Pokemon Party

The eldest is now 6 and we debated party themes for awhile.  He loves the old GI Joe, but I was not interested in a GI Joe party.  We finally decided on a Pokemon party.  He has never played the video game, but loves the card game.  There is not a lot of stuff out there for Pokemon ideas.  Hopefully this will help others.

For the invitation and the party favors, I used the website for making your own Pokemon card.  There are several versions out there.  

The overall game concept was to collect pins.  I used buttons and lanyards.  The following buttons worked great: 

Amazon Make your own Button Link

I used the following sheet as badge labels to put inside the buttons:

Badge Labels

Here is a sheet that explains how they would earn each badge: 

Game Directions

I also had them flip a coin to determine which order they would play the game.  

Decorations:

We had some time to kill in the morning, so I had kids make their own Pokemon.  They used Styrofoam balls and a box filled with pipe cleaners, beads, push pins, feathers, markers, and googlie eyes. They actually really enjoyed this.

Games

Water Badge:

The weather was too chilly to get wet.  So we used water balloons in a variation of Bozo Buckets.

Attack Badge:

I had a TV box that I thought I should be able to do something with.  So, I covered it with paper and cut some holes in it.  I bought some cheap guns from the dollar store, and glued on pictures of Team Rocket.  

Rainbow Badge:

I got a variety of different colored balls.  Some were small balls that were from an old ball pit.  Some were larger dodge ball.  I got plastic shot glasses.  They had to move the rainbow balls from one end of the yard to the other without using their hands.

Fire Badge:

The plan was to have them stand on a square and keep a balloon above the ground without stepping out of their square and into the hot lava.  This proved to be far too challenging.  So, we switched it to just keeping the balloon of the ground and out of the hot lava.  This was a simple game but very popular.  

Energy Badge:

For this game I had them two things so they used a lot of their energy.  The first was to move large beach palls through a tunnel using a pool noodle.  

The second game had the blow ping pong balls across the deck 

Last but not least, the cake. 

The End of Summer

5 things I will not miss about summer

1. Eating a meal without having to get up.  Better yet, I will be required to have a 45 minute duty free lunch.  The thought gets me all giddy.  There is always something interrupting mealtime. It's cleaning up milk, retrieving grapes from milk cup, or getting more food.  Then, it is getting the kiddos clean, because somedays it is a race to see who can eat the fastest, and poor mom hasn't even left the start line because I was still digging grapes out of the milk cup.  Yes, I will not miss my ups and downs during meal time.

2. Garbage day.  With two boys, the garbage truck has the potential to provide us entertainment and pure enjoyment.  Someone forgot to tell the garbage truck driver that it is summer and we are trying to sleep and stay sane all day.  Both the garbage truck and recycling truck come barging through the neighborhood at 6:15.  I think the last time their brakes were checked was before I was born.  The entire house is wide awake at this point, because like I said, the garbage truck is pure enjoyment...for the boys.  The garbage man is my arch nemesis.  

3. The farmers market.  Don't get me wrong.  I love the farmers market.  I enjoy getting fresh produce. I look forward to it.  So why will I not miss it?  It is a money sucking operation.  Every week we head out.  Right away the kids want popcorn from the popcorn guy.  No big deal?  I gave that guy $4 for popcorn.  It's not like it is movie theater popcorn.  Every week we got popcorn.  I won't even add up how much that is a season in freakin popcorn.  Then, of course, there is the "friendly" and "free" balloon  guy.  Free my ass.  I see that gigantic tip bowl.  I see everyone dropping their cash in.  I'm no jerk, I will give you a couple bucks so my kids can have their balloon that they have been talking about all day.  The balloon that I pray doesn't pop before we get home.  The balloon that will be quickly forgot about by tomorrow, but magically remembered by the next week farmer's market.  Don't even get me started on the time spent waiting in line for the balloon.  End of summer means dad can go to the market.  

