And please, just add a little salt to the wound...

Yup, there's more. But first, you need to read the previous post Birthday Blues

And in the process of finding all of the Birthday Posts for the HERE links, I realized I didn't post about Sydnie's Birthday Party this year. When it rains it pours, and apparently I have acquired my own personal cloud of guilt. It's a good one too. With thunder and lightening and everything. CRACK! BAM!
May I have another please?

So, here it is!! Sorry Sis.

 The Dora Party!!

 The Birthday Girl! Four years old and beautiful!

 Our first activity was coloring a cupcake coloring page. We told the kids it was a contest, but we really needed them to create "Cupcake Mountain" for the adventure!

 And then we read "If you give a cat a cupcake" and "Dora Makes a Wish" to give my helpers upstairs time to set up.

 Then we headed upstairs and discovered that all of Sydnie's presents were missing! There was a letter from Swiper the Fox saying he swiped all of Sydnie's presents! Oh no! Will you help Sydnie and Dora find Sydnie's presents?

Who do we ask for help when we don't know which way to go? THE MAP!!

 First we go through the playhouse...

and then we go over cupcake mountain...

 and then we go through Happy Birthday Birthday Gate...

 to find Sydnie's presents!

WE DID IT!!


Let's go open those presents!

 

 Alli and Madi waiting for some cake!!

 Make a Wish!!







And finally, taking her new bike for a spin!

I can't believe my baby girl is 4 years old! I love you, Sis!

Birthday Blues

If you know me at all, or you click  here, here, here, or here, you know that I am "that mom" who throws those huge, elaborate parties complete with birthday adventures for all to experience like a trip to Bikini Bottom or adopting a puppy!  I have always loved planning and creating these celebrations that always reflect my kids interests at that time in their life.  I love it!

This year, it was..... a little different. Cordel had a really rough start in school. It was a really big adjustment for him. The rules at the Academy are very strict and he was having a really hard time with it. We had tried everything. No video games, no TV, no friends, extra chores, in addition to whatever consequence the school was implementing, usually missing recess! Nothing was getting through to this kid! So, after much thought and consideration, we told Cordel that if he "struck out" at school again, he would not be having a party with friends. And sadly, he struck out a few days later. I was beside myself!  I just couldn't believe it!

And to make matters worse, we later found out that the strikes he was getting at school were for very minor infractions. VERY MINOR. Now, we as Love and Logic parents know that Our Word is Gold. We mean what we say and say what we mean, and do what we say we will do. So, even though I was having enormous bouts of guilt rack my body, we stuck to our word and had a simply party with family only.

THANK HEAVENS HE HAS A LOT OF COUSINS!!

We did our best to make the party as fun as possible without breaking our word. We went to a park, invited lots of family, opened presents, and had cake and cupcakes for the birthday boy. 

In the end and in spite of the guilt, we felt good about choosing to be parents first and allow our son to learn a hard lesson.

 The Birthday  Boy at his Birthday Breakfast!

Opening presents...

 Make a Wish!!!

 This is one of my nephews friends Lucas. I, in all my walling in guilt and chaos of  planning the "not-party" forgot to buy forks for the cake. Lucas showed us how to overcome that obstacle!

 Happy Birthday, Cordel! We love you so much!

She loves her...

Our new baby, Emma. She is such a sweet little girl! And boy, oh boy does Sydnie love her! Every morning Sydnie asks if it is a daycare day, and if the answer to that is yes, then she asks if Emma is coming. She cries if the answer to that is no. Sydnie is such a great helper. And thankfully, it is the helpful kind of helping, not the make it ten times harder than it really is kind of helping. Those of you who have small children or work with small children will understand the difference.

XOXOXOX

Secret Identity

There was a tap, tap, tap on my shoulder early one morning and I knew it was Cordel. It is always Cordel that early in the morning. From the time he was old enough to get out of his own bed, he has been my early morning alarm clock. And this morning was no different. Or was it? 

So, I rolled over and, lo and behold! It was not Cordel! It was Super Boy! What a treat! It's pretty amazing that Super Boy and Cordel both like their chocolate milk the same way in the morning, they both like to watch the same cartoons in the morning, and they both have the most gorgeous blue eyes you have ever seen. hmmm, I wonder...

Nah! I'm sure it can't be! My Cordel would never be out all night fighting crime. He has school this morning!

XOXOXOXOXOX

DNA

When Cordel was younger and we started realizing how smart he is, everybody said, "Well, it's because you work with him so much. You have taught him so well!" And I suppose that's true to a point. But I refuse to take 100% of the credit. And this whole time I have been thinking how lucky I am to have a kid who the smarts just come easy to. And then Sydnie came along. And she is different in every way. Boy vs Girl. Brown hair and brown eyes vs blonde hair and blue eyes. Extremely shy vs totally out going. I never thought it possible to have 2 kids who are complete opposites. Except in one thing. Brain power. Hers is a little harder to see and to recognize. Mostly because she doesn't really speak to anyone but me, her daddy, and Grandma Kleis. But it is there. And in those quiet moments when she speaks to me about this or that, I am stunned at how her little brain is processing the world around her. She recently finished her Summer Bridge Book, a workbook designed to help kids hold onto the knowledge they gain during the school year through the summer. I bought her the Pre-K one, even though she still has another year before Kindergarten. And she finished it easily and with a confidence I rarely see in her. It was such a moment to celebrate for us. And again, I cannot take 100% of the credit. It's in their DNA.

First Grade- a day filled with many FIRSTS!

 His FIRST uniform on the FIRST day of school and lookin so sharp and handsome!

His FIRST friend at The Academy-- McKinely

His FIRST time climbing on "the web" on the playground!

The FIRST time the class lined up to go into the school.

 

 Sitting at his very FIRST desk! In Kindergarten they had tables!

The FIRST grade teacher for his FIRST year at The Academy-- Mrs. Woods

Have a FANTASTIC year, Buddy!!