Kids Birthday Party

  With their Birthdays so close (2 weeks apart) we usually have a joint party for the kids.  This year I was not certain if I wanted to stick with that plan.  As they get older, I assume they are going to want different types of partes.  Even this year Sadie asked to do something with just two of her friends.  So, what I decided to do was a little bit of both.  Maddox got a day of celebrating on his actual birthday.  Sadie would get to have a little celebration with 2 of her friends on her birthday and in between we would have a party.  My brother and his family were in town from Texas so that was even more of a reason to have  party.  It was simple.. a few snacks, some cupcakes and some good friends.  I equally decorated with Elmo and the Little Mermaid.   Maddox and Sadie had a really good time and it was fun for me to see some friends and hang out with my family.  Here are a few photos:

Decorations

Showing Off His New Shirt

 

Her New Backpack

Playing Bubbles

 

 

Maddox Turns 2

  On May 31st, Maddox turned 2.  I know I am a little behind on posting about this but better late than never.  He had a great day.  It started out with some presents:

Sadie helping Maddox

Sadie gave him an airplane bubble blower.  He also got an Elmo Lego toy.  Hands down his favorite was his new basket ball hoop.  Right away when he started opening it he was shouting, “hoop, hoop, hoop!”  It was very cute.

uncovering the hoop

                       

making a shot

 
  In the afternoon we heading to U Village for cupcakes and some playtime in the fountain.  Maddox ate all the frosting and left the cake.  He had a great time playing the fountain with Sadie and got totally soaked.  Overall it was a great second birthday.
  

 Now that he is 2 Maddox can: Eat nuts, say phrased like, “I’ll get it” and “Don’t like it”, take his shoes off, follow simple instructions well, help mommy, give great hugs and kisses, climb really well and in general be very pleasant to be around.

One last thing, for his birthday Maddox also got a card in the mail from his Papa and Pj which he was very excited about and still likes to look at.  I love this picture:

opening his card

Report Card

 We recently had and end of the year parent/teacher conference with Sadie’s teachers.  They had nothing but good things to say about her.  Neither one of them can remember having to tell her not to do something. She listens well to instructions, follows the routine and loves story time.  I wasn’t surprised when they told us her favorite things is art especially when it involves tape and glue.  There is one little girl in particular that she plays with and they get along well.  Laura,  her teacher, talked some about her emotional awareness and how she is really tuned into what others are feeling and can tell the difference between angry, sad, frustrated etc which apparently at her age is a good thing.  What is weird for me is there are these people who know Sadie in a different way than we do.  At school she does not disobey, at home she does.  At school she is more shy, at home not at all.   I like getting a little glimpse into how she is which according to her teachers is: smart, shy, sensitive, into art, really likes digging in the dirt.  One last thing we talked about is that Sadie hasn’t seemed to be that interested in the main projects of the week.  One week it was airplanes, another it was buses.  I’ve decided that is because her life is pretty exciting and those things are not new to her.  She has been flying to the east coast twice a year since she was 6 weeks old and Mike takes her on the bus for fun.   We did suggest a unit on volcanos.  I think she would be into that.

Let me Introduce you to Doc

  For a long time we have been trying to get Maddox to say his name.  He can say everyone elses.  About a month ago he said it.  We were all very excited but now, he will not say it anymore.  What he will call himself is Doc.  About 6 weeks before my Grandma died Maddox was born.  When she found out what his name was she declared, “I am going to call him Doc.”  The handful of times she saw him she called him Doc.  In an effort to get him to say his name Mike would ask, “Who are you?” and get nothing. One day he asked, “Are you Doc?” and Maddox nodded yes, said Doc and has referred to himself as Doc since then.  This little show of individuality and personality makes me smile and it’s nice that without really knowing it he is honoring my Grandma, a lady we all hold dear.  Who know why he prefers Doc to Maddox.  Maybe it’s just easier to say, maybe he will be a doctor one day or maybe even as a tiny baby my grandma made and impact on him.  All that aside, it’s a good nick name.

Doc

Baby Birds

One extra special thing that we saw at my mom’s house was newly hatched baby birds.  The nest is in a pot right by the front door.  I belive that in these photos the birds are 4 days old and there are 4 babies.

