A Shrek Birthday Party

For B Man's 2nd birthday we had a family party at Hickory. Park in Ames a couple of weekends before the actual day. It was about an hour drive for everyone coming and each person could eat what they wanted!! The only downside was that it was loud so talking was a little hard. After enjoying our scrumptious meals we headed outside to open presents.  It was hot and muggy but he still got the job done. As you can tell B was REALLY into Shrek...Casey and I can quote every line from Shrek Forever After if needed!! All the party guests got to take home a goody container....a Shrek character cupcake from Target and M&M's...B's favorite things!! 

Going to a birthday party!!!

The Shrek goodies



Donkey and Shrek Cupcakes....Puss in Boots was replaced with the 2

They are singing Happy Birthday....

to ME!!!!!

My BEST BUDDY...Grandpa Grandpa!!

YUMMY!!!

 ALL the Shrek movies!!!

Thank you Aunt D for the rolling pin to use with  my playdoh

WHAT IS IT...WHAT IS IT?!?!?!?

 

I LOVE THIS!!

Open it up Grandpa

Aunt D and Gramma B

Grandma and Grandpa

A, A, J, Jeff and Miki....Q wasn't able to come this time

Great Grandma and Grandpa Grandpa

BEST. GIFT. EVER....Thanks Jeff's Family!!

Gramma B gave my this jumper

It was great to have everyone get together to celebrate....and I didn't have to do any of the work!!  I believe this is the way we will do his parties until he starts inviting friends. 

Thank you to all our family for...."coming from Far, Far Away" to make his birthday very special!!

Thanksgiving... Disney On Ice!!

This year we decided to stay home and celebrate Thanksgiving just three of us.  Plus we had BIG PLANS for that evening!! In the morning Casey had a football game he played in while B and I watched cartoons. Casey and I made a simple dinner....just the stuff we loved like ham, stuffing, and of course mashed potatoes!! During B Man's nap we put up the Christmas Tree and other decorations. It was terrific seeing his surprised little face when he saw it all trimmed for the Holidays. I made us leave early to go to DISNEY.ON.ICE... about an hour before it started. I wanted to make sure we didn't have to stand in long lines to get souvenirs or snacks.  Looking back...WHAT WAS I THINKING!!!! How in the world do you keep an active toddler boy busy before the show even starts?!?!?!  You buy him an EXPENSIVE toy and keep giving him sugar so that he doesn't bother the people around you. The last fifteen or so minutes of the show B Man got a little restless since it was past his bedtime but all in all did he good job behaving!

I'm going to see MICKEY MOUSE!!!!

Look....my daddy bought me my own weapon!!

My  two favorite guys

The Bourkes waiting for the show

BRIGHT. LIGHT. MOMMY!!!

He looks SO BIG

The Man of the Evening...MICKEY MOUSE

The gang causing trouble

A bunch of Genies from Aladdin

A scene from Beauty and the Beast

Leading the way

It's a...

Small World...

after all!!

Mickey went for a ride

Here comes the band.....

they were one of B Man's Favorite parts!!

Stitch in full force

The Love Couples are in the middle



They even had FIREWORKS!!!

At the end all the characters came out...



as part of the ...

Grand Finale!!



SEE YOU REAL SOON, MICKEY!!

We all had an AMAZING TIME and

 hope to go again next year!!

 

 

4th of July

We are so lucky to have a parade that goes by close to our house on the night of July 3rd. It's really nice to walk to the end of the block for a night of entertainment. B Man was only interested in the tractors..because the quote of the evening was "MORE TRACTORS, MORE TRACTORS" as the rest of it filed by us....a few pieces of candy kept him in his seat until he saw the next one!!

Too Cool



Hurry up Mommy....people are STARING AT US!!

AHH... a refreshing treat

On the 4th we were going to just stay home and enjoy the day off BUT somehow I talked us into to going to the Urban.dale parade.  Casey works with a gentleman that saved us all a spot.  It was JUST PLAIN HOT and much of the morning was spent in the shade BEHIND everyone watching the festivities. We were stuck there until the end of the procession because we could not get to our car or even if we did all the streets around it were closed. The photo below was taken at 9:00 am....do you see how uncomfortable we look....WHAT WAS I THINKING DRAGGING US OUT IN THAT SAUNA!?!?! 



Just smile and then we will head for cover



Needless to say the rest of the day was spent INSIDE watching movies and snacking. We rounded out our holiday by escaping to our favorite 4th of July pizza place...The Taver.n for dinner.

Thank you to all those that have allowed us the Freedom to relax with our families!

Happy Halloween

This year Mr. B was a pilot flying his airplane!!

Before B man headed out, there were some "monsters" wearing masks that came to our house and B told me " I SCARED MOMMY...I SCARED....GO BYE-BYE MONSTERS" while pretending to shake in fear!! They all quickly took their masks off to show him they were friendly kids. Casey and I were both surprised he knew what scared meant AND that he needed actions to get his point across!! We had to wait until they were on the next block before venturing out ourselves.

Let's Go Daddy

Trick or Treat Angela

He would hold up his bucket and tell them TRICK OR TREAT and then told every one of them THANK YOU!!  Everyone LOVED his costume that his "Aunt" Janet helped us out with.

Ready for take off



This was a fun night



"One more time Mommy"

B had a GREAT TIME going to all the houses...though it was kind of a bummer as not many homes near us had their lights on. The Bourke Family was also a little  sad that we didn't get more than a dozen trick or treaters ringing our doorbell this year....I guess that is what happens when the mall does theirs at the same time!

I even had to wear this to my class party

This next photo was sent to me by one of his teachers....

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH THIS KID?!?!?!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN
FROM
PILOT B!!!!