Atticus' 3rd Birthday Party Part 1

We had two birthday parties for Atticus this year. I'm not sure if I will do that again - a lot of work for all those involved, including some of the guests! But, the reason I would decide to do two birthday parties again would be because of the fun people that came to each to make them so memorable! We decided to do his first birthday party at 10:30 am on April 23rd at the house. I knew that this would be mostly our friends that we play with during the week, so we definitely kid-themed it. Also, we did this a week early because Molly couldn't be in town the next week and not only do I always need hers and GG's help, but she is so much fun! I was really proud of the planning part of the party. We did a barnyard theme, since Atticus loves farm animals! For food, we had: Pigs in a blanket, apple juice boxes, tractor wheels (chocolate covered donuts), hay stacks (rice krispie treats), chicken feed (golden grahams and M&M's covered in melted chocolate), Atticus' vegetable garden (veggies!), strawberries and pineapple, Cheesy Chicks (cheese slices cut in the shape of a chick), Peanut Bunny sandwiches (peanut butter sandwiches in the shape of bunny heads), cupcakes and of course a fabulous cake! The kids got cowbells when they walked in the door and could decorate their "farm" hats with stickers. We had a relay type of game outside that included crawling under hay bales, carrying eggs on spoons, feeding the pig bean bag toss, rubber ducky races, milking the cow or goat (water through holes in plastic gloves), sack races and pin the tail on the donkey. The kids ate their lunches on the hay bales and went home with fun drinking cups filled with a couple little goodies. The kids played with all of Atticus' ranch toys and Atticus got some great gifts from his friends. I think the best part, after all of the planning, is just letting the kids play and talking to the mamas! It was such a fun day and we had such a good time with all of his friends! I'll talk as I put pictures up too!

After the relay race, the kids went back to the games to play a little more. The favorite was either the rubber ducky race or the milking the cow game.....I decided it was because both featured water!

Atticus was wet! Atticus got all kind of fun gifts from his friends and family: a barn and horses, bubbles, hand drawn pictures, books, a  barn and tractor, Memory game, a puzzle, a vet kit, paint, a minion shirt to match his friend Austin, and lots of money!

Then, it was time for lunch on the hay bales!

 

And, finally it was Atticus' favorite time of day. Time to cut the cake! Since the moment he woke up that morning and saw his birthday cake, he asked me when he could eat it. I told him, originally, that he couldn't have any until his friends were here, meaning that he could eat it at his birthday party. But, as soon as the first friend showed up, he wanted cake and continued to ask for it until we finally let him! Also, Atticus loves to be sung Happy Birthday too! He just grins and grins and is so excited to be the center of attention for the birthday song! Also, let me let you know a little information about this cake. So, I decided I wanted a 3-D type of cake. And I wanted to use his animal toys for it as well. So, after lots of discussion between Molly, GG, and I the day before the party, we decided rice krispie treats were the way to go to build the silo and barn. Molly made them and froze them. Then, about 10pm that night, when we started to decorate the cake, she took them out to find they had expanded a little upon freezing. So, when she started icing them and putting them on the cake, they would lean. It was pretty funny because Molly kept saying these were not structurally sound. Well, they worked great for the party, but over the next couple of days, they leaned more and more until they just about fell over. But, they were so cute! She used peanut butter and golden grahams for the tops of them. And we used edible Easter grass GG found for the grass. It was just a really fun cake and Atticus loved it!

 

And, then the party was over. Molly, GG, Atticus and I sat and snacked on party food and visited until Molly had to go. It was SO much fun and I can't believe this little boy is so grown up! Here's a few other pics as well!

 

 So glad Cecilia, Luke (only 2 1/2 months old!), Evelyn & Isabelle came!

Also glad that Sarah, Aubrey, and Austin came to the party!

Lydia is just the cutest and we were really glad we ran into she and her mama, Brandi recently to re-connect!

Nathan was so cute playing and having a good time. Glad he and Megan and Cole got to come!

 Grace wanted Daddy to hold her a lot during this party! (he got to come home for a long lunch just to watch!)

 I'm pretty sure only girls pose for pictures - this was the only posed one I got of all the kids!

 Oh Grace! You are the cutest!

