Wild Kratt's Birthday Party

For Max and Kate's 4th birthday party they chose a Wild Kratt's theme. They were really into this PBS kids show who's "aim is to educate children about biology, zoology, and ecology, and teach kids small ways to make big impacts." Thankfully several other mother's and bloggers had thrown this type of party and there were lots of good ideas to peruse online and implement. This was another easy, low-key party, just how I like them!

Decorations were simple and kept int he blue and green theme which mimicked the Kratt Brother's uniforms and bonus for me is that I already had some blue and green decor.



The cake featured the creature paw and then I did some fun animal cupcakes that the kids loved, an alligator and a hippo. The alligators were the favorite. Handouts were also animal themed: a box of animal crackers, a zebra cake, some fruit snacks in animal shapes and maybe some gummy worms. I can't remember!




A fun surprise inside. Zebra cake!



For the activities we did several games that required the kids to don power suits (like on the show) and channel certain creature powers. We did polar bears-ice block jumping, butterflies-bursting out of a toilet paper cocoon, cheetahs-running really fast and playing cheetah tag, and platypus power- carefully carrying "platypus" eggs on a spoon across the room without breaking them.

The games were short and sweet and perfect for a group of 4 year olds.



Kate jumping on ice blocks, aka bathroom towels.
 

After games we headed inside to do birthday cake. Per tradition the kids donned the birthday hat and each got to blow out candles. With twins we sing twice so each child can receive their birthday serenade and blow out candles without squabbling.

Ha! These picture sequences make me laugh. Such concentration and effort here!




Our cute party guests minus cousin Carly who was too picture shy.
L to R: Rhett, Kate, Croix, Lyla and Max.
We were missing a few friends who were out of town.



Then we opened presents and the kids were very blessed from their friends, grandparents and mom and dad.

It was a fun day! Next year for the big 5 we are keeping it a family party and starting our family "rule" of a friend party on the even years.

Preschool Field Trip

**Can we all just take a moment to recognize that I am indeed blogging in real time? Thank you! Haha! Ahem, still woefully behind, understaffed and overtired around here.**

Max and Kate had their first field trip to the local fire station. They were so excited and Rhett and I got to tag along.
 

As soon as we walked in the door we were hit with the strong smell of brewed coffee. Rhett promptly announced to everyone there that "it stinks in here!". And he kept repeating it over and over. Ha! Funny kid. He was also the only one who would answer the nice fireman's questions. All the preschool kids were a bit gun shy throughout the tour.

 

We got to see all of the fire house and my kids were just antsy to see the fire truck which we toured at the end. They let the kids climb through the truck and my boys were beaming. Max kept wanting to go again and Rhett perched up in the back seat until they made him go out the other side.
 

The chief fireman donned all of his gear and they talked to the kids about fire safety and if there is a fire in their house and a fireman comes to rescue them that he will look like this in all his gear. The kids were not impressed and they all backed away. He was trying to convey that he was friendly and there to help and that they shouldn't be scared. Max was the only one brave enough of my kids to go to the fireman.

 

We tried to get all the preschool kids together with mild success. Rhett and Kate were especially timid. Remember my kids don't like costumed characters of any kind. Right after this picture Kate and Rhett ran off to hug my legs.

The brave ones smiling for the mamarazzi.



At the end of the tour the kids got fire hats and a few goodies. Kids are easy to please!

Max: 1st Soccer Season, Fall 2013

I signed Max up for his first soccer season this year. I wasn't sure if he was old enough but figured we wouldn't know that until we tried! He was very excited to play and get all his official soccer gear. Practice was 45 minutes each week in the evenings and then the games were on Saturday mornings. It was SO hot when we first started in September. Poor boys! He was always a sweaty, stinky hot boy. But he loved it.

His first few games, heck!, just about most of the season, you could find Max on the field like this:

The rest of the team on one end of the field and Max meandering far behind. His coaches were often redirecting him on the right direction to go and always calling him to pay attention, run this way, etc. 

