Valentine's Day

We have had a wonderful Valentine's Day.  The boys made homemade Valentine's Day cards for their brothers, R, and myself.  They are precious.  

E had asked for the heart shaped pizza I make every year.  In all honesty, I only did it last year, but in the eyes of a seven year old, "that is the way we have always done it."  The boys and I spent part of the afternoon outside building a snowman, and then ended up having a snowball fight before we came inside for their hot chocolate.  The hubby is on another bout of the stomach virus.  It seems that we cannot get rid of colds and the stomach virus these past few weeks.  While I hate that he is sick, he did get to spend dinner with us and is going to settle in with us for a quiet evening.   

Valentine's Day is meant to be spent with those you love.  While R and I would of enjoyed escaping for a date night, we also enjoy our little evening in with the boys.  I am grateful that we can make their Valentine's special.  In a bit the boys will head to bed, and we will get our own date night at home.  While I know the days are long (some more so than others), the fact is the years are short.  In the coming years the boys will have other plans for Valentine's, so for now I am going to enjoy my little boys… heart shaped pizzas, homemade Valentines made with lego stickers, snowball fights and all.  

Polar Vortex Anyone??

I have lost count of how many snow days we have had this winter, but it is a lot.  Yesterday the boys were out for the impending storm.  It didn't snow until 2 p.m. so we had a lot of quality time, and since Daddy R had taken off work for D's birthday we had a nice family day.  However, the novelty of a birthday is gone, Daddy is at work, and we have a foot plus of snow outside.

This is the second snow day this year that I have not pushed the kids to get dressed.  C likes to wear normal clothes and that is good, but the older two love the idea of a pajama day.  After Daddy went to work we decided to venture outside.  Yes, that meant that we put our snow bibs on top of our pajamas and off we went.  It got a bit rough, and after a suggestion from a neighbor, our googles came out.  We do not own ski goggles, so the boys pulled out their swimming goggles.  We have now settled back in and the kids are warming with hot chocolate, hopefully later I can convince them to make snow cream.

I hope all of our friends along the east coast are doing just as well with this latest wintery blast.  In my attempt to be "hands free" I am off to spend some time with my boys.  Stay safe and warm!
 

A glimpse at D's official birthday

Now he is officially six!

Great Wolf Lodge Getaway

The hubby and I have came to the conclusion that we need a little getaway in the midst of winter.  Being stuck in the house with gloomy, snowy, weather takes its toll, probably more on me than him since he escapes for work (at least this is my take on things).  Three years ago we ended up moving our Disney World trip from the spring to February so that we could be with R's family as his grandfather's health began to decline.  For the past two years we have taken an overnight trip to the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg, Tennessee area.

This year, when D decided to do a Chuck E. Cheese party, we were already debating on trying to get away for a night.  In the end, we decided to go to Great Wolf Lodge in Concord/Charlotte, North Carolina.  The idea of getting some time in at a water park in-between the seemingly endless snowstorms we have experienced this winter was very appealing.  With R working evenings, these little times with him and the boys are so precious.

E and D were tall enough to hit every slide (making their father ecstatic).  He has been waiting years to have little buddies to accompany him on these things.  D managed to hit every slide, including the Howlin' Tornado-- pretty good for a little boy on the brink of six.  E, was like his momma, and couldn't quite bring himself to take on the Howlin' Tornado.  However, we did hit every other slide.  C was not tall enough to ride everything, but had a blast on the slides at Fort Mackenzie.  He would of rode everything if he had been tall enough.  There was not a single part of the water park that we did not enjoy.  We made the most of Monday.  We were at the water park at the 9 a.m. opening and left a bit after five to grab dinner and get on the road home.

We stayed in a Kid Kabin that was extremely spacious.  We chose this option because it had bunk beds, and an additional day bed, allowing all three boys to have their own beds.  There was so much other stuff that we did not get a chance to do-- we could certainly of stayed another night.  E is already deciding whether he wants to venture to Great Wolf or check out Wilderness at the Smokies for his birthday in May.

