A Superhero Party {with a touch of OSU Beavers}

One afternoon, about a month before Blake's birthday, we were walking down the party isle in Target and I asked Blake what kind of birthday party he wanted. First he saw some Superhero plates and said "I want a Superhero Party!" Then we walked around a corner and he saw some orange and black balloons and said "And these Beaver balloons too!" I thought surely as it got closer to the party he would change his mind, I should have known he wouldn't! So, that's what we did! 

Since Blake's birthday fell on a Saturday we had his party on his birthday. In the morning he got to open his presents from us. 

He got a two wheel pedal bike and was so excited about it!

Then we went out for donuts and hot cocoa {I usually call it hot chocolate, but Blake insists it's hot cocoa and always corrects me}

Before the party started he had sometime to test out his new bike.

Tristan and Logan came early and he opened his present from them. {these three, never just sit nicely and smile for the camera, at the same time}

Then it was time for the party!

As the guests arrived Blake gave them a cape to put on. The boys had black capes with orange letters and the girls had pink. They could decorate a mask to wear if they wanted

We were so thankful for a sunny day! Russ set up a little obstacle course for the Superheros to go through.

We ate pizza and cake

And opened presents!

Most of the kids at the party!

It was a fun day celebrating Blake turning 4!

Blake is 4!

Blake turned 4 on June 7th! {yes, this post is a few weeks late, but it's been a little busy around here} I'm not sure how he is four already. It seems like with each year they just go by faster! Since his birthday was on a Saturday this year we had his party on his actual birthday which was fun! {there will be a post on that one of these days} Although I kind of like it when the actual birthday is on a different day, then it's like you get two special days. Anyway, enough about the birthday-day-party and on to my big FOUR-YEAR-OLD!

Last year we started a tradition where on every birthday we ask him a set of questions, so here are his answers, now that he is four:

Yearly Birthday Questionnaire:

Name: He wrote his name using his right hand

Age: 4

1. My favorite color is: blue and orange

2. My favorite toy is: red plane

3. My favorite food is: Mac n Cheese and hot dogs and strawberries 

4. A food I don’t like is: Broccoli 

5. My favorite show to watch on TV is: Wild Kratts, Mickey Mouse and Jake and the Neverland Pirates

6. My favorite thing to wear is: Shirts

7. My favorite game to play is: Angry Birds and baseball

8. My favorite sport is: Football

9. My favorite animal is: cow

10. My favorite song is: ABCs

11. I love the book: "I don't know what kind" {not really a book}

12. My best friend is: Tristan, Luke, Roman, Jayden and Liya

13. When I’m outside, I love to: play with water guns and ride my bike

14. My favorite holiday is: Christmas

15. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Night-night, Re-re Bear and Elmo

16. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Mac N Cheese and hot dogs

17. When I grow up I want to be: Baseball and football player

Blake has grown and changed so much over the last year. He has gone from a toddler to a kid!

He went through a time of really bad separation anxiety. It started right after we moved into a new house and I think that {which was something he had never experienced} was what brought it on. He wouldn't go into his class at church, he would start crying before we even left the house if he knew we were going somewhere, where I wasn't going to be with him. It was bad. But we pushed through and kept trying and he finally, got through it. {however it did almost take a whole year!} He just finished a week of VBS and loved it! 

He can now {almost} write his name. {I'm not so sure academics will be his thing}

He can ride a two wheel bike {with pedals} without training wheels. 

He absolutely LOVES to be outside.

He really would eat Mac n Cheese and Hot Dogs everyday for lunch {and probably dinner} if we let him.

We went from having a great sleeper who always slept in his bed from about 8pm-7am, to a little boy who likes to wake up in the night and come crawl in bed with mommy and daddy. {we figure he won't do this forever, right?}

He gets himself dressed almost everyday and usually picks out his own clothes too! 

He starts preschool in the fall!

He loves his sister, but also likes to push her buttons and has done a very good job figuring that out. But really, for the most part they are great friends and have fun playing with each other.

Blake,

You are sweet, loving, full of spunk and laughter! 

You are growing up so fast! We love you!

Easter 2014

Easter Sunday was a beautiful sunny day! 

On Saturday we dyed some eggs.  

 

That was interesting with a 1.5 year-old. Thankfully the carpet was still tan colored when everything was done!

Sunday morning the kids opened their Easter buckets and had a little Easter egg hunt.

Then we went to church!

 {this was the best picture I got}

 {but here are some of the outtakes...}

 {love how they are holding hands}

{these two}

Every other Sunday we teach Blake's class at church and it was a nice break to have Easter Sunday off. And the kids did great in their classes, which meant we got to enjoy the whole service!

 At church

After church we came home for lunch and naps. After nap time, we headed over to our friends, the Hammagrens. There, we had a little egg hunt and a very yummy dinner. Usually we have ham on Easter {I'm not sure why, it's just what we've always done}. This year we decided to change it up, and got a Tri-Tip from Costco. It was soooooooo good! I'm thinking that might become the new tradition.

{Lily didn't really understand the egg hunt, she just liked to take eggs from her brother's bucket}

Blake, Karter, Luke

{The Leyva's joined us for an Easter Egg hunt!}

 Us and the Hammagrens! 

I can't believe this was the fifth Easter in a row we have spent with the Hammagrens. It's turned into a fun little tradition! And has been fun to watch our families grow over the years! We feel so blessed to have friends that feel like family :)

Hope you had a blessed Easter!

Past Easters: 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010

Bartlett Beach Trip 2014

A few weeks ago, the last weekend of Spring Break, we headed over to Lincoln City for a little vacation with the Bartlett side of the family! This was the third time in the last four years that we have gone. It's always a great time! This year, there was lots of UNO playing, beach walking, treasure hunting, outlet shopping, Mo's eating and fun!

So excited we made it to the beach!

 Checking the out the ocean with Papa Don

 Playing some dominos with Lizzy

 Blake's UNO face

{he learned how to play UNO!}

Sharing some Mo's chowder, yum!

 Walking on the beach

{we had to take advantages of any break in the rain to get out on the beach!}

 It was definitely rain boot weather

Mama and Lily

Looking for treasure!

 Found the treasure!

Blake and Aunt KK

 Can't go to the beach with out getting some DQ!

 Stories with Nana before bedtime

 Playing play-doh with Papa

 Building sandcastles 

 Saying good-bye to the beach until next time!

The weekend was so much fun, that they both slept the whole way home!

Lily: 18 Months

She's definitely a toddler now! 

I can hardly believe she is one-and-a-half. 

Lily's 18 month stats:

She is almost 22lbs {not sure on her exact weight}

She has a mouth full of teeth. Four up top, four on bottom and 4 molars.

She can say, mama, dada, more, bubbles, uh-oh, no, Bade {aka Blake}, I know there is more... she tries to repeat us a lot, but it doesn't always sound like it should.

She loves to sing, and will sing with us at night when we sing Jesus Loves Me.

She does a great job feeding herself. Partly because there came a time when she refused to let me feed her.

She can throw quite the temper-tantrum. It's not pretty when she doesn't get what she wants or if her brother takes something from her.

She sleeps about 7:30-8pm to 7:30-8am she still wakes up occasionally at night, but it's usually worse when she's teething or sick. She will sometimes take a morning nap if she wakes up early or if we are in the car and she falls asleep, but usually it's just one nap from 1-3ish. 

She loves, playing outside, climbing on things, playing with her brother {most of the time}. Her favorite book is "Moo, Baa, La la la". 

She is growing up too fast! We LOVE you Lily!

{Blake's 18 month post}