How we spent their birthday this year

Their birthday this year was basically spent exactly like last year - doing their favorite things!  First, we went to Mass.  The boys were soooo bad - I think it was because they had the attitude like, "hey, it's my birthday, what are you gonna do to me?".  Well, they both got their favorite stuff dogs, Dignan and Pickles taken away and they weren't given their big b-day present from us.  What did they do, you ask?  Well, Ben escaped from the pew, ran up the center isle, up to the alter!  I was downstairs changing Sam's diaper so Matt was the only one in there when it happened.  Ben claimed he went to look for me.  Uh-huhhhh!!!

After Mass we went to Union station and looked at all the model trains.  Then, went to Crown Center, ate at Fritz's and looked at the gingerbread house and train display they had up.  We also took the boys outside to play on the holiday display set up for kids to climb on. 

Tough guys hangin' in the truck

Our family by the Union Station Christmas tree.  The lady who took this picture said that she needed to take another one because "the baby", referring to Ben, looked away.  Thank goodness Ben did not hear her say that or else we would have heard the first, "oh, helllllll no!" come out of his mouth.

Happy 3rd Birthday

This is what we were doing three years ago today....

What we did today is gonna have to come tomorrow because I'm too tired.  Happy Birthday to my my precious gifts from God!

We're gonna party like we're 3 years old!

Apparently, you party it up when you are 3 years old!  Well, at least that's what I chose for them.  We threw Ben and Sam a big ol' birthday party this year.  For the last two years we've had a family party but this year I decided to be crazy and do a friends and family combo party.  We were very happy (and a little nervous) when almost everyone we invited could make it and there were a hundred people attending!  I was closely following the weather all week because 1. it's November in Kansas so it could be beautiful or snowing  2. Our house is about 1400 sq feet and we would have a sardine themed party if everyone had to be inside.  The party was on Saturday and it was sunny and in the 70's...the very next day it was raining all day and in the 30's!  We dodged a bullet big time and I'd like to give a huge shout out to God for hooking us up with the weather.

The boys wanted a Thomas the Train party again this year so we tried to follow that theme.  Although, after weeks of planning Sam decided to tell me he wanted a Captain America theme the day before the party.  I pretended not to hear him :)

My attempt at something I saw on Pinterest.  A home made snack choo choo:

Cupcakes.  My cousin and the boys surrogate, Jamie, decorated them:

Wonderful friends and family who came out on this beautiful day to celebrate:

 

Lot of playing kids:

We even hired a balloon artist, who did really great work and the kids loved it!

She made Ben and Sam each one of these wearable Thomas's, which they, of course, refused to wear:

Then it was pinata time, which has become a birthday tradition for our boys. This year there were so many kids we did two pinatas and had prizes for the kids who found a blue ribbon it in:

And we sang Happy Birthday....

Aunt Jamie and the boys....

The two baby mamas....

First birthday party as a family of 5...

First birthday party as a family of 3....

So as you can see it was a great time had by all!!  Matt was really wonderful and helped out a ton by cleaning up the back yard and smoking over 30 lbs of pork for the pulled pork sandwiches.  And, big thanks to my friend Gretchen for taking all of these pictures to document the day while I was running around.  And, the biggest thanks of all to my cousin Jamie, without her none of this would have been happening.

Ben and Sam...these is no lack of love for you guys, as you can see.  Everything we ever do is all for you and to make you happy!!  Happy birthday party little boys!

Cool Park

For any of you who live in my area I would totally recommend going to the Overland Park Arboretum!  We went this week so none of the plants are in bloom but they have a wonderful place for kids to play.  It has a train themed area, so of course, Ben and Sam were in heaven.  It also has a gravel "sandbox" area and a wheat (I think) maze.  We went with our twin friends, Abigail and Braeden and Bram and Asher. 

Ben and Sam loved this model train area with a real train running through it.  It also had a caboose you could go inside. 

Looking at the train chugging by:

Walking along the pond with Abigail and Braeden:

They have an illumination walk later this month.  Not only will the park be all lit up with Christmas lights, the train will be running, Santa will be there, and cider will be served.  That is all right up Ben and Sam's alley, so guess who will be attending?