Max's Road Trip Birthday Party

Oh what an adventure its been so far, my dear Max.  

This business of being a parent is much like one wild road trip adventure...you sometimes feel lost, you try to embrace the detours and you might even feel like screaming "are we there yet?!" on occasion.  But when you look back on the bumps in the road, they make you smile...and you realize that they're kind of the best part of the adventure.

These thoughts that occupy my mind, coupled with the fact that Max is fascinated with any and all maps (random, I know) gave me the inspiration for a...ROAD TRIP PARTY!

Max was in heaven.  His favorite foods, one of his favorite activities (dress up) and CAKE!  Not to mention many of his favorite people in attendance.

The invitations:

I created four versions of the invitation using art from old postcards.

Souvenirs for the guests:

Choose-Your-Destination Dress Up:

Mardi Gras was the favorite destination! :)

Max and I made his cake in the shape of the USA and covered it with sprinkles.  For food we had KC BBQ, NYC Pizza, Chicago Dogs, Wisconsin cheese, California grapes and Florida oranges.

Lolli and Max!

1) Annabelle checking out Max's "Year in Review" via the viewfinder.  2) Uncle Bill and Nora.  3) Max and Great Grandpa Meyers playing the US State Capital's game.

Magnetic map puzzle and a couple other road trip games.

I bought us all some t-shirts that had different destinations on them at a thrift store. Sully looked pretty cute in his San Fran shirt :)

Such a gentleman...sharing his most prized possession, his ball.

Everyone had a blast.  Most importantly, Max was so happy.  When I tucked him in later that night he said "Thanks for giving me a great party, Mom."  Those words make it all worth it.

And it's not over yet!  His actual birthday is February 13th, so there's even MORE fun to come this week! :)

Sullivan's 1/2 Birthday

We don't like to make TOO big a deal out of 1/2 birthdays.  (I mean, really, have I ever made too big a deal out of anything?! ;)  But truly...no presents, no singing, nothing crazy.  We just like to acknowledge the half-birthday because, well, it's just another excuse to for our little family to celebrate and say "Hey! We're so glad you were born."

So, as is tradition, we went to Sully's special restaurant..."Sully's Pub" in Mission.

And I can never resist posting a pic from the previous year.  Oh sweet Sully, how you have changed!

One thing that has not changed, however, is my husbands affection for this Royals sweatshirt.  He's like a cartoon dad who always has the same outfit on :)  It makes many appearances on this blog.

"You have a baby...........in a bar..."

Every time I have my kids into an establishment that serves more alcohol than food that quote from Sweet Home Alabama plays in my head.  Especially since Sully's Pub is quite the dive.  They serve beer in mason jars.  But my regular glasses at home are mason jars...so maybe that says something about me?  Either way it's a very friendly place that has awesome pizza.  We even had the same waitress as last year.  She said "Wow, is it Sully's half birthday already?"  I was impressed she remembered us and it reinforced my positive feelings toward the place.  She even guaranteed she'd be there next year too...although didn't seem so excited about the prospect.

There are many games and no one seems to mind that the kids run around and push all the buttons, believing they're "playing" without having to insert any money.  I think of it as a cheaper, more sanitary (yes, more sanitary) Chuck E Cheese.  We're always cautious to go during non-busy hours...last year we had lunch there at 11 am.  This year we had dinner at 4:30.  We probably wouldn't be as well received outside of those parameters :)

"Mom, can I take baby to see the dart board?"  Max still call's Sullivan his "perfect, medium-sized baby"...
I know, buddy, its  hard to accept our little Sully is no longer a little guy :)

Sullivan's 18 month check-up was this week too!  I love hearing what a healthy, growing, charming, beautiful boy he is from a professional ;)

STATS:

Height - 33.5 inches; 85th percentile

Weight - 29 lbs; 80th percentile

Real Life Moments: January

Here's what we were up to in the month of January!  We really didn't do much.  Just tried to unwind from the craziness of the holidays.  2013 is off to a great start...

My precious boys.  Dad and Max were giving Sullivan back scratches...which turned into a giggle-fest between Max and Sully.  I think my favorite part of these photos, though, is the look on Billy's face.  So much love and contentment :)

His obsession with eye-wear continues...

The boys gave Boobo a helicopter for Christmas.  Fun for everyone! :)

Celebrating Lolli's birthday.  Max was trying so hard to act tough and not smile.  Nice try :)

The Box.  This box has provided so many hours of entertainment I don't even know where to begin.  It's been a fort, a mountain and a cafe'.  I can't take credit for any of it, though.  Billy was the one busy transforming it every couple of days :) 

Super Max!  He loves the superhero cape Sullivan made him for Christmas.  Lots of jumping off furniture!  

Sullivan is getting ever closer to potty training.  These days he cannot stand a dirty diaper for a single second.  He goes and gets out the wipes and diapers and brings them to me!  It's so cute and a sign that he might be ready to start potty training soon!

I love random warm weather in the winter!  We met our play group friend, Corrine and her momma, Amy at the zoo to take advantage of the beautiful day.  By the end of it though, Sullivan was so tired and ready to go home!

Those warm days just tease us though, because we can be back to this within 24 hours!  Max really likes to use his mini-shovel and help Dad clear the driveway.