D's Sixth Birthday Party

Our sweet D went back and forth this year on what type of party he wanted, but ultimately decided on Chuck E. Cheese.  Of course, we live about a hour and a half from the closest Chuck E. Cheese, but when your child wants to be a Birthday Rock Star, what choice do you have?  In the end we decided to combine his party with a quick little overnight getaway (more on that later) and drove three hours instead.

Being that we took the party on the road, we made it clear to D that this was not going to be a friends party.  We could never ask people to drive that far for a birthday party.  Chuck E. is not my favorite place, in fact I dread going there in most cases.  However, I embrace the opportunity to make my boys happy.  While he knew we couldn't have friends come, he did know that his Grammy and Papa would willingly drive to be with him, so he did make that a priority.  After some negotiating, we were able to convince him that all Chuck E. Cheese's were similar and any location we went to would give him the rock star treatment.

While I had my reservations, I was pleasantly surprised.  We were met at the door with a party hostess who very attentive and did everything possible to make sure D had a wonderful party.  I could not of asked for a better evening to celebrate this special guy's sixth birthday.  He was thrilled and everyone had a great time!

Blue and Gold Banquet

Tonight was a very important night for our cub scout pack.  We had our Blue and Gold Banquet.  E (and the rest of the wolf den that Daddy R and I co-lead) received the Wolf badge along with some other patches and a belt loop.  It was certainly a long night for my little ones.  Handling my three rambunctious boys, for an hour plus, when they are supposed to be quiet is not easy.  I have yet to figure out how to do it gracefully, but the four of us got through it.

On a positive note, I think E did get a glimpse at what the older scouts have gained and learned from scouting.  After the banquet we headed to the store to pick up a jump drive that he had mentioned needing for school just prior to leaving home this evening.  As we walked through the cold and dark parking lot, he told me how thankful he was that his dad and I had encouraged him to go to scouts on nights when he was less than eager to do the activities.  That one moment right there made my night.

E asked to wear his uniform to school today in preparation of the big event tonight.  This was post-Blue and Gold festivities.    

Can you see the exhaustion on their faces?

Wish You Well Teaser

Here is a teaser to Wish You Well.  Still no theatrical release date, but this will give you a glimpse at the film.

$1.50 and I Have A Happy Boy

C and I headed out to the mall today. The little guy has a bit of a cold and I was wanting to pick up a couple air fresheners for my car from Bath and Body Works.  It sounded like a good little outing.  On our way out he told me he wanted to play video games, so I grabbed six quarters and off we went.  At first he had to ride a truck and then it was off to the arcade.  I wasn't even aware he even knew it existed, but apparently it had not went unnoticed.  He kept me walking past my destination to the arcade where we got four little tokens.  Two games and 16 tickets later, we walked out with a slinky worth 40 tickets thanks to the sweet man working the counter.  Eventually I made it out with car fresheners and a very happy little boy-- now if I can just figure out how to manage that when D and E are with us.

I am so incredibly thankful for sweet little moments like these with my boys.

My apologies for the bad iPhone picture, but I think you can see his joy.

Up, Up, and Upward

In any given sports season we give the boys the opportunity to choose what sport they want to play, if any.  Karate is always on the table, but when the play finished in December the boys decided to play Upward basketball.  We are a big fan of the Upward schedule because each team has one practice a week and one game a week.  The practices and games are at the same time each week which makes my life much easier.  Even better is the fact that my two oldest (who are the only ones old enough to play this season) have practice at the same time, and their games are back to back.  We are so glad we were introduced to Upward and D is really enjoying playing with some of his friends from school and soccer.  E has been pushed a bit more out of his comfort zone.  He did not previously know anyone on his team, but he is having a blast playing with his new teammates.  

D during pre-game introductions. 

E running onto the court during the pre-game.

Happy Fourth Birthday C!

On January 19th my sweet baby boy turned four.  I am not sure how that happened or where the past four years disappeared.  We don't give the option for anything but family parties until the boys are four. That is when E got to have his first big party so that is how it has always been.  Each of my boys have wanted a party with a bunch of friends when they turned four, but after that they have chosen parties, sleepovers, or to go out of town and do something special as a family.  We are good with whatever they choose and really want to make them feel special on their birthday.

