More park adventures!

We went to meet Nicole and her family at Joe Tucker today. Well, we should have realized that with it being Spring Break here, EVERYONE would have the same idea! There were so many kids there that Nicole and I were both a nervous wreck trying to keep up with 7 kids combined! So it was a short trip, then we picked up a pizza and headed back over to my house for lunch and more playtime! We had fun, Nicole!

Playdate at the Park

Mondays are pretty laid back at our house... we only have one drop off and pick up since Bry doesn't go to school that day. So we thought it would be a good day to plan a play date with some new friends. I've been catching up with Kristy on Facebook and we decided to get our kids together to run off a little energy at the park since the weather has been so fantastic!


We got there a little before they did and all Bryant wanted to do was help his sister. I just love this about him. When he is with her... he is all about her. He gets on her level and plays with her.

Then Kristy got there with Annalise and Gideon. The kids instantly hit it off and Kristy and I went about trying to talk and catch up while keeping up with active kids!

Two pretty princesses! They were so cute together! Soph kept saying, "Baby!" like she isn't one herself. Love it!I love how Gideon kept coming up to me and saying, 'Hey, Bryant's Mom...' He is such a cute and sweet little man.

Sophie liked picking the 'fow-ers.' She picked a dandelion and I told her she needed to blow it and she put it right on her lips... too funny!

Monkey boy, Bryant! He loves to climb and be a daredevil!

Bryant checked to make sure there weren't any Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in this drain when we went for a bathroom break!

We're so glad we got to play with our new friend, "Indian" (that's what Bryant called Gideon)!

Sabbatical Sunday

Today was sabbatical Sunday for our church... a church-wide day of rest and restoration. And man did we enjoy it! We had a family day, and made the most of our time!

We started off with everyone sleeping in, then having a big breakfast... pancakes, bacon, eggs, and fruit. After that, we all got ready and headed over to the boys' favorite park that has a huge sand pit. Well heading to that park put me in the vicinity of my favorite CVS and since I had gotten to clip some coupons while the kiddos slept, I was ready! No pic, but I did pretty good.

Then we hit the park for an hour or so.

After that, we went and met my Mom and sister, Jennie at Olive Garden for lunch. It was so good! And we had the best waiter. Then we made a few stops at TJ Maxx, Ross, Wal-Mart, and Books-A-Million and made a few purchases. Then we headed over to my Mom's house to swim for a while!

Mom & Jennie had gone to see a movie, so they called on their way home and said they were bringing home cookie dough. So we waited and made some cookies and clipped coupons together! :)

I love these kind of days. My kids had fun... we had fun... and we just enjoyed being a family!

Heroes, Turtles, and Ninjas... Oh My!

As I posted last week, Bryant turned four... for some reason that makes me want to cry just typing it. He seems so 'big boy' to me lately. Anyway, since I had volleyball obligations and my Dad's birthday the weekend before his birthday, we planned his party for the weekend after.

Bryant was given a choice of either going to Disney for a long weekend (since we are current annuel passholders) or having a party. After much diliberation, he decided to have a party. He wanted to have a Super Hero party complete with costumes. And he and Tres came to the conclusion that the perfect place for a Super Hero party was as Hero's Park. That worked for me since it is minutes from my house and this particular park does not require you to reserve a time or pavilion or anything!

Here was his invitation this year:We emailed this to a family and a couple of good friends. This is how Bryant went to church when they had a dress up day. He wanted to be Lego-Man, so I made the box costume part, and he came up with the rest. Bryant dressed up as Superman... and was so cute running around with his cape flapping in the wind!

Although he wanted a hero party, Bry did not want a hero cake... he wanted an all chocolate Lego cake... so this is what I came up with: Professional it is not, but I'm proud just the same. I tackle making them a cake every year, even if it ends in disaster (does anyone remember the Hershey Bar burnt brick?).

His cousins and friends came and they had a blast playing on the playground, then playing some party games. We had a cupcake eating contest for kids then one for adults... I didn't get any digital pics, but I think Hank got some video, so I'll try to post that soon. Then we let the kids use the pinata as a target and try to hit it with a frisbee, then a football. And we hid a couple of eggs and let the kids hunt them for special door prizes.
After all the games, we went ahead and let the kids attack the pinata! And let me tell you... they ATTACKED that sucker! It never had a fighting chance. I think Sierra never even got a whack at it cause all the boys swung so hard! Then it was time for cake and presents. I thought since we had done a cupcake eating contest that they wouldn't want cake, but I was wrong... they all wanted a piece that had a Lego part on it!Here's a baseball cap clad ninja, football man, and Superman choosing their pieces.Bryant got some great stuff too! He got a kite, a bubble gun, a Star Wars Galactic Hero Millenium Falcon, and a bunch of other things... including a Starbucks card (Decaf Mocha Frappacinos, remember?)!

It was a gorgeous day and we had so much fun! Here are some random shots from the party.

November?

Can you please explain to me how it is mid-November and we are still experiencing hot days?? I took the boys by the park again today to let them run out a little energy. There was hardly anyone there, so I took advantage of the beautiful weather and scenery and snapped a few pics of two of my favorite guys!

Park Days

The weather here has been absolutely gorgeous lately. Chilly in the mornings and evenings, but perfect in the middle of the day. We've been able to take advantage of some time at the park lately. This particular day, we met Tonnie, Sierra, and Luke.Aunt Tonnie got her a little neck sugar from my little sweet pea!She didn't seem to mind at all. She loves being outside and, like all kids, she sleeps like a log after she's been in the fresh air a while.

Tres, Bryant, Luke, and a little boy they found to play with wanted to play by the lake (under our watchful eye, of course!).It wasn't long after this that I saw Tres playing a little too close to the water, and called him back over. Here's how he looked:Bryant told us that he didn't want to get dirty. So, Tres took all the mud. That shirt is still not clean!

"Bakery"

Beautiful weather has made my kids want to go park hopping the last few weeks! And they finally found a park that they have deemed their 'favorite.' Joe Tucker in Helena has an excellent playground in the back near the ball fields. It has a huge sand pit too and that keeps them entertained for hours! I took them to the park a couple of days ago. Now the boys decide that they will make a friend and play with that friend every time they go. This time was no different. I watched Bryant check out all the kids, single out a cute little brunette boy and befriend him. They would play in the sand... then head over to the merry go round. And as they walked, Bryant would put his hand on the little boys back and pat it. Bry finally remembered his brother (who had been playing in the sand with his Star Wars ships) and runs over and says, "Tes, I made us a friend! Come on! Come play with us!"

Not long after, my sister Tonnie and her kids came and met us to play for a while. Tonnie was at the swing with Tres and Sierra, when their friend came over and here is the story Tonnie related to me:

Tonnie: Who's your friend, Tres?
Tres: Ummm, this is my friend, Jakery... Zakery... Bakery!! Come on, Bakery... let's go play.
Sierra: His name is Zachary, Mom.

Tonnie said she about wet her pants laughing!