4. Weirdos touching Colton.  I get it, he's cute.  Blonde hair, blue eyes.  It doesn't seem to matter where we go, Colton ends up having his head petted by some weirdo.  Usually, they say something to me about how cute he is.  I don't think this gives you the right to pet him like a puppy dog. This happens so regularly, that Colton doesn't even react anymore.  When we play at home, Jared might be a waiter, or store clerk, and even he rubs Colton's head.  At least the other 2 year olds at daycare don't rub him like a genie.

5. Being healthy.  Returning to reality means returning to germ infested daycare and school.  How I enjoyed the break from runny noses, puffers, treatments, throwing up, and crankiness.  

5 things I will miss about summer

1. Flexibility. It is hard for some people to understand what it is like to wake up you 4 month old, 1 year old, 4 year old every day at 6:30 in the morning.  Their body is used to being up early.  As a result, they have an early bedtime.  Staying up late is just not an option.  There are a few times we have done it successfully during the school year with Jared, but we always are making sure he isn't sick and has napped well that day.  During the middle of the summer, the kids bodies are starting to adjust to not being woken up.  This allows us to have more flexibility to do more fun things in the evenings.  This is something we have to give up during the school year.  Fortunately, Colton is proving he needs less sleep than Jared did at this age, so perhaps he too will have chances to occasionally stay up later.

2. Nap time.  I myself did not nap during nap time this summer.  I did, however, have time alone.  Alone as in, I could sit in quite and do whatever I wanted.  On average I had about 90 minutes of this blissful time.  Sure, at work I will get a 30 minute plan time. This is plan time and not a break.  I have a clipboard with my "To Do" list.  There is usually at least 10 things on this clip board. Never am I able to do what I actually want to do, like spend 30 minutes on Facebook and Pinterest.

3. Outside time.  We all love being outside.  Not camping/hiking outside, just being outside.  Our play spaces multiply in the summer.  We enjoyed many days at the local pool, various parks, and just playing in our own yard.  Summers over and the pool is closed.  Our main playtime will be after dinner, and after dinner it will be starting to get dark soon.  

4. Colton. I will miss spending my day hearing him laugh.  I will miss all the snuggles he gives.  I will miss reading him the mountain of books everyday.  I will miss hearing him talk more.  I will miss watching him play with his big brother.  I will miss seeing his excitement when we get on his swim trunks.  I will miss feeling his small hand in mine as we run errands throughout the day.  I will miss watching him dance to the bumblebee song, or practice his jumping.  I will miss seeing him filled with joy as I mention the word ice cream.  I will miss spending all day with Colton.

5. Jared. I will miss spending my day watching him learn so much about the world around him.  I will miss his questions inquiring why things work the way they do.  I will miss watching him blissfully eat his bowl of blueberries every morning.  I will miss his music he provides.  I will miss his eagerness to shop.  I will miss watching him include his brother in his play.  I will miss watching him diving in the water and challenging himself to hold his breath longer.  I will miss seeing him make a new creation, and having him taste the cookie dough.  I will miss going on our bike rides.  I will miss the long hugs that he still needs after he wakes up.  I will miss spending all day with Jared.

I am a girl

Yes, I am a girl.  I grew up playing dolls, cash register, and I LOVED my Barbies.  I have a vague memory of playing some sort of hero pretend game with my cousins.  I was vine women, because my squirt gun was green.  I tolerated the game.  Usually, the boys were good, and would let me play Barbie if I heroed up for a bit. He-Man and She-ra might have been the greatest toy invention.  My brother and I could play for hours.  In the end, I would find my dolls to dress.  Yes, I am a girl

So, there are things my boys do I don't understand.  I do not understand how or why the penis is a handle bar that must be held on to.  Don't get it, never will.  I know more about trucks and the types of trucks the I ever knew before or ever wanted to know.  It's a truck, does it matter what kind?  Apparently it does.  Heaven help me if kinds of cars matter someday.  

