Super Hero Zayden's 5th Birthday Party

We woke up to a misty, raining morning but it was not enough to stop a party at a pavillion at a local playground.  We took Baylor there many years ago and while we talk about taking him, it is a bit of a drive to just play.  But it is an awesome park.  Baylor went right out and showed me his moves which have greatly improved since starting at COF and kindergarten.  

Baylor knew a few of the kids there from COF and Cayden is one of his good buddies who he talks about often.  Baylor was glad to see him there and they went off together.  

He climbed up from the bottom to the tire openings.  

When the food was ready I took a few photos of the park.  I hope next time Lucas is here we can make it to the park because it would be a lot of fun for the kids.   

Being a superhero party they needed villains.  Today they had balloons to play the part.  The kids used silly string guns to destroy the villains, or at least laid down to the ground. 

Baylor had to be coerced to try it and ended up loving it. 

The next game was punching down a 'brick' wall which turned out to be a huge hit.  I helped put out the wall about a million times but since the kids loved it so much I did not mind.  They had green Hulk hands to punch down the wall but they were optional.  Little Zayden was first of course and knocked away with his huge green fists.  

The bricks were boxes wrapped in brown paper and they worked great as a wall for the kids of all ages to knock down.  

Ryan in the blue also liked to rush in and knock it down for the kids which was a bit of a bummer.  I think he was bored and his mom was having a hard time stopping him at first.  

I walked past the balloons and they were truly defeated.  

Every kid was able to make their own cape.   

His superhero face.  

Baylor took several more turns on the wall and started playing jenga with the blocks. It was a fun Superhero party and we had a good time!    

Cookie Cutter Collection

I will call it a collections but it is definitely bordering on something else.  This little tin has all my mini cutters.  

I spread them all out to see what I have and I think there are only a few duplicates but a few extra pumpkins are not too bad.  

But the large cutters are in the attic in bags sorted by holiday or theme. Yes, that is six large bags and a bucket and that was what I could find and quickly gather together. I am sure there are a few small bags up there as well.  

And I have been using them to make fun shapes for his lunches.  I love looking at bento style lunches but I don't think I am up to that and I am not sure Baylor would even eat some of that.  So I keep it simple: cut bologna or ham, cut cheese and every now and then a puzzle sandwich. 

 

But I also get to use them to make things like crab cookies I gave to a local crab shack in trade for some bushel baskets I can use for the Halloween festival.  The guys at the crab shack loved them and I got my baskets for free!  

Whoopie Pie Festival 2014

Baylor and I took a few selfies in the morning.  

Once we were done posing we headed to Lancaster for the Whoopie Pie Festival.  We had invited the Fletchers to join us this year.  They work in the theater right next to the place that holds the Festival so they walked over after Stacey got off at work at 2. Baylor and only waited a few minutes until they came by.  Baylor loved playing on the rocks of course while we waited.  

And the hitching post.  

And the giant Amish man. 

We got Ian and Baylor to sit in the buggy.  

Ian was not really fond of the Amish man so Marshall tried to get him to smell the man's feet.  It was not working!  

All Baylor wanted to do was get to the pirate ship and the bounce houses.  I could barely keep him in the whoopie pie house to buy a few to take home.  The boys had fun in the pirate ship and Baylor did the pole from the top deck to the ground for the first time ever.  There was a flat fee for both the bounce and slides and they did enjoy them a lot. But what little boy does not enjoy them!

Baylor would have loved to have tasted the giant whoopie pie but he was able to restrain himself somehow.  

Not long after the giant pie, the thunder started so we headed up to the craft vendors to get my annual metal garden art.  I really wanted a three star item but Baylor picked at flower. Hopefully next year I can get my star.  

Once that purchase was done, we hot footed it to the car.  The boys hunkered down in the wagon and covered up with the bumpershoot.  Well, we are in PA Dutch country after all.  Once they dropped us off at our car and headed up the hill to theirs the rain started making down something fierce.  (more PA Dutch talk).  We drove to Grandma's for a quick visit and headed home.  

It was a beautiful sky after the rain blew through.  It was hard to capture on film though.

 

Labor Day In E. Waterford

The family made a visit to Pap and Meme's for Labor Day.  With Baylor in school now and Gloria working weekends, she will not be able to run up to her parents during the week and spend the night like they have in the past.  So we had a nice family lunch with them and spent the afternoon playing at their place.  Pap took Baylor out on the motorcycle, thankfully Baylor had his bicycle helmet.  He had a grin on his face the entire time!  So did Pap I believe.  

Eddy came with us because she loves her Pap also.  I played with the editing on my phone while talking with Meme and showing her the photos I printed for her. 

And Baylor learned to climb the door jams!  He has never tried it before but I guess the idea popped in his head and up he went!  

After a brief shower, we went out and filled the bird feeders.  We checked out the kittens in the neighbor's yard first.  There we three little guys hiding in the weeds. 

After the feeders were full, he sprinkled the rest of the bird seed around the shrubs.

Pap fixed my floppy mud flap and Baylor wanted me to take his photo on the motorcycle.  I think he really loves riding it, just like I did at this age when my dad had one! Only we went out in the NV dessert.  

All too soon it was time to say good bye.  I am glad we were able to go as a family to spend time with them.  They certainly do a lot for my family!  

Before and After: Dry Erase Calendar

Well, I did not do any of the before photos of the old frame I got from work, the new piece of poster board, and the large pile of paint chips from Home Depot, but you get the idea from the after.  Here is a before of the wall before I hung the frame.  

With Baylor in school and having to remember so many things now I wanted to make something big enough to get our attention and where we could change it when we needed to.  The frame was an old one that was being thrown away at work.  Being the hoarder I am, I took it home even though the one corner looks a bit banged up like frame was dropped on it.  But it was holding together fine and was perfect for this project. 

  

All I spent on it was $1.00 for the poster board and $1.98 for new fine tip dry erase markers, it was a good deal!  Now we just need to remember to use it!