Snowman Par-tay

I know I'm super lucky that so far I only have to plan one birthday party a year! Graham & I had fun looking back through his previous parties last week. Even though he doesn't remember year 1 & 2, he still thought they were pretty cool! This year, the right theme just wasn't coming to me...and then out of no where....it was snowmen! It was a fun theme, and gracious, so, so easy! You can do a lot with cotton balls & marshmallows. :) This was probably the easiest & lowest stress birthday we've done! Since we don't have family nearby, (although we were SO excited that aunt katie flew in for the weekend), Eden got her 2 friends, and Graham had 4 friends. It's so convenient that 2 of Graham's friends have little sisters. :) We were excited to include some of our neighbors this year who Graham plays with outside all the time. And his buddy Zephyr (from our Momtourage group), they've shared each birthday together since they were 1!

What to do with leftover invitations that you'll never use again?

Make a welcome banner!

I will have to share my sweet potato cupcake recipe very soon...so yummy!

The kiddos had pb&j snowmen and the adults had sloppy joes.

 

We had just enough snow to go sledding in the backyard - love being able to do an outdoor activity, even in February! And then they wrapped Andrew in TP like a snowman.

*Note to self: expect that using a marshmallow centerpiece will result in it being half eaten. :)

A fun day and thankful for the friends that made it special!

{and thanks to Katie for the pretty pics!}

Our little one is 2.

Last Sunday, February 10 was Eden's 2nd birthday. We see her leaving babyhood behind and becoming a strong, independent little toddler. Emphasis on I like to do things my way. :) She is spunky, feisty, and into everything, but cracks you up in a second with her hilarious faces & goofy charms. The other day I was getting frustrated because she was touching everything! And as I began to scold her, she broke out in this crazy dance. I could only laugh. I think God knew I needed that moment. :) I love to hear her sing-song words o-kay, (th)kank-you, mom-meeee?

I wish I could capture all her funny faces!

She is chattering more & more these days. She's always asking where "Gray"(ham) is. She has a naughty streak just for fun....discipline doesn't seem to faze her over it. I guess all we do is stay consistent and pray for patience and wisdom. :) All day she asks when we can go buh-bye. Apparently our house is a little dull? She loves going to church. Her main passions in life right now are coloring (lolor, lolor!) and reading books. I try to hold to the rule that anytime my kiddos ask me to read to them, I will stop and read. She likes this rule a lot. :) Her fave book is Moo, Baa, La La La and it's cute to watch her sit and read it, she seriously has it memorized. She loves to copy Graham. She eats very tiny amounts most meals. Like Graham, she would prefer to exist on only fruits & vegetables. Thanks to her big brother she has picked up the word "ew" a whole year sooner than he did. :) And boy does this girl have a sweet tooth! I don't think candy or ice cream was in Graham's vocab until he was about 3. She brings up one of them at least once a day. And most days is disappointed. :) She loves to sing and we love to listen to her funny little songs. We discovered a few months ago that going to sleep with music playing helped her stay in her bed. And now she sings herself to sleep.

She loves to get a blanket and snuggle. She is our snugglebug! 

It is very difficult to get her to play. Seems like she spent an awful lot of the last year fussing because she was bored! But slowly she is starting to play a little more on her own and with G as well. Happy day! She loves playing games on my phone...however it only takes about 30 seconds for her to hit a button that backs her out. :-/ Graham is teaching her how to play angry birds. And it cracks me up to hear a barely 2 year old say angry birds! The TV is very rarely on when she is awake, so the few times I would have liked for her to sit and watch something, she loses interest after about 2 minutes. I guess that's not a bad thing, but I wouldn't mind having that option occasionally. :)

She loves her football shirt. :) And love, loves her daddy.

She finally has enough hair to put in a ponytail, but her brother still has her beat. :)

Some pics snapped by Aunt Katie at her birthday party!

 

 

Keepin' it real.

We love you Eden Hope and are so thankful God chose to put you in our family!

Happy four.

Whether he is.................

doing flips

 loving his game time with mommy & daddy after Eden goes to bed

 Super Owl

learning to play piano

 loving his sister

(opposite moments happen as well, but he is a good big brother)

 reporting for duty & making a lot of arrests

 playing

 drawing

 dressing like dad

(he always puts on a tie....and when was the last time Andrew wore a tie?!)

asking every day when "his brother" is going to come share his bunkbed

 or LOVING the snow

this boy always manages to stay busy! We have very few dull moments since this one joined our family.

Funnies........
*Dad said I couldn't have gum for the rest of my life.

*told his friend, "You need to be patient. Only the Lord can help you with that." Mmmm, he is occasionally listening. :)

*told me "let's play the rhyming game, I'll give you a word and you tell me a word that rhymes.  Here's your word: Albuquerque." Say what??

Here's his list of birthday questions for this year:

1. What is your favorite color? blue & black and other colors that are bright

 2. What is your favorite toy? Buzz Lightyear

3. What is your favorite fruit? every kind

 4. What is your favorite tv show? Dumbo

5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? ham & cheese sandwich 

6. What is your favorite outfit? Big Ben shirt (go Steelers!)

7. What is your favorite game? Candyland

8. What is your favorite snack? graham crackers (ironic.)

9. What is your favorite animal? Barf Boo. (his dog and I don't know how this name came about)

10. What is your favorite song? b-i-b-l-e

11. What is your favorite book? Curious George

12. Who is your best friend? Avalon

13. What is your favorite cereal? granola & yogurt

14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? play in the backyard

15. What is your favorite drink? juice

16. What is your favorite holiday? Halloween

17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night?  his Bee

18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? granola & yogurt

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? ham & cheese sandwich and no vegetables.  Although he eats his veggies very well, we may be able to comply for one meal. :)

20. What do you want to be when you grow up? a dad

We love you Graham Owen, you make us laugh every day and we love seeing you grow & learn. Happy Four!