I have a 6 year old!!! (again)

Our second born, J, was VERY close

to being a St. Patty's day baby.

But I couldn't take it anymore...

so he didn't make it.

We celebrated his 6th birthday this week!

I teased him all day the previous day,

telling him his cake wasn't finished,

his presents weren't wrapped,

he couldn't turn 6, 

I wasn't ready!

We laughed and joked but

dern it, 

he still turned 6

on Thursday!

He is our easy going,

very docile child.

He is very easy to please

and 

very eager to please.

Daddy took the day off 

and we decided on a day full of fun!

We *were* going to 

hit a special breakfast at SeaWorld,

then spend the day there.

Then take him to

the Rainforest Cafe for dinner.

We discussed all of this with him at dinner

two nights before his birthday,

then he informed us,

nope, I don't think I want to do that.

Ok, then what do you want to do?

I want to go to Peter Piper Pizza

(kinda like Chuck E Cheese - see I do know how to spell it!)

Instead, we took him to a new place 

that had been recommended to us.

The problem was

its Spring Break down here!

So this place was PACKED!!!

But it was NEAT!

Its called Incredible Pizza

(or something like that) 

and

it had EVERYTHING.

Indoor go-karts,

R got to drive his own car


Here is my passenger


Haha - you can't even see R in the lead car!!
(Ghost driver)

indoor bumper cars,
(which we did but didn't get pictures of)

indoor glow-in-the-dark putt putt,

Our daughter has her sports mixed up, but she has great form!

BIRTHDAY BOY!!!

tons of video games

and kiddie rides for the babies,

Feeding peanuts to zoo animals.

Wishful thinking...

I let her climb up on the end of the skeeball machine - but it didn't help.

AND

duck pin bowling!!


 
Again - she has a good form.

We had to convince the baby that he

was NOT allowed to WALK 

down the lane and knock down the pins!

This was J's favorite - they played twice.

Then a pizza/salad/taco/dessert/spaghetti buffet bar.

And it wasn't outrageously priced.

So that is where we went...

we spent 5 HOURS

there.

My feet hurt when we were done!!

Then the birthday boy decided he wanted 

steak and mashed potatoes 

for dinner.

So we went home and did just that.

Like I said, 

easy to please.

I enjoy doing things for my kids

and 

for whatever reason

(I think I got it from my mom)

I make the kids birthday cakes every year.

I started off easy...

but have gotten more and more daring

and more creative.

I am not scared to try new things,

but do stress out over each cake.
(ask my husband)

I do realize at the end of the day,

as long as they like it,

that is all that matters.

When I asked J a few weeks ago

what kind of cake he wanted,

he said - 

"I don't care,surprise me,

but no pink!"

Then he later asked for a strawberry cake,
so I bought the ingredients,
then when I informed him it would be pink,

he QUICKLY changed his mind!

Turkey!

My boys are obsessed with Skylanders.

So I jumped on-line 

(where I get my inspiration)

and saw that someone made a 

portal of power cake.

So...I figured...

here goes nothin!

I decided to get creative with the inside too.

My ultimate goal was to make the cake

look like the "thing" on the left!

Using homemade marshmallow fondant!

I was pleased with how it turned out...

I think I succeeded, cause look at that child's face!

In our house, the birthday kid, gets to make the first cut.

This is a tradition that they ALL look forward to!

J had a hard time with the fondant though,

he said it was too hard

and later it was referred to as "plastic"

by my father-in-law.  

He asked if you were supposed to eat it.

He didn't...

And the innards.

Happy Birthday Sweet Boy!!!

I have decided I am going to use you

to help keep me accountable on my goals.

So here goes!

This Week's Goals:

1) Get up before kids - check

2) Get workout in before kids get up - check

(only if the kids have to stay in bed longer cause of talking to early - details)

3) Start reading Dave Ramsey's book - check

(first 45 pages read so far - 200 more to go)

So far so good!

