Crowns and Castles and Cake, Oh My!

On the 29th, we hosted a Princess Party for Maddie's birthday, and invited some of her friends. She was insanely excited about the party. The “princess” distinction was by request from the birthday girl.

The party decorations weren’t overly frilly and I wasn’t overly ambitious, but I had an idea for a “make a wand” craft that I’d been planning for a while. A week before her party, we thought we’d have a chance for a sunny day (gasp!) and we booked a bounce castle to be set up in the backyard. We told Maddie about the bounce castle only one day before her party when we were positive it would be great weather. She said something like, “oh, that will be so fun.”

On the day of her party, we also had a surprise visit from my Aunt Angie and Uncle Michael who happened to be in town. Although Maddie was seriously distracted and too energized to sit still or talk for more than a millisecond, Mason happily played with them while we set up for the guests. Thanks!!
Some of her friends came dressed in princess attire and we also had a Scooby-Doo and a caped crusader, er king. It was a lot of fun to see who would walk in the door next. Everyone had a choice of tiara or crown to wear for the party -- or as long as they kept it on their heads.

The kids were a great group and I think they even enjoyed the wand-making!

They started grabbing the glitter glue, so it was time for "hands on your head" while listening to the rest of the instructions!

While the wands dried, we herded everyone outside for bouncing and playing on the swing set.

Then it was cake time!

We assembled the kids on kiddie picnic tables and got them all sugared up!! I think I should mention that while we were getting the picnic tables set up, I handed one of the kids an entire bowl of M&Ms and said, “here y’all.” The bowl was empty about three minutes later!

Birthday girl insisted on blowing out all the candles by herself!

Kylie (Noah’s little sister) and Mason were right in the middle of all the other kids, although we have witnesses that say they spent some alone time in the tent set up in the living room. They are in the same room at daycare, so they are buddies.

Mason and Kylie closed down the cake table -- hehehe!

After cake, we managed to get everyone into the living room for Maddie to open her presents. I admit that I am not used to being ganged up on by kids, but that’s exactly what happened. Again, my Mom friends helped out and we got everyone seated on the floor. Phew!

Everyone wanted to see the birthday gifts -- the leotard must have been really interesting!

Maddie’s friends (er, their parents) sure knew what she liked. She got princess stuff, a toy dog, cupcake stickers and tutus, drawing sets and a princess mirror.

Thanks to the RuderSams for their help setting up. And to Robin and Amy for kid herding and craft supervision! What are friends for, right?

As the kids and their parents trickled out and it got dark, I had a genius idea.
Me: “Frank, is the bounce house still set up?”
Frank: “NO”
Me: “Can we blow it up?”
Frank: “I guess so."

Quick as winks, Amy, Robin and I were running outside in our socks and blowing up the bounce house. Hey, we only had 10 minutes until the guy came to take it home. We had to play fast!! We told the kids it was Moms only in the bounce house – no kids allowed. It was so fun and funny. I think we might have pulled some muscles and yes, I am a kid at heart, but that’s what birthday parties are for, right??

The Dads thought we were nutty and were able to hold the kids inside for about five minutes before the bounce house was invaded by wee ones.

Fast forward to 9:30 p.m. The house is quiet except for Maddie. It took her HOURS to go to sleep. You’d think she had a bowl of M&Ms or something!

Some random photos below.

Stella Dot and Maddie pre-party. Wait, where are the tiaras?? That explains these faces!

Mason loved the bounce house -- I don't think he was bonked but a few times (smile).

Wands drying while kids are playing.

Maddie and Noah chasing a runaway princess.

Stella Dot sneaking in some soccer practice.

Mason explains the virtues of juice boxes to Salem.
This was his first juice -- ever! He downed it like a pro.

My boy is such a ladies' man, but he's only got eyes for the cake.

Noah was quite the wand decorator. Maddie and I made him a crown to complete the look.

Royal buddies. Robin and I were having flashbacks to tent time during their first ever playdate in Sept. 2008.

The next day, we just relaxed. We went to our favorite park, Yates Mill Pond, and strolled in the sunshine. I think we all needed to throw a few rocks in the water and feel the leaves crunch under our feet! It was a great time.

My sweet pea. How did we make such a good-looking kid??

Frank and Mason shared some dude time.

All Maddie could talk about was throwing rocks in the water.
We finally found the perfect spot -- no turtles or ducks around!!

So glad they both love the outdoors like we do. It was the first time Mason walked this much at the park -- it's a loop around the pond. He loved keeping up with big sis.