And then Max would get a pep in his step and run after the other kids and ball. He was easily one of the youngest and smallest on his team. The boys were grouped from ages 4-5 and most of the kids had prior soccer experience. 

We often questioned if we had started him too early but in talking with the other parents they assured us that their kids were the same way and that next season we would see vast improvement. It is all for fun anyway. We videoed the first and last games and were able to see how he improved. At his last game he actually dribbled the ball down the field a bit and came close to scoring a goal. And he was more aware of the game happenings and stayed with the team at the end.

We signed him up to be a part of a Christian community team. It is a wonderful organization hosted by a local Christian church and most, if not all, of the families attended this church. The pastor was Max's coach. I chose this group since it stressed a friendly, uplifting learning environment and it was all that and more. We are very happy with how everything was run and will certainly be participating in the following seasons as long as we live here. 

He loved getting his snack and juice at the end of the games and I love how he always willingly shared his treats with Kate in the back seat as we drove home from the field. Rhett and Kate were generally good sports about sitting on the sidelines each weekend. Phil only missed a few games being out of town and it was so much easier having him help me corral everyone and haul our gear about. 

We chose to keep Kate out of soccer since we knew emotionally she wasn't ready. She is asking about playing next season and I am still on the fence about it, I think she will do okay though.

 

At the end of the season they had team pictures taken by a photographer, which I scanned in here.

The church also hosted a soccer award party where they had bounce houses, cake, a slide show and fun team games for the kids to do. Max ate it up. We broke off into teams at the end and the kids were given their team pictures and trophy. The coach had something positive to say about each child, he told Max that he was the most improved and did a great job.

Max was beaming and felt so special. His trophy sits in his room on his dresser now. We have packed away the shin guards and cleats but will bring them out again in March. I am excited to see how he progresses.

Good job Max! We love you and are proud of you. 

Labor Day Weekend 2013

And thus begins the great blog catch up. At least I hope it will be! Being at the computer while Rhett is awake is futile and endlessly unproductive unless you are doing what he wants: "letters" aka Starfall.com. So. He is napping and Max and Kate are at preschool, I have spent the past 2 hours culling and editing one months worth of images. Aaaaand there are many more months to go. Let's do this.
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Labor Day Weekend we were itching to get out of the heat and do something fun as a family. Fun and cheap. Phil had the idea to take the kids up to Workman's Creek and while I love the area I wasn't keen on spending hours in the car. He won and I am glad we went. It was a lot longer of a drive than he remembered but it was so beautiful.

The kids loved being out in nature, the cooler weather and going on an adventure with dad. We transferred the car seats to the truck since I didn't want to take my van on the rough roads. At the end of the trip even Phil was praising the virtues of our van and the blessed space it provides between the bickering and teasing children. Three in a row is a no go.

And now for a plethora of pictures. Between the gorgeous scenery and my darling children I couldn't narrow it down one bit. You're welcome. After several hours in the truck the kids were ready to go exploring. I had packed a lunch and we walked down to the creek and found a safe cluster of rocks to serve as our dining area. And apparently the only child I was concerned with readying for the day was Kate. Max is looking awesome with his bed head.

 

After a quick lunch of cheese, crackers, meat and apples we went exploring. The beauty of this area always makes my heart long for "greener pastures" and specifically cooler weather. I know AZ is wonderful and we can experience all the seasons within a few hours drive but goodness I would love to LIVE in the heart of such beauty and green. Someday...

   

 Phil found a horny toad and the kids were fascinated by the little guy.

 

He also spied this caterpillar. 

We explored an old campsite that is now closed to overnight camping. It is sad because it is so beautiful. Now it is all overgrown, the last time we were there was when I was pregnant with Max and Kate. That was a fun trip that we took with Brent and Terina. Not ideal because we were both pregnant but it was fun! I remember having to use the nasty porta-potty and being chicken to go in the middle of the night, getting a flat tire, making delicious camping food... Good times. I am looking forward to camping with the kids once everyone is a bit older. 

