Happy Birthday To You!

I cannot believe Hayden is FOUR!  I mean, this was just yesterday, right?!?

I think this year was the first year that Hayden really understood the full meaning of his birthday.  Leading up to his birthday, we kept telling him, "Thursday is your birthday" and he would light up and cheer (with arms up) and say, "I'm going to be four!"

We celebrated on his actual birthday, with presents in the morning and then I surprised him at school with a cake.  Then, Marty and I took him bowling for the first time!

Then on Sunday, we celebrated with a Pirate themed party.  It was a couple months in the making because Marty's parents helped to bring bandanas, beads and coins when they came in May.  I'm sure it exists, but I have yet to find an equivalent to Michael's, Hobby Lobby, or JoAnn Fabrics here, where there is a big selection of craft and party supplies.  So, I had to decide on the theme and plan way in advance.

I found an American expat who makes American style birthday cakes to make the cutest cake and cupcakes!  Seeing the awesome final product made me want to learn to bake and decorate - maybe when I have a little free time.

The party was so much fun.  The kids enjoyed playing in the pirate ship and we had a little treasure hunt.  Of course, I wasn't thinking about how international our little party would be, with a few kids who speak Dutch, Romanian and Bulgarian kids and not English, so my clues like "what fruit rhymes with bandana" didn't go over too well.  

It's funny.  Now that Hayden is four, he thinks he can do everything.  Somehow, four is a status symbol and major achievement.  For the last week, we have been hearing things like 

"I growed up to be four now, so I can do this all by myself" 

"Four year olds can put legos together by themselves"

"I'm four now, so I can decide"

I am excited about what FOUR will bring!

Weekends and Twinkies

  Three weeks in, we are starting to settle into our new routine.  Beckham is finally back to his normal self, after nearly 3 weeks of being sick and not sleeping well - day or night.  That means, I too am starting to get back to my normal self, feeling a little less tired at work!

  Weekends definitely look very different now.  Saturday is now our 'run errands' day - the mad rush to get everything done because stores close by 6pm and are closed altogether on Sunday.  The problem, of course, is that everyone is doing the same thing, so it's just plain crowded.  Grocery stores are chaotic with people and queues as everyone tries to ensure they have enough food to get them through the weekend and following week.

  We have also been getting ready for Hayden's birthday party!  We have been to the same DIY store (Home Depot + Michael's store in one) two Saturdays in a row, to get various supplies for his Pirate Themed Birthday.  It's this Sunday - and has been a couple months in the making.  I cannot wait!!

   I have really cherished our weekends this past month.  We've been able to spend fun afternoons as a family, whether it's a bike ride or hanging out with friends, or taking a little afternoon nap.  It's quality time that we don't get much of, during the week and then fuels me for the following week!

That's right, I'm 10 months old!

A quick bike ride, just as the rain started to come down 

New wheels for Beckham - driving fwd and reversing in no time

Chase!

Mom, can I hold Beckham?

Heart

Little men brunching (This pic really makes me fast fwd +15yrs!)

Unplanned matching

Like father, like son