Camden is 5

Several months ago while driving around town running errands with the boys, Camden asked if we could stop for a treat at the gas station.  I was quick to respond with a "no" and he immediately asked why.  So I explained to him that I had already spent a lot of money that day and didn't have any left over for extra things like treats.  I reminded him that Dad goes to work everyday to earn money, and if we aren't careful we will spend more than he makes.  After he asked what I spent Dad's money on that day I began listing everything I had purchased: gas, dry cleaning, milk, bread, cheese, cereal, ink for the printer, Chewie's dog food, etc.  I could see the wheels turning in his head when he responded with, "Well, I have been saving all my monies to go on a hot air balloon ride but I guess I can give it to you to buy our milk".  My heart melted into butter.

Since that day in the car he has often talked about going on a hot air balloon ride.  I explained to him that a ride will cost a lot of money and encouraged him to keep saving.  When I found a groupon for a local balloon company I knew we needed to make it happen.  I called the company to see if they had his birthday available for flight and was offered an even cheaper rate.  It was meant to be.  Dan and I debated whether or not it was an appropriate birthday gift for a 5 year old and worried he might be upset that it wasn't something tangible to unwrap. We both agreed making memories was way more important than opening a present. 

We woke him up bright an early for his surprise.  He was given his first present for the day being a t-shirt with the #5 and asked to quickly get ready.  We loaded him in the car and drove to the fairgrounds where a hot air balloon ride was supposed to be waiting for him. Unfortunately the weather did not cooperate.  After standing around in the cold morning air for about 45 minutes the pilot cancelled all flights due to wind.  We were now stuck with entertaining our (tired) birthday boy for the rest of the day.  Luckily IHOP for breakfast sounded more exciting than sitting out in the cold.

After breakfast we couldn't resist letting him open presents that he had received in the mail from his generous family and friends.

He was happy as could be with all his Iron Man memorabilia.

Dan and I were a little stressed knowing how awesome his birthday should have been had the balloon ride not been cancelled, but he could've cared less.  He was spoiled beyond degree, why we even worried about not buying him anything to unwrap blows my mind.  The amount of gifts he received was more than he could have imagined.

Camden is one loved 5 year old.  He received money, clothes, toys, cards, treats, balloons, and lots of birthday love over the phone.

We ended our morning with a birthday cake of Krispie Kreme donuts and enjoyed the day with our sweet 5 year old.  Camden randomly requested Taco bell for lunch and his wish was granted.  Shortly after we arrived home we got a phone call from our good friends who invited us over for a mini birthday party they put together at their house in honor of Camden.

Hanging with his Blodgett friends was the perfect ending to his day!

Thanks for having a birthday Camden, we love to celebrate you!

Ordinary

I have this rushed feeling to write down some of the ordinary and everyday moments that go on around here.  It's like my kids childhood is rushing right passed me and I don't want to look back in ten years having forgotten all these little things.

One of the ordinary moments I know won't last forever is getting my boys ready for bed.  By this point in the day I am run down and wishing my kids off to dreamland in a heartbeat.  I usually rush through the bath and whisk them off to bed. But when Dan is home he makes things a bit more interesting.

Every. Single. Time. Dan gets them out of the tub, he lifts them up under their armpits moving them back at forth shaking the water off saying "tick tock".  My kids love this!  They beg me to do it, but nobody does it like their daddy.

And the fun doesn't stop there.

After they are bathed, brushed, and ready for the night; Dan lets them "blast off" into their beds.  They bend down, low to the ground counting "three....two....one".

"Blast off!"  Dan throws them up into the air letting them fall from the sky, landing perfectly on their pillows.

In my "hurry up and get them to bed before I loose my temper one more time" mindset, I often get worked up about these silly bedtime antics.  But lately I look forward to them a little bit more because I know they won't last much longer.  My kids are growing up and won't want us tucking them in forever.  So tonight I enjoyed it and tucked them in with a little extra love.

Kid's Camp

Camden got an early birthday present this year from Nanny and Papa.  They paid for him to go to a super fun summer "kids camp".  The camp was Monday thru Thursday from 9am-1230pm.  One of the sweet 12 year old girls from my Beehive class put it on with her friend and they did an incredible job.

Each time I picked Camden up he was excited and so happy with what they had done that day.  They made camp t-shirts, pottery, solar oven(in a shoe box) s'mores, had relay races, and enjoyed snacks. The kids earned tickets each day for various reasons which they got to spend at the "store" on the last day of camp.  Camden came home with all sorts of fun items and felt like such a big kid getting to attend.  What a fun way to kick of summer!

Pinterest

My kids are at the age where they need more structured activities.  They are bored and want something to do that is exciting and different.  So today while scouring pinterest for something totally unrelated, I found a list of fun things to do with them.

A glow in the dark bathtub party.  Duh!  Why didn't I think of that earlier?

I locked them out of the bathroom while I got everything ready.  Once I taped a black garbage bag to the window and broke all the glow sticks, I invited them in.  My kids were freaking out!  They thought it was coolest tub night. 

And in turn, I was the "most awesomest mom ever"!

Monkey Bars

The other day we made a trip to Camden's new school to check out the playground.  

The boys had a blast!  We were the only kids there and the weather was perfect.

While I was busy reading some papers I picked up in the office, Camden insisted I come see what he learned.  There are some things I'm grateful he picks up on by himself.  I'm not sure I would still have what it takes to master the monkey bars, it hurts my hands just thinking about it.

Boys

Wrestling.

Fighting.

Punching.

Saving the world from bad guys.

Whatever you call it...I don't remember doing this ALL. THE. TIME. growing up.

I'm sure my growing up had something to do with having 4 girls in a row.  Now that I live in a house full of testosterone and 2 boys less than 2 years apart, I'm sure this is a life long journey.

 From the minute my kids wake up until the minute they fall asleep, they are expressing their love in this fighting sort of a way.  And Dan is no exception, he gets right down on the ground with them wrestling the night away.

At times it's rather exhausting.  And I try not to be a helicopter mom to break it up all day.  I think it's good for them to get it out of their system and learn what happens when they've pushed it too far.

Sometimes it ends in tears; okay, nearly every time it ends in tears. But at the end of the day they both have nothing but love for each other.

I wouldn't trade this boy chaos for anything.

Lately

Jace is really getting good at throwing fits.  If he doesn't get his way he is bound to give the worlds greatest frowny face and start this dramatic pouting.

But if you don't give into his antics and you just look at him, he tries to stay mad but breaks out into a mad laugh.  You know the kind of laugh when your trying to be mad but you really have nothing worth being mad at?  So you are forced to laugh but it makes you even more mad, and mean.  Ya that's what happens.

It's actually quite entertaining.

Daily

There are a few sure things that happen around here almost daily.  One of them is Camden wanting eggs for breakfast.  I'm convinced he will soon turn into an egg because he eats so many of them.  And what egg would be complete without a ketchup smiley face?

Camden is my breakfast man, he likes to eat first thing after waking up and he eats his eggs like a champ.  If he can help it, he will eat sitting on the same bar stool while wrapped in his blanket all while watching cartoons.

Jace man begs for chocolate milk several times a day.  And it's not just any chocolate milk, he likes the powdered chocolate so he can "stir the bumpies".

I'm not sure where the word "bumpies" came from, but he uses it all the time when referring to stirring his chocolate milk.