We just walked around for a bit and threw the frisbee. It was starting to sprinkle and Rhett was losing steam so it was only 10 minutes here.

We drove up the mountain further to see the falls but the water was running low and you couldn't see much, especially if you are only 3 feet tall. It is also really steep and nerve wracking to have three littles so close to the drop off. I was a nervous hen and happy to keep everyone safely in the truck.

After traipsing around a bit more and numerous roadside potty breaks (for me and Kate mostly. Okay fine! I'm sure my pregnant bladder trumped Kate's...) we stopped off on the way home to look out at Roosevelt Lake. Truly beautiful.

 

I'm glad Phil twisted my arm to go on this trip. I need to be better about being spontaneous and adventurous. But as the mom of soon to be 4 kids in just over 4 years, spontaneity is not my strong point at this stage in the mommy game. Planning! Lots of planning and schedules. 

It's a Boy! & General Pregnancy Updates

This post is long overdue, as is much of the rest of our recent life. But that is the reality of my life right now so better late than never!

Back in August we found out that this little bean I am growing is joining the ranks of blue. Our fourth boy! Wahoo! I was so darn sure that he was a girl based on my early pregnancy symptoms. I was actually nauseous during the first trimester, though I never lost my cookies. To me this was a tell-tale sign of gender since all my past pregnancies have had boys in them and I was never ever sick. And to be honest I was really hoping for a sister for Kate. We are thrilled to have another cute boy join our family though and Kate is just beside herself with anticipation of the coming baby regardless of gender.

The evidence:


And now some bump pictures to document our growth together. With the advent of my owning an iPhone and the reality of a busy and often missing husband, this pregnancy I have resorted to taking "selfies" in the bathroom mirror with my phone. Not my ideal or the best quality of images but the babe is documented.

Pretty darn close to 18 weeks here. Taken August 6, 2013.

20 weeks: August 23, 2013.


25 weeks: September 27, 2013.


28 weeks: October 15, 2013.


30 weeks: October 29, 2013.


We are still undecided on a name for this little one and have just recently decided to stick with our unintentional one syllable theme we have going on with Max, Kate and Rhett. At least that narrows down our options. We favor fairly traditional names and they can't be in the top 100. Whatever I suggest to Phil he generally vetoes and I similarly do the same to him. He says I am too "new age and modern". I have suggested Miles, Grady, Roane, Griffin, and a few other names that I can't remember. Phil has said Wade, Wes, Sean and presently likes Brock. I am going to suggest Rhys (Reece) to Phil when he gets home from travelling.

I would love the name Wade as that is my mom's brother who died in an accident when he was younger. But we used that name as Max's middle name and I just feel funny using it again, a social faux pas if you will. I've polled a few friends and family and the consensus is mixed but I am not going to use it again. Darn though! We would've been set! I guess I am waiting for the name to "feel" right and thus far nothing has settled, or at least nothing that Phil and I can agree on! I loved Grady but he is adamantly against it. He likes Griff but not Griffin. Brock is a bit too 80s for me. And Phil says Roane isn't even a name. Good grief. We'll get it ironed out eventually.

I am feeling good overall. I am working 2 days a week and wear the same scrub top each day. Ha! No more fitted tops for me. Eventually I am sure I will move on to a maternity t-shirt top and wear my lab coat over the belly. Almost there! I still plan on returning to work after this babe and while that still gives me anxiety thinking about juggling a newborn, nursing/pumping and 4 kids at home, I am trying to be positive and not dwell on it too much.

My hips hurt but that is due to our bed not being supportive enough, ie: too soft. I am very much looking forward to reclaiming my body after this sweet babe is through with me but I know that will be a long time coming with nursing and whatnot. But there is a bit of satisfaction knowing that this is our last baby and I won't be going through the physical pains of pregnancy and delivery again. Bittersweet but I am at peace with our decision to call this "the end".