not to yell but hold firm with what I say and Ian has to learn to live with the consequences of his choosing not to listen.  Wish me luck--this one is so hard for this hot tempered mama.  I am going to win--I know Ian is such a good kid but we have to find a better place with the listening.  Deep breath and sigh.... please work!!
-Luke's new thing is to put things in his onsie to hide them.  So we have found pacifiers, hot wheel cars, coins, ..  we could keep going here.  Today-it was so funny to see him try and stuff big mega blocks down his shirt.  He had his shirt stretched out and could hardly move.  What goes through his head??

It's an adventure raising two boys!!!