Party Time

Today was the day. The day Tayden has been looking forward to all week. His friend party. And Beckett must have really wanted to started the day off with a bang. On his head. They were downstairs skating boarding and scootering. Beckett decided to take his helmet off and try to do the skateboard on his knees. It didn't go over so well and he biffed it pretty hard. 

He got scraped up good.

After that drama was over, we got to the fun part of the day. I relinquished as much control as I am capable of and let the boys help with Taydens cupcake tower. It turned out cute and Tayden was happy with the finished project. 

We sat around all day waiting until the magic hour of 2:00. Once it finally rolled around, kids started pouring in. Out of the wood works really. Turns out Tayden made a few of his own invitations and handed them out without my knowledge. We were expecting 5-6 kids. 10 showed up. Funny kid.

Sticking with the Star Wars theme, we had Jedi training for the kids. Here they are lined up waiting to tackle the balloon obstacle course. 

Once they were finished, we let them go crazy in the unfinished section of the basement. Sometimes I wonder it its more useful staying unfinished.

Scott was such a rock star today. He did the game, the light sabers for the kids and made goody bags to go home. He also made one awesome Darth Vader. 

The minute he walked in the kids started pounding him. It was hilarious. 

Tayden opening gifts with his side kicks. Warms my heart that in front of all his friends, he let Beckett and Cache be right there in the middle of it. He is such a good big brother. 

It was much harder than I anticipated getting a picture of the whole group.

All in all it was a successful day and the kids had fun.

I'm just glad this is an every other year event. 

Cabin Fever

We had a major case of cabin fever. So, the other day when the sun was shining I bundled up the kids and kicked them outside. They had a blast! 

Our favorite neighbor, Hallie, joined us too. 

Tayden has been saving his money for knee pads, elbow pads and wrist guards. He finally got enough and couldn't wait to use them. It made skateboarding outside much less hurtful. 

And Cache was a scooting machine. 

Kyle was just happy to be outside. For about 10 minutes. 

And no surprise Beckett found work to be done.

It's good to be outside! 

Seven Years!

 I can't believe it, but it happened. My oldest boy turned seven! For me, that is a big jump. Seven just seems old and almost out of the little boy stage and creeping up on becoming a big kid. We had a pretty low key day for him since his friend party is on Saturday. I  took his class treats, apples and mini donuts, and spent a few minutes with him in his class room. He loved it and it was fun seeing him in a school setting,

I made him make-shift rice crispy cake, and it was a much bigger success than Becketts chocolate disaster. Tayden actually loved it and wasn't one bit disappointed he had to wait until the party for his actual cake.

We opened some presents and like Beckett before, he got spoiled. My kids are so lucky. 

Becketts gift from us finally showed up and he opened it before Taydens gifts. He was thrilled to be a blue power ranger. 

Tayden is so excited to be seven. 

Perhaps my favorite part of his birthday was letting his stay up a few minutes later than his brothers so he could build his new lego set. It was a good time for he and Scott to work on something together and it was even better to appreciate everything this boy has become. 

Tayden is a rock star. He is a good older brother, though bossy at times, he is the protector and extremely nurturing to his little brothers. I can trust him to help and have started leaving him in charge for short periods of times. He thrives in leadership roles. He is doing great in school, both academically and socially. I was a little worried about his reading, so we got some fun chapter books and have been reading together every night. Not only has it become one of my favorite times of the day, it has helped greatly with his reading. He just took a state issued test for literacy and got a three, which is the highest you can get at this point. Tayden is funny and is developing a silly sense of humor. He said to Scott the other day, "Mom should stop by food for food storage and start buying it for us." He is taking notice how the world works and how complex it really is. He knows about the bad guys in other countries and how are good soldiers are trying to help. He knows some people go hungry, cold, or don't have families--which makes him more grateful for what he has. Tayden is stubborn and bull headed. He doesn't do anything blindly and wants a reason for everything. He makes his own decisions and usually deals with the natural consequences rather well. I can't say enough good things about this boy. I am extremely proud to be his mother and call him mine. 

