Ten for Tuesday Birthday Edition

***WARNING*** Long post!

1. This picture pretty much sums up our week. We're all exhausted! Last night Ty fell asleep on the floor in my bedroom while I was getting Blake dressed for bed. He stayed there for a good 45 minutes while I put the other boys to bed, and then I carried him off to bed. If only he would just sleep in a bit, he might not be quite so tired every night.

2. Michael's birthday was on Wednesday. I can't believe he is 5 years old! He has been waiting to be 5 for a very long time! He sure is a smart kid. I love all of the clever things he thinks up. He is creative and athletic, and he is a good helper. Michael got a bike for his birthday, and he was so excited! We took a chance and bought one without training wheels. I was so impressed with how quickly he learned to ride it. After a couple of pushes from Dad he was on his way! The bike is a little big for him, so he has a hard time getting started by himself, but he'll figure that out soon enough. He has been begging to go outside and ride it all week. He also got some fun gifts from visitors and a birthday card in the mail. Very exciting to a 5-year-old.
3. Ty's birthday was on Sunday. He was eagerly awaiting this day, and he can show you on his fingers how old he is now, although secretly he thinks he is 5 just like Michael! Ty is spunky and sweet and adventuresome. He gives really good kisses and hugs if you can coax him into it. He thinks the world revolves around being funny and tough. He is in the "I can do it myself" phase which is fun (most of the time). Having his birthday at the end of this crazy week was a bit tough because he was sooo tired. He actually fell asleep that afternoon a few minutes before we were going to open presents, and then we had to wait awhile until he was in a party mood to open presents and have dinner. Ty also got a bike for his birthday, and he also learned to ride it quickly. Pushing the pedals was a hard concept to understand, but just a couple of days later and he is zooming up and down the sidewalks. I have a feeling he'll be needing that bike helmet (which Michael is majorly jealous of because it has spiders on it). Thank you to all the visitors and card senders!

Side note about Ty this week: One day he refused to put on his diaper and told me he was going to wear underwear. I told him he couldn't wear underwear until he could learn to poop on the toilet instead of in his underwear, so he walked over to the toilet, pooped and said "Put my underwear on please!" What a stinker! He's been wearing underwear and Pull ups all week, and it's going better than before, so hopefully we're on the right track.

4. Now this was the day we were all waiting for. We threw a birthday party for Michael and Ty with all of their friends on Saturday. I don't believe in having a bazillion kids at your birthday party, but I just couldn't bear to leave anyone out, and really, what's one or two more kids, right?! The boys were able to invite all of their little neighborhood friends, and they had a blast---not to mention the fact that they got completely spoiled rotten with gifts to open! We built a little obstacle course in the backyard, and last minute decided it was warm enough to break out the pool and sprinkler. Hands down, the most exciting part of the afternoon for the kids was throwing water balloons and spraying each other with the hose. We also had a treasure box pinata and cupcakes for the kids to decorate. Honestly, it was and hour and a half of pure madness, but I think everyone had a great time. My neighbor Jessica came and took pictures for me. I think they turned out great! If you want her to take pictures of your kids, check out her website romabeephotography.blogspot.com. Thanks Jess! And thank you friends for sending all of the fun presents! The boys are so lucky to have great friends to play with.
5. Wow. Another big day. Can you tell why we're all tired? Michael had his preschool graduation. On to Kindergarten now. I can't believe it! Michael had a really great time at preschool this year. He loved everything about going to school. He loved carpooling with his friends Anna and Ben, and making new friends in class. He loved choosing something from the treasure box when he practiced writing his name. He loved playing with "those k'nex and lego things." He loved all of the fun field trips. They went to the fire station, the post office, grocery store, pumpkin patch and a small farm. Miss Leslie was a great teacher and really inspired the kids to explore the world around them. Michael was so excited to go out and catch bugs in his bug catcher, make cinnamon sugar and butter, dress up like pirates, and more. One of my favorite things she taught him is the saying, "You get what you get, and you don't throw a fit!" I think I will miss preschool just as much as Michael does. What are we going to do all summer?! Michael's graduation program was a hoot! Michael definitely won the silliness award. He and his two buddies on the front row were goofing off the entire time, but at least he sang a little bit, and he had his eyes open, so that's an improvement over the last program I went to. He was so proud of himself for memorizing his part to say into the microphone. I was a little surprised he was able to recite it back easily to me after only a few minutes of practicing. He got a bit stage shy when it was his turn, but I was proud of him anyway! He doesn't seem like quite such a little boy anymore.
6. This week Reed's sister Krysta and her husband Adam and daughter Natalie picked up and moved to Baltimore. We're excited for them. It's a great career opportunity and fun adventure on the East coast, but we're going to miss them so much! Good luck you guys!

7. I turned in all of our quilts to the stake on Saturday! Wahoo! What a feeling of freedom to have that project completed. A friend of mine told me about her friend's bishop who heard about a need for quilts and volunteered their ward to complete 100 quilts. I am so glad that man is not my bishop. 100 quilts! That, my friends, would have completely sent me over the edge!

8. Is it possible that my baby is allergic to me? Sometimes I swear Blake is just irritated by my very presence. He was kicking and screaming his guts out at me in the middle of the night last night. Reed came in to take him and give me a break, and Blake went to sleep shortly after. Aaargh! On the up side, he is generally sleeping much better than he was a month or two ago. He is diligently trying to learn how to walk and can take 6 or 7 by himself now.

9. LOST is over for another season. What an awesome finale! I don't know how I can wait until the next season starts. Luckily I have So You Think You Can Dance to console me!

10. Yesterday one of my friends told me that I am so "easy going." She obviously doesn't know me very well! Especially lately, I have felt like a stress case. I've been so busy lately, and I feel a bit frazzled. Monday was so great because I had nowhere to be the entire day! Things are going to slow down here for me soon, and hopefully I can get caught up on a few things that have been neglected lately. Sorry to all of my blogging friends. I've been trying to read your blogs, but by the time I get to it, it feels a bit late to comment. I'll catch up soon. I promise!