Warning: this is so long, I really don't expect anyone to read it!
I know it's been a really long time since I last blogged. Our summer has been fun - we spend the first 3 days of the week with Jen's kids here, my sweet little half dozen. I take my gaggle to the library, to different parks, and we slip and slide most days. The boys have to do their math while Tyler does his writing, and we all have reading time so we can get those prizes at the library. Tyler and Sam always end up on Tyler's bed reading together, Ben finds some quiet spot, and I read to the girls. Ben and Sam really help out - Sam buckles up Emmy whenever we go anywhere and Ben's in charge when I jump in the shower.
We made it through our first session of swimming lessons and I couldn't have been prouder of my two little fish. Tyler did great this year, and every day I spent watching him thinking, "His first year of swimming I'm sure he cried 17 out of the 20 days" and now he's doing great. I wouldn't throw him in the deep end yet, but there is definite hope that he will learn to swim - so that's a victory for us.
Anyways, none of that has to do with the Birthday Monster - Tyler was so funny about his birthday that I just had to write some of it down. For the past 2 months he has been talking about his birthday - whenever we're at the store it was, "Can I have that for my birthday?" For a while it was fine, but as the big day got closer it was approaching out of controls levels. First he would tell everyone he laid eyes on that his birthday was Saturday - the librarian, the Winco clerk, the next door neighbors - you name them, he told them. He told everyone! Then he would say things like this: A week before his birthday I bumped into him and I said, "sorry Tyler" and he responded with, "Could you say, 'sorry birthday boy'"? Have you ever heard of such a thing!? I mean, we are out of control when you say things like that! It wasn't even his birthday yet!
In our family we always go out to eat for breakfast on birthdays, we've always gone to Cracker Barrel but Tyler picked IHOP for his big day - think funny face pancake and you'll know why. So of course off we go to IHOP and he tells the hostess it's his birthday (of course) and after breakfast they bring him a sundae - perfect at 9:00 a.m. eh?
Then he has his birthday party at our house. This was our first friend birthday we've ever had - and let me tell you - those things are a lot of work! First you have to come up with a theme, which was hard for us - he wanted a Star Wars cake, pirate plates, and robot invitations. What?! We finally agreed on Star Wars for the whole thing, then we had to agree on the guest list. Then you have to plan all these games to keep these kids busy! We played Duck Duck Goose Star Wars style - Luke Skywalker, Luke Skywalker, Darth Vadar, we played Pin the Light Saber on Darth Vador, we did a pinata, a tag game, and had pizza, R2D2 cake, and ice cream for lunch. The most amazing thing was that I invited 9 boys - and all 9 came! I couldn't get that turnout any other day of the year - let alone a Saturday in the summer! I was shocked that all the boys came. I think they had a great time - it was a whirlwind 2 hours for me though! Tyler had a really good time and loved that eveyone there knew it was his birthday!
After that we ran to his last baseball game, where, luckily for him, they sang to him again! It was his last game so treats and trophies made it great.
I'm happy to have the birthday over with - he loved it a hair too much for me. But after all, you only turn 6 once!