We do lots of library time in the winter.  The boys love the plaza library...there's so much to do (classes, games, puppet shows)!  We went at the end of January to get our Valentine's and Groundhog's Day books since holiday books always disappear quickly.  Max likes to play "librarian" and pretend to check the books out at the kiddo computers.  Then he puts them neatly into our bag.  

 With January behind us, we're looking forward to Max's 3rd birthday, Sullivan's 1/2 birthday and Valentine's Day in February!  Good stuff ahead, folks.  Real good stuff.

Boxes and Blogs

Dear Max & Sullivan,

 

This may come as a surprise to you, but before there were blogs...there were boxes.

Under the lids of multiple plastic boxes stacked high in the basement and behind the covers of quite a few scrapbooks is the story of your momma's childhood, the beginning of a love story between your father and myself and the start of our young family.  So many pieces packed away and waiting to be rediscovered someday.

I've kept a little bit of everything. I learned from the best...your Lolli is a master at cataloging, saving and preserving memories. When your father and I were early in our relationship, I spent my time organizing our memorabilia. Saving ticket stubs and flower petals and napkins and notes. 

I like having a tangible reminder of the past. Proof that it existed. Life and love so real that I can actually hold it in my hands.  But for the space and logistics that these physical memories require it's nice to have the limitless capacity of a blog to hold your treasures.

 

This is not to say you boys don't have tangible memory boxes as well.  In fact they're already too full of yearly scrapbooks and random memorabilia, but this is the most organized version of all those things in one place.

The reason I have this blog and what all of this "hyper-documenting" of your lives really boils down to is that I'm supremely aware of the finite amount of time I have while you kiddos are little. This is probably the shortest phase of life that I'll experience with you in the scheme of things. Your future friends and life experiences are all out there awaiting a share of your attention.  Right now I'm lucky to be witness to nearly every wonderous moment in your lives.

So, I’ve decided to throw everything I’ve got at this. I happily exist as the center of your world for this small window of time and I won't miss a single opportunity to capture it. 

my whole heart,

Momma

Real Life Moments: Holiday Edition

aka the "monthly iPhone and camera dump". 

I missed November's RLM post, so I decided to combine November and December into one. 

Here's what we were doing when we were not stuffing our faces with food or checking traditions off our to-do list in the past two months....

A warm early-November day at the zoo with Aunt Jenni & Annabelle.

Horseback riding at Annabelle's 2nd bday.

I love my days with Sullivan.  We had about 30 minutes to spare before Max got out of school so I pulled over on a nearby tree-lined street so we could play in the leaves.  Sully was thrilled :)

Another warm November day.  An impromptu garage sale at our house.  Max was wearing Billy's old football helmet.  He takes bike safety seriously.  Our special guy kept our garage sale shoppers entertained :)

Fun with brother's undies while I *attempt* to fold laundry.

The boys playing "pilgrims".  We read our new library book about Thanksgiving the night before.  The next morning Max decided to set up some pillows and pretend they were on the Mayflower.  He made sure the book and his toilet paper roll telescope were also on board.  I love his imagination.

Aunt Een and the boys helping with the Christmas lights.  We had to be ready for the big reveal on Thanksgiving night.  Plus we wanted to take advantage of more unseasonably warm weather.  Short sleeves at night in late November?!

Sullivan meeting his little tree for the first time the day after Thanksgiving.

Max got to go to the circus with Lolli and Boobo which left us alone with Sullivan for the evening.  We built a fire in the chiminea and read lots and lots of books (his new favorite activity).  It was nice to have the one on one time.

 

Hamming it up at the Dr's office.  I had just given him some Tylenol to prepare for the fussy baby that I've come to expect after shots. He had no idea what was in store for him...

Two little monkey's jumping (and wrestling) on the bed.

A little after-breakfast painting on the chalkboard.  Water+paint brushes = endless fun.

 

Indoor playground day!  The boys love the cars and are usually (surprisingly) happy to share the same one.

Library days!  We hit up the plaza library usually twice a week.  So many books and fun things to do!

Sullivan's obsession with the record player continues.  He now knows how to turn it on by himself and open the cabinet to select records. 

Felt Christmas trees were a hit.  Sullivan had to take a snack break after working on his.  Such hard work.

We invited Max's school friend, London, over for a play date.  They decorated "Christmas trees".

So focused on their work.

This scarf.  Max took it off one of his stuffed animals and since then both of the boys want to wear it at all times. 

Max insists on wearing it to school.

After decorating a little Christmas tree with London, Max decided he was ready to tackle decorating a full Gingerbread house.

The boys snuggling in their "fort" full of stuffed animals.

Sullivan oddly likes enclosed spaces.  He loves hanging out in the laundry shoot?!

And in dog kennels at our friend's house??  The first time I saw this I thought one of the older kids had put him in there.  Just turns out that he'd prefer to hang out in there. With the door closed.

Sledding round 2.  Sullivan is perfectly happy in the snow...as long as absolutely NONE of it touches him.  He's happy to ride in the sled though.

Games are serious business these days.  They will play this Picnic Game for hours and hours.  Thanks Cousin Cade for the awesome gift!!