Brecken's 2nd Birthday

Brecken's birthday fell on a day when Carrie and Ryder were visiting! I was so exhausted because we had just gotten home from Charleston the night before. I did not think I was going to be able to do any decorations for him. But I had a flash of insomnia and got up at 5AM and went to work. I just wanted him to feel like it was a special day for him, and I hope I succeeded! Happy Birthday sweet bruiser Brecken!

 My make-shift decorations!

I also covered Jack's door since his birthday was the day after the big Super party, and I never got to it. Brecken was not very impressed. We were all singing in his bedroom the second we saw him move on the monitor. I was WAY more excited than he was. 

Cutest birthday boy EVER!

 Seriously the cutest birthday picture ever! Love this kid! 

Ha! Happy Birthday Brecki! 

A Visit From a Dear Friend

Carrie Belle is one of my oldest and best friends so when she even considered coming to visit us, I was elated! She booked her tickets, and we waited 3 months for her to get here.  I always stay at her house when I visit my parents because my parents house is small, and she has plenty of room for me and my chaos. It was nice to return the favor of hosting.

We had quite the agenda while she was here. On Thursday, we went uptown on the light-rail and roamed Charlotte's biggest festival, "Speed Street". She was quite impressed as was I. It was like Deer Lodge on steroids. Okay actually it wasn't that bad since it was a Thursday morning when we went. Carrie and I actually got to race changing tires on a racecar at one booth. I won, and I got a free t-shirt of a race car driver I've never heard of.  Ryder got some autographs from people we didn't know, and we pick up plenty of freebies along the way.

 We were walking by when they asked if Ryder wanted to come join them since he was dancing for them. It made me so happy to see this!!

Friday we went to this crazy drive through zoo. It was one of the most unique things I've ever done. I have not laughed so hard in a long time. The EMU's were so scary, and you really felt like you were  being preyed on like in Jurassic Park. We put down the middle seats in the van, rolled down our windows and got licked by a ton of animals. Ewww, I know. It was fun and something I'll never forget. 

These two were scary!!! 

Saturday was our most low key day and we went to lunch at one of my favorite spots and then we went strawberry picking! 

We left for Charleston first thing on Sunday morning to get to the beach. However, most people had the same idea because we waited in traffic for an hour just 5 minutes from the beach!! I was very antsy. The beach was packed, but amazing. Carrie found some great seashells and almost caught a crab. It was hot though, and we packed NO drinks or more importantly NO beer! Ugh. We headed back to the hotel around 3 PM to freshen up and get ready for dinner at Poogan's Porch! We've been salivating about going here for the last three months, and they did not let us down.  The next day we got downtown early and had the best day! We took a carriage ride, shopped, took a million pictures. It was so fun. I fell in love with Charleston all over again.  And I think Carrie loved it even more than I did, which is almost impossible. I really  need to go  more often. 

Ryder had so much fun playing in the sand. 

I love this picture of Carrie and Ryder!

Here we are at dinner! YUM! 

I'm drinking the best drink ever! Almond Joy martini! This place was beyond awesome. I can not wait to go back. 

 Carriage ride! 

Carrie's first experience with "grits". Before and after. Looks like she LOVED it. :) 

It was so nice to have Carrie and Ryder here and it was fun to be able to do a ton of stuff we don't normally do. We miss them so much! Poor Ryder was afraid of Brecken. He is a bruiser that is for sure. I don't think Ryder misses him to much. Jackson asked me today if "Ryder would come back to see him." I hope so Jack!! 

Carrie brought us Butte's own Orphan Girl!! You mix this with Root Beer and its an instant Root Beer Float! It was amazing and we only have about one glass left. :( 

These series of pictures make me laugh...especially the bare butt! 

Poor Ryder could not get one ounce of peace and quiet with these two!! He would just look at me and say "Kids, just Kids", while he was shaking his head. I miss this kid so much. 

Our Special Day

This year mother's day was extra special because it was also Jackson's 4th birthday! And he woke up to getting his first bike!!! However, Brecken was pretty sure it was his and did not want to get off of it. So there was a ton of crying and screaming "Ride it mommy!! Ride it! Jackson off!!"

We went fishing at a nearby park. We didn't catch anything but saw a really BIG yucky snake. Jack requested McDonald's for his birthday lunch and no one else was there. I guess not many people take their "mother's" to McDonald's on Mother's Day. :) The boys LOVE playing in the play place, and it made me happy that it was Jack's day.  We ended our day skyping with Grandma and POP POP and all of us singing happy birthday. It was a perfect day for both of us.

