Bowling Birthday

My bowling league kinda fell through this year, so I was excited to dust off my bowling shoes for a bowling birthday bash for my Mom. I ended up with the most pins overall, but my Dad and KD gave me a run for the money. I loved watching KD bowl with her pregnant Belly. It sure didn't slow her down any!
Culver's IceCream Treat!

A Rolling Flashback!

I thought it was hilarious when they had a rollerskating unit in gym class. Not rollerblading. ROLLERSKATING! I never did like rollerskating, but the parents were invited to join the gym class, so I decided to strap a pair on for old times sake. With all Trent's hockey he was a natural.
Now flash forward a month and Callie was invited to a Birthday Party at a rolling skating rink! Did not even know people still did that! I realize this is 2011, but it could have easily been 1987! The place was the same. In fact, I'm pretty sure they just locked the doors for 24 years, and one day decided to unlock em, flip on the power to the disco ball and reopen. Same DJ in a referee jersey. Same carpeted walls. Same limbo and dice game. Awe-some! I was totally taken back! Nothing like good clean fun!Callie was one of the limbo winners, free Slushie! Trent made sure to request Electric Avenue. After the DJ played it Trent asked me for a dollar so he could tip him. Who's this fancy kid been hanging out with?

An Admiral-able Birthday

Happy Birthday Trent and Marshall. What a way to celebrate your special days, Skating at the Admiral's Game! Woo Hoo! I was even able to get Trent's name announced at the game and up on the marquee. I do have to say this year was pretty cool. (Click here to read about last year) Since I was the event coordinator, I made sure we really did it up! Trent had the opportunity to be announced in the line-up with the Admirals players at the beginning of the game. While they were waiting for that to happen, they also got to hang out with a couple of the Superbowl Champion - Green Bay Packers. Jordy Nelson, James Jones and Desmond Bishop. I had gone up to get into position for the line-up, so I missed that photo-op, but they got signed pictures from the players.
Once again. Thanks to the Milwaukee Admirals Organization for providing such an amazing opportunity for these boys!

Trent was also lucky enough to celebrate his birthday with a new bike!

And Dirt Cake by request.

Happy Birthday To ME!

Callie: "Trent is making a sand birthday cake, but I'm not going to tell you who it's for."

Rewind to the end of August. The summer just about to wrap up. The birthday week has become quite a popular privlidge lately. Here is how I spent the week.

I had the best birthday I've had in a long time! One last Dusty Road at Laubers, family dinner at my Mom's, a spontaneous, spectacular, summer evening at Kirches and a Sand Birthday Cake from the kids.

Marshall and I went to Kirches to celebrate our Anniversary last year. Since then it's become our fine dining place of choice. Little did we know it would solidify it's place so permenantly this birthday visit. I found a coupon on Resturant.com, so we decided it was worth the splurge. Not wanting to drive the kids to the grandparents, the plan was to take them with us. Last minute Marshall invited my parents to come along. What an evening.

Firstly, it was the company. I am so happy we had both the kids and my parents to share it with. The kids are usually good, but we really appreciated them this time they got so many nice compliments from the other resturant patrons.
Secondly, it was the atmosphere. Can't beat dining on a porch overlooking a quiet little lake. Add to that comfortable temps, no bugs, a gorgeous sunset and a live Jazz band, and the mood was set.
Third, the food. We chose a four course, chef special. You choose meat or seafood and they choose the rest. Ever heard of John Dori fish? Me neither, but its the finest fish in France and I can see why.
Fourth, and best of all the memories. The kids dancing to the band, entertaining everyone, and a family dance before the night was over. It's a birthday I will never forget.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Happy 5th Birthday Callie!

Happy 5th Birthday Callie Girl! Three party's this year! IceCream cake at Aunt Polly's, Cupcakes at Grans and a giant 5 layer cake made by Marshall at our house! Plus a visit to Laubers. What a Lucky Girl! You definitely look 5 now Callie. You can even reach the handle to the front door! Boy can this girl Hula-Hoop!

Princess Par-TEA!

Callie's friend Noel had her birthday party at a place called Megan's Tea Room. Basically it's a princess party. The girls got to pick out a dress and shoes and get totally glitzed up! Then they got their nails painted and their hair done and put on make-up to get ready for their fashionshow. After they walked the cat walk, they had their tea party!1.5 hours, 8 girls, hotdogs, candy and lemonade - $350! Anyone wanna go in on Callie's tea room with me? What a racket!

Happy Birthday Callie!

My little birthday girl! 4 years old! Lucky girl, she got to celebrate her birthday 3 times! At the second party someone asked her how old she was. She had to stop and think about it, and said, "am I 5 now?" No Callie, just because you celebrate your birthday again doesn't mean you have reached the next age. After the third party she asked if "she was having a party again tomorrow?"

She made sure we had her birthday girl hat. Breakfast at Egg Harbor - Rainbow pancake made with a special flair for her special day!

Dinner with Gran, Grampy and Auntie Kate at The Rainforest Cafe for the 2nd year in a row!
VOLCANO!

Trent picked out this Thumbellina for Callie, one of her favorites. He was so sweet when he asked to go shopping for her.Marshall is all about the thumbs up with the kids lately!
Princess Clothes! Have been donned at least once every day since!
Thank You everyone! Callie is a happy girl!

