Alex is 5!

Today was Alex's birthday. I think he had a great day! He woke up to his door decorated with streamers and happy birthday singing. I think he forgot today was the day and was a bit perplexed about all the commotion, maybe he was still half asleep. He soon found out there was a snow day and no school. Therefore, mommy could stay home. But, I had planned ahead and brought home a lot of paperwork to work on at home, so Theresa was still on here way after rush hour. We were able to have breakfast together. His request was blueberry pancakes with a side of fresh blueberries, bananas for Luke. He opened a couple presents as I made breakfast. When Theresa arrived they played with the new games and went outside to play. For lunch he got one of his favorite meals, mac and cheese made by Theresa. I had to ask her how she made it because they decided they didn't like mine as much. I now know the secret. Daddy took a half day off, so after rest time, he could build and play lego mine trucks with him until Luke woke up. We went out to eat for dinner and saw Kris' aunt and his brother at the restaurant. I guess everyone eats there on a Wednesday night. We then went home to eat cake and ice cream and open the last of the presents. Bath time and stories and off to bed. A great day for a five year old birthday!

For his real birthday he wanted a chocolate cake. This one is also wheat and sugar free. It was made with coconut flour, bananas, peanut butter, butter, honey and cocoa. The frosting is peanut butter, cocoa and maple syrup. It was also deemed yummy. I think they are getting use to not having overly sugary things or appreciating the lack of stomach ache after you eat it.

Alex 5th Birthday Party

Grandma Porter came early to give him this shirt to wear at his Daniel Tiger party.  It's been the favorite show for a few months now.  I think it is really well written.  If you have preschool age kids I highly recommend it. 

My attempt of Daniel tiger.  The proportions are not quite right and according to Alex the colors aren't either.  Well to make it a further challenge I made it wheat free and cane sugar free too.  Alex wanted a carrot cake, so it was made with spelt flour and sweetened with coconut palm sugar, the icing was cream cheese but sweetened with maple sugar, which gave it that color and gives it a butterscotchy flavor.  I did give it a test run last week to make sure that he was not going to be disappointed.  His response "Hmm, this tastes different, good though"  "So, you want this for your birthday cake?" "Yes!"  So, it was made again and now he wants me to make it again for his real birthday.  We may have a snow day that day so it could happen.  I better get some carrots tomorrow though. 

Getting excited for people to start coming to the party.

So, I'm not sure who is more excited about legos.  Luckily for Kris Alex is pretty into Legos too.  They both built for at least three hours that day. 

Yearly birthday boy with mom picture.  I did not intend matching, Grandma gave him the shirt upon arrival to the party.  I wasn't going to change, so we were twins. 

So excited to be the birthday boy!

Loving the singing to him

Picture collage a made for a milestone birthday.  5 is a milestone right?  I think so, no longer a toddler, marks the beginning for starting elementary school soon.  I didn't feel old when I turned 30 or 31, but I feel old having a five year old, so it must be some sort of milestone, at least for me. 

Theresa could not go to the party, but she came over after work to give Alex his presents and be part of the end of the party.  Better yet she did the bedtime stories.  A great ending to a good day. 

Just a Saturday

We usually spend a little more time on making breakfast on the weekends. This morning we had "oatmeal bar". The kids put on their own ingredients that they wanted.

Luke wanted to play with the sidewalk chalk.  So, we made due and did sidewalk chalk inside.  We have been thinking about putting down hard wood flooring in the kitchen, but that would require a lifestyle change.  It's nice to have durable, easy to clean flooring for all the messy activities that we do.  There would be an end to it all with hard wood flooring and I'm not sure if ready for that....

The kids have had a new interest in letters.  Both of them at the same time, which I guess worked nicely.  Alex has been apposed to anything letters for a long time, it's nice to see him enjoy letter activities.  Luke can already identify all his letter and numbers and count to ten with one to one correspondence.  He does pretty good with these preschool workbook pages too.  Is he really still 2?  We just had a conversation today in the car.  "I just saw a purple house.(laughing)"  Me: "Really that's a silly color to paint a house".  Luke:  "Yah, it's the same color as my fort." (I let it go a bit, knowing his fort is green, then corrected him.)  "Luke your fort is green."  Luke, " No, mommy the inside of my fort.  The inside of my fort is purple (sounding like duh mom)."  I laughed to myself, realizing I'm not in it very often and would not remember that and thinking that was pretty good he could correct me on that in such an adult way. 

These cards are great!  Alex is putting the puzzle side in order and Luke it tracing the letters on the other side with his finger.  The letters are bumpy to give some more tactile interest in tracing them.  The kids really enjoy using them to learn letters.  Today Alex hung them all on a make shift clothesline with clothespins. (Yes, his mother is a peds OT, couldn't tell could you.)

 We went on a winter walk to get some exercise after sitting around all week, since the boys were feeling better.  We only stayed out for twenty minutes or so, they still fatigue pretty quick.

                              And now two tired out boys...

So sick...

We were hit with the flu last week.  Four days of high fever, aches, chills, night sweats, runny nose, coughing, etc.  Alex missed a whole week of school and is still napping (ten days later).  If Alex naps you know he is worn out.  The boys and Kris got, but I did not.  ( I like to think due to my new healthy diet.)  Knock on wood, not a sickness this whole winter for me!  I got a lot of cuddle time in with the boys, who typically do not stop long enough to get a hug in.  We spent most of last weekend laying on the couch.  Hopefully we stay well for the upcoming birthday!

Five Years for the Blog

I just happened to notice five years ago today, I posted my first post on this blog.  It was fun looking back on those first month or two of posts.  Hard to believe that was five years ago and what did I do with my time back then? 

Class Valentines

The newest favorite show in the house is Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. Since it's a new show there is nothing out there with the characters on it. Nothing. I found this (I think the only option) on Etsy. So, we got crafty and made our own this year. I think they came out really nicely. Even though Alex was feeling under the weather today he helped me make nearly all 40. Yes, 40. For whatever reason they have two valentine's day parties and if you go both days you have to bring enough for the two classes at his school. For each day, you are allowed to bring one guest. So, I'm going Thursday and Kris is going Friday. Alex is lucky to have parents with flexible work schedules.