Happy Birthday, Tayden! 

Beckett is FIVE

Our sweet Beckett boy turned five today. It was a great day with a fun start--matching sweaters from my mom for the boys. Aren't they the most handsome kids you have every seen. 

Beckett wanted his picture by the snow and since its his birthday, that's what he got.

And Kyle only holds still if he is eating...

Or I am holding him. 

I wanted a nice picture of the boys in their matching church attire, but that is much easier said than done. I love these crazy boys and their fun personalities. I'll take the funny out takes, those are my favorite anyway. 

I literally took about 14 pictures just like these. 

When we got home from church, we let the birthday fun begin. First up on the list was decorate the cake. Considering all the decorations I order online are stuck back east with the snow storm and I had to come up with a power ranger cake on the fly, I'm pretty proud of how it turned out. 

And B was happy with it and that is all that matters. 

We threw Beckett a little family party. It is so fun being close to everyone so we can celebrate together. We had some dinner and got to the presents. Beckett had been waiting all day to open his gifts and he was beyond excited when the time finally arrived. 

I love this picture of Beckett and his mini-me Kyle. They look identical. Its like a blast from the past and a glimpse into the future all at once. 

Unfortunately, the cake was a bit of a miss. I had made it before with success, but tonight, it was a little awful. Entirely to rich and the chocolate chips I used tonight just seemed off. Cooking for people makes me completely nervous and it always shows in the finished product. I am desperate to learn how to cook and bake, but I have a long journey ahead of me. Sadly, I am taking my whole family...extended and all...with me. But, that is for a post of its own.

Back to the party. Scott set up a fun blow dart game. It was a hit and everyone had fun shooting the balloons for points. No surprise that Scott won. 

This is what all our pictures of Kyle look like these days. A little blurry. This boy is on the move. 

Then, of course, we needed a picture of everyone that came with the birthday boy. 

Grandma and Grandpa Packard.

Aunt Ashley.

Jeff, Sharlee and Aimslee.

Uncle Matt.

Mom and Dad. 

Grandma and Grandpa Mennear.

It was a great party and Beckett felt totally loved. It was great for him to have a day completely about him. As one of the middle boys, I think sometimes he is overlooked. Or the attention he gets is about his speech, or his quick tempered emotions or his red hair. But today, it was just him and all his great qualities. Which are about a million. I love this Beckett boy with my whole heart. He is the kindest little boy with the biggest heart. He is the first to give his things to his brothers to make them happy, no matter how hard or how disappointing to him. He is naturally good and loving. I can't count how many times a day I get random hugs and kisses and well wishes from Beckett. He is smart. Surprisingly enough, he has turned out to love school. He is doing simple math in adding and subtracting to ten. He is interested in letters, writing and numbers, and works incredibly hard at his speech. This boy loves power rangers and has an wonderful imagination. He likes to exercise and make his body strong. He is a good eater and our best sleeper. He doesn't like to help much and feels like he has to everything by himself, until I remind that families work together and he changes his tune. Beckett sees the world in such a sweet and innocent way. He sees the best and wants to help people whenever he can. He brings and infinite amount of joy to our family. I cannot tell you the amount of love I have for Beckett. 

Happy Birthday, my sweet sweet child. 

Nurfing

Scotts little brother, Matthew, just started school at BYU-I. After two years in South Africa, we thought we take advantage of his proximity and invite him to dinner. It was fun having him in our home for the evening and the boys talked his ears off. After dinner, a nerf war broke out...not sure why I am surprised.

 The boys opted to be on Matt's team and unfortunately got the stairs and basement bunker.

Cache took the game seriously and decked out in protective wear. The red socks are the big brothers baseball socks. They went clear up to his underwear. 

Scott was prepared too. Pumpkin helmet. 

And proof that Ky and I were there. We were the official journalists. 

It was a fun way to end the weekend. 

I think we'll like have Matt around.