Parker's Birthday!

Parker had a fun birthday, despite having it start off not-so-hot.  In the middle of the night Friday/Saturday, Parker woke up throwing up and had a little temperature.  He was mostly dry-heaving, and you could hear his little tummy rumbling.  It called for a night of little sleep for both me and him.  I worried about our day on Saturday, because we had a busy one planned!  Thankfully, Parker woke up with no temperature and never had an issue again with his stomach.  All 5 of us didn't feel completely up-to-snuff this weekend, so I'll chalk it up to a little virus.

Parker got to open his presents from us Saturday before Sydney's party.  It's funny how boys completely gravitate towards cars/trains/trucks.  That was mostly what he got for his birthday, and he LOVED them!  (no more Dora toys!)

For Sydney's party, Stephen had to wake Parker from his nap (remember- he hadn't slept much the night before) so he was a bit out of sorts.  Cranky.  However you want to put it.  Once he got his fruit salad, drink, and lollipop, he was good to go!

We then met my family up at the Mall of GA for dinner for his birthday!  His cousin, Kerrigan, offered plenty of entertainment.  He got to open presents (as did Sydney), eat, play, and enjoy the company.  He didn't even crash in the car on the ride home, which I thought he would... though he did sleep for 11 hours last night!

One of Sydney's gifts!

The cake we were all too full to eat!

Happy birthday to my little buddy!

Sydney's Birthday Party

Sydney celebrated her 6th birthday yesterday at Night Owl Frozen Yogurt.  If this place sounds familiar, it's because that's where Taylor had her party last year.

Sydney had 7 friends, plus her brother and sister, come.  They got to color pictures, make fruit loops necklaces, and make paper airplanes.  They also got to make a fro-yo masterpiece, eat, drink, and enjoy cupcakes.  Nothing like sugaring up a bunch of 5/6 year olds and then sending them home!

I think the kids had a great time.  Here are some pics!

About to leave!

Taylor, Isabelle, and Sydney coloring.

Sweet Nathan.

Present time!

The real birthday boy!

"Ba Ba"s make everything better.

24 months!

My baby is TWO!  Happy birthday to Parker!!

Lots of new accomplishments this month include:

• Lots more talking... I can't keep up anymore!
• He can sing songs (not always the words, but he'll do the tunes), do motions.  
• He can say a lot of the ABCs.
• He can count, with help- if I say one, he'll say two, three, I'll say four, he'll say five, six, "seben", eight, nine, ten.
• He is getting to the point where I'm comfortable with him climbing on beds, chairs, couches, because I know he knows how to get back down, safely.
• We got rid of his booster seat at the dinner table... he now sits in the normal chair.
• He can go upstairs fine, and he's pretty much got the downstairs down- I'm just still nervous.  Baby gates might be able to get put up soon!
• He's starting to throw those two year-old tantrums.  
• He climbs up the playground ladder by himself. He's gone down the slippery slide by himself before, but the last time his shoe got stuck and he totally tumbled all the way down.  Not a proud mommy moment.
• He attended his first fall festival of the season.
• He loves playing with his sisters.
• He loves Thomas the Train, Caillou, and Handy Manny.
• He has zero desire to have anything to do with the potty!

This is what he looks like when he says, "Noo, Noo, Noooo!"

Playing with his buddy, Caleb.

Selfie-Sunday.

Balloon animal!

Picnic.

Don't take my book!

Parker: 1, Sydney: 0

Typical!

No more booster seat!

This will be the last monthly blog for Parker!  It's been fun!

Fall Festival, Birthday, and more!

Last weekend was fun, but busy!

Friday night, we went to dinner with our new minister, his wife, and son.  We met them at Johnny's Pizza and we enjoyed our company.  We didn't get home till late, so we skipped baths and put our tired kids to bed.

Saturday morning, we woke up extra early, and I took all 3 kiddos with me up to north GA, where my parents live.  I was running in a 5K at a park near their house, and they so kindly offered to watch the kids and take them to breakfast.  Stephen was busy doing the "Mancathlon" event at our church.

The race was fun, though I was running late to get to the start, and then had to run my t-shirt and packet all the way back to my car, and then back again to the starting line.  I probably ran 1.5 miles before the race even began!  You have to love a small town race- they waited for me to get back before they started!  Luckily, I got back at 8:01, so it wasn't too much of a wait.

Anyways, the race was great- I ended up getting my PR!  (To all you people out there, I'm not a very fast runner).  The cool thing is that this included some walking time- there was about 3/4 of a mile that was uphill gravel that totally got into my head.  I probably walked a total of 2 minutes.

I went to the awards ceremony and got 2nd in my age group.  Then, mom, dad, and the kiddos met me and we went to the fall festival.  It was fun!  The kids got to play on bouncy houses, the playground, watch a puppet show, get balloon animals, etc.  We got some lunch and had a little picnic.  

 Right after lunch, we started to head back to the car, as naptime was approaching...

... and that was a good idea, as you can see.

The next day, I celebrated my birthday!  The big 3-4!  Stephen had to fly to Vegas early that morning for work, so he and the kids got me cards and a sweet present the night before.  The kids and I went to church, and then Sydney went to play with Raegan at her house.  The other two kids and I hung out, I took a nap (fitting, since I'm old now, huh?) and we went to our small group that afternoon.  It was Raegan's dad's (Tim's) birthday, too, so they were sweet and got us a cake!

Joe, enjoying a slice.

It was a great day!

Happy Birthday to Sydney!

Sydney turned SIX on Tuesday!!  Here's how her birthday went...

(Three nights before)... She got to open her presents, while Stephen was in town.

(Actual birthday)... Sleepyhead woke up to a decorated room.

I got to go into work late and take Sydney to school, along with 2 dozen doughnuts for her friends.

Stephen caught an earlier flight from Vegas and surprised her by picking her up from school!  Then, they headed to Dairy Queen for a cold treat.

Next, we met Raegan and her parents at Chick Fil A for dinner and play time.

Then, we came home and Sydney played on her new scooter!

Stephen passed out some of the (trade show) goodies he got on his trip.  They were so excited!  Finally, the kiddos settled down from their excitement (and sugar-high) to hit the hay.  

Whew, what a day!  I think my big 6-year-old had fun.