Birthday Weekend Celebration

3 Years, 1 Week.


I can't believe another week has flown by, and now while I think of it, I can't believe how quickly we've gone through yet another whole year, with the twins turning 3 years old last Friday.

It was definitely a whirlwind weekend, with all the prepping and set-up for the birthday party on Sunday.  And it came as no surprise that a few of us ended up with some sniffles and slight sore throats during the earlier part of the week, no doubt due to the lack of sleep and rest usually acquired on normal weekends.

But then again, this was no ordinary weekend.

Here are the highlights:

• Sabbath we attended church, and got there early enough to hear some music played by Southern Adventist University's Symphony Orchestra, of which I was a member of back in the day.  It brought back some wonderful memories of trips, performances, and friends; it's a shame I haven't really kept up with my playing the oboe, what with almost 10 years of lessons, concert bands, and the symphony.  We attended Sabbath School and wished the twins a happy birthday, then headed over to Sweet Tomatoes for lunch. The weather forecast called for a 60% chance of rain throughout the day, and we were hoping that most of the rain would fall on Saturday vs. Sunday morning, when we were to have the outdoor garden and tea party, complete with bouncy house for the kids.  We kept looking at the Weather Channel app on our phones and it kept saying 40% throughout the entire day for Sunday, so we were a bit anxious.  We had supper over at the Grodack residence along with the Clarkes and then the moms headed over to Casselberry to check out items from the consignment event we were participating in, while the dads hung out back home with movie night with the kids.  It wasn't until 10:30 when the mothers got back and then it was time to put the kids to bed, and then clean up the house and do some food prep.  Tangie and I hit the sack close to 3 AM.

Bubbles are always a hit.  Jesus' love is a bubblin' over!

Braelyn joined the twins for Sabbath School to wish them a happy birthday.

4 kids kneeling out of about 2 dozen or so, and we made up half of that.

Madelyn shows off her heavenly robe and crown.

Checking out the bagpiper in the rose garden outside of church.

Have to pay for all of them now that the twins are three!

Helping load up the waters into the drink cooler.

All the kids content with popcorn, watching TV on the Grodacks' big movie screen.

One of the last things to make, rainbow fruit skewers at about 2 in the morning.

• Our 6 o'clock alarm came way too quickly, and that's when we heard it.   Rain.  A heavy downpour.  Can you believe it?  This totally changed the game plan and set up.  So we discussed and contemplated as to how to rearrange some of the areas where we were to have the kids playing and eating, now that the entire backyard was sopping wet and useless.  We had until 8 that morning to cancel on the bouncy house, but we decided to go for it since that was a main activity and focal point of the party.  Plus we had really hyped up the fact that we were going to have one so I wasn't about to crush their excitement, especially on their birthday.  It drizzled on and off while Tangie and I ran about, getting things prepared and set up, the kids waking up and watching the gentleman set up the bouncy house and doing taste tests on Mommy's virgin Mimosa.  The guests started to arrive at 10, and we hosted a breakfast brunch of pancakes and egg soufflé quiches, along with fruit skewers, cinnamon rolls, and a monstrous birthday cake resembling a stack of giant pancakes, made especially for the twins by the great Jennifer Bergherm.  I swear, she is nothing short of fabulous when it comes to making these amazing creations!  Luckily for us, the rain gods decided to stem the precipitation long enough for us to enjoy the party outdoors, even allowing us to play uninterrupted on the bouncy house and playground!  But wouldn't you know it, not 20 minutes after the party was over, it started to rain again.  And rain, and rain, and rain.  Steadily for the remainder of the day into the entire day Monday, due to a stationary front. But how incredibly lucky were we?  

The entire play kitchen and tea tables set up had to be moved into our very small patio.

Watching the bouncy house go up.

Kohl's inaugural slide down.

Jennifer's amazing creation!  Even the fruit was made of fondant!

The kids enjoyed working in the kitchens.

The buffet is now open!

Lala helps the girls to eat their food...

While Lolo tries to convince Kohl to eat his!

He was more interested in playing kitchen than eating!

Slightly overcast and pretty humid throughout.

We utilized a large tarp to extend the entertaining area over the grass.

Some folks ventured out and used the pergola.

Grandparents finally getting a bite to eat.

Tangie enjoying her egg souffle/quiche creation.

The backyard set up.