For the past year and a half I have been struggling with EVERYTHING being a gun.  I tried to stop it.  I has countless discussions about how awful guns are.  Deals were made.  Threats were made.  Begging was done.  Not matter what I said or did, guns appeared.  Those duplo blocks turned into guns.  Then of course we had yard stick guns, finger guns, pencil guns, toy drill guns, chair guns, and giraffe guns.  When the floor lamp turned into a gun, I knew for the sake of my house Santa could be given the green light to give a gun.  Happiness.  I felt great.  Now I had only one gun instead of countless guns to worry about.  Well, until February.  Then we discovered how to make a bigger gun with Legos.  The finger gun is always handy.  Even a set of gears somehow turned into a gun.  I have battled the issue.  The other day at lunch, I had no choice but to wave my serender flag.  Colton, the 2 year old, picked up his Cheeto and said, "Gun...bsh, bsh."  Really?  I don't understand.  Yes, I am a girl.

Construction Party Theme

After the success of the super hero party, I knew I needed to give Colton a dynamite 2 year old party. It was an easy decision to do a construction party.  This 2 year old loves his trucks, and would love anything truck related. 

Decorations were cheap.  I used a lot of toys we already had. 

I used caution and danger tape as streamers. Construction signs from Home Depot.

I also took colored pictures of trucks and printed out black and white photos of Colton. I made hi driving the truck.

I continued the tradidition of a shelf "These are a few of my favorite things."

Next up was the games.  I needed games that would keep 4 year olds and a 2 year old happy.  

Game 1: Wrecking Ball

Supplies: ball, duck tape, string, blocks.

Procedure: secure string/rope to ball with duck tape.  Let the destruction begin. (We hung from the stair railing, but if weather was nice would have used a tree branch)

Game 2: Fill the Dump

Supplies: large dump truck toy, bean bags.

Procedure: throw the bean bags in the dump truck.

Game 3: ring toss on cones

Supplies: construction cones, rings (I used pipe cleaners)

Game 4:  house painting

Supplies: lots of cardboard, duck tape, paint, brushes, rollers.  (The dollar tree has rollers for $1 and a 3 pack of brushes for $1)

Procedure: Prior to the party I created a cardboard house.  It was complete with cut out windows and a door.  Give the kids paint, rollers, and brushes and watch their excitement.  

Game 5: rock box

Supplies: box, rocks, and trucks

Procedure:  dump rocks in box.  Kids will figure out what to do.  This was popular with the two year old.  The older kids lost interest with this quickly. 

Last, but not least was the cake.  Again, we used trucks we already had.  

Nicknames

I can't say I ever had a nickname that really stuck. I was always against people who tried to call be "Di."    Maybe because it sounds like , "DIE."  A few tried to call me "legs," but friends just don't call friends body parts.  At camp, nicknames were handed out like a badge, but "...mean" isn't really a nickname.  One can maybe wonder how nicknames come to be.  As I never really had one, it is hard to understand.  

As Colton is becoming more verbal and Jared and Colton interact more, it has been interesting to see them develop nicknames for each other.  One of Colton's first words was "Jared."  Sure, it was a little unclear, but it was "Jared."  I guess over time Colton decided that was just too much work.  He has abandoned "Jared" and now calls him, "Gee." It took Jared awhile a to pick up on this, but Jared now responds to "Gee."  It's so catchy, I have to stop myself from slipping and calling him "Gee" as well.

Jared has really taken to helping Colton.  Somewhere along the way of helping him, Jared starting calling Colton "Buddy."  It's such an innocent nickname.  Jared will even abbreviate to "Bud."  No worries, when they are arguing or he is getting Colton's attention, Jared will still loudly scream, "Colton."  I suppose this is why "Buddy" sounds so innocent.  

Who knows how long these nicknames will last.  I suppose years from now it might all be a memory I share with them.  I say the way to show you really love someone, you give them a nickname. 

Right Dada, Bratley, and Urn?

67 Clothes Pins later

A scheduled play date that would leave 4 boys, ages 4 to age 1 1/2, inside for 5 hours had be nervous for the state of my house and my sanity.  

