Noah’s Ark Two by Two~ G & G turn TWO!

Last year, for the boys’ first birthday, I chose to just invite family bc I knew it was a very special birthday and I really wanted to keep it simple and enjoy it.  And it worked out perfect.  Plus, I was so emotional about the day and I didn’t mind crying in front of the fam.

This year, I decided to do a little different.

Since the boys were turning TWO, there are TWO of them, and they have been talking about Noah lately (or as they call him, “Ho HO”), I decided to go with a “Noah’s Ark, Two by Two theme.  It was super easy to plan once I locked down the Noah’s Ark play place reservation.  I didn’t have much of a choice about what time to have the party, bc we were put on the waiting list, so we were stuck with the 5:30-7:30 time slot. 

This past year, the boys and I have been able to get out a WHOLE lot more than we did their first year and with that, we have made lots of new friends and stayed close with older friends.  The boys know their friends’ names, so I wanted to invite some of their friends.  I ended up inviting several of their friends, and our friends too, thinking maybe half would come. Of course, I invited our families up for the party too (which is a big group in itself).  I ended up inviting 64 people.

60 came.

I know!

Are you freaking out?

Because I was after everyone started RSVPing yes.

Don’t get me wrong, I was super happy and thankful that everyone wanted to come, I just started worrying (that shouldn’t surprise you) that I wouldn’t have enough food.  What on earth could I feed that many people???

Good thing I have a mama that loves to hosts dinners and an aunt that lives close to come help!

We ended up going to Costco and buying half the store!

Of course, we ended up having more than enough food.

The party was soooo much fun and I enjoyed walking around and talking to all who came!

And maybe Jared and I had a race through the play area, that ended with a  big slide, and I’m pretty sure I won! :)

Here are about a million pictures of the fun…

A little blurry, but that’s bc I was going super fast! :)

Proof :)

no hard feelings

me and one of my BIG TWO year olds?! (Graham)

family pics

Just like last year, Graham wasn’t so sure about this whole cup cake thing.

He asked for a spoon to eat it.

Who’s kid is this?

I promise I’m happy, it just appears that I’m yelling at some one, but I’m not.  :)

Honey and Papa G with the birthday boys!

right after this pic, he literally took a bite of the candle and swallowed it :-/

me and my beautiful sista!

 

Cousin sliding time

Our wonderful family that came to celebrate our miracles!

LOVE these TWO more than words!

So thankful God thought I could handle  entrusted me with these two miracles!

Just for funsies…

one year ago

And of course…

2 years ago.

Time flies when you’re having fun!

Valenetine’s Day 2013

Not too many girls can say they have THREE special Valentines in their life, all living under the same roof and all love each other. :)

my children would both be eating a sucker and waffle with syrup at 7AM, right before school.  yep, I was that mom

Love all three of my boys and so thankful for the love that God has shown and given us.

We love because he first loved us. John 4:19

Do everything in love. 1 Corinthians 16:14

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. John 15:12

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:10

 

Just a little throwback from last year…

Happy Heart Day!!

Girls’ weekend at the Gaylord

Before you get too excited for me, thinking I was able to get to go to another girl’s trip in the same year, let me explain.

Every year, my mom, her sister (Nana Jana to the boys), and my grandmother, get together for a girls weekend.

  

(Jana, Grandma, Mama)

This year, they met at the Gaylord.  Since it is so close to us, I decided it would be fun for the boys and I to come interrupt their weekend. 

And that we did.

And I don’t think they minded one bit.

Thanks for letting us tag-a-long!  See ya at the next Girl’s trip!

toddler beds

Well, we hit another milestone, and while it was hard and emotional and challenging, it’s all good now.

Since I’m about 2 months behind on blogging, it’s a little hard to remember the details, but I do remember why we chose to remove their rails from their crib and convert it into their toddler beds.  After days weeks months of the boys jumping, flying, and somersaulting out of their cribs, Jared and I decided we needed to make this transition quickly before they get hurt. 

One day, one of the many times Gage was flying out of his bed, I heard a loud thump, followed by a scream.  I checked the monitor and he wasn’t in his bed so I knew he had jumped out again.  I ran in there to find Gage laying still, on his back, not moving and just screaming.  Scared me to death.  I thought he broke his neck and immediately, after I decided he was ok, we put the toddler rails on their beds.  That was some time in January.

Like I said, it’s been awhile since we were that “phase,” but I do know it took us a good two weeks to get used to all the freedom that went on with this transition.  We tried everything to get them to stay in their bed and know that it was naptime (or night time) instead of play time.  (WARNING- to Papa G and Honey, don’t read this sentence, you won’t we did these things to your sweet, precious grandchildren) We tried rocking, patting their backs, spanking, threatening, sitting in their rooms, sitting outside their rooms, holding them down in their beds.  Not my proudest mom moments.  But after a LOOOOOOONG time of all these things, we decided they are going to have to figure it out on their own, even if it means them playing and staying up after 10 pm in their rooms, or skipping naps (they did all of these things).  As long as they were safe and in their rooms, I had to let go of control and be ok with it. 

One day, it clicked.  Finally!  And now, they occasionally get out of their beds, usually to sleep in each other’s bed, but for the most part, they stay in their beds, read a few books and then they are fast asleep.

One of the many times Gage has snuck in bed with Graham to go to sleep

 

And another…

And another…

 

And another.  Only this time, he was standing on his brother, and Graham was completely asleep the whole time this was taking place.

This next picture proves that Gage takes after his daddy in the sleeping department. 

 

He fell asleep in front of his closet door the other night.

I didn’t think that day would come, but it’s here and it’s the best!  It’s all good…at least for now :)