Dinner, movie and dancing on a cat

I thought we were going swimming after work/daycare today, but our plans change on a dime sometimes.

Dinner and a movie it was.

Literally. 

We went and saw Brave & that IS his dinner. 

Don't worry, I got the large for him. He ate down to about the V on that bucket.

(and he didn't get sick, thank you very much.)

I'll be waiting for my mom of the year award in the mail.

 Afterwards, we went for a stroll...

 

and fed some fish...

 and some ducks.

 Then we topped off the evening with a little chess (he won)

 and dancing on a cat. (he's got moves like Jagger)

It was a good old Tuesday evening!

Just keep swimming...

That's what we are doing. We just keep swimming along...

And enjoying the great weather allowing us to do so.

Look at him go. 

HIGHLY recommend the puddle jumpers.

Catching sun

Our picture window has been seriously slacking the last few months. We have just been busy playing outside and doing other things. I'm sure we will get back into it once the weather starts to turn colder in a few months.

The neighbors have even begun to comment we haven't been changing it up lately ;)

(PS, thanks for noticing--makes me happy you all pay attention to our creativity)

So to capture the last few weeks/months of sun, I came across this fun idea.

AND I had a coupon at Hobby Lobby. 

All I had to pick up were some pony beads.

While this had the window in mind for decorating, it was a fun activity.

Gavin was very helpful sorting colors and single layering his beads into the pan.

Yep, that's all there is to this. Put the pony beads into a cake/cupcake/mini cupcake pan in a single layer. Then you bake them in the oven at 450 for about 10 min or so. Just keep an eye on it. You'll know when it's done. Oh...and open all your windows and doors. It will smell like melting plastic. If you have an electric grill...do it outside. I don't. My non-thinking self, did turn my gas grill on and set the cupcake pan on it. Then quickly realized....oh no, my pan is going to BURN. So I took it inside. 

Honestly, the first two "batches" didn't overpower the place.
At first they start to melt slightly....

 When they look like this they are done.
Not that long.
Next I did the cake pan size.

After about 5-7 min

Done---about 10-12 min

But the third set, sent us outside to walk for ice cream.
We walked to Hershey's with some friends!
Gavin learned how to push the crosswalk button.

And wait for the white man to light up that says you can walk.

Superman ice cream!

 Yah....he took two bites and was done. Typical.
 
 There were many toys to play with there.

Afterwards we walked over to Once Upon A Child to check a few things out.

We didn't buy anything, but we had a few laughs before walking home.
 When we got back, the smell was gone. I'm sure some febreeze would have done the trick quickly as well.

Grandpa picked up Gavin from school on Monday and brought his drill and some fishing line.
Because you know...the suncatchers need a hole through them, and fishing line to hang them up. Neither of which I have.

The drill was apparently loud, so Gavin put on his earphones.

(It wasn't loud--seriously--but I love that he did. He also puts them on when I use my hairdryer in the morning)

Strung and hung.

I tried several times...there isn't a way to get a nice picture of suncatchers hanging in a window.
They look pretty sweet though.

From Mom

Dear G,

This morning, you were watching cartoons before we headed off to daycare and work. I ran upstairs to change and when I came down, you looked up at me, smiled, and said "Mommy, I like your dress! You look really pretty."

Kiddo, you MADE my Monday morning!

Who knew you even knew how to give such a compliment. You're going to make a girl exceptionally happy someday :) I know you make me so happy and proud every single day.

Love,
Mom

A 4th birthday and a cook-out in Catawba!

My second Saturday off work, so we once again, made a great day of it!

We hung out at home and leisurely got ready for the day eating a late breakfast picnic in the living room and playing with monster trucks...the excitement hasn't completely worn off yet from yesterday.

Then we hopped in the car to attend Kyle's 4th birthday party!

Kyle and Gavin are buddies at daycare.

Kyle's dad built him a new play-set for his birthday!
It's pretty darn cool!

Eating some favorites....carrots and watermelon.

Hey, we were just happy they ate anything.

Because cake was next!

Happy Birthday to you, Kyle!

Followed by some pinata time!!

The pull-string kind.

It's safer, but I think I will still try and make a pinata for Gavin again this year.

It was part of his highlight swinging the bat :)

(I need to start getting ideas now!)

It was a pull-string, but it was PACKED with candy.