Birthday and other happenings - Part One

We'd barely caught our breath from Christmas and there was Maddie's birthday staring us in the face. Even without her birthday happenings, this January was overwhelming with sick days and ice and snow. Since Christmas, we've weathered croup, strep throat times two and an ear infection. But there are always those who have it worse. Sickness just makes the winter seem even longer...

The post will mainly be photos and will be up to and including Maddie's actual birthday. Part Two will be photos of yesterday's party with her friends. As usual, she had three separate birthday events......busy gal!

Maddie sometimes wants to help with cleaning and folding clothes. Here she shows off an entire stack of washcloths she folded herself. She was really proud of herself!

Mason is now eating on the table with us instead of eating on his highchair tray. The first night we tried this, Maddie insisted that he sit right beside her -- I think we need a longer table!

Ah, snow and ice -- why must you make us homebound??

Mason displays his and Maddie's balloons from Red Robin.
Anyplace with balloons is their new favorite restaurant.

One night we had an amazing moon. It was so close to the horizon it looked like you could reach it.

So last weekend, Uncle David, Grandmama and Grandaddy visited, and so began the week long birthday festivities. We had an awesome day with them.

Uncle David brought Maddie a giant birthday cookie decorated with a crown and wand. Perfect! We ate a great lunch out and had cookie for dessert!!

Grandaddy gives Mason some rocking horse riding lessons on the horse he made for Maddie's first birthday. Mason loved it! If only his legs were a little longer...

Maddie opens the first of many presents -- a ViewMaster. Remember those? I loved mine and thought she would, too, so Grandmama and Grandaddy obliged. She calls the slides "movies."

Thanks Grandmama and Grandaddy!

Mason and Grandaddy playing with tissue paper.

While relaxing and watching what I'm certain was either Shrek or some Nick Jr. program, Mason used Frank as a lounger.

But after a while, Mason slid ALL the way down Frank's back until I guess he found a nice little "pillow" to rest his head on. So hilarious, I had to take a photo. Frank was oblivious to Mason's new position.
Fast forward to Maddie's actual birthday on Tuesday. We let her open one present the night before her birthday. And since we are savvy parents and it was bath night, we chose to give her the new Dora Mermaid doll. She loved it and wanted to take a bath with it right away. Smile!!

Frank made Maddie a special birthday breakfast of grits, eggs and sausage.
It was a fun weekday morning treat and she loved it!

Birthday night. Maddie gets leggings, a hat, an Olivia doll and some other stuff she wasn't wild about.
Like the Gotz doll I've been saving for her since she was a baby. Turns out, I should have kept saving it. It's like a German brand American Girl doll. She immediately dressed it in the pajamas she got with it, but hasn't picked it up since that night. I think this photo sums up how she feels about the doll. Go figure!

Quick, guess who is more disappointed in this photo. It's a draw.


Next post: Birthday party with friends -- wands and castles and crowns, oh my!!

Four years ago tonight

Tonight, four years ago, I gave birth to a screaming infant while an episode of The Office was on the labor room TV. Poignant memory, I know.

I had no idea what I was getting into and I was really, truly afraid of labor and the pain I knew it would bring. It was all worth it. It has all been worth it. I can’t believe Madelyn is four years old today. I’m feeling a bit emotional this year. Even in the last two weeks, she is showing signs of becoming more independent of us, and while that means Frank and I have done something right as parents, it is a bittersweet feeling.

For all the things I may have taught her, she has taught me so much more. Like how to give when you think you really don’t have anything left to give. Parents somehow find patience, energy, understanding -- all those things you sometimes deny to yourself or to those you love. A child just takes and takes. And they give and give.

Maddie has taught me that I am in fact not “bad with kids,” as originally thought before I had kids. She has taught me that while explaining things to her, I myself always learn something new.

Madelyn made Frank and me a family.

And while for me there were some dark days when I thought I had to give up all of Janet to be Maddie’s Mom, she reminded me to laugh and play and tickle and hug, and I learned to love that silly part of myself again.

I guess in a selfish way, her birthday is a milestone for me as well. While sitting in her reading chair last night, between play time and book reading, I managed to convince her to be still for 45 seconds. I looked at her beautiful face and told her how much I love her and how proud I am of her and all that she has grown to become. I told her that I would always, always love her and do anything for her. I needed to tell her all those things, even if she is only turning four and not eighteen.

By this time, the Mommy waterworks were flowing and she looked at me with a sullen face and said something very meaningful……. “Mommy, can you not talk like that anymore?”

That’s why I love her. She makes me laugh even when I’m crying.