Pizzas, Putt Putt, PE & PenPals

PIZZAS

We have added a new lunch "activity"

make your own pizza! 

How simple and how yummy!!

And the kids love it!!!

And if you get

whole wheat (with fiber) english muffins

2% mozzarella cheese

pizza sauce (no fat, no sugar)

and

turkey pepperoni

its actually GOOD for them too!!

Our first go at it...

I let the boys make them for everyone.

(yes the boys need haircuts)

Mommy: "Smile"

L: "Cheese"

Mommy:  "Try again, smile, please"

L:  "Cheese"

Mommy:  "Ok, this time open your eyes please"

(Argh! Forget it!)

Whatever - you guys get the point!

The kids all enjoyed the pizzas.

So much we did it a second time and I let L

make her own this time:

Next up...

Putt Putt

We went out to Canyon Lake to explore

and 

took in a quick game of Putt Putt.

T helped retrieve everyone's balls.

Yes - that is a STEEP hill. 

We kept trying to get her to turn the club head around

but eventually gave up and let her do it her way.

Look at that form!  :)

Checking out the hole...

J telling me how much fun that was and

that he was going to do it again.

The ball retriever...

And the ball thief!

Do you know how hard it is to play

Putt Putt with a ball

obsessed 1 year old?

We had a good time - daddy and mommy were playing

in the beginning but

gave up quickly cause it is too hard to keep up with the 

chaos of 

4 little ones

3 swinging clubs

6 loose balls

and a 

1 year old who

decides he needs to 

be in the 

MIDDLE 

of all of it!

P.E.

The older 2 participate in a 

Homeschool PE class that we found.

We go almost every Monday 

and the boys really enjoy it.

There is a "coach" who leads all

the games and activities 

and then they get to have free time

before and after

the organized class.

And the cool part is it is 

all different ages (4-14)

and

all different skill levels

and

IT WORKS!

Here are a few pics from freeplay.

Its with my phone so they aren't the best

but if you look really closely

you can see the joy on their faces!!

THE BEST PART!

 and finally...

PenPals

When we left NC and R left his old school.

His teacher mentioned that he could write to his class

and they would write back.

So as a language arts exercise,

we took her up on that idea!

R made a list of the things he wanted to tell his class about.

Then he wrote a letter

using his best handwriting

and paying attention

to spelling, capitalization 

and punctuation.

I am KICKING myself for not scanning it in 

before we sent it!

I asked him what he wanted to tell them about

and fresh on his mind

was the roller coaster he has been going on

at SeaWorld.

I also suggested he tell them that we are homeschooling

and that I am his teacher.

He told them a little about what we do

and then I used this as an opportunity

to ask him if he liked homeschooling

(so he could put it in his letter, of course)

he said he did (phew!)

so he wrote what he liked about it.

His number one reason for liking

homeschooling:

Its a whole lot shorter than normal school!

(whatever, I'll take it!)

I got an e-mail from his teacher today 

and the class enjoyed his letter.

Some of the students are even writing him back!!

One final note...

Daddy introduced the boys to chess about a year ago.

It is a "belt loop" you can earn in scouts.

So daddy took that as an opportunity to teach them.

Since then - they have BOTH caught on amazingly.

And they were gifted with a nice wooden set

for Christmas.

J is way more into it than R though.

I have attempted to avoid learning.

Last night, my 5 yo roped me into a game though.

I told him he was going to have to teach me

and he was MORE than happy to do so.

He did a great job and was very informative and very patient with me.

I told him he was a great teacher.

He got a kick out of the fact that 

I was "his student".

And giggle profusely when I did made a move without considering

the consequences and he took my...

I have no idea what he took to be honest

but he thought it was hilarious when I took his (something)

and then he told me that wasn't a good idea 

and immediately took my (whatever).

I was all excited about my move

til he swiftly took my (whatever), 

in return

and I said 

"well that didn't last long"

and he busted out in a total sly giggle fit.

Wish I would have had a camera!

And yes - I got "schooled" at chess by my 5 year old!