Taft's Birthday Weekend

Taft turned 5 on June 2.  Since it fell on a weekend, we had a small party at school with his friends on Friday.  We didn't do a lot on his actual birthday.  He got to swim, he got to see the ice cream truck and we gave him a SpongeBob Snowcone machine.  He also got birthday cards in the mail and money from MawMaw Geneva.  Later in the weet, he got his first set of Legos from Mawmaw and Pawpaw.  Not only Legos, but also SpongeBob.

 

I think he had a pretty good time!

Taft's 5th Birthday | VPK Party at School

Yesterday we had Taft a little birthday party at his school.  I have loved having him there.  Mom's and Dad's can come on the day closest to their child's birthday and have a party with them.  They always make you feel like you are welcome and enjoy the parties with the children.
Last year, Taft had a SpongeBob party at school.  We were going for another theme this year, but when Shane and I went to order cupcakes and saw the little burger ones, we knew he needed another SpongeBob party with Krabby Patties.  He was completely surprised.

 First bite of a Krabby Pattie.  We told him that SpongeBob made them.

 The kids loved them!  I loved how great they looked.  No detail was left out.  They even had real sesame seeds.  We got 24 for $15.99 at Target.  ;0

 Taft's hat from Mrs. Linda.

The birthday boy himself.  Now we are gearing up for his "big" party next weekend.  And of course, VPK graduation this week.

Weekend Review

This are starting to get a little more normal this week.  Taft was back in school for an entire week and the report from his teachers was that he was great.  I was worried with being out of school  for almost an entire three weeks.  I just knew that he was going to go back and drive them crazy.
I have been behind on everything.  Blogging, link ups, emails, comments, and all housework in general.  I am finally starting to dig myself out.  So if you have contacted me and not heard a response, I promise that I am getting to you.  With Taft being sick and travel and me not taking my medicine the way that I should, I sometimes feel like me head is spinning and nothing is ever going to get done.
On Saturday, we went to a sweet little friends birthday party.  She was turning two!  Isn't she the cutest little thing?

The boys also enjoyed riding in the wagon.  Taft even tried pulling people.  He did pretty well in fact.

And to follow in the tradition started last year, Joyce gave Taft a thank you kiss for his gift.  He got a little blushy this year.

Then on Sunday, we finally got around to painting Taft's dinosaurs.  He got them as a birthday gift in June.  With all the craziness this last month, it was the first time we were home and well.

Now off to the rest of the week.

4th Birthday Dinosaur Party

Last Sunday, Taft had his 4th Birthday Party.  We decided on a pool party, something that we have not done since his 1st birthday.  The kids are a little older now and able to be in the pool without all the parents being in there with them.  I was lucky to have help with photos that day.  Shane's BIL was able to use my camera outside while I was dealing with food and my sweet friend Casey, who is a photographer, was here too.  In fact, my favorite photo of the day is one that she took.  I would have never thought of getting him to do this, and he may not have done it for me anyone.  Isn't it great?

There are so many great photos from that day and I am only going to post the main highlights.
Another favorite is this great picture of Taft doing one of his favorite things - getting tossed in the pool.  Thanks Uncle Scott.

 And sweet baby Stran using Taft as a ring toss was just too cute.

 I cooked all the food for the party.  I tell myself that I am going to make things easy and enjoy the party.  I did do a little better this time.  We had the food set up on the island in the house.  Since we were invited a lot of little kids, we decided that a hot grill be the pool was not a good idea.  I did hot dogs in the crock pot (an idea I got off Pinterest) and I made Puerto Rican Style Pork Shoulder.  The meat was a three day process but was so worth it.  For sides we had baked beans, cole slaw, and Taft's favorite homemade macaroni and cheese.  Guests had the option of using the pulled pork on a sandwich or just one it's on.
When we started looking at cakes online, Taft told me that he wanted me to make the cupcakes.  This is something else that I said I would not do again.  Years have passed though and I finally figured out the easiest way for me to make them.  I ordered these adorable toppers that matched his invitations, treat bag tags, and thank you notes.  (All from Green Apple Paperie)  I ordered the file and had them printed at Staples.  My niece, Izzy, glued them to Popsicle sticks after I punched them out.
Taft picked out the icing color and the cupcake liners.

 I was in Dollar Tree and saw that they had a lot of dinosaur themed pool toys.  We got 12 rings and 6 beach balls.  My nephew, Evan, helped blow them up the day before the party.  The kids loved them.

