Halloween Costumes 2014

Over the summer, Leland finally decided to watch something other than Chuggington. One movie held his interest and got him to the point where we could sit and enjoy a movie as a family.

Monsters Inc.

In late summer, since he was still very much into it, I decided that he and Alden would dress up as Mike and Sulley for Halloween. If you remember from Leland's first Halloween, I do enjoy themed costumes.

When they first got their costumes, Leland wanted nothing to do with his, and I was a bit worried. But we tried them over the weekend for a photo shoot and Leland didn't want to take it off. He even cooperated for pictures! I am definitely relieved that, from the looks of it, he won't have a problem wearing it for trick-or-treating.

Alden doesn't mind wearing his costume, except for the hat. He kept taking it off and throwing it on the ground. Perhaps we'll leave it home on Halloween.

I ordered their costumes a long time ago and I made sure to order larger sizes (Leland's is 3-4T, and Alden's is 18 months), but they are still a bit on the small side. Leland's doesn't velcro all the way in the back, and Alden's sleeves are super short. Oh well. I guess I've learned my lesson: order two sizes up.

It was nearly impossible to get a picture of them together. Having a mobile one year old is overrated. I didn't get any with both of them looking - this is the best it got.

Please pray that the forecast is wrong and that it WILL NOT snow on Halloween. That would sure put a damper on my day.

Dave and I won't be dressing up this year. Someday I hope to be that mom that dresses up with her kids, but I just couldn't get it together this year (nor could I justify the cost of another costume). Perhaps I should start planning for next year. Theme suggestions welcome.

Pumpkin Painting

Growing up, I always loved decorating pumpkins. In my house, we always carved pumpkins, but since my boys are still a little too young for that, we decided to paint pumpkins instead.

One Alden's birthday, we picked out our pumpkins. Leland picked a small white one for Alden, and a teeny, tiny gourd for himself. He swore he didn't want a bigger one. So I grabbed him a regular-sized pumpkin that would be better for painting when I chose mine.

Both boys had fun painting, and I joined in the fun as well.

Alden's painting...

Leland's painting...

Dave decided to watch instead of participate - surprise, surprise! So here are our three painted pumpkins.

Alden's actually looks like it has a little smiley face on it.

Swim Lessons

Living in a state that is surrounded by water on three sides has its benefits. Like so many fresh, clean beaches for swimming. I happen to live in a "beachy" town right on Lake Michigan, with lots of smaller inland lakes as well, and I like to take full advantage of that in the summer.

I was fortunate to have my wonderful Grandma Josie teach me to swim when I was growing up. I never had formal lessons, but she taught me what I needed to know, and I'm a pretty strong swimmer. I love swimming and so far, my boys love it too, so it's important to me that they know how to swim.

There are several different places/teachers to choose from in our area for swim lessons. One of them is the Great Wolf Lodge. If you don't know, the GWL is a hotel with an indoor water park (sort of like the one we went to in Boyne City). They offer swim lessons for various levels. I have wanted to sign Leland up for swimming lessons for a while, but my work schedule makes it difficult. They only do them during the school year, and they start at 5:00. Since I get out of work at 4:30, it has always seemed pretty impossible to do it. There was no way I could get Leland picked up, changed, fed, and across town in under 30 minutes. But when I mentioned this to our school's new superintendent, she said I could leave a little early on those days and it wouldn't be a problem.

So I signed him up and we started this week. I pick up the kids from daycare, and Julie has Leland all ready in his swim diaper and swim suit (or swim "soup" as Leland calls it). Dave meets us at GWL to take Alden home, and then Leland and I go in for some splash park fun.

He's in the "water exploration" class, so it's not exactly lessons yet. They work on getting their faces in the water, laying on their back and tummy, and just feeling comfortable in the water. That's not exactly an issue for Leland. The kid is fearless in the water - he's a regular fish. He doesn't love being on his back in the water, but he will do it.

The coolest thing about swim lessons at GWL, though, is that after the lesson, we can use the water park as much as we want. I'm not gonna lie - part of me signed him up just so we could play.

The first day, he made it through about half the lesson, and then he just wanted to go play. He loved the slides, and even stood under the big bucket once! (There's a big bucket that dumps 1,000 gallons of water every five minutes. I was pretty impressed that he wanted to do it.) Today was the second day, and he actually did the whole lesson!

Leaving the water park is a little difficult, and it's hard to figure out dinner and baths when Leland and I get home late, but the tantrums and difficulties are worth it because it's such a fun thing for us to do. I love this time with just me and Leland, and I know he does too. Actually, I found out tonight that Alden can come too (both parents are allowed to come, and since Alden is so young, he can get into the water park for free), so he may join us sometime too. Either way, it's a pretty awesome deal and lots of fun. Leland is very much enjoying our visits to the "splash park." I will be sad when it's over.

