Happy Birthday America

I hope you all had a lovely 4th with your family. Our plans for the day were canceled due to a preterm labor scare. After going to the hospital yesterday I am happy to report that everything is okay and I was allowed to leave with the peace of mind that this baby will hopefully not make an early appearance. (we love you baby and can't wait to meet you either but just hang in there a little longer) So it looked like the raspberry festival and parade will have to wait until next year.

That didn't stop us from having fun. We enjoyed our day together as a family, a lot of backyard play time and to end the night just a few fireworks. Wolf wasn't particularly impressed  with the whole ordeal but he gave it a go. After we put them to bed and the sun finally set (how come no one told me the sun sets at 10pm here) husband and I enjoyed the fireworks outside on our own, and good conversation about our future and that of our growing family. We are eager to see what's in store.

three/52

 Three favorites from the 52 week challenge 

 Bear: 9/52 Dirty knees and sunshine. Spring had just begun and Bear took full advantage
          21/52 I can't always capture just how silly his personality is but this one captured it just right
          24/52 full of curiosity and he is always in his element when in nature.

Wolf: 8/52 first time playing in the snow such a great memory of this trip
          9/52 again the first week of spring in Oregon is magical and those shifty eyes of his convey his                      
                  adventures side so perfectly
           21/52 that curiosity of his is just too much

We are halfway through the 52 week challenge and more surprising is it marks the halfway point of this year. It's so strange and perfect that I started this challenge the year we have had the most change, transition, and overall craziness. It has allowed me to take a moment and take in those sweet moment with my boys between the chaos and find beauty in it. Having to relearn each day to take all that is good. I am so happy to have these images to document the amazing blessings in my life.

                                                       **linking to Jodi's 52 week challenge**

Thomas The Tank Engine Birthday

the table setting using pre-existing toys to decorate

red presents were requested

even little brother was shocked by the balloons 

a pretend camping set was this years pick it came with a pretend swiss army knife. He was in heaven 

books are always a present must 

my first real attempt at cake making. 

my parents Skyping during the cake cutting. Also note the fact that W spilled water on his back, a talent he alone is able to do. The front of his shirt was totally dry. 

I think my cake made the cut

As I mentioned before I gave up on avoiding an actual character birthday especially since Bear has been asking for a "Thomas cake" since the talk of his birthday even started. His love for trains has not yet subsided and for the second year in a row a train birthday was requested. (you can see his last birthday based on  1,2,3, to the Zoo HERE).

Since we just moved and don't know very many people here yet I wanted to make our family birthday extra special but knew I didn't want to spend a lot on decorations since it was just going to be us. I asked Bear if he had any special request and slowly the list grew. Here are a few  things he mentioned.

1. pancakes
2.red presents
3.a Thomas Cake
4.balloons
5. shapes on the wall

Although the last item left me a little confused the list seemed manageable enough that I was able to fulfill the whole list. The night before husband blew up a ton of balloons and we lined the hallway and living room with them for a morning surprise. The shapes on the wall I translated to triangle bunting, strawberry pancakes were made first thing in the morning and  his presents were all wrapped in red paper. I even tried my hand at making a bake from scratch using THIS recipe. Frosting isn't easy as I expected but I added a few trains to the top and some sprinkles and it seemed to make the birthday boy very happy.

The "party" was split in two. The morning was opening presents and a pancake breakfast before papa left to work and when papa came home we ate hamburgers (per the birthday boys request) and cut the cake. We even had my parents Skype while he blew out his candles. I love technology. Overall I think he had a great day full of love and a whole lot of attention. Calls from relatives came in at different times of the day and it made me realize just how loved these boys are despite the physical distance between them and family.

The best part for me was that since we based his party on something he already owns decorations were practically free. Besides the bunting and plates everything used were things we already had. The track on the table, the trains used as cake toppers were all toys we owned. It just goes to show how resourceful you can be while still making something look cute and festive. Now to start prepping for Wolf's birthday which is next month.