Construction Party

Well, my baby boy is officially not a baby anymore!  For his second birthday we did a construction theme- which is so oppositely-fitting because he loves to destroy more than construct!!!  He and Miles can certainly make a huge destructive mess!!  Miles often hears me say that our house is a disaster (emphasis on the middle syllable!) and I'm reminded of my mom telling the story of us being at the car dealership when Clif was just a baby, so I would have been around 3.  We were in the office of the car dealer and I propped my elbows up on the car salesman's desk and proceeded to tell him what a mess our house was!  I'm sure my time is coming for Miles to proclaim it to the world!!

Anyway...back to the party!

I have found that I love finding mom-owned shops who will design invites for you and send the PDF file- that just fits my style so much more than having to do a headcount before-hand ordering!!!  (I have recently figured out about myself that I am more of a "big picture" kind of person than a "details" person- I'm sure some already knew this about me--- like the ones who put me in charge of Rush- I sure can delegate- but don't ask me who/where to order the chairs and linens from!!  Which is crazy- because Jared can be such a micromanager!! I guess opposites DO attract!!)  


Once again...back to the party...

So I found his invites from Let's Party NOLA.  I bought the cutest Christmas coloring sheets from her back at Christmas for the boys to give as gifts to their friends and classmates for preschool.  So I did the invites and coloring pages- all customized for Owen's party- and she made up gift tags and a sign (which I could have had blown up and printed at an office supply store- but didn't do).

of course this isn't his invite- but a pic from her etsy site

I'll let the pictures do the rest of the talking and add commentary as needed  =)

the birthday boy!  he and miles spent the night with meme and jimbo the night before!

owen's birthday is the day after mom's birthday!  

completely entertained by his big brother!

say cheese!!!

great mama came up to celebrate mom's and owen's birthdays!

welcome to the construction zone

i asked jared to bring home some boxes for the kids to build with-- my den was completely filled with boxes for them!

food table--- i wanted to make cute little signs for each one-- the cheese its were going to be road signs, the pretzel sticks were going to be 2x4s, the fruit was going to be on kabob sticks to resemble a stoplight (strawberry, pineapple, grape), then carrot sticks for caution cones.  party favors were oreo balls- or chocolate covered wrecking balls!

the fantastic cake from andrea!

road way with little tonka trucks

construction with blocks

both the boys would have been perfectly content just playing with all the balloons all day!!  

typical.

build it up--- just to knock it down!

so insulted that jimbo is trying to feed him his cake!

that's better.

pacifier in-- he was done!  glad our party guests in the background were still enjoying the party though!

We had invited several friends- but I need to make mental note of the time of year his birthday falls--- flu season!! Over half of our guest list wasn't able to make it because they were sick!!  And not just the sniffles kind of sick!!  Flu, fever, strep, stomach bug...so we were glad they all stayed home!!  And of all the little boys my boys have to play with- it was funny that our two guests were precious little girls!!  We still had a house full and really enjoyed the day celebrating my sweet two year old!  Owen, however, was done with it all right around noon and he did go to his room for a nap before the last guest left!  

This precious child has such a soft spot in my heart--- as do each of my children- but each are unique unto themselves.  What is unique about Owen's is partly that he's my baby boy.  I think I'll always think of him that way.  We were so expectant with every stage of Miles' development.  I've taken more of Owen's developments in stride.  He has made me a more nervous mother as well though.  He hasn't yet developed much fear about getting hurt by anything.  He will jump before I'm ready to catch him, ask me not to spank him before I've even threatened it, hugged and kissed me when I'm not begging asking for it, and run off before I even realize he's gone!  (If we were to ever switch churches- it would probably be to a smaller building simply so there are less places he can run off to and hide!  =P)  Where there are times I expect him to be capable of doing all the things Miles can do, I find myself holding him back from doing things as well!  He will march himself up the stairs to bed at night when he's tired.  He loves to brush his teeth.  He would watch Toy Story (1,2, or 3) seven times a day if I would let him.  He's always hungry.  We have had to move the medicine cabinet, candy stash, most of the food in the refrigerator, and markers up to high places in the kitchen that can't be reached even by standing on top of the counters (except meds- it's now in bathroom closet).  He has a contagious laugh and hearing him and Miles laugh together is one of the best things in the world.  I love that they have "built-in best friends" in each other.  I pray that they will always be this close, but also confident to have the outlets they need to express their individuality.  The sweetest words to my ears these days has been "Owen, you're my best friend"- even if it's followed 2 minutes later with fussing at each other, because generally, even that is followed by playing and resolving of whatever was wrong!  