A trip to the store to buy some clothes pins and 75% off Christmas lights, and digging through the storage room for old sheets and I was armed and ready to go.  

This is not a fort for amatures.  This was some serious fort building.  It is complete with Christmas lights for illumination purposes.  The inside is pretty roomy.

Needless to say, both Colton and Jareed loved the fort.  There was much excitement as they explored their new territory.  Jared was quick to make plans for what him and his best friend would do in the fort.  

How well was it received on the play date?  Well, due to the flu play date was postponed for the 2nd time.  

Now that I have a supply of clothes pins, we can try again some other day...

Love grows

Being a mother is full of milestones.  As you cross each one, you think, "I love you so much, I could never love you more than this moment."  Before long, another milestone is hit and your love continues to multiply.  

There is the moment that you first hold you baby.  You heart is bursting with love, pride, and exhaustion.  And your love begins to grow.  Your baby rolls over for the first time, and it's as if he just won the gold medal. Your love grows. Hearing him say his first word, even when their first word isn't "mommy", your love grows. (After the 50th word, it wouldn't be so bad to hear "mommy")  

He falls, and breaks his leg.  You spend the next 5 weeks by his side all day long.  You love and determination to make it ok, get him through it.  And your love grows.  You watch them play, hear the sing, hold them as they cry, and your love grows.  We bake cookies together, go for bike rides together, and build sand castles together, and your love grows.  

When you least expect it, your love grows.  In the middle of the night you run to his room to find him ready to throw up.  With no time, and no options you offer your hands.  Before you know it, your hands are full of vomit.  The only thing you think of, "is he ok?"  Your love grows and you are strapping him into his boosters seat and putting a bib on.  He starts throwing up, and at the same time his brother starts throwing up.  It is vomiting in surround sound.  All though your head is full of many thoughts, you focus on, "help them, make them ok."  Yes, even when you least expect it, your love grows.  

Not a New Year Resolution

I realize it has been awhile since my last post.  I would be lying to say that my New Years resolution is to write more frequently; it is not.  Truth be told, there are just many days I have nothing to say.  Then there are days that I have a lot to say, but am too exhausted to even think about it.  Sitting on the couch watching Blacklist or something like a mindless Bravo show is more up my ally.  Then there was the challenge of finishing Colton's Christmas stocking.  There were times when I wanted to write something, felt like writing something, but needed to work on that.  There just isn't enough hours in the day.  When I start on cross stitching the tree skirt, you will probably never hear from me again.  Anyway, in the near future I do predict some new blog posts.  No promises of keeping my thoughts current, not that they ever were in the first place.  

This is the word of The Lord

Jared loves to play church.  Upon discovering Mark's old youth Bible, Jared was more equipped to read the scripture.  What transpired was quite interesting and entertaining.

Jared: God gave us a star, so when we look at it we will think of him.  (I don't know where he gets this from, but it was touching)

God does NOT want us to hit others.  No guns!  And no pushing.  God did not make us so we could hurt others.  (So, I guess he was paying attention when I was lecturing him about guns)  

God does not want us to be naughty.  Farting is naughty.  God does not want that. (God is not going to be happy with me)

Jared is then hit with a moment of true inspiration.

Jared: God does not want Mommies and Daddies to yell at their little boys.  No matter what the little boy does.  It makes Jesus so sad to hear a Mommy or Daddy yell at their little boy.  No more yelling at little boys.  This is what the Bible says.

Thanks be to God.

Do you promise to tell the whole truth?

As dutiful parents Mark and I have attempted to teach our children morals.  Stealing is wrong, hitting is terrible, talking about farts at dinner, although funny, is not appropriate.  Recently we have noticed Jared trying to be sneaky: toys slipped in his pocket at nap time, sneaky extra blanket into bed and hiding it behind his bear, slipping toys into bed.  