TONS of candy.

Open my present first, Kyle!

Gavin was just as excited to watch Kyle open his gifts, as if they were his own!

He got some Monster trucks! 

And was refusing to have any pictures of him taken ;)

Know what is REALLY cool to do with monster tucks?

Race them down your slide.

Good times! Unfortunately, we couldn't stay longer after the party to hang out and swim some more, because we had to get home and change for a cook-out.

Sure, we could have bailed on the cook-out, but then we wouldn't have been able to play in this bouncy house!

Or roasted marshmallows for s'mores!

Loving the long stick. It's safer around the ol' fire.

But it's NOT safer when you think your marshmallow is done and you go to turn around with such a large piece of tree branch and a burning ball of sugar!

We had rules. Wait for Mommy to come assist you with turning around to have your s'more assembled.

Turns out, Gavin doesn't like s'mores. Mommy ate it.

He prefers a cold marshmallow, a piece of chocolate and a graham cracker...unassembled.

I brought some sparklers to the event.

I had bought a ton at Kroger on sale, and obviously with the rain on the 4th, we barely had touched any of them. Kids loved them!

This dude was incredible assisting with the lighting of them for all the kids.

We went through about 50 of them. I had another box, but decided to pretend they were all gone.

Eventually enough is enough.

It was getting late and caution was starting to wear....

They boy who at one point used to hate grass, now hates to wear shoes this summer.

Ever!

I will learn camera settings someday. Probably not any day soon. But someday.

But you get the idea.

Loving the sparklers!

I actually kinda like this one. It's super blurry except for Gavin.

The kids did very well waiting in line to get their sparklers lit. Poor dude (sorry dude, until I ask your permission, you remain nameless...this IS the Internet), I think he about went blind lighting so many.

But the cost was worth it!

I SO wish I could have got a picture of the yard. The kids would wait in line to get lit...then start walking through the yard careful not to get close to one another. There were circles being drawn everywhere. I'm talking 10+ kids going at once!

Long drive home, but again, so worth it!

Two nights in a row of this :)

 

He'll be up at the crack of dawn....I just know it.

Midwest Monster FUN!

Recall back in March we went and saw some Monster trucks at the Huntington Center. Indoors.

It was fun, Gavin loved it, but it was inside and limited.
Remember I also said I'd bet my bottom dollar?

So guess what? Monster trucks came to Toledo Speedway!
We were going!
It wasn't even my bottom dollar. A donation made it possible to get to this event!
Thank you Grandma and Grandpa, and Grandpa Buzz!
(it wasn't expensive-Gavin was free)
And our friends were able to join us!

It was much needed fun!

I mean c'mon... The Ice Cream Man was there!

 And all these big guys!

For five dollars, you could get a ride in a real Monster Truck!

And these kids sat patiently waiting their turn.
 Gavin was so excited that he wore his headphones from the moment we got in the car.

Watching the motorcycles zoom around while waiting in line.

Almost our turn!

Yeah!! We are IN a monster truck.
Five bucks bought you a ride around the track AND a few donuts!!

Get it girl! A girl monster truck!

 Gobbling up his favorite thing in the world.
I made him eat all his cheeseburger and fries first. I'm so mean.

Donut competition!

Here's a shot of the Monster Truck rider.

Yah, we rode on that!

Getting towed away. Something misfired...or something.

I'm not a mechanic. I don't know what happened.
Mountaineer stopped running though.

Boys getting restless between events.

But still having fun!

They are both huggers :)

Excellent! Dreams do come true...they got to see a Monster Truck CRASH!

Look at these crazy motorcycle riders.

Which one of also went down hard...but I missed that picture.

Believe it or not, I don't have my camera in my hand all the time.

Wash 'em good, buddy. This is a very public restroom.

 This is fun, Mom!

Multiple intermissions caused a little loss of interest towards the end. Or maybe it was just getting too late.

Shortly after 9, they grew restless again.
Thanks Sarah, for the idea to give them chocolate and sugar!

The chocolate and sugar kept them occupied until the end, but the candy didn't phase. Little man was PASSED OUT two minutes into the drive home.

It was late. We got home nearly 11:00PM.

Totally worth it though!

Excellent night!

Especially as I emptied my cinch bag and found a hotdog inside when I got home.

Priceless.