Some favorites right now

So that I don't forget these things later, I want to document a few of my favorite things the kids do right now:

Keeley - When she writes her name, she always likes to include a heart at the end.  She is happiest if she can also color that heart in with a red pencil.

Kayden - She insists on wearing headbands to bed each night.  Their have been 3 losses so far.  I have no idea how that is comfortable.

Killian - He is still not really communicating at all.  However, when you ask him a question that he needs to think about it, he will raise his right eyebrow.  So cute.

Teeth and shoes

This morning we could not find one of Keeley's school shoes anywhere. We searched every where I could think to look and kept coming up empty handed.  She has to wear them to school and I was getting stressed about the time because if we are late to school, it pushes Killian's nap back, which messes up our afternoon, which alters our bedtime routine, etc....

The more we looked and couldn't find it the more confused I became because 1. our house simply is not that big 2. we'd just had a party here so we had cleaned up considerably and minimized the "stuff" everywhere and 3. the girls are so good about always putting their school shoes in the basket in the laundry room. 

I finally decided that I could look faster if I didn't have Killian on my hip so I set him down in Keeley's room with her.  Not one minute later I heard the cry.  The one you know is a true injury - not just injured pride or a little bump.  I ran back to Keeley's room to find him on the floor with blood all over his face and several big drops of blood on the step stool.  Keeley said he fell off.  I have no idea how he managed to hit his face in the process.  I went straight to the kitchen for a rag to get cold and wet for him and then had Keeley start cleaning up the blood in her room.    Carrying Killian sucking on a rag, I continued to look for the shoe.  I finally found it in the drawer under the washing machine.  I guess he put it in there at some point, little rascal.

Once Killian had calmed down, I was able to look in his mouth and see that he had torn the frenum and also had a big cut above his front tooth.  The teeth didn't seem mobile, his lip wasn't swollen, and I saw no other source of injury.  While Keeley got her shoes on and the girls got in the car, I called the dentist to see if I needed to come in.  They said because of the gum injury I did.  I was able to get in at 10:30.  Everything was fine (thankfully!).  At the dentist I was able to see that his left bottom tooth is now all the way through - making for 7 teeth in his toothy grin!

Keeley's Birthday Party

For Keeley's birthday this year she requested a Belle party at our house, with a bounce house, no cake - just cupcakes, and "only" her class.  That meant I was inviting 22 kids plus several siblings to our house!  Yikes!  She held on to that request for several months so I gave in and set about planning.  The original party was scheduled for right after her birthday.  While I knew she would be sad people were out of town (spring break), I was relieved that the total number of guests would be lower.  Unfortunately, she ended up getting a virus that gave her a temp of over 104 so we had to reschedule.  It worked out well for her though because several of her friends that would have missed were now able to come.

Beauty and the Beast/Belle is not a common birthday theme so it was incredibly difficult to find supplies.  I ended up on Etsy to purchase some cupcake toppers

Our food spread

Aren't they so cute?  Edible pictures designed just for the party.

and these adorable candy tubes.

I did have to fill the tubes with candy, but I totally think it was worth it.  Adorable.

We also gave out princess puzzles.  Unfortunately, there are a lot of boys in her class and I didn't figure they'd be too excited about a princess puzzle so we gave them a little Spiderman game.  Dollar spot steals!

For the rest of the decorations, I just went with the "Disney Princess" theme.

Brother was napping when we snapped this photo.  I planned the party for after nap time.  No one wants a grumpy Brother Bear at a birthday party!

As the kids gathered we played outside.

A banner I found online.

The bounce house, our swing set and the sand tubs.

Grandad pushing Keeley and Owen (her best friend)

Keeley and Lily B. in the bounce house.

Keeley and Ella

Brother playing in one of the playhouses.

Sand!  Parker, Gavin (Tyler's brother), and Lexi P playing.

Gavin played here most of the time and mixed the colors all together.  His mom thanked me because that type of play apparently really stresses her out!  Didn't bother me a bit.  However, the birthday girl was a little frustrated he had mixed all the colors of sand together!

Chloe swinging.

Kids playing in one of the houses.

When the kids became too hot, they came inside to decorate their treasure chests.

Adding jewels.  Oma, Grandma, and Dad removed all the backing and placed on wax paper so the kids could get them more easily.

Parker being silly.  He is a very silly boy!

Look how hard she is concentrating!!!

Then we had cake and ice cream.

Watching the cake get prepared.

Counting her candles.  FIVE!  I still can't believe it.

No idea what she is thinking but I love this face!

Eating with Owen.  He is quite a silly kiddo too!

Kayden was needing some Mom time.

Dad and Oma apparently thought Killian needed cake.  He loved it.

Pretty girl. 

I guess if he needed cake he should try ice cream too.  You'll notice Dad holding and Oma feeding...

After cake and ice cream, we headed back out to the back yard for an Easter Egg hunt.  (While the kids were eating, Oma, Grandma, and Grandad hid the eggs).  Grandad was the "gate keeper" after kids finished and made sure to keep them inside until it was time!

Grandad surveying everyone's loot.

The kids listening to Grandad tell them that there is one more egg hidden.

The victor!  Look at Elizabeth's face.  I love it!!!!

Keeley with her eggs. Do you love how her jewels are all in a perfectly straight line?

 Most kids left after that but a our kids kept playing outside for quite a while!!

Brother loved the sand and water boxes!!!

 

In the bounce house.

We came in to eat dinner and open presents.

Brother was tired!!!

We were all really tired!  Such a fun day though!