Tonight I saw Jared sneaking out of Colton's room holding a diaper.  It was a clear sneak.  It didn't take a lot of Sherlock Holmes work to discover the diaper was hidden under his pillow.  Not what I was expecting.  

As we are getting ready for bed I remind Jared that in our family we don't keep secrets from each other.  I ask if there is any secret I need to know about.  Thankfully,  he spills the beans.  Curiosity gets the best of me, and I ask, "Why?"  

He wanted to wear a diaper.  It's been over a year and a half since he last wore a diaper.  So, I press on, "but why?"

He wants to see what it feels like.  So there I sit, feeling confused, but determined to be supportive.   I am trying to teach him to not keep secrets, so I can't very well ridicule this idea.  On the other hand, it's a little bit crazy.

We agreed, tomorrow he can try on a diaper, and he can always tell Mom and Dad everything, no matter how ridiculous it is.

Don't trust the eyes

It has been brought to my attention on numerous occasions that Colton has very nice, big, blue eyes.  We have sat along parade routes and had people in the parade stop to point this out.  Almost everywhere we go, someone will mention it.

  In the past several months, Colton has figured out how to use his eyes to get what he wants. It doesn't matter if we are getting groceries, picking up a prescription, or eating out, I almost always have a stranger (typically an older woman) tell me he was flirting with them.  This is typically followed up with such phrases like, "what a cutie" or "such a darling."  He will do it to people he knows.  I have seen him work his charm with my brother.  

I have word to describe all of Colton's victims: suckers.  Don't get me wrong, the kid is cute.  But he knows what he is doing.

The pictures below illustrate my point.  It is a time order of events.  First he pulls off the flower, then he turns on the charm.  

 Today hew as using his magic again.  We were outside and he pulled out his Little Tikes Car.  He got behind it and pushed it down the driveway.  He seemed to be impressed with the speed it gained going down the hill, because he quickly drug it back up the driveway to try again.  This time, I saw him push extra hard as it sailed down the drive.  It was no surprise it sailed right onto the road.  Colton stopped, looked at me, said "ah-oh," and smiled a very proud smile.  He can be such a stinker, but this sucker falls for those eyes everytime and I find it impossible to not smile back.  

Busy Weekend and Simple Pleasures

At bedtime, we always have a "talk" with Jared.  The "talk time" originated as a reward at age 3 for giving up his blankie.  Usually, we discuss the joys and concerns of our day.

This past weekend was very busy.  Friday night began with Mark and Jared going to see "The Living Bible" at church.  Apparently there were even live camels and sheep.  Jared was quite taken in with the resurrection.  As he explained to me, "God made Jesus stronger than a super hero, because he woke up after he died."  Saturday morning was a 3 year old birthday party at the park district gym.  Much running around, and loud screaming ensued.  In the afternoon/evening we celebrated my birthday at the Hofbrauhaus.  There was a German band playing many polkas and waltzes.  Much dancing and loud music ensued.  Jared was in his element. Sunday was a little more relaxed.  We did make it to the library and the park. 

At bedtime, I asked Jared if he had a good weekend.  We talked about how busy we were and I listed all the different things we did. I asked him which was his favorite.  He said, "Getting the big book."
 I said, "Oh, going to see the Living Bible?" 
He clarified, "No, getting the big book from the library."  Yes, the big Star Wars Lego book from the library.  Even though he doesn't know anything about Star Wars and occasionally will play with Legos, getting this book was the highlight of his weekend.  I guess it's the little things in life.  Next weekend I'll just give him a box of paperclips and some paper and call that good enough.

Filling the Cup

The four year old birthday party is all cleaned up, new toys have been played with and cards have come down.  That means it's time for the four year old physical.  

When I made the appointment, a cup was given to us to collect first morning urine.  Yesterday, I got out the cup to remind myself it needed to be done.  Jared found much humor in the fact he would get to pee in a cup.  At bedtime, we discussed if he woke up early to call for help so he could pee in the cup.  As excited as he was about it, it is no surprise that at 4:52 he called to go potty so he could pee in the cup.  I had already decided this was a job for Daddy.  