Alden's Birthday Party

Saturday was Alden's birthday party. I decided to go with the elephant theme that we did for Alden's bedroom, scrapbook, etc. I actually had a difficult time with that theme though. Pinterest wasn't much help, surprisingly. But, in the end, I think it all came together.

My friend's mom made the cake and Alden's smash cake. They turned out so cute. And yummy!

I made the elephant-shaped candies (found a mold on Etsy) and some gluten-free cupcakes for my friends and family who are GF. 

I made these elephant cut-outs to display Alden's monthly photos and I brought his baby book to display as well.

For the favors, I was hoping to do something related to elephants, but it was difficult. Eventually, I decided that kids don't care if things go with the theme. So I gave them an applesauce pouch, fruit strip, playdough, stickers, and an elephant candy. 

A little note: I actually planned to give them temporary tattoos, not stickers. I ordered some online three weeks ago and they STILL haven't arrived. So they got some of my teacher stickers instead. And I guess I'll be giving my students tattoos for Halloween if they ever do show up.)

We enjoyed BBQ pulled pork sandwiches, baked beans, salad, chips and dip, apples with peanut butter dip, and vanilla wafers with pumpkin dip. Sometimes I forget that these foods aren't necessarily "kid-friendly." My kids like these foods, but other kids might not. I don't think anyone went away hungry though, so it's all good.

Alden wasn't into the cake at first. I don't think he was feeling all that great, plus he had just eaten lunch.

Leland was ready to help.

But he eventually got into it.

We opened presents and visited a little and that was pretty much it. I planned for it to be two hours. It seems that with young kids, that's just enough time to have fun before they start going crazy.

Four generations

I think the party came along quite nicely, despite having a difficult time getting it together in my head. We all filled our tummies, had fun, and celebrated my littlest blessing. Couldn't ask for anything more.

Happy Birthday, little man. We love you bunches!

A Day Off to Be a Mom

For Alden's birthday, Dave and I both took the day off work to celebrate and spend the day with him at home. We planned a party for him on Saturday, but since Friday was his actual birthday, we wanted to have a small celebration at home.

We mostly just hung around the house and played. Alden opened his presents, with a little help from Leland.

Leland loved the books. Alden loved the wrapping paper.

They both had fun with the basketball hoop. Leland, however, is having a hard time understanding that, while Alden is happy to share, these are not Leland's toys. He keeps saying everything is his. Tough concept for a nearly three year old who has always been the one getting gifts until now.

But we did go get pumpkins (even though we had been to two pumpkin patches, we're too cheap to buy them there, so we got them at a farm market near my school).

We picked up some cupcakes and a pizza and enjoyed a mini birthday party at home.

Alden had a carrot cake cupcake.

Leland enjoyed chocolate.

I was so excited to have the day off to be a mom and celebrate Alden's first year. And when Dave decided the night before that he would take the day off too, I was beyond thrilled. We had a lovely day together. My heart is happiest when I'm with my little family.

One Year

Note: It's probably a good thing that we're done with these monthly photos, because, MAN, this kid cannot sit still. These pictures were so hard to get and they're not even that good. Ha ha.

Dear Alden,

Sweet baby, you are twelve months old! A whole year has passed since you first blessed us with your presence. It has been the best, and fastest, year of my life.

Alden Walker, you are such a joy in our lives. You are gentle, curious, happy, affectionate, sometimes whiny, and always adorable.

In the last month, your sleep has really improved. Most nights, you only get up twice – once between 11:00 and 12:00, and once between 3:00 and 4:30. I am so happy that we are finally getting a little sleep.

You are not a picky eater at all. I don’t think there’s a single food you’ve tried that you haven’t loved. Many nights, you eat more than I do for dinner. You still nurse a few times at night, and during the day when we’re home. At daycare, you drink two bottles. We haven’t started you on any other kind of milk yet, and I’m not really sure when we will. You still take your iron supplement daily, and we will find out at your check up how your iron levels are doing now.

We don’t have your 12 month check up until next week, so I’m not sure about your weight and height. But you wear mostly 12-18 month clothes and still size 4 diapers (size 5 at night). And you’re in size 4 shoes, but will probably be ready for size 5 soon. You have eight teeth.

As far as milestones go, you walk like a pro, but have yet to say any words. You babble a lot, but no intentional words come out. Your babbles are the sweetest ever though.

You love to play with trains, trucks, balls, and planes. You even make fun sounds when you play with any “things that go.”

We are having your birthday party tomorrow, and I am looking forward to celebrating your first year. Precious baby, you are such a beautiful light in our lives. I adore you more than words could ever express, and I am so blessed to be your mama.

I love to the moon and back. Happy Birthday, baby boy.

Love, Mama