Okay okay---- I'll quit going on and on.  

Happiest of birthdays to my precious 2 year old.  Thank you, Lord, for this precious life you've entrusted me with.  May I always be a faithful steward of his life in leading it to You.  

Spring is in the air!!!

Can you smell it?!?!  Oh wait...don't breathe in too much- you might get sick...I am so thankful that the really sick bug hasn't hit our house- we've just had ear infections (which are a pain, of course), but I'd rather deal with those than worry with the flu or pink eye that seems to be making it's way around to everyone!!!  ***fingers crossed that it won't hit our house***  

Now...I'm going to take a minute to get on my {safer home} soapbox...so get ready...=)

• Did you know that of the approximately 100,000 chemicals on the global market, less than 10 percent have been tested for health effects?  That means that the products you buy at the grocery store/target/wherever are filled with chemicals that effect YOUR allergies and skin?  

• The companies that sell the products on the shelves aren't concerned about providing you with safer products for your home (even the *green* ones); they are concerned with their shareholders.  End of story.

• Did you know that there is a better way to shop for the products you need in your home?  We "switched stores" almost 2 years ago and I can't tell you how much money I have saved the hubs by testing out this or that new product or even just the impulse shopping I do when I peruse the aisles!  I'm sure you've seen that cartoon on pinterest!!

I have 100% confidence that my kids aren't being exposed to harsh or harmful chemicals by using safer products in our home.  I'm 100% confident that I am not being exposed to them either when I clean the house!  

I'll have a *real* moment with you--- Owen is into e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g.  He climbs on everything and thinks the world is his jungle gym- especially my kitchen counters.  He recently got a hold of the kitchen cleaner spray bottle that was on top of my bar counter.  (He has a fascination with spray bottles now that his fingers are strong enough to pull the trigger- we have a water spray bottle we spray the boys' hair down with in the mornings)  Anyway-  he of course got trigger happy with the spray bottle- except it was pointing towards his chest!!  He got the cleaner all over him!!  If that had been a bottle of cleaner I bought at the store with chlorine or bleach in it, we would have immediately had to take him to the hospital or call poison control!!  Of course I carefully watched his skin over the course of the next few days, and you know what- he didn't have one bit of aggravated skin from it!  

Here's a brief video that shows how awesome the EcoSense line is we use in our home!  

  

Of course I'd love to share this info with you!  Let me know when a good time would be for you to swing by my house to see the products for yourself or if you'd like to invite a few friends over for me to share with all of you how you can convert your home to safer, more eco-friendly products!!  ***and fyi- I don't sell these products- you would do your own shopping directly from them- I have just found that I am passionate about safer homes and getting other people to love it, too!!  I can share all the ins and outs with you if you like!***

Okay- so now that I'm off my soapbox----

Do you have any big plans for spring time?!  I'd love love love to plant some things with the boys this spring- some easy things- flowers and maybe even some fruits...I saw something on pinterest (of course) about how to do strawberries in a pot.  Maybe blackberries, too??  I don't know--- any suggestions?!  

Here's a few pics of my cuties~~~

precious

how cute is she?!  she has started rolling over...when I put her down...which is hardly ever.  =)

I don't have a good one of Miles right now--- my next post will be about Owen's CONSTRUCTION birthday party!!!  It was great!!