Sleeping

Ready to Eat

The Mom or the Dad Bird

It was really interesting to watch them and see the parents feed them.  Both kids wanted to look at them all the time.  Oddly every time Maddox saw them he said, “Bite, Eat.”  Yikes!

Fun Times at MiMi’s

  We have been spending a little more time at MiMi house lately since our house has been on the market and people are coming over to look at it.  A few days ago we spent a couple of days at Mimi’s and since the weather was so nice we spent most of it outside. Even a tea [arty al fresco was in order. Sadie LOVES to garden so she spent a lot of time digging and helping MiMi plant onions and beans.  There was also some time in there for some jumping:

  This girl is one good jumper.  Sadie also had a good time playing fetch with Hannah, the black lab that lives next door. To end the night there before going to bed we even got to watch a movie (Pixar's shorts) which is a treat because we don't watch movies at home.

  Maddox had a great time too.  Mimi has an Elmo toy which he loves and she also has grass.  Maddox is funny about the grass.  You would think he only sees grass at my moms house but that is not true.  This is the face he makes after trying to eat some grass:

Doesn't taste great.  We also blew bubbles which he just loves.  Going to Mimi's house is great for everyone involved.  The kids love going there, my mom loves seeing them and my load is lightened a bit when we are there.  Here are a few more pictures from our visit:

Sadie and MiMi planting onions

Marveling at the sun

All From ONE Pretzel

   Today I gave Maddox one chocolate covered pretzel, just one and this is what he looked like afterwards:

Did any of the chocolate actually make into his mouth?  I can tell you where it did go: all over his shirt and pants, the wall, my arm and the sofa.  He seems to think it’s all pretty funny:

and so do I!

Buses, Sadie Style

At school Sadie’s class has been talking about buses.  They even went on a field trip where they rode the city bus to Pike Place Market.  Yesterday they made buses out of twinkies.  It was sort of a ginger bread house kind of thing.  They used frosting to put on wheels and other decorations.  She loved the project and here is how her’s turned out:

Yes, there is a lot of sugar there. Her school does a good job of not having too many sugary things but every once and awhile is fine.  Plus they made the kids wait until they got home to eat any of it.  Sadie, Maddox and I all shared.  For the record, both Sadie and Maddox would not eat the Twinkie…..Maddox actually spit it out.  It was a fun project and Sadie was very proud of her bus.  Here she is showing it off:

Mother’s Day 2010

Me and the Kids

I had a great Mother’s Day.  Started out with breakfast in bed with a very nice card book (that’s what Sadie called it) the kids made that told me I was prettier than Ariel and more fun than a jungle of monkeys.  Sadie picked out a lovely plant that she gave and some beautiful gold wrapping paper for my gift.  The gift turned out to be a wonderful new, fancy camera.  I was very surprised and even cried a little because I was overwhelmed.  It’s a Cannon Rebel and I love it.  Here is the first picture I took with it:

Not bad.  Mike gave lunch to the kids so I would have time to sit down and read the manual.  That camera can do a lot.  In the afternoon my mom came over and we had lunch.  When the kids woke up from their naps we all went to U.Village to a gardening store so my mom could pick out some plants.  We had a good time.  Sadie has been a little sick so it was a short outing.  The weather was perfect, sunny and about 70.    It really was a great time hanging out with my mom, enjoying my kids and relaxing.  My mom is very popular with Sadie and Maddox so when we got back home they spent some time with her.  Sadie and my mom drew some nice pictures:

Mothers Day is a good thing.  I know I feel appreciated and because I am now a mom appreciate my mom a lot more!  Thanks family for making it a wonderful day!

Games, Games, Games

  The Murphey kids LOVE games.  Some of their favorites are Hungry Hungry Hippos, Don’t Break the Ice, and Elefun.  A few days ago Target was having a sale on game and for the low price of $6 I purchased Giraffalaff Limbo for them.  Sadie says Himbo instead of limbo which I think is a little funny.  It was a big hit and much time was spent limboing.  Even Mike got in on the fun.  I also tried to limbo but I am not nearly as flexible as a used to be. So sad that there is not photo of that moment!

Sadie attempting to limbo

Maddox clearing the bar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike trying his best (the bar fell)

Murphey Kid love