Happy Birthday!

5 years ago we were waiting and wondering and hoping.
Waiting for the little baby that we only knew from ultrasounds, kicks and a doctor’s diagnosis. Not knowing and too afraid to look too far into the future.

And that little baby boy was born and immediately handed off to strangers

 and whisked away to get ready for some major surgery. With only a quick cuddle.

It was a week before I could hold him again, but it seemed like the days took forever.

And time has passed,

In 5 years that little tiny baby has grown into such an amazing child.

He’s a bit Ninja turtle crazed,

and loves to... laugh and learn, he is funny and shows such a love of life and all of those around him.

For the little boy who teaches me about life every single day.

Happy Birthday to my Nickolas

Nick-angelo's Birthday Party

When it was time for planning Nick's birthday party he knew exactly what he wanted.
He only wanted a swimming party, and of course it had to be Ninja Turtle themed.

So we did both, Ninja Turtle Themed with an hour in the pool as well.

Masks for the kids (and maybe some adults)

Ninja turtle loot bags

 And a couple of games
Some bad-guys to knock down (with ninja turtle coloured Frisbees). I got old-ninja turtles and new-ninja turtle bad guys

Pin the pizza on the Ninja turtle

And a ninja turtle basketball game

We had some Ninja-Turtle food trays, and of course pizza

And a Ninja Turtle cake

Nick got to play with all of his favorite friends

Nick had a fantastic time. He got to run around and play (in his Shellraiser), go swimming, then eat pizza and cake and have everyone sing to him

And after all of that fun, he still got to open presents!

Surrounded completely by all of his friends, who each had a job to do, including present passing, card reading, music playing and garbage collecting

And everyone was excited to see what he was getting

Nick was loving it of course
(Ninja turtle Kraft dinner!!)

 Pretty soon 4 hours had gone by, and the party was over

Cowabunga!
Happy Birthday Nick!

A Butterfly Birthday

Katheryn turned 5 this year.

And that is a pretty big deal!

A couple of months ago the planning started, and Katheryn said she wanted to have a butterfly/fairy party

We have started a tradition of dressing up for birthday parties (of course what is more fun than that?!)

And Katheryn really enjoyed her tea party birthday last year.

She had a couple of wishes for her birthday. She wanted a pinata (done) and a bouncy castle (unfortunately I had to nix that idea)

 The pinata was definitely a hit (not literally).
I had no idea that they made ribbon pinatas and was worried about giving a bunch of kids a big stick. Luckily I have a friend who knows about these things and each kid got a ribbon to pull.

 And then the collecting began.
The older kids (who cared the most about what was there) got the most.

But everyone left with a loot-box of toys

After a candy-filled Easter last week, there was only the minimal amount of candy. Most of it was little toys and stickers, glow sticks, dinos, princesses ect.

 I got a nice mom and Katheryn shot! With both of us looking and smiling.

Katheryn was full of smiles all day.
And had a lot of fun with everyone who came.

Everything she got she was thankful for, she opened and looked at all of the cards. Every times she opened something she said "Oh wow"

She loved the butterfly cake, and blowing out her candles. For the first time she really enjoyed a house full of people singing happy birthday to her!

And of course the house full of butterflies, fairies or other bug-creatures.

The fun-filled day ended with the kids asking to go to bed, but first we had a get a quick sibling picture (complete with rackets that they did not hit each other with - this time)

Happy Birthday baby girl! 5 years is a such a great milestone!
So much has changed in the last 5 years and you have brought such joy to all of our lives. Our lives have completely changed and life is so much better than we ever could have imagined it to be.