Dinofabulous Painting Birthday Party

My little man is almost 5!
I can't believe it!
This year we had to do his birthday party a week early.
Because on his actual birthday we will be celebrating with Mickey Mouse and friends!!
Dylan loves Potwin Pottery. It is a little shop that you get to pick your own pottery and paint it in your own style!
I have always wanted to do his party there, and this year was the perfect time to do it.
He invited some friends from school along with some other friends.
He also wanted this to be a dino party...so I made up these adorable invitations!
I love the way they turned out! They have the dino and painting theme!
The day of the party Dylan and I created this masterpiece! I have always made my kids' birthday cakes, and I want that tradition to continue. They don't always look perfect, but they are so special!

We also made some awesome hats! Do you see the spikes on the side? Dylan loved them and had fun helping me make them.

At Potwin Pottery! All ready to celebrate his birthday!

Working hard on his ice cream cone bowl and spoon. The kids had several options to choose from and Dylan picked out 6 colors for everyone to use.

All of the kids painting away! They all had so much fun!

Singing Happy Birthday!

The Birthday Boy also gets plate that says Happy Birthday Dylan and his hand print. So cool!

All of the kids! Dylan had a lot of fun with his friends and I loved watching him interact with everyone!

Happy 5th Birthday Dylan Man!

feeding the ducks

We love feeding the ducks. It is something so simple, yet so fun.
The other morning before swimming lessons we decided to take some bread and hamburger buns and head to the pond to feed the ducks.
One of the things I love best about the place we feed ducks is that my grandma and grandpa used to take me to the same exact spot to feed the ducks. I can only imagine how much they would have loved their great grandkids. They would be their first and only great grandkids, and I know they would be spoiling the heck out of them!

They would take this little lady to the park and to Arbys for roast beef sandwiches. They would probably let her drink orange pop for breakfast too.

And this little guy..they would have been at all of his preschool programs, soccer games, and helped him build something in the garage!

I have so many memories of my grandma and grandpa Drane, so many memories I wish so badly my kids would have been able to make with them. They were a huge part of my first 13 years of life. Even though they aren't able to make memories with my grandparents, I am so thankful that my kids have 2 grandmas and 2 grandpas that they are making very special memories with. I hope they always cherish those memories like I do with the memories I have!

swimming

We love going to the pool! As much as Dylan hates getting his face wet, he still loves to go swimming! Saylor loves it just as much too!!
We try and go at least once a week, and it makes it even more fun (and easy for momma) when our cousins can go along with us!
This little girl loved the slide and Dylan loved catching her at the bottom! She also loves the fountains. She played in these forever!

She would go around to each one and stick her head in! What a silly girl!

Aunty Whitty (our cousin) was a trooper and took Saylor on the slide and I would catch her! It is a 2 person job, so I am glad she was there to join us!

And finally this year Dylan has started going down the bigger slide for kids. He has never tried it and when he went with our other cousins, Courtney and Brady one day he tried it! I am pretty proud of him!





Oh, how I love summer!

all laughs

There are a lot of fun things I could blog about.
Like our cruise.
Or swimming lessons.
Maybe our trip to Deanna Rose Farm.
Our first trip to the new Discovery Center.
And even our first Theme Thursday!
But, I am not in the mood.
Maybe it's because I haven't been feeling well.
Maybe it's because I miss my hubby.
I don't know...but I am sure I will feel more in the mood to blog soon!
But for now...this silly, laughing girl! The other night I painted her toes and after they were dry we tickled and laughed away! She was so happy. And laughed so hard. I love her laugh. It makes me laugh. Even when I am not in a laughing mood!

Oh Saylor Girl, thanks for always making your momma laugh!

Soccer Camp

This week Dylan is in a soccer camp. We tried this camp last summer and it was a bust. He cried and wouldn't go out on the field. But, all through out the school year he talked about playing soccer. He played it at school with his friends and fell in love with it. So, here we are again! And luckily, he LOVES it! He gets out there and plays. Listens to directions. And interacts with the other kids! Today was crazy hat day, so he wore his Pluto hat. It was very windy, so he didn't wear it too much.
Sitting with all of the kids listening to the directions. I still feel like Dylan isn't old enough to be out there, on his own and doing things without me. But, he is.

I also feel like I am not quite ready to be a "soccer mom". To be taking a folding chair and my baby girl to the sidelines to watch Dylan play soccer just feels weird! I am used to being on the sideline watching one of my cousins play, not my own child! But, it is an exciting time and a new chapter in our parenting lives!!

And this makes me smile! Dylan and a new friend sitting there talking while everyone else is with the coaches! So happy that he is making friends and talking to kids!

Oh Dylan Man, I am ready for this time in our lives! I can't wait to cheer you on from the sidelines this fall in soccer!!

summer days

I hope I always remember...
this little lady walking around the back yard as happy as can be these two BFFs taking a break from the sprinkler

these two buddies screaming in delight while playing in the sprinkler

a brother who LOVES to love on his sister

four friends making summer memories

my baby girl squatting to write with sidewalk chalk
this little guy drawing his own golf courses with sidewalk chalk

these two sharing chalk and playing together

her excitement every time she is on the slidea little lady that wants NOTHING to do with a baby swing and just wants big swing like her brother

What a great start to our summer and what sweet, sweet memories we are making. I never want to forget all these small moments that mean so much.