Making sure everyone is having a good time, myself included!

Several neighborhood moms hanging out together.

Braelyn thoroughly enjoying the bouncy house.

Ready to blow out the candles!

Tea party while they wait for the cake to be served.

And then back to the bouncy house!

Time with Lala is so sweet!

I don't know what Kohl's issue was here...oh yeah, he was upset
as he thought Maddy took his sucker instead of hers.

Getting wet in the rain.  They couldn't help themselves, and we couldn't stop them.

Splashing in the puddles is fun!

Time to open gifts!

The grandparents stayed to watch them open their gifts.

Fashioning their new headgear!

We have to get rid of a lot of toys to make room for all these!

Maddy playing with her new tea party set for her dolls, and Marge.

Story time with Mommy before bed.  Maddy seems excited!

• Here are some pictures for the rest of the week:

Taking it easy Monday morning.  The overcast weather didn't help either.

Trying out her new things, still in pajamas.

Tuesday the sun was finally out, so we brought out the water play thingy, a gift from Nana.
Ironically though, we set it up in the shade.

Swinging away.

Working on their bubble blowing honor.

Silliness at Costco.

Helping Daddy make some strawberry smoothies.

End result?  Happy!

Keeping an eye on our new pet snake.

• On Thursday Tangie got to chaperone Braelyn and her Kindergarten class on their field trip to Disney's Animal Kingdom.  You'll recall that I attended her field trip to Legoland last year.  So she and Mommy had a date together, along with her classmates and their parent/s for the entire day.  They had a lot of fun, going on the safari twice, riding the congo river rapids, seeing some shows, and just hanging out with her friends.  

Mrs. Hudak and the Kindergarteners. Brae's in blue in the middle.

And off to your left...

The inseparable gang  - Alyssa M, Braelyn, Mckayla, Emma and Alyssa G.

Enjoying an entire day with Mommy!

Dinosaur ride.  Notice the moms all startled and the kids
plugging their ears!

They went climbing every chance they got.

Running into some more friends!

Garden Update:

Our first ripe blueberry!

Daddy's little helper!

Radishes: a three week time lapse.

Food:

A different take on the sushi roll.

Sautéed Salmon on Asparagus with Beet Greens and Dill Foam.

Randoms:

We really don't want to pose for a picture....What?...Oh, you say we'll get smoothies?

Quotes:

• We're struggling with having Kohlden going #2 in the toilet.  For some reason he refuses to void in the potty and keeps going in his diaper, unlike his younger sister.  I don't know if this is a boy thing or what.  Anyway, our pediatrician said we shouldn't refer to him as a "big boy" until he is done and completely potty trained, so I tried to use that method on him one morning:

          Me:  "Buddy, if you keep going poop in your diaper, you're not a big boy."

          Kohl:  "I'm a girl?"

          No buddy, you're missing the point...

• Braelyn and I were looking a photo of the garden I had just taken:

          Brae:  "Daddy, how many more days until we can eat the vegetables?"

          Me:  "I don't know.  I'm going to have to check the calendar."

          Brae:  [looks me in the eyes]  "So do it!"

          Okay, little Miss Bossy-pants!

• Braelyn seeing the Florida Blood Centers Blood Donation Bus in the church parking lot:

          Brae: "Is that where they suck your blood?"

          She has decided she never wants to get her blood drawn as it will hurt.

• On the way to school Braelyn always looks at the dashboard and reads the name of the song playing on the radio.  One time she heard the tune and recited the name even before the words came up on the screen:

          Brae:  "When I was your Man by Bruno Mars...infinity times."
       
          Yes,  She is definitely learning how to use her new word infinity correctly! 

• We were riding in the van and Maddy informs me that she had just locked her window.  When I asked why, she responded with "Because it makes me happy."  That has become her saying now, regardless of how random any question is:

          Me:  "Maddy, do you like apples?"

          Maddy:  "Yes."

          Me:  "Why?"

          Maddy:  "Because it makes me happy."

          Me:  "Maddy, do you like using the potty?"

          Maddy:  "Yes."

          Me:  "Why?"

          Maddy:  "Because it makes me happy."

          Me:  "Maddy, do you love Daddy?"

          Maddy:  "Yes."

          Me:  "Why?"

          Maddy:  "Because it makes me happy."

Have a "happy" weekend!