 For the treat bags, I got plastic dinosaurs, Blow Pops, Smarties, and Sour Straws.  All favorites of Taft.  I put them in simple brown paper bags and used the cute tags that I ordered.

And we ordered balloons online that are the dinosaurs from the show Dinosaur Train.  Taft loved the one of Buddy that was as big as he was.

Taft was so happy to have Gran and his cousins here for the days leading up to the party.  He was also so happy that two of his friends from Preschool were able to come.  I was so thankful to have Izzy, Evan, and Gran there to help with all the things needed to get ready.  And Casey taking photos and Yvette making sure that I did the pork the right way was wonderful.
We all had a great time.  Taft was so excited all day and told me that he had the "best day".  Nothing can be better than that.  But he was so tired and excited that he didn't go to bed until late.  By the time that he woke up on Monday, he was just too tired to go to school.  Lucky for me, Gran was still at our house and he stayed home to rest.  I am pretty sure that he is spoiled rotten.

Birthday Weekend Fun

This is just a little peak at our weekend.  It was Taft's birthday on Saturday and his party was on Sunday.  My MIL, BIL and his wife, and Taft's cousins Izzy and Evan, got to our house on Thursday night.  We loved having them all there.  Gran is still with us until Wednesday so Taft is getting a little more time with her today.

We had two birthday parties, did a lot of cooking, and are pretty much dead tired.  Hopefully I will get the Dinosaur Party pictures up later this week.  There are so many to go through and pick from.

Trevor enjoying a nice glass of water from his SpongeBob cup.

Evan became good friends with Gilbert while enjoying

My new Hispanic spices for my Puerto Rican Style Pork Shoulder.

Taft loved "making Izzy pretty" with pretend make-up.

He even brushed her eyebrows.  And then he broke the eyebrow brush. It was Chelsea's, and she was very nice to tell him that it was okay because she has others.

Taft also enjoyed Izzy "making him pretty".

Taft went into Chelsea's things and found her sparkly shoes.  He said that they are magic.

He could not get enough of helping and watching Izzy get ready.

Evan helped me blow up 12 dino rings and 6 dino beach balls to decorate the pool.

Taft got some small gifts on Saturday since it was his "real" birthday.  He loved his pink pig for bath time.

He was also happy to get "gas for his lawnmower"  aka bubbles.

His bag was full of bubble bath and shampoo and body wash.  He loves soap and had to smell everyone.

Today I am linking up with The Things We Find Inside for I Love My Online Friends.

Happy Pre-Birthday Taft!!

Taft's birthday is tomorrow.  Shane and I both took the day off today to get things ready for his big party on Sunday.  We had shopping to do and lots of prep work on the house and the food.  So far, so good.
We also are very lucky to have family here to visit.  Shane's mom, brother, SIL, and children (Izzy and Evan), got here last night.  Taft is completely loving them being here, so it was hard to get him to go to school this morning.  I had to remind him that we were coming to get him early and do his school party.  He was fine with that.
Taft decided on his theme himself.  We looked at a few different things and he went with SpongeBob.  I myself am not a huge fan of SpongeBob, but I love to see my sweet boy happy.  He also wanted cheese puffs and yellow icing on the cupcakes.  Done.  I did add apples slices to have some healthy choice on the little ones plates.
Here are just a few pictures from his school party.  He has a great looking group of friends and they are invited here on Sunday.  I hope that they all get to come.

 

Play Date and Farm Party

We had a busy weekend!  Taft is starting to get a social calendar and that means not a lot naps on Saturdays and Sundays. 
We started out on Saturday with a play date with his "best fend" CJ at his house.  They had not seen each other since January.  I promise that they were happy to see each other, but I could not get both of them to look at the camera at the same time.

On Sunday we had a birthday party.  Our friend, Stran, was turning 1!  He had a great farm party complete with pony and horse rides, potato sack races, stick horse races, baby animals to pet (chicks and a calf), goldfish, a pretend cow set up for roping, a barrel cow to play rodeo, and a hayride to feed the cows.  It was so perfect!

 Shane trying to convince Taft that the calf was friendly.

 The birthday boy!  How cute is he?

Here are just a few of the decorations.  The drink options were my favorite.  We had lemonade, sweet tea, and milk.

Casey did an awesome job!  It will be hard to top.  ;0