Happy 7th Birthday, Daniel!

Today, Daniel turns seven! He continues to be loud, silly, and active from sun up to sun down. He loves to be outside and play with any ball that he can find. Many days (especially with us all home over the summer) I wish I could extinguish the fire that burns inside of him JUST A LITTLE but I haven't found a way yet :)

He picked out his own cake at the store yesterday. It tasted as amazing as it looks!

Each year, I ask my kids the same questions on their birthdays - We love to see how the answers change and stay the same. Here are his answers this year:

Daniel's 7th Birthday - 7/31/17

Favorite Color: Orange

Favorite Show: Dude Perfect on YouTube

Favorite Thing to Do Inside: Play with fidget spinners

Favorite Thing to Do Outside: Play frisbee

Favorite Snack: Cheddar Chex Mix

Favorite Meal: Tacos

Favorite Thing to Do with Dadda: Go fishing

Favorite Thing to Do with Mamma: Bake

Favorite Thing to Do as a Family: Go camping

When I Grow Up I Want to be: A baker

If I had lots of money: I would buy a Nintendo 3DS

Have some time to kill and want to spend your day paying homage to D? You can check out his birth story HERE, see his first year in pictures HERE, see his 4 year old answers HERE, his 5 year old answers HERE, and his 6 year old answers HERE.

Happy 8th Birthday, Henry!

Happy 8th Birthday to our always kind and sweet, Henry!

Today he spent the day with my husband, Tim, at Build A Bear Workshop creating "Smokey Paw" thanks to a gift card from Uncle Dan. They also picked up a Jurassic Park Lego set and went out for lunch. He had a great day and felt really special. He's rounding out his day now at piano lessons because life goes on even on your birthday!

Here are his answers to our yearly questions:

Henry's 8th Birthday - 12/27/2016

Favorite Color: Green

Favorite Show/Movie: American Ninja Warrior

Favorite Thing to do Inside: Color and draw comics

Favorite Thing to do Outside: Ride bikes

Favorite Snack: Pirate's Booty

Favorite Meal: Pancakes

Favorite Song: "Can't Stop the Feeling" by Justin Timberlake

Favorite Thing to do with Dadda: Go to Build A Bear

Favorite Thing to do with Mamma: Go to the beach

Favorite Thing to do as a Family: Go to a hotel

When I grow up I want to be: an actor in commercials

If I had lots of money, I would: buy a mansion and a limo.

Looking for more Henry? Check out his answers when he was seven HERE, six HERE, and five HERE. You can also check out his birth story HERE.

Happy 9th Birthday, Isabelle!

Today's the big day - Isabelle is NINE! Crazy town.

In lieu of a birthday party, she and I celebrated a special day just us last Saturday. We started at the American Girl store in Natick which she had never been to. We then walked through the mall going in every store that she wanted to. We followed that up by going out to dinner. It was a really great day to share with her. She also picked out a couple of new things at the American Girl store that she LOVES for her doll Kit.

 

 

 

Each year I ask the kids the same questions on their birthday. We love to see how their answers change (or stay the same!) each year. These are Isabelle's 9 year old answers...

Isabelle's 9th Birthday - 10/27/16

Favorite Color: Pink

Favorite Show: Sabrina the Teenage Witch

Favorite Thing to do Inside: Play with Kit, Piggy Poo-Poo, and Mr. Cow

Favorite Thing to do Outside: Go on the flip bar

Favorite Snack: Chocolate Teddy Grahams and Cheez Its

Favorite Meal: Pizza

Favorite Song: Shake It Off (Taylor Swift) and What Do You Mean? (Justin Bieber)

Favorite Thing to do with Dadda: Make the garden

Favorite Thing to do with Mamma: Go to the American Girl doll store

Favorite Thing to do as a Family: Go to Friendly's

When I Grow Up I Want to be a: Baker and a Teacher

If I Had Lots of Money: I'd buy a house for Kit, Piggy Poo-Poo, and Mr. Cow that I could go in, too.

*Note: Kit is her American Girl doll. Piggy Poo-Poo and Mr. Cow are stuffed animals that go everywhere with us :)

Want to check out her answers from years past? Here's when she turned EIGHT, SEVEN, and SIX. When she turned FIVE I put up pictures through the years. Oh, my baby!! It really does go by so fast.