C was dead set on having a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse party.  We invited his preschool class, some other friends from the neighborhood and church, my mom and step-dad came up from North Carolina, plus we had my dad, brother, sister in-law, and niece.  Anyhow, I believe at last count we had around 32 people in our house.  It was overwhelming, but great fun!

I had play-doh set-up as his guests began to arrive (Colin's favorite) to keep the kiddos entertained prior to starting.  We played pin the nose on Mickey, a version of hot potato, and musical chairs.  Everyone enjoyed our simple food which included hot-diggity dogs (pigs in a blanket), fruit kabobs with the chocolate fountain, and cupcakes.  All the kiddos left with a bag of goodies that they had won because I refused to put three and four year olds out of a game, instead they won a Mickey-themed prize (coloring books, stickers, puzzle, etc). We had a great time and despite my reservations of having a house party it went off fabulously well!

C at his preschool party.

It was a Merry Christmas!

I hate to say it, but life in the Park house often ends up being a blur during Christmas.  When you work in the church, advent is crazy.  Let's face it, it's one of our busy seasons.  Add that with two of three children being involved in a Christmas play, Dad R's schedule change, Cub Scouts, school and the other activities that seem to come out of thin air, I am amazed I remember any of December.  However, as always, we get through it and are wonderfully thankful for the time we had to celebrate Jesus' birth with our family and friends.  We really are amazingly blessed!

C at his Christmas program at preschool.

Post-Christmas program picture.  He was clearly focused on something else and just giving me a fake smile.

The three kiddos before going to church Christmas Eve.

E Christmas morning.

E helping C figure out his new bike.

D checking out a new addition to his hamster cage.

My brother and sister in-law holding a new dress up to M.

My dad holding M as she tries to un-wrap gifts.

E and D playing their new Infinity game.

 

The Theater Bug

My children are a lot like me, but they are also a lot like their  father.  Daddy R is very active in our local theater group as his schedule permits.  My boys are proving to all three have the same theater bug.  When E heard that there would be parts for children in the Christmas production he couldn't wait to audition.  He has already participated in a production that Missoula Children's Theatre did in our area of Hansel and Gretel, and was an extra/school child in Wish You Well (a movie adaptation of the David Baldacci book) that was filmed locally and is currently making the rounds at film festivals.  I have came to the conclusion that if there are auditions and they need someone his age, he will probably want to audition.  However, the day of auditions, D decided to audition too.  C was not quite old enough this time around.  Both E and D were cast in the musical.  Rehearsals dictated our activities throughout the months of October and November, with performances being the first two weeks of December.  Both boys had a great time and loved the entire process.  Daddy was able to work it out where he was present for the majority of the rehearsals and ran lights for the performances.  I was very fortunate to be able to watch from the audience all six shows.  I am so grateful for the experience that my little guys gained from being able to participate in this great show with a cast of wonderful folks.

E in the kick line.

D is the tiniest little mouse.

E playing the role of Nutcracker Prince.

Both my little guys singing.

A little freestyle dancing.

A Not So Spooky Halloween

Like many other house with a three, five, and seven year old, Halloween is kinda big deal around here. We made our yearly trip to the pumpkin patch where each kiddo got to pick out their perfect pumpkin after a ride to the pumpkin patch.  The preschool always has a fantasy fashion show and that is always an incredibly big deal for the preschooler (or preschoolers, in previous years).  This year we went trick or treating with some friends, and baby cousin, M around our neighborhood.  Thankfully it was a fairly warm Halloween where we did not have to worry too much about bundling up boys.

Sunday afternoon trip to the pumpkin patch.  

C at his fantasy fashion show.

A very tired crew post-trick or treating.  My boys (a.k.a. Superman, Leonardo, and Luigi) with cousin M (a.k.a. Super Girl).  Needless to say, we were very safe this Halloween with all these heroes and good guys around.