Good Choice knows us by name.
Better yet, they know our order, so they get right on it as soon as they see us.
They also know that between our kids, one is welcome…and other is “not turned away”.
At the sushi bar where Scout is practicing his skills with Nonnie, and Icka is already trying to escape.
The skills paid off as Scout has the whole chopsticks thing down.
Soybeans, Tofu and Miso Soup, and Cantaloupe are the staples.
And then there is Icka. Enough said.
Thank goodness Ru still likes her.
Scout’s third birthday party was a blast! His best buddies got VIP Admission tickets to “Scout’s Waterslide Park”.
When they came…..this is the set up they found.
As soon as they got there, they turned it their ticket stub and received a wristband that gave them unlimited use of the park.
Then it was sunblock time. After lathering up, they headed in to see what the park had to offer.
In order for everyone to figure out what was what, and where things were, I came up with a sign that was painted by the creative genius Tackalack, and assembled and installed by Tim & Son Inc.
The Big Kahuna was the main attraction. It was massive! Much bigger than I even expected, but was an absolute blast. Everyone who tried it loved it (except RoRo)….but especially the the big kids.
Scout was in awe when it first arrived. It was so big, that he couldn’t even get up by himself.
Obviously Micah liked it, as he gets some serious air.
The Wave Pools were set up for the younger kids, and happened to be perfect. Whether the kids lounged in them, or people were filling their water guns from them, they were constantly part of the action.
This is pre-party…when all was calm.
Scout’s loading up with some serious ammo.
A last minute add to the party was the Wak-A-Scout. My mom treated Scout to this Giant version of him (dark hair and freckles), and we filled it with Scout’s favorites (candy necklaces, bubble gum, Dum Dums, and Starburst).
For a pinata…it really does look like him. I was going to make the eyes more almond shaped, but time ran out.
Look how tiny Little Scout is compared to Giant Scout!
After the pinata was broken, Trey wore the head around. He is classic! the really impressive part was that he would go down the slide without seeing anything. Hilarious Trey as usual.
I kept the Snack Shack simple. Water bottles, goldfish (in honor of the Big Kahuna), and popcorn. We later brought out ice cream cone cupcakes that Scout was dying to have. He helped me make them, and couldn’t wait for them at the party.
Simple set up = simple clean up.
The cupcakes — I chose red velvet with cream cheese frosting. Too bad on the red velvet because it made for messes everywhere. At least they tasted good.
The siblings and brother-in-law devouring the cupcakes.
Water World was quite possibly the favorite of the youngest kids. Everyone loved their water guns, and the water balloons were gone in no time. There was a sprinkler for the kids to run through, and we had a bubble machine mainly for Icka.
These were SO easy for the kids to maneuver, and they were a steal. Everyone got to take theirs home, and according to Scummy — her kids have been playing with them all afternoon today.
Scout’s in the midst of a water war!
It was a must to have water balloons because Scout could not wait to peg Caden with them.
Thank goodness the weather turned out beautiful! I did have a heat station in case the kids got cold, but it was barely used.
The turnout was great, and I was so happy to see Scout and his buddies have such a great time.
The man of the hour was utterly exhausted by the end of the party. He went 90 miles an hour, so when he cuddled up in a towel with my mom, I knew he had hit his wall.
Until his second wind kicked in when there was a cousin/Bledsoe after party!
It ended up being a really easy party to put together. So the good news is that I can reuse it next year — especially since Scout wants another water slide party when he turns four.
Special thanks go to:
Mackenzie and Skilly — the slide hostesses with the mostesses. (They helped younger kids who didn’t want to brave the slide alone.)
Micah — the best looking life guard on earth.
Oggie — the aunt with a camera fetish who provides me with hundreds of pictures like a champ!
Today was Scout’s birthday party, and it was crazy. I woke up, and still have never stopped. By the end of the day, everyone was wiped. As the Brockbank’s were walking out the door at 9:00, Megan said, “I bet you are exhausted, and ready to go to bed.” It wasn’t until she made her comment that I realized that I was completely full of energy. I wasn’t ready for bed…in fact, I was ready for more. I couldn’t understand why I had so much energy after such a long day.
An hour or so later, it hit me.
I finally got it.
While I was doing the party….Icka was attended by others. (And when that wasn’t the case, she was picking up every spare piece of popcorn or goldfish off the ground to eat.)
I kid you not.
I had all of the energy in the world because Icka was out of my world.
