Tyler's 2nd Birthday Party - Part I

This year Philip & I decided to do things a little different for Tyler's birthday. We thoroughly enjoyed Tyler's 1st birthday party but we just couldn't have a big party this year. Last year we had 80 people in attendance. Philip is working a turn around for work and I am holding down the reins at home plus working a 40 hour week. So, this year I decided that since his birthday fell on a Saturday that Friday after work (I get off @ 11:00) I would invite some of Tyler's friends to join us at Chuck E Cheese for lunch. Most of Tyler's friends either have moms that stay at home with them or their parents work with me so we were able to have a party early in the day so it wouldn't be as crowded.

Gaige assisting Tyler with his presents.



No one fessed up to who blew out Tyler's candle - BUSTED DREW !!!

Yummp cupcakes

Gaige is truly a boy. He was slurping up his ice cream...
Kalli striking a pose, no really, she was wanting a cupcake.

Avery and Kaiden patiently waiting to go play.

If looks could kill.... Hannah would win the title. She was not in the mood to take pictures...
Carson (Chris' little boy) loved the rides. He was the happiest little thing, that was until you took him off the car.... YIKES !! TEMPER TEMPER. He's adorable.

Tyler and Nunu in fierce battle.

So instead of rolling the balls into the hole we thought it would be a little easier if we just placed them in their place. Drew, Ashley and Tyler had a blast climbing over the game. No other kids were allowed in the area b/c these bullies would go steal their ball....

Ashley needed a break from climbing...

Suzanne and Ashley as we were leaving...

McKenna, Avery and Hannah - VOGUE !!!

Tyler's First Sleep Over

Tyler's cousin Drew spent the night with us. Tyler was so excited. I pumped him up all week so he could hardly contain himself when Friday arrived and I told him Drew Drew was coming over after school. I picked them up from school and we headed out to Chuck E Cheese to meet up with some of my friends from work. The kids had a blast but let me tell you it was very stressful. They behaved at the dinner table. Actually another Chuck E Cheeser stopped me to tell me how impressed she was with my two kids and their behavior. Well, that did it. Tyler must have overheard because he proceeded to go bonkers. I was very thankful that Jill (Drew's mom) is such a good mom b/c her little angel behaved perfectly. After about 2 hours of chasing Tyler around I picked Tyler up and had my friend Dana place Drew on my left hip (I tried picking them both up at the same time and I almost threw my back out) and I interlocked my fingers and almost ran out the door. I was done. To share a cute road trip story : on the way to lunch Tyler was screaming in his usual high pitch way and Drew would say "Tyler, SHH !! Tyler Hush !!" and Tyler would respond to that by laughing at Drew. They went back and forth for almost 20 minutes. Poor Drew just wanted some peace and quiet. I laughed hysterically b/c Tyler really thought it was funny and Drew really just wanted silence. The more Tyler screamed the more urgent Drew's request got. I really wanted silence too but instead we made a memory. That moment we shared in the car will be one I never forget.

I was really worried about Drew and bedtime. I just knew that Drew was going to flip out when bedtime neared. Well, he didn't. He cuddled with me on the couch and when I put him to bed he just smiled and closed his little eyes. I went back into the living room and grabbed Tyler for our cuddle time. We cuddled and he crashed almost immediately. I was very fortunate that it all went so smoothly. I was worried that Tyler would get upset when he saw me with Drew on the couch and the jealousy would get started up but it didn't.

Saturday morning I woke up to them hollering at each other from their rooms. Tyler was hollering for Drew and Drew was hollering " Tyler where are you?". I looked at the clock and it was 6:45 !!! But I had to laugh, it was so cute them wanting each other. I got them up, changed their diapers and the mad play time began. They had a blast playing. I got them dressed and then we went to my brothers baseball game then we came home for nap. After nap, we played in the yard until Jill came by to get Drew. I think that was around 5:30. They had such a good time with one another & I really enjoyed having Drew over. He is very sweet and affectionate. If you sneeze, he walks to you and says "okay?" and he waits for your answer, then he goes back to doing whatever he was doing.