Happy 6th Birthday, Daniel!

D turned the big SIX on Sunday! We gave him the option of a party or a trip to Great Wolf Lodge and there was never any real doubt over which he would choose. We had such a fun trip. The last time we went was 2 years ago so Daniel was still pretty young and not able to swim yet. Now that the kids are 8, 7, and 6 they can all swim and were all big enough to go on all the slides. They had a BLAST on the slides - time of their lives!

Each year I ask the kids a list of questions on their birthdays since it's always fun to see how the answers change (or stay the same!). Here are D's answers this year:

Daniel's 6th Birthday - July 31, 2016

Favorite Color: Orange

Favorite Show: Sponge Bob

Favorite Thing To Do Inside: Play with the mini basketball hoop

Favorite Thing To Do Outside: Play football

Favorite Snack: Cat Cookies (from Trader Joe's)

Favorite Meal: Tacos

Favorite Song: Shut Up and Dance with Me

Favorite Thing To Do With Dadda: Go out for ice cream

Favorite Thing To Do With Mamma: Go bowling

Favorite Thing To Do As A Family: Go out for dinner

When I Grow Up I Want To Be: A baker

If I Had Lots Of Money: I'd buy a pool

Want more D? You can check out his answers from when he turned five HERE, four HERE, three HERE, his first year in pictures HERE, and his birth story HERE!

Happy 7th Birthday, Henry!

Today's the big day - Henry turns seven! He's still as sweet, clueless, and loveable as can be!

Henry and "Teddy" - The #1 item on his Christmas list.

Henry's 7th Birthday - 12/27/2015

Favorite Color: Green

Favorite Show/Movie: Jumanji

Favorite Thing To Do Inside: Play with superheroes and "Teddy"

Favorite Thing To Do Outside: Play firemen

Favorite Snack: Pirate's Booty and Cheez-Its

Favorite Meal: Pancakes, Waffles, and French Toast

Favorite Song: "Stitches" and "Honey, I'm Good"

Favorite Thing To Do With Dadda: Play football

Favorite Thing To Do With Mamma: Go to the theatre

What I Want To Be When I Grow Up: A lifeguard

If I Had Lots of Money I Would: Buy a mansion, go to Great Wolf Lodge, Disney World, and Disney Land.

You can check out Henry's answers from last year HERE and from when he turned five HERE. And if you really feel like heading down Memory Lane, you can check out his birth story HERE.

Happy Birthday, Buddy! We love you!

Happy 8th Birthday, Isabelle!!

Today's the big day that Isabelle turns the big EIGHT!!  WOW!!! She had a great pizza, pajama party with her friends here at the house on Friday night. They made "friendship jars," played outside, played party games, and enjoyed pizza, cake, and ice cream while staying up "late" (8pm!). Such a fun night! 

Keeping with tradition, here are the questions I ask the kids each year on their birthdays...

Isabelle's 8th Birthday - 10/27/15

Favorite Color: Pink and Purple

Favorite Show: Spongebob and Barbie Life in the Dreamhouse

Favorite Thing to do Inside: Crafts and Color

Favorite Thing to do Outside: Go on the flip bar 

Favorite Snack: Baby Goldfish and Cheez Its

Favorite Meal: Pizza

Favorite Song: Timber 

Favorite Thing to do with Dadda: Plant seeds in the garden

Favorite Thing to do with Mamma: Go to the store with just Mamma

When I Grow Up I Want to be a: Teacher

If I had lots of money I would buy: A jumbo house with a swimming pool!

We loved checking out her answers from years past this morning and seeing how she's changed (and stayed the same!). You can find her answers from last year HERE and from when she turned six HERE.

Happy 5th Birthday, Daniel!

Today Daniel turns FIVE! He continues to be rambunctious, full of life, and loves to be active. He loves sports, going to the beach, and annoying his siblings.

D's favorite path at Borderland

Each year, I ask the kids the same questions on their birthdays. Now that they are getting older, they love looking back on their answers from the past.