When I started to tell Micah that I had so much energy, and I knew why….he finished my sentence with, “yeah…it was because you didn’t have Navy.” He then proceeded to tell me that as he had his arm around her at dinner the night before (because an Ickaless person invented the restaurant high chairs), there was constant tension. Not at one moment did she rest and just stand by him.
So don’t let this pretty little face fool you.
She is crazy!
And I say that in the most loving and exhausted way.
I can not believe that Scout is turning three. A year seems like such a long time, but when it is grouped as three — specifically three years that Scout has been around — it seems like forever. I almost don’t remember life without him. And I definitely don’t remember such a sweet life without him. He is literally the best. He is happy, he is good, he is nice, he is my best friend, he is a great big brother, he is funny, and he is the light of out lives.
When he woke up this morning, Micah and I heard the little running feet of our new three year old, and he came in and climbed into bed with us. He said, “It’s my birthday, and I’m three.” Throughout the rest of our 30 minutes together, he kept reminding us he was three, and even asked if he could stand at the toilet because he was so old. I told him he could because it was his birthday, not because he is three — because tomorrow he goes back to the sitting position. He got a free pass today, because I can bear to clean up pointing mishaps for this one day if it makes him happy.
He picked out the day’s activities, and his birthday went as follows:
Scout hung out with his favorite — his family. He picked hot cereal (with “lots of brown sugar”) for breakfast.
Then the pushover B came along as he was doing the next activity on his list. He was riding his new bike, and was treated to “3″ of his favorite types of donuts — glazed, sprinkle and pink. Under the circumstances, he learned a new trick — riding with one hand.
After naps and a few errands, he swam the afternoon away with NayNay. I took Icka with me to run a few last minute trips to various stores for Scout’s birthday party. Icka was SOOOO naughty. Besides being filthy….she yelled, “out…out…out” one million times while we drove around. Here I am taking a picture, and she is yelling, “No…No…No” and turning away from me, but just peaking back to see if I snap. Stinky!
Scout got to choose any dinner he wanted. You can imagine my sorrow when he said “Denny’s”. My favorite part was when three tables over, a girl made an extremely loud noise, and just as I looked up, I got to see her vomit all over her own food. My sentiments exactly!
He has a thing for pancakes and bacon that obviously trump filet mignon and crab legs.
He opened his gifts, and his stomp rocket, new tools and water boats with guns attached were his favorite. I’m not sure why his new toothpaste on soap were not on the list.
Poor Micah got the job of entertaining Icka. At least he got his workout in today.
The night ended with more pool. This time, he had a water gun that he got me with.
It was a simple day that was perfect for our three year old.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY HANDSOME!!!
Trilby took Scout to Toys R Us to pick out his birthday present.
I told him he would love a water gun.
According to B…he loved this bike even more.
Scout…you are one lucky boy to have the ultimate pushover as your aunt.
Can’t wait to see what kind of car is your “favorite” when you are 16.
Icka was so crazy in the car while I was dropping Seth off at the airport, I called Trilby and told her that Icka wanted to stop at her work for a minute. The stop off proved to be exactly what Icka needed. She got snacks, she got to feed the ducks, she got to be held by her favorite –B (even over me some of the time). When we got back into the car….I had five minutes of peace and quiet before she went into her screaming fit of “Out, Out, Out!”
After I bribed Scout with the pool if he took a real nap (meaning he actually falls asleep and doesn’t just play for an hour in his bed), I told him I was going to definitely check to see if he fell asleep. Just to emphasize that I do what I say, I took in a magic marker for proof. He definitely was asleep, and only twitched his little nose like a bunny when I drew the mustache — the freckles and beard went unnoticed. When he woke up and saw what had happened (and was a little disgruntled) I told him to cheer up. True to my word, we got our bathing suits on and swam the afternoon away.
Scout has his second pet. (Freckle Face the fish was the first.) This time it is a Holy Poly according to Scout. He is in love, and has already showed him off to the school-cutting NayNay and Nonnie. When he came back I said, “Did they freak out … what did they say?” He replied, “Nonnie just said for me to get out of her room.”
Nice, really nice.
Mom — I suppose you conceded in the race for grandma of the year.
Because if not — you just lost.
…that could kill. How can a little girl who is all dressed up, look so stinky.
that is a look she is giving me — not just a bad snapshot.
I love it….I love everything about it.
I think Heavenly Father definitely knew that I would take a little bite over a wallflower any day!
Remember my little chilaxer?
Guess it runs in the blood.
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