Easter 2014

Each year, our church has the annual Easter Egg hunt on Palm Sunday during Sunday School. I typically help with this event, since I'm on the fellowship committee. Last year was Atticus' first year to hunt eggs, but only Vic went since I had just had Grace and wasn't up to getting out and about quite yet. But, this year, both Grace and Atticus hunted eggs since Grace was walking! Sunday morning we dressed them up adorably and headed to church. I'd helped a friend, Kristi, decorate the day before and thought she did a great job making it so festive! You could color, make "bunny food" (complete with glitter!), eat breakfast and take your picture with the Easter Bunny. I have decided, however, after seeing everyone's "Easter Bunny pictures" all over facebook, that there is no good Easter Bunny costume. They all look kind of scary. And honestly, is a life size bunny realistic? Even more scary. And, I guess when I was growing up, Molly, Charley & I never believed that an actual Easter Bunny existed or that he brought our Easter baskets. We knew that GG brought our baskets and that our family or each other hid the eggs. So, while I love Easter baskets and eggs and love all of the festivities that go along with that type of tradition, I just don't believe in an Easter bunny and don't get too excited about taking a picture with one. So, it is just as well that both Atticus and Grace cried when they saw the bunny and when someone tried to get them to take a picture with the bunny. And, what's worse is that Atticus went into almost fit throwing mode because he didn't want to walk by the bunny station to get to the classrooms in the back where the food, activities, and egg hunt were happening. I understood. But, seriously there was no other way to get there without walking outside and behind the building. And, I wasn't doing that. So, we survived the Easter Bunny experience. And, then we took them out to hunt eggs in the 2-3 year old area. We expected a few more kids than we had in that group, so there were tons of eggs. It was fun to hunt with our friends and their kids, the Tatums and the Mariotts. But, the best part is watching our kids hunt eggs. Atticus still has that thought that as soon as he gets an egg, he thinks it's time to open it. So, he picks up a couple and is ready to open. Although we made him wait to open any, he took his time putting eggs in is basket and would watch other things going on as well. Grace, however, was on a mission. She knew exactly what to do. She would walk to an egg, pick it up, and put in her basket. And then to the next egg and the next egg. This made me laugh because she was only 13 months old! Atticus didn't do this until he was almost 2 years old (and partly because at one year old he was not walking yet). I think she just picks up on things so quickly having a big brother around to help her. So, the Easter Egg hunt was a success and very fun!

This is how our morning began.

Then, the following week was Easter Sunday. Long ago, we started the tradition of staying in College Station for Easter so Vic and I would not have to travel since we traveled for every other holiday. But, these days, with kids we stay here for other holidays too, haha! Typically our Easter Sunday consists of 8am service at church, then home with friends and family that are celebrating with us for brunch or lunch. This year, GG was in town and Katerina came to church and to hang out for the day with us. We had a delicious lunch of pork loin, asparagus, deviled eggs, and Katerina brought monkey bread for dessert! Oh and let me make sure you know that Atticus didn't eat any of thefood above for his lunch. He only ate marshmallow peeps and a chocolate Easter bunny that Katerina brought. I decided for one day it was ok. Then, the kids napped and then Vic took Atticus on an Easter egg scavenger hunt all around the yard. He printed out pictures of places in the yard or the house and Atticus had to keep going to each spot to get the next clue (or picture). In the end, he made his way to his Easter basket, or should I say multiple baskets. Between me, Katerina, Mom, Molly & GG, the kids got lots of fun Easter goodies. I think next year I'll just save my money and let them all do the baskets! They opened baskets and then hunted eggs outside. They were truly exhausted as were we. But, it was really fun!

 

A couple cute moments during opening baskets occurred. 1) GG gave Atticus this bunny and he just hugged it and hugged it and it was so sweet. Even funnier, he told us he was naming the bunny "Chwis". This is funny to Vic and myself because our friend, Chris, is actually trying to get rid of some unwanted bunnies that are living in his backyard possibly by shooting them. Once he heard this, we were sure there was no way he would shoot those bunnies! 2) GG also gave each Atticus and Grace some yogurt melts. This is really just a baby snack, (Freeze dried yogurt drops) but Atticus LOVES them and always wants them. Typically we tell him no. So, GG got them each their own package. It was so cute when he pulled it out of his basket and said "Yook Gwace - yogut melts for you!" and then when we told him they were really for him, he looked so happy and surprised and just hugged them so tight and said "oh thank you!" .He was so happy that those yogurt melts were his and we could not stop laughing. The sweetest thing to me was the way he immediately got excited to tell Grace he had yogurt melts for her, before of course, he knew they were his!