Daniel's 5th Birthday

Favorite Color: Orange

Favorite Show: Chuck (The Adventures of Chuck and Friends)

Favorite Thing To Do Inside: Play with Henry and play checkers

Favorite Thing To Do Outside: Swing on swings, play Tire Ball (throwing a baseball through a tire), frisbee, and play football 

Favorite Snack: Cat Cookies (from Trader Joe's) with milk and muffins

Favorite Meal: Tacos

Favorite Song: This Land Is Your Land

Favorite Thing To Do With Dadda: Get ice cream

Favorite Thing To Do With Mamma: Go to the bike path

Favorite Thing To Do As A Family: Go to a hotel (This is a new question that Daniel wanted to add this year!)

When I Grow Up I Want To Be: A Baker and  Fireman

If I Had Lots of Money: I'd go to Launch (Trampoline Park)

Just can't get enough of Daniel? You can check out the story of his arrival HERE, his first year in pictures HERE, and his answers to last year's questions HERE.

Henry Turns SIX!

Today, our super sweet boy, Henry, turns six. He is kind, clueless, and oh, so loveable.

Oh, he's also a ham.

Henry's 6th Birthday - December 27, 2014

Favorite Color: Orange, Green, and Light Purple

Favorite Show: Ninja Turtles

Favorite Thing To Do Inside: Play with my Leap Frog video game and play superheroes with Daniel

Favorite Thing To Do Outside: Play games with my friend, Nicholas. Swing and ride my bike.

Favorite Snack: Pirate's Booty and cookies

Favorite Meal: Pasta

Favorite Song: Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer and Go Ninja Go (Ninja Turtles)

Favorite Thing To Do With Dadda: Go to the movies like when we saw Ninja Turtles

Favorite Thing To Do With Mamma: Play Monopoly

What I Want To Be When I Grow Up: An electrician, a scientist, and a fireman

If I Had Lots Of Money I Would Buy: More Ninja Turtles and another video game

Happy Birthday, Ninja Turtle Obsessed Buddy! We love you!

Want more Henry? Check out his birth story HERE and the answers to his 5 year old questions HERE.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Today is my 35th birthday. Although some people don't enjoy getting another year older, it honestly doesn't bother me - at least not yet. I am happy, healthy, have a wonderful family, and have fabulous friends. What's not to love about that?

I have already been extra blessed this year with friends throwing me not one but TWO surprise parties. Now in all honesty, I had my suspicions about both events. I am an anal planner and overly observant so I pick up on things. Either way, surprised or not, the events were amazing.

Party #1

Party #2

In addition to having two parties, I also received some thoughtful, yummy, practical, and buzz inducing presents. I really feel so lucky to have such truly incredible people in my life. The big 3-5 is already off to a great start. I can't wait to see what else it has in store!

Isabelle turns SEVEN!

 

Somehow in the blink of an eye, my first baby turns seven today. SEVEN! That's total, official big kid territory. It's pretty crazy!

We had an awesome, paint party (more to come on that later!) for Isabelle yesterday with her friends. She loved every minute of it. Tonight we'll celebrate with some family, pizza, and ice cream cake. Who could ask for anything more?

Continuing with tradition, here are the keepsake questions for this year.

Isabelle's 7th Birthday: October 27, 2014

Favorite Color: Pink

Favorite Show: Barbie Life in the Dreamhouse

Favorite Thing To Do Inside: Crafts and Art

Favorite Thing To Do Outside: Tricks on the rings and swim in a pool

Favorite Snack: Cookies, Cheez-Its, and Baby Goldfish

Favorite Meal: Tacos and Pizza

Favorite Song: Let It Go

Favroite Thing To Do With Dadda: Play Monopoly

Favorite Thing To Do With Mamma: Go to Great Wolf Lodge

When I Grow Up I Want To Be: A baker, a teacher, or a waitress

If I Had Lots Of Money I Would Buy: An American Girl Doll

We had fun checking out her answers from last year (which you can check out HERE!). I can't wait to keep seeing how the answers change as she gets older.

Happy Birthday, Isabelle. We love you so much!

Guess Who's 4!

Today, Daniel, my youngest, turns FOUR! He has always been full of energy, silliness, and often quite challenging! He loves to play ball, ride bikes, play with any kind of water, and he would spend his whole day outside if possible. As always, he is large and in charge!

