Family Fun

 A couple of weeks ago, we took a quick weekend trip to Roseburg to celebrate my nephew's birthday. Since Tim now works in South Portland and has a 30-90 minute commute on the way home, we decided that I should pack the boys and our stuff up and pick Tim up after he got off of work. To help keep the boys on track, I wrote up a To Do List. This kind of backfired on me since the boys decided that they wanted lunch at 10:30 so we could pick Daddy up sooner. Sorry Tim's boss, but our 5 year old and 3 year old are demanding Daddy's early release.

Why yes, pooping is on the list

After a very long trip, we arrived at my parents house in time for bed. (Rush hour + An accident up ahead + potty breaks + feeding the baby = oh my goodness, when are we going to get there!) 

The next morning, we convened at a local pizza parlor and ate pizza with 17 other kids and their parents. 

 

 

 Although, some just cuddled with Grandma.

Then it was off to the archade room with their bouncy house, racing games, and Pac-Man (which was Elijah's favorite much to Tim's pleasure).

 

There is something about Grandma's arms that puts babies to sleep.

Then came the cake with the obligatory jokes about eating the whole thing.

 Why, yes, that is Beniah's fake laugh smile. I get it all the time!

With cake comes singing...

..and a slightly embarrassed, but thoroughly happy birthday boy.

 Happy birthday Jeshu! I can hardly believe that you are six!

Of course, everyone must gather as close to the birthday boy as they can so they can be the first to see his present.

After the party, we headed back to our respective houses for naps (although Beniah headed back with the Kumars so that he could spend some coveted cousin time with Jeshu). Then it was time for a family dinner and Grandpa wrestling time.

Before the night was over, Isaac was held by one and all.

Isaac is Janasa's "favorite cousin because he's so cute!".

 

After church on Sunday, we headed over to the Kumar's house for lunch and last minute cousin playtime. Isaac bonded with his Auntie Evie and thoroughly loved bouncing on her.

 Meanwhile, the boys were hard at work assembling Jeshu's birthday lego haul. It took awhile to drag Beniah away from the fun, but we had to get home.

Beniah has now been asking me when Jeshu's last day of school is because he wants to spend the night at Jeshu's again. Something tells me that sleepovers are going to be an every visit occurrence.

Partying Like a 5 Year Old!

The past two days has been party central here at the Whittaker household. Yesterday was Beniah's 5th birthday which we celebrated as a family with banners, balloons, and singing galore.

Beniah kept grinning a goofy, embarrassed grin whenever he got "Happy Birthday" sung to him.

 Since Tim had to work that night, we did the majority of the gift opening in the morning after breakfast.

Beniah requested pancakes for dinner, so I made him some birthday cake pancakes from a Pinterest recipe.  Silly mama that I am could have made him some of my regular blueberry pancakes and he would have been just as happy.

Cake (made by the lovely Grandma Whittaker so that I could rest more) soon followed dinner.

Which was then followed by calls from Aunties, Uncles, and cousins.

  Proof that he was listening to your singing Auntie Jo and not just reading his book! :)

Soon, it was bedtime (much to my relief) for the next day was the highly anticipated bowling alley birthday party at Big Al's!

 There was bowling!

 We love Beniah's arm flap of excitement!

 Elijah got a spare on his first frame (with a bit of help from his Daddy) which made him SO excited 

but left him disappointed in his bowling the rest of the time.

There were friends and friends who are also cousins!

There was even more bowling!

 There was pizza and cupcakes!

There was presents!

Yeah for really cool planets that can hang from your ceiling! 

Beniah tried to convince me to hang them up before his rest time after the party. Ha! Nice try kiddo.

There was the assembling of presents with Daddy once we got home!

 There was leftover pizza for dinner (since Mama was WAY too tired to cook)!

(Apparently the Hot & Delicious Pizza made just for me was made by the Devil himself!)

Beniah had a wonderful time bowling and asked as we were getting ready to leave, "Mama, when can we come back to Big Al's?"  I'm thinking this is going to become a monthly family game day (as long as it's over before nap time.

Happy 28th Birthday, My Dear!

To celebrate one's 28th birthday, you must have a custom cake decorated by some young bakers who would rather eat the decorations then actually help the master baker.

A darling baby niece should be invited and loved on by everyone in attendance.

When receiving gifts make sure the gift giver dances and flaps his arms while you open the gift.

 Be forewarned, now that you are 28, your cake is now becoming a ball of flame. It is fine to use your cake to warm your hands.

Although, you may need help blowing out all of your candles.

Enjoy your piecaken. 

I love you my Tim Dear! I am glad you enjoyed your day.

A 24 Hour San Diego Trip!

   A couple weeks ago, Tim received a phone call from his company's HR manager asking if we would like to have an all expense paid trip to San Diego for the company's Christmas party. 
Um.. yes please! 
So after sending some excited boys down to Grandpa and Grandma's house for the weekend, Tim and I hopped onto an airplane and flew down to San Diego. 

About thirty minutes into our trip, Tim was all ready massively annoyed with my photo obsession.

 

We arrived in San Diego and went to check in at our hotel. The hotel lobby had a beautiful waterfall that connected to the outside ponds.

 

The room we received was massive. The kitchenette was stocked with $3.50 bottled water and sub-par coffee. Best of all, the floors were lego free!

 After a refreshing walk to the grocery store to purchase food that wouldn't deplete our savings, we got ready for the Christmas party. My purse (read: Tim's pockets) couldn't hold the camera very well, so I had to be satisfied with one photo of us taken before the Christmas party.

 

 The party was very entertaining. I really enjoyed meeting Tim's IT department co-workers (and their wives). Even losing all of my fake money at the black jack table was fun.  

Mental note to self: Never gamble with real money. You are not good at it!

 The next morning, we decided to see the resort sights before we set off for home.

 We meandered through the walking paths...

 

 

...watched the parrots in the aviary...

 

 

... and then found a Christmas tree on the beach.

 After a quick tour of the TekWorks facilities, we drove to the airport and boarded our plane home to our boys.

 

 It was a fun, albeit, busy weekend.