PANCAKES !!

Until recently Tyler has been the pickiest eater when it comes to breakfast. He would either eat fruit cups or a few bites of cereal, that's it. Here lately Casi (daycare) has performed a miracle. She cooks breakfast for them and he actually EATS with the other kids. So, I have tried and tried to make different things and usually he won't touch it. Now all of a sudden, POOF, he eats everything. It doesn't matter what I make he'll eat it. However, he was still resistant of pancakes and waffles. Not anymore. He wants "cakes" all the time now...

FINGER LICKING GOOD !!!

MY LITTLE GUYS HAPPY FACE !!

Isn't he the sweetest thing ??

Am I over the hill ??

I don't have any pictures to post of our evening but our night out was definitely blog worthy. Robin & I were on the phone Friday and we got to thinking that since she has been back in Louisiana we have not been able to just hang out together, alone. We always have the kids or we are having our usual UNO night. So, Saturday night Robin & I decided to have a night to ourselves. We went to the movies and watched "Fools Gold"; just a suggestion but don't go see it in the theater, it's definitely a rental, then after that we went to Olive Garden for dinner. Both of our dinners were good and us just being able to sit back and talk made it all worth it. Here's the traumatic part of our night, the table next to us had a group of 10 people which appeared to be NO older than 15 & that's pushing it. So anyway, as we listen to them ramble on and on about high school we both notice one of the couples drinking alcohol & we both looked at each other like "there is no way they are old enough to be drinking" so that really got our attention. So, for those of you who know us, we really were eavesdropping now. THEN another couple starts to talk about their kids !!! Robin & I both freaked out. We kept listening and the result was that almost all of them were 21 !!! So, what's so funny about this story you ask ??? OMG !! We are older than dirt. We both got so depressed b/c they looked like kids and then we realize that they are young adults !! We are old - saggy - out dated - mawmaw's... It will definitely be one of my defining moments in life. It was so bazzare & it really freaked us out. So, now on our downward spiral of an evening, we start talking about all of our fears that we have regarding our children, whether they will be strong enough to stand up for themselves and for what's right, whether they will be able to "Just Say No", that they will WANT to "Just Say No". Finally, after much stress we decided that shopping was the solution to our distress. We went to Target and spent some money.
I am so glad that we got away and were able to spend some time together. Robin has been my closest friend for some time now and I am so thankful to have her. She is a wonderful mom and a really good wife(much better than me most of the time) and a true friend.

Chuck E Cheese

Friday Suzanne & I brought the kids to Chuck E Cheese. It was no big deal for Ashley since she has already been there before but for Tyler it was a 1st. The kids had a blast !! Ashley cracked me up b/c they had this horse & I was determined to get Tyler to ride it but the horse freaked him out. He would run past it and look at it like it was going to stomp him. Ashley on the other hand LOVED it. Ashley is getting so big and is losing all her little baby features, so sweet but so sad. Here's her little video...

Isn't she the sweetest thing??
Tyler trying to figure out what the heck this thing is..... I don't know what it was either. Ashley was cracking up at Suzanne
Riding the school bus

Where's my pizza ??
Tyler was getting down on the race track
This was a monster truck that raised really high and tilted left and right. Tyler thought this was the coolest thing ever. Check out the video below...

The kids had such a good time playing together & I really enjoy hanging out with Suzanne. We don't get to do that much w/us not living in the same area so it makes our get togethers really important and special.

Rosey Cheeks

Last night Tyler & I hung out with Nunu(Mrs. Sonia). Tyler was talking up a storm and we could make sense of his gibber gabber. His speech is improving dramatically every day. After dinner Tyler drank his milk, I can't explain it but milk is equal to 'crack cocaine' to Tyler. He turns into a maniac until he finally crashes.

My Tyler eats like such a big boy. I really must say how much I appreciate the fact that he can feed himself.

How obvious is it that he adores his Nuna ??

He finally crashed after his 'milk high'.