Each year, I ask my children the same questions on their birthday. Now that D is the big four he got in on the action:

Favorite Color: Orange

Favorite Show: Peppa Pig

Favorite Thing To Do Inside: Matchbox Cars

Favorite Thing To Do Outside: Stomp Rockets and riding bikes

Favorite Snack: Strawberries and donuts

Favorite Meal: Tacos

Favorite Song: Twinkle, Twinkle and Let It Go

Favorite Thing To Do With Dadda: "Go outside while he mows the lawn"

Favorite Thing To Do With Mamma: "Go to the beach"

When I Grow Up I Want To Be: "A Dunkin Donut Man"

If I Had Lots Of Money I Would: "Go to Chuck E Cheez-Its"

Happy Birthday, to the little boy who will forever be my baby!

Happy Fifth Birthday, Henry!

 

Today my sweet as can be boy turns five years old. He's going to spend his day bouncing away with his friends at his Jump Trax birthday party! Five - Can you believe it?!

Keeping with the tradition I started a few months ago for Isabelle's birthday, here are the keepsake questions for Henry:

Henry's 5th Birthday: December 27, 2013

Favorite Color: Red

Favorite Show: Ninja Turtles

Favorite Thing to do Inside: Play with GI Joe's, superheroes, my pirate shark, and my stuffed Wolverine

Favorite Thing to do Outside: Run around in the backyard

Favorite Snack: Fruit Snacks and Pirate's Booty

Favorite Meal: Pizza, Pancakes, and French Toast

Favorite Song: "Afro Circus/I Like To Move It" from Madagascar 3

Favorite Thing to do with Dadda: Play dinosaurs

Favorite Thing to do with Mamma: Go to the library

What I Want to be When I Grow Up: A Scientist

If I Had Lots of Money I Would Buy: Legos

Want to take a trip down Memory Lane? Check out Henry's Birth Story HERE and one of my favorite Henry posts HERE.

Happy Sixth Birthday, Isabelle!

Today my craft-a-holic, clean-a-holic, amazing little girl turns six years old. On Friday night, we had a special girls night out with my cousin Janet where Isabelle got to pick out her own present and have dinner out. Today we had her party at a local bouncy house place with her friends. There were 21 kids hyped up on bouncing and cupcakes. Needless to say a good time was had by all!

If you need to find us, Isabelle will be at the dining room table for the rest of the day working on assorted craft projects that she got for presents. I'll be staring across the table at her wondering where my toddler went.

Also, I'm starting a new tradition of asking questions on each birthday as a keepsake to see how they change from year to year. I have them written down to go in her "special box" but figured I would share here as well.

Isabelle's 6th Birthday: October 27, 2013

Favorite Color: Pink, Purple, Yellow

Favorite Show: Sofia the First

Favorite Thing to do Inside: Crafts

Favorite Thing to do Outside: Ride bikes

Favorite Snack: Cookies

Favorite Meal: Cheese and Wheat Thins

Favorite Song: "Hello Song" from Music Class

Favorite Thing to do with Dadda: Yardwork

Favorite Thing to do with Mamma: Go out for dinner

What I Want to be when I Grow Up:  A Baker

If I Had Lots of Money I Would Buy: A Groovy Girl

An Early Birthday Party for Henry!

Henry was due in January but decided to arrive on December 27, 2008. I told him immediately that he would most likely always regret coming early. I feel like it's the worst timing with it being just two days after Christmas. The holiday itself is over and people are tired and partied out.

So each year I've been trying to make the day special for him and pretty much failing miserably. Actually, for his first birthday we didn't do anything. I figured since he was just one I could get away with it. Then on his second birthday, I decided I would have a party a couple of weeks after his birthday in January. I thought it would be great since the holiday rush would be over and people would be excited for something fun to do. What I hadn't counted on was the massive snowstorm we would receive that day and no one would be able to make it. So then last year for his third birthday I decided to do a small play date on his actual birthday. I have a few teacher friends (who would be on vacation) so I invited them over with their children for a low key but fun party. Although, I hadn't planned on more than half of them having children come down with the stomach bug and/or pneumonia.

So this year WAS IT - I was going to (yet again) try something else and I was going to rock it (or so I hoped!). So we had an early birthday party at Kidz Wurld this morning for Henry with his friends. I even let Isabelle play hooky from school today so that she could come, too. I am so happy to report that it was a total success. The morning was full of lots of friends, lots of bouncing, lots of toys, and lots of smiles. Henry was then excited to come home and open his presents and then promptly passed out on the couch. A great day!

I love the look on his face in this picture