A Roach, A Boat, and A Grand Ol' Time

We have been so busy lately that it seems every time I go to write a blog post about an event, there is another event I am already documenting on camera. I still have to write about Noah's preschool graduation, but for now I will stick to showing you what we did over Memorial Day weekend.

We packed the boys up on Friday and headed up the road (into what, to me, still seems like the middle of nowhere) to the Shealy's lake house. We spent the weekend soaking up the sun in the boat, on the dock, and in the water. (And, I am proud to say that we went through almost 2 whole spray bottles of sunscreen - SPF 85. No skin cancer here, thank you very much!) Despite a middle of the night roach encounter and no central air and only one bathroom we enjoyed ourselves very much!

I am also proud to tell you that I finally have photographic proof that I can indeed get up on a pair of skis! (I did it for the first time - after several years of trying - at the end of last summer.)

And, of course, so can Wes. He is much better than me and can stay up for a lot longer. However, I am convinced that of the two of us, I fall way more gracefully!

Noah had a blast on the boat too. He really enjoyed tubing with Wes. He also decided to give it a try all on his own because Pops promised that if Noah could prove he was brave enough, there would be a pair of his very own skis waiting for him next time. So Noah did it - and promptly asked for Wes to get back in. Not because he was afraid mind you - he wasn't - but because he can't stand to go more than a minute and a half without someone to chat with. Being in the tube by himself must have been horrifying for him.

And while we were enjoying all the water sports, Liam was hanging out with Nana at the house. He was not a fan of his life jacket and therefore much preferred pushing his cart of Lego's around the porch. (And, by the way, he is walking for real now. Everywhere. We are calling him our little penguin.)

Noah was very sad when we came home today. We had to promise over and over that we would go back to the lake soon. And I do believe that we will!

Birthday Fun

So before I forget, and/or too much time passes and it fails to be relevant, I am going to post the pictures from Noah's birthday party.

We had his 5th birthday at Monkey Joe's and it did not disappoint! Seriously, the jump castles are great, the venue is new and clean, and the staff is extremely accomodating. Plus, after we were done in the party room having cake, the kids got to go back out and jump some more. For those of you who have been to parties at most jump castles, usually there is no option for more jumping after cake.  Needless to say, it was a great place for a party and I had to do almost no work at all which I loved!

Soccer Finale

Saturday morning was Noah's last soccer game for the season. I was really sad it was the last - it has been so fun cheering him on every Saturday - but excited because they had such a great game, probably their best of the season. It was a great way to finish things up! Noah scored two goals himself and was so proud. Wes and I were too. Not necessarily because of the goals (those are wonderful) but because of how hard he works when he is out there, and how much better he has gotten over the course of the season. Here are a few pictures of the Orange Team winning their last game.

And of course we can't forget about the family on the sidelines. I think we work pretty hard at cheering them on!

After the game his team had a little celebration complete with cupcakes and trophies.

And, last but not least, I have this picture. (Which was taken later that day at Noah's party, as most of my friends would have been irritated at me for suggesting we take a picture while we all looked so... sporty!)

We are officially Soccer Moms! Don't worry though, only some of us drive mini-vans!

Happy Birthday Noah

Today Noah is 5..... WHAT?!

I don't know where five years has gone. I blinked and all of the sudden I have a long limbed, gangly little boy. Who is so smart and sweet and has a wicked awesome sense of humor. I love him.

(Here are some pictures from our family celebration this afternoon. I have more of his birthday party and soccer game but I will post those later.)

Noah, on your fifth birthday here are some things to remember about you......

You love to play soccer - and have gotten really good. Dinosaurs still reign supreme in this house. You even told me the other day that you "know more than all the paleontologists". You sing and dance in the car and especially love the Glee soundtracks, in particular the Britney Spears song Stronger (Daddy is not so keen on that). You are so much fun to be around and remember that sense of humor I was talking about? Well, here is a picture that shows it off. I love that you can get a chest full of dress up costumes for your birthday and do this with me.....

Happy Birthday to the best five year old that I know!

Sneaky Liam

You know how a dog has a place he likes to bury his bones? Well, Liam has a place he likes to hide his toys. Seriously, any time I can't find something - a pacifier, socks, shoes, toys, the remote control - I usually just have to check this spot and I will find it.

See the random assortment of objects he has stored here? I have been looking for that pacifier for a long time!

I am pretty sure the good people at Pottery Barn would be appalled to see how we have put their decorative urn to use in this house.

Surprise!

On Thursday my Mom came to town - but not to see us. She was here to fly to California with her "Man Friend" (because as Mr. Big from SATC reminded us, they are a little too old for the term boyfriend) Marv. We did not expect to see her, but she ended up getting in early enough for us to all meet for dinner. I grabbed Noah and we hopped in the car and I told him we were going to eat with Bebe, Surprise! He was more than a little excited.

While at dinner he took control of my phone and snapped some photos.

                                                                        Mom and Marv

                                 Jamie and Jess. I am warning you now, look out for those two! They look as though they are plotting something a little crazy right here. (Possibly the castration of all men....?)

Noah and Bebe. (Not sure why but he insisted on wearing her glasses in the picture.) He is not always thrilled to share her with the Man Friend but a ride in Marv's corvette has done wonders to changing Noah's opinion of things. He sure does love his Bebe!

Steps For A Happy Mother's Day

Step 1: Make sure your whole holiday weekend is filled with parties to go to! We had three on Saturday alone! Here is a picture of Liam as he helped his cousin Gemma celebrate her first birthday.

The consensus was that they looked a bit like garden gnomes in the party hats. But cute garden gnomes, hence the flurry of picture taking!

Step 2: Go to bed Saturday tired but happy after hanging out with your friends and laughing together. Wake up late because your husband took charge of the kids. Go for coffee and bagels, then spend time reading on the back porch. Ahh, you should start to be feeling relaxed by now.

Step 3: Leave the kids with trusty Aunt J and head downtown with your husband to Second Sunday on King. How was it that the city knew that closing my favorite street to traffic and letting me roam about all the shops and restaurants would make me so happy? (And my husband's suggestion to visit a few of my favorite stores didn't hurt!)

Step 4: Come home, grab children, and head to the pool......where you will promptly find that all your friends had the same idea. Line up your lounge chair next to your buddies, grab a cold beverage and enjoy the sunshine. Oh, and get up a million times to keep your littlest rug rat from drowning. I would have been annoyed but his cuteness distracted me!

Step 5: Head out to dinner with friends. Go to local hibachi grill - which is sure to be free of Mother's Day crowds - and sit in the private room (complete with blue light special!) Contemplate ordering the "Hot Sex Mama" sushi roll. Listen to Liam scream every time you try to take away the giant soup ladle he is playing with and be grateful for the private room you are in. And for friends who understand crazy kids and their behavior!

Step 6: In all your brilliance, decide to try and take a picture with both boys when it is way past bedtime and nobody is cooperative.

                 Follow these steps and you are guaranteed to have a really awesome Mother's Day!