A Pirate Party

Judah recently turned four years old!!! I love to throw parties for my kids, and this year
my little guy wanted "PIRATES". He also wanted a "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" -
"Batman" - "SpongeBob" - "Goldfish" - and a "Red" party, but I wasn't sure exactly how to
hone in on all of that. So "PIRATES"!!! I'm not Pinterest, son.

In fact, I promised myself NOT to get on Pinterest to plan his party.
Because panic attack. I just created the good old fashioned way, straight from my brain.

And can we all just pause and stare off into the distance together for a minute?
I have a FOUR and a FIVE year old. And an almost ONE year old. What is going on!?!?
I am so thankful for each of them. The adventures of a lifetime.

Especially thankful for my Judah, the birthday man, this month!!!
He brings such a WILD JOY to our family!!! His whole life is a celebration!!!



FLAG: Some old fabric from Hobby Lobby with a skull mask (yes, we literally just had
that lying around) puttied to the front. Tacked to the window frame and fabulous.

TABLE COVERING: $3 brown bag wrapping paper from Target.
We DIY-ed "PIRATE MAPS" as a family!



LABLES: Used a large hole punch and a lighter to make a burnt fringe to layer and label.
Stuck them on skewers and straight into limes.

WINDOW FLAGS: Old red and black cloth napkins from Target tied together.

Nathan made an incredible "Treasure Map" for Judah!!! It took him and his little buddies
on a hunt around the house and yard to find the buried treasure! He is STILL talking about this.





PIRATE GRANDPA: Free. And so fun!

PINATA: Target. Of course.




CAKE: I ended up finding a plain wooden "treasure chest" and "canoe" at Hobby Lobby for super cheap.
Painted and accessorized - I was pretty proud of the results ($3 total)! Found gold (chocolate) coins
and small pirate figurines at a party store. Coconut for ocean. Crushed graham crackers for sand.
HE LOVED IT!

PIRATE FLAGS: Found a great FREE print on Google images and resized it before printing.
Cut and pasted to toothpicks.





Such a fun day!!!
So thankful for all our family that came out to celebrate with us!!!
Happy Birthday, Judah!!! You. Argh. Loved.

Judah || My Lion Turns 3

You are wild and wonderful!!! My lion-hearted baby - roaring and marching to the beat of your
own drum since the day you were born. There are not enough words in the English language to tell you
how greatly I love you. I'm glad God chose you for me - and me for you. (birth story)

I didn't know how much I was going to enjoy having you and your brother, Zay, so close together, but
God knew. Best surprise of our lives (miracle story). You two are inseparable. Mistaken for twins by
the public eye multiple times a week - you are the peanut butter to Isaiah's jam - so it makes sense.
I pray you always have each other.

You are strong-willed, determined, friendly, out-going - making friends wherever you go - smiling all
the while. You have a knack for memorization, a magnet for disaster, and the cutest, little "man" voice
that makes me laugh. But when you reeeeeeally want something you use this tiny, manipulative, baby
voice that none of us can resist. You'd think it would get old. But no.

Your name means "PRAISED - FIERY ONE"... and I think it's fitting.

I can't believe you are THREE today. You still seem so "baby" to me. But you like to remind me on
a daily basis that you are NOT the baby - and that the REAL baby is inside my belly button. I'm glad
God gave us all this time with you as our "little one" - it is ALWAYS a JOY to be with you, learn
from you, watch you grow!!!

I love you so much.
Happy Birthday, J-baby XO

- momma

Uncensored: a real world moment

My husband just took the kids, God bless him, to Walgreens to make copies of
our recent ultrasound pictures. That means I have roughly 30 minutos to vent.

Me and my unshaved legs are sitting here wearing shorts that I have to use a rubber band
to keep shut, with two day old hair, and a stack of chocolate kisses and Starbursts that I may
or may not be shoving into my face. Sure hope my nutritionist isn't reading this.

This week has been rough.

It all started in the pediatric dentist's office. Everything was fine and dandy, high and happy
on silly gas, until that wore off and the reality of a numb cheek and tongue hit my three year old's
reality. Tears. For hours and hours. I broke down and bought everyone a round of "chocolate frosty"
from Wendy's. Truth is, I needed it just as bad as the patient. The good news is, we get
to go back next week and do it all over again!

Then Judah jumped down the stairs and broke his leg like the professional maniac he is.
This kid. Third major incident. He's only 2. He's a prime candidate for a bubble suit.
I'm sure our insurance company would be most thankful. Heck, I would appreciate that.


I survived a 3 hour vacay in the ER with a 2 and 3 year old, 21 weeks pregnant, with ZERO husband.
I was running on adrenaline until I signed the dismissal papers. I then signed myself right in to the
local El Burrito Loco where I stress-ate my way through some tacos al pastor.


In between all that, I was informed at my OB's office that I have gained 7 pounds in 5 weeks.
5 months ago I couldn't gain weight to save my life and now this! 60 pounds, here I come.
Glad I ate those tacos for the sake of the cause.

Then I went and seriously lost my van in the hospital parking garage and walked three floors
with two kids in tow (freaking out because it was "dwark and scwary") to find it.
My husband was like, "for real?" I was like, "shut up."

To top it all off, we got a tour of our local orthopedic surgeon's office.
Judah cried the entire visit. Isaiah picked out his cast color because Judah was
too consumed in screaming at the doctor and drooling the sucker the nurse gave him
all over the place. Thus, everyone got ice-cream again.


And you know what? It could be so much worse.
Miraculously, my house is clean, the dishes are done, and there is food in the fridge.
Isaiah got his tooth filled, Judah will walk again, and the baby en route is looking great!
There are two loads of laundry in my utility room waiting to be folded, but I've got a
couple episodes of Firefly (#nerdalert) and a dozen bacon wrapped dates to eat to wash
away all the anxiety I've bottled up this week before I even touch that.

Lifestyle. It's not always pretty and put together. But we all know that, right?
Shoot. My family just got back from Walgreens.

One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish

We like to CELEBRATE life.
Birthdays last for days in our family. They are just too much fun NOT to!
Our Judah baby turned 2 this month... still can't believe we have