The 'Pirate' Party

I decided Andrew is still a little young for the traditional kiddy birthday party this year (yes, I'm aware, I'm a control freak). So we planned yet another fun family BBQ. I do love to plan a good party, but I wanted Andrew to help me out so we went on a shopping trip to Party City together. Of course he was immediately drawn to the cheesy character theme decor. But, like I said before, I'm a little controlling and maybe a bit obsessive, so together we decided on a pirate theme. Okay, I guided him to this decision. I thought that could work since we were having a swim party, and it's certainly better than Wall*E or Sponge Bob!! (Side note: why are children drawn to Sponge Bob? Andrew has never seen the show, but knows all about the...ugh!)
Anyhow, we got a volleyball net set up for the pool, and tossed in a few beach balls. We also rearranged a bit to provide as much shade as possible (not that it helped much it was another scorcher.) Everyone that couldn't or didn't want to swim stayed cool in the a/c playing Mario Kart on the Wii. It turned out to be a great party, with delicious food, thanks to my husband the grill master, and Fry’s grocery store for some fresh produce! Yum! I also spent plenty of time last week making homemade ice cream, like frozen custard...the real stuff! It was a huge hit, very tasty stuff and not very good for you at all! Andrew loves ice cream, so we just stuck candles right into the frozen treat...no cake required for this birthday party. That's enough to read, now look at the pictures...

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

4 Year Flash Back

Today is Andrew's 4th Birthday! We had a fun celebration yesterday (Saturday) so that he could have a swim party (more of that in the next post.) After church today I sat down at the computer to load all the pics and I started looking back through the "Baby Andrew" file. It was fun to reminisce about the last four years, but a little sad to see how fast he is growing!!! Here is a look back....

4th Birthday. Wow a bike!

Just after his 3rd b-day. Ahh, the old house...when we had grass.

Andrew's 2nd birthday party was in WY at G & G Harvey's house.

Happy 1st birthday! He wasn't too sure what to do with that cake.

My first baby... *big sigh* how sweet!

Last, but not least, a big belly shot! This is me standing on the view deck of our house that was obviously under construction when Andrew was born. (That's the house we sold last year)

All this cutsie-remember-when-stuff almost has me ready for another baby....I said ALMOST, Mom. For now I'm just grateful to have my 2 beautiful, happy little boys. Happy Birthday Bubba!!

Reunion

While I was hard at work with the steamer (see previous post), Spencer and Derek were having a ball at the cabin. Derek took a ton of pictures while they were there and the pictures really say it all! Take a look at Spencer and Gavin playing with marshmallow shooters. Spencer couldn't really blow hard enough so for him it was just a sword. What a boy.

Swinging on the porch swing.

A walking stick.......................or another sword?

"Wayne's Breakfast" anyone? anyone?

Blow off some STEAM!

Last weekend Derek and Spencer went to the LeBaron family reunion at the Cabin in Strawberry. (Pictures of that to come) Andrew was sick, so I stayed at home with him. The house was empty and quiet and Andrew was zonked out on the couch most of Saturday, so I went to work.....steaming! The kitchen floor was pretty sticky and gross and I just knew my mop wasn't gonna cut it, so I decided to mop the old fashioned way using a rag and a bucket of hot, soapy water. (This explains just the kind of freak that I am about cleaning. I get some weird kick out of a good cleaning.) While I was down on my knees scrubbing every square inch of tile, I decided to bust out the good ole Scunci Steamer.

Everyone who has a steamer knows that once you start steaming you just can't stop....you steam and steam until the water runs out or the cord won't reach any farther. After the kitchen tile, I steamed the bathroom, the baseboards, and that little spot on the family room carpet that has been bugging me for weeks. Whew! Thank you, Scunci. I love you!

So, that was Saturday, but on Monday I was enjoying the Bachelorette finale with Lindsay while giving myself a little pedicure. After the 'after the final rose' show was over, it was late and I was cleaning up my mess. Derek was in bed already (avoiding the Bachelorette) and I couldn't carry all my nail junk up the stairs so the genius in me decided to put all the little stuff in a baggy before loading up my arms and heading up the stairs. Great idea, until I dropped the bottle of my favorite hot pink nail polish on my kitchen tile!! Yeah, it shattered and splashed all over the tile and up on the drywall side of the island. Two hours later, after I had steamed, scraped, scrubbed and repainted, I went up to bed. The tile looks as good as new...again.