One last thing we did, a couple days later, was a tradition called cascarone eggs. Apparently, they are real eggs filled with confetti and you crack them over people's heads. Sounds fun, right? It's not. Vic did a couple on Atticus and then surprised me with one. I would have enjoyed it. Except....it hurt! I was shocked that he had just slammed something onto my head. I was actually angry and hurt. And still in shock. I nixed that game right away and the rest were smashed on the ground or on the tree. I immediately worried that it hurt Atticus as much as it hurt me. And that would be terrible! I don't know if Vic was rougher on me, (although he was not trying to be and it is not meant to be a rough activity) or if this is just the way the game goes. But, seriously, it was terrible. Never again will we crack eggs on one another's heads. You may think I'm dramatic, but it hurt for at least 24 hours on the top of my head. 

GG's Arrival

So, for the weeks between Grace's birthday party and Atticus', Atticus would constantly ask me if it was his birthday yet and it would be followed with "Will GG be here?" It eventually moved into him jus telling anyone that asked about his birthday that "GG will be here for my birthday and Easter!". He is always excited to see his GG and since she gets to come on a regular basis, it is something for him to look forward to. She was set to arrive Saturday morning, the day before Easter. She got there around 10:30 or so and at the time she arrived, the kids and Vic were outside mowing and doing yard chores. So, they were both pre-occupied. In fact, when she came in through the garage door to the house, he was on the porch but didn't see her. So, she said not to bother him and she and I sat down to visit while they were outside. It was probably 30 or 40 minutes without Atticus being in the house. I think Grace must have been in with us by now. Apparently, during this time, Atticus and Vic were outside in the front yard and he had seen her car, but hadn't put two and two together that it was GG's car to know she was here. He kept asking about it and Vic would not reveal whose car it was and they kept working away. All of a sudden, outside, Vic said it clicked and he ran towards the door to the house. From my view, he walked in the door. He looks at the ground and sees GG's purse and bags and gasps for air. Then he looks away and gasps again and then looks at the bags and says "oh my goodness!" and then he looks in the living room and spots her and runs as fast as I've ever seen him and gives her the biggest hug ever! He was so excited and just kept hugging her. For about the next 45 minutes, we noticed that he did not ask for the Ipad either. This was a big deal! He loves GG for lots of things, but he loves her Ipad too. And he always wants to play it. So, the fact that the didn't even think about it for that long was a big deal! It was just a fun memory and fun to see him so excited!

2014 Wildflower pictures

When I was growing up, I never recall our family going to take pictures with bluebonnets. I do not know if we just didn't have many around or if it just really wasn't a big deal to my parents. And, really when I think about it, I don't know why it is a big deal period. I know they only come around once a year and I know they are really pretty and when you find a field full of bluebonnets or wildflowers, you want to capture that picturesque moment. But, I think it's funny that I have never cared about them at all....until I had kids of my own. We took Atticus in 2012, when he was about 1 for pictures on the side of the road on William D. Fitch in College Station. That is where I learned that up close, the flowers are not near as fun because they are all spread out and it's hard to find that perfect spot to put your child. Also, you just about have to put them on a blanket because there are ants and sticks and other less than comfortable grassy areas for your child to sit on. So, why do people do this? I really have no idea. But, while I skipped last year because Grace was just born and I didn't have the time, I decided again this year that we must have them taken. THe good thing about this year is that a retired department head at TAMU, (and actually our friend Katherine's dad) took a big plot of grass by the AgriLife buildings that Vic works in and planted lots of wildflowers. So, when they grew, we decided that was the easiest way to try to take them. The event itself was still not as easy, but I didn't have to worry about rough terrain and since both kids can walk, it was easier to take their picture. Atticus was not in a mood to listen much, but we did get a few pictures. And the best part was that we met Vic in his office about 11:30 to see him and then at noon, we took pictures and he took the rest of Good Friday off to have a long weekend! Here are the pictures below!

 Check out that hair!

Helping Daddy around the house

Atticus absolutely loves to help Vic do work around the house and outside. Anything that has to do with tools or lawn equipment, Atticus wants to help him. And, of course, Vic makes everything fun and always includes him in the projects. So, this particular night was no exception. Vic decided to hang my large window picture frames that I recently bought at Canton. It was a big project because Vic has to have everything exactly measured out and centered and then put this ginormous things on the wall. So, it included some plans, some tools, and Atticus to help. Here are some pictures below.