Happy Birthday Gran!

We celebrated my Mom's birthday with a bowling party. I love bowling! When I was growing up we had a bowling alley with in walking distance. I was on a league for many years. Had my initials on my ball and everything. My Mom just recently gave that ball back to me. Of course she still had it. Those were the days of "Walk Like an Egyptian" on the juke box. I only really play about twice a year now, but I still bowled pretty well my first game. Callie beat me the second game. She had high score on our lane! (With a little help from the ball "slide"!)Trent went freestyle with his bowling, a running start for momentum! He does have a little bit of my natural talent. We'll need to cultivate that a little more.

Carol got a video of my Mom sitting on the Birthday Saddle at Texas Road House. Note to self: Get copy. I think she would kill me if I posted it. Sorry!

Callie's Birthday - Part 1

We were supposed to meet Auntie Kate for dinner, but she couldn't come, so we enjoyed the Rainforest Cafe' with out her.
It was a little noisy in there for Callie. Me too for that matter!
Their signature dessert. You gotta yell it! VOLCANO!


What more could a 3 year old ask for!
Thanks Gran and Grampy!

Callie's Birthday Part 2

Marshall's side of the family has many special occasions with-in a couple days of each other so we invited everyone over to celebrate.
The birthday girl enjoyed her cupcakes complete with the Diego wrappers she picked out.

I found this great Birthday Hat. I'm hoping it will become a family tradition.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to Trent and Marshall! Another crazy busy couple of days.

Ever since the new year started Trent has been asking me to have a "friend" b-day party. I kept telling him no. He had it all planned out. They would have a glowing lightsaber fight with the basement lights off. He needed one for each kid and planned on doing the required amount of chores to earn the money to buy one glowing lightsaber for each boy. Mind you, he already has 2 glowing lightsabers and 7 non-glowing. (All I can say is he is a collector!) But the non-glowing just won't cut it. Every day on the way to school we do the math. 5 boys, minus 2 glowing lightsabers = 3 still needed. $20 per glowing lightsaber x 3 = $60. I'm generous, $1 per chore, that's 60 chores. We then talk about the jobs that he can do when he gets home from school. Everyday we did this! Everyday we got home and he chose not to do any chores. (This is why I can afford to offer a whole $1) Finally he decides to just have a regular lightsaber fight. I still haven't even said yes to the party. Then, he convinces himself he doesn't even really want to have a party. I feel bad, but am glad. We have enough things going on this month. Then I realize it is his Golden Birthday. 6 on the 6th. I had to wait forever for my golden birthday, and wanted it to be a pretty special thing. It wasn't....boo hoo for me. Trent's needed to be great, so I agreed to the party and started planning. Talked to the Mom's and we had ourselves a Golden Birthday party!
The day started with me going to Trent's classroom for the birthday celebration. A Montessori Birthday: They sing a special song and hold a model globe as the walk a circle around a candle representing the sun, they do this as many years as they are old. Then we had the special snack I brought in, Trent's choice Chocolate Rice Krispy Treats at 9am, as I read the book Trent picked out. When I asked him what book he wanted to bring in, I was happy because he thought of the same book I did. The book Auntie Kate gave him for his first Christmas. ("Where there's a bear, there's trouble." Fun book!)

I raced home to do my last minute cleaning and party prep. Marshall wasn't due in til Friday, but was able to change his flight to get home for the party. He called saying the flight was cancelled, but he was able to reroute, so I spent the morning trying to figure out how to get him back home! For some reason my internet searching skills were failing me! I could not get the information I needed!

2pm rolls around way too soon, I borrow my Mom's car and pick up all the kids from school. The "Mitzi Van" is back in action! I had about an hour and a half of free time before I wanted to get the dinner going, so I planned some structured activities to delay the inevitable jedi battle and possible eye injury. The kids colored and cut out their own lightsabers and we played "pin the lightsaber on the jedi" (I made it up, it was awesome!) I got a Darth Vader pinata, they hit it with the lightsabers, we opened presents, that took all of 15 minutes! So much for structured activities! Lightsaber fight! Boys will be Boys! All and all it was a great party. He might be too young to remember all the details, but at least I know I did everything I could to make his Golden Birthday special. Look at the hug I got! Thanks to everyone for the gifts. Trent is over the moon!

Marshalls birthday is the day after Trent's and he has sort of gotten lost in the mix. He bought himself another addition to "Muscle Beach", so he is happy.

We had the Spring Fling fundraiser for school on Saturday. Great fun. I won $100 and a $25 dinner gift certificate. We bought tickets for the $200 Million Powerball, but didn't win. There's still a chance though, because nobody won! Come Wednesday we might be millionares! I think we are lucky enough to have the relationships we have and the fun times in our lives.

All Polished Up

This weekend was scheduled to be a busy one, and it was! Hockey, Movie night at Trent's school, Marshall's flight which we just made it to 30 minutes before take off! And a Birthday Party for our neighbor girl. While getting ready Trent asked me to get his clothes, "all polished up for him." He said he really wanted to look "sharp" for the party. The whole time he was in the shower he was asking me if I got his clothes "all polished." When he was getting dressed he even asked me to iron his clothes for him! He got all dressed, brushed his hair, took a look in the mirror, and asked me how he looked! Then, he puts on his Jedi costume! I guess it was a time for ceremonial garb.