109 degrees!?!

It's the Sunday after Mikey's party and we were determined to keep it very low-key and spend the day at home just recovering from a very eventful Saturday. Isaiah spent the rest of the weekend with my sister so we also had a lower-than-normal headcount (which is nice sometimes, but I miss my big boy!)

Not to mention, the temps outside reached 109 degrees! THANK GOODNESS FOR AIR CONDITIONING...is all I have to say. It can reach whatever temps it wants to outside...our home is constantly at a very comfortable 78 degrees with a pitcher of Sangria chillin' in the fridge. :)

Grandpa Don and Grandma April gave Mikey a small swimming pool for his birthday, along with a variety of toys to play with in it. It's the perfect size for the kids to play and cool off in and we will definitely get plenty of use from it throughout our first summer in Tracy.

While Mikey napped, I filled the pool up and surprised him when he awoke. And, boy, was he happy!!!

Shawn had the brilliant idea of setting up the slide to land in the pool, which also provided for tons of fun! Mikey can't wait for Isaiah to get home so they can play in the pool together!

Mission Accomplished: Mikey's 2nd Birthday Extravaganza!

The day of Mikey's much-anticipated birthday party has come and gone. We celebrated with great food, great fun and the great company of the very important people in our lives. And we are grateful for another wonderful and healthy year in the life of our growing little man. There is nothing more we could ask for...days like this just remind us that LIFE TRULY IS GOOD!

I was able to finish most of the craft lineup that I had for Mikey's party.

Although, I admit that the Brobee pinata only got paper mached at 4:30am on the morning of the party! The look on my little boy's face made every tired moment worth it.

So people are asking me what I am going to do now that the party is over....I tell them, "WE'RE GOING TO DISNEYLAND!!!!!!!!!!!" 3 more sleeps!

In Such a Hurry to Grow Up

Today, my almost-two-year-old brought tears to my eyes. We were dropping off his big bro at school and he wanted so badly to be just like his backpack- and lunchbox-toting brother. So, I had to rummage through the garage and find him his own backpack, which he wore so very proudly as we walked Isaiah to his classroom.It really is such a bittersweet feeling...there is no other word to describe it. My heart hurts that he's outgrowing babyhood, but I am also looking forward to watching him grow and explore everything that this beautiful world has to offer.

Happy Father's Day to the Best Papa Around!

Papa and Izzy at 20 months old- best buds at first sight...Izzy (and I) can't possibly be any luckier to have Shawn as his Papa.

Papa and Mikey - his first born.
Papa and Liam - He's a pro at this now!
Papa and his gang. :)
Wishing a very Happy Father's Day to the best Dad around. Thank you for EVERYTHING you do. WE LOVE YOU!

Operation: Mikey's Birthday Extravaganza PART II

I'm very near completion of this craft for Mikey's extravaganza. I made a t-shirt for each of us of the silly, yet lovable, YGG characters. The last one I need to make is Plex for Shawn, once I find a yellow t-shirt for him.

This project turned out to be much easier (and nicer lol) that I expected, which is always nice.

Liam's shirt of Toodee is my fave!

Next up is the Brobee pinata. I have already started and have the basic body shape constructed. Now, I just need to paper mache the darn thing and start gluing on tissue paper!

Father's Day Card

At the last Arts & Appetizers meeting, we started a project card for Father's Day. I decided to make it for my FIL, and S didn't mind at all, knowing full well that he would lose it somewhere anyway.

After an issue with the stamps not being delivered on time and choosing photos, the card is finally complete and ready to be given to dear ol' dad. (I can't seem to figure out why the photos rotate upon uploading...hmmm)

It's an accordion-style card with three pockets, inside which I tucked in photos of the three boys.

Happy Father's Day'A true father carries pictures where his money used to be''The love of a father is one of nature's greatest masterpieces'

I did not know which photos I was going to use when I designed the color scheme, but it turned out really well with the black and white shots that my friend Kia recently took of the boys.

I love it! and I'm going to make a bunch of them to keep on hand in case I need a card for other occasions.

Operation: Mikey's Birthday Extravaganza PART I

Ahhh, our baby boy is turning 2 in a few weeks! So, of course, a celebration is in order. We are celebrating another year that Shawn and I have survived as parents :), but more importantly, we are celebrating another healthy, happy and productive year of Mikey's life.

For the past year, Mikey has been obsessed with Yo Gabba Gabba, so it was blatantly obvious what the theme for his party would be. And I am known to be one to overdo the kids' parties, but hey, nothing is ever too much for my babes!

I've finished the first of the long list of crafting that I need to complete for Mikey's party. It was a birthday banner that I made to hang on the mantle above the fireplace. I put it up just to try it on for size, but I think I will just keep it there. :) I spent enough time on the darn thing, I should at least get the most mileage out of it!
Now, isn't it just super convenient that we are a family of FIVE, the same number of silly, yet lovable, characters from the show. Because of this convenient coincidence, it is only necessary that I make a shirt for each of us, inspired by this photo that I found on Gabbafriends.com. Shawn will be Plex. I will be Foofa, Mikey is Brobee, Izzy is Muno and Liam will be Toodee. Oh, so perfect!
Next, there is the Brobee pinata. The method I found online seems really easy, but we will see how that goes later this week...

I'll also prepare one set of these adorable balloons! It seems like a lot of work, but they are just too cute and Mikey will flip out at the sight of them! I'll precut the paper pieces and stick them on once we blow up the balloons the morning of the party. I'm really good at making myself a long list of things to do at the last minute. :P

And, last but not least, are the goody bags. Mine will look very similar to these, as the characters are just print-outs from the nickjr website. I will also put up the backdrops for a closer feel to being in Gabba Land!!! Yoooooooo Gabba Gabba!

I know, even I think I'm crazy. But, tell me, who wouldn't want to give this sweet and adorable little boy the world!

So, put your party hats and dancing shoes on, because you won't want to miss this Gabba Gabba Extravaganza!!!!