Good Morning Birthday Boy!! 

Who does this kid think he is???

I laugh so hard at this picture! I forgot to put his seat up before he rode it. He looks super comfortable! 

Super Birthday!

All Jackson wanted this year was birthday PARTY, and leading up to his birthday there was a lot of fit throwing because it wasn't "his" birthday we were going to or buying gifts for. He requested a super hero birthday party but mainly Batman and Spider-man. He demanded chips, pop and NO pizza. What kid doesn't like pizza?? We had Brecken and Jackson's party together, and hopefully we will do that for as many years as we can. 

Weeks leading up to the big event, I carried out my plan for making decorations, sending out the Evite, making a million to do lists and running around like crazy trying to get everything done. We even decided to order pizza instead of doing a spread of food to make things easier. But I don't think it is ever easy to throw a party even if you are just ordering pizza. 

The party started at 12 PM and by 12:30 the pizza was delivered and the cupcakes were had by 2 PM. But the party did not end at 2 PM. It ended at 2 AM. :) Okay I'm kidding, but the last people left by 10:30 PM. The boys were exhausted, and so was I.  We whisked them to bed, and I started the massive clean up process. I love throwing parties and love that everyone has fun at our house, or so I think they do, but the clean up is always a killer. And this party was by far our worst clean up. I think because the kids are older and there are a lot more of them. But it is all worth it in the end. 

The top 3 things I learned about this party is 

#1.  Never serve watermelon at a child's party. 

#2.  It's always appropriate to shot gun with B-russ at any celebration. 

#3.  We have AWESOME friends! 

My poster boards!! This is my favorite decoration hands down. I left them up for almost two weeks after the party. I realized my kids do not look much different since last July. 

I have to show you all my decorations since I spent weeks working on them. Here is the favor and dessert table! We had Super Hero pop rocks, laffy taffy and candy cigarettes or candy sticks as they call them now. I made the banner, and it was pretty simple. Fabric, fabric tape and a ribbon was all. 

I got a coloring page off of Etsy and it was of two boy superheroes with their names printed on it for $2 with all you can print. Awesome. It was Jack's favorite part of the set up. He set it up himself and told me who all was going to sit there. 

Kevin is so smart and decided to tape the top of the  balloons instead of using helium. 

I also made felt masks as the one of the favors for the kids. They were actually pretty fun and easy to make. 

My balloon batman wreath! I wasn't planning on making this but I didn't plan on making a lot of these decorations. :) Last but not least the Superhero lollipops! I modge podged a container with some comic books, and I love the way it turned out. I'm going to put a lot of these decorations in Jackson's superhero room. 

YUMMY!!

My two little superheroes!! 

Jackson was a very good host making sure everyone got their mask. However, I still have an abundance of them left so he wasn't very good at making sure they left with theirs. 

Isn't she adorable!! 

Grayson and little Clara Ann came to play! Clara Ann is the most gorgeous baby!

Carol is like a sister to me. Since I have moved here she has treated me like her family, and she loves my babies! Here she is with her son Michael. She took care of Brecken during the party, and I didn't even have to ask her. I love you Carol Ann! 

Melissa and Shana! Love!

Brandi and Mike are the cutest couple!

Chuck (Carol's husband and our good friend too) and Dusty! Dustin and Kevin had on the same shirt...Awkward! :) 

Julie and Phil also came to celebrate. They are the nicest people and we are so happy they came. 

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR JACKSON AND BRECKEN. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!"

Jackson looks so sweaty! He played very hard, but at the very end he told me he did not want to share anymore. And he had a melt down if anyone told him so. 

Everyone loves a funfetti cupcake!

Some of our bestest friends, Kelly and B-Russ.  I love these two so much. We have been friends for a long time and it means so much to me that they came!  

Little Liam is always so sweet. He was showing me his batman ring matched his shirt!

Dave, Shanna, Sophie and Jackie do a quick pose for me. Sophie had the most gorgeous dress on. I wish I could have gotten a picture of her full front! 

Can't get enough of this chip face of Landon's!

Micheal set up a tattoo station. I was happy because the kids loved it, and I had to do nothing to prepare it! Here is Davis getting his. 

Gorgeous children!