When I saw Jared in the morning he proudly announced that he filled the cup.  He went on to explain he had more pee, but he just peed the extra pee in the toilet.  Ahh, good conversation for first thing in the morning.  

Fast forward in the day to the doctor's visit.  Jared has tagged along on all of Colton's wellness exams.  He is very familiar with the routine.  He takes the opportunity to ask, "why?"  "Why does the doctor look in my mouth?"  "Why does he move my legs?"  "Why does he take off my diaper and feel my penis?" (Never mind he doesn't wear diapers) As you can see, some answers were easier to supply than others.  

Once we are checked in at the doctor, Jared's curiosity continues.  "Why does he want my pee?"  "What happens if my pee is bad pee?"  "How do they know if I have good pee?"  "Do we get to take the extra pee home with us?"  "Do they have a big toilet back there?"  (Oh yes, much laughing when he said the word toilet)  "I'm not getting a shot, right?"  "But Colton doesn't always get a shot...why do I have to get one?"  "What?  Why do I have to have three shots?"

The actual time with the doctor was a success.  He was listening very closely.  When the doctor asked if I had any behavior concerns and I said no, Jared turned to me and smiled.  There was one part of the exam he found hysterical, I'll let you guess which part.  

Then it was time for shots.  I braced myself for all out fits of rage.  But other than a small cry on the first shot, there were no tears.  Even the doctor commented how brave he was.  I was happily surprised.  

On the way home we talked about how funny it would be to get a shot in the butt.  (Yes, much laughter ensued.)

Superhero Party

The Big 4 has arrived.  After months of playing Superheroes, I knew nothing would make Jared more happy than a Superhero Party.  After it was all done, I think my mission was accomplished.

First was the decorations. I bought a few things at the store, but find most of those to be a waste of money.  So, I made my own.  I printed out black and white pictures of Jared from this past year, and printed out colored speech bubbles.  I think it turned out really well.

I also started the tradition of making a shelf with the sign, "These are a few of my Favorite Things."  I place their favorite toys, books, games, etc. on this shelf.  It is personal touch and cost nothing.  In this case, it added to the Superhero theme.

For the party favors, I had each guest receive their own cape. Each guest was a different Superhero.  As I began planning the party, I knew nothing could be more exciting for Jared then everyone being a Superhero.

Even the adult guests got to be a Superhero.

I spent time trying to find great Superhero games.  I didn't have much luck.  So, I wrote down superpowers, and came up with some games.  Here is a link to the documents: Superhero party games

Game 1: Spiderman's Web.  I bought some cans of silly string from the dollar store. 

Game 2: Capture the Villain.  I printed out pictures of 10 villains.  I made a set for each guest.  Then I hid them.  Click  here to download the Villains.

Game 3: Shield/Frisbee Toss.  I had a stack of Frisbees and some boxes.  

Game 4: Kryptonite.  I really wanted to use Kryptonite in a game, but struggled for a good idea.  Since I already had the Villain capture I had to do something different.  So, I bough tongs from the dollar store.  I made blocks of ice using small plastic containers, and added green food coloring.  The object of the game is to move the Kryptonite from one bucket to another using the tongs.  Since the guests are all Superheroes, they can't touch the Kryptonite.  It was the kids favorite game.

Game 5: POW.  So, I didn't want actually fighting.  I figured I would just buy some punching balloons and have the kids do with them what they wanted. 

Food:
We made Bat signal Jell-O Jigglers. I had never made Jigglers before, but thought if this worked it would be pretty cool.

We made the a Captain America shield cake.

I also found lighting bolt ice cube trays.  I only had one tray.  So, I spent a week making ice cubes.  I thought they were neat.  The kids didn't even notice, but the adults did.

Well, we "Heroed up," and had a good time.  All of the effort was worth it, and Jared had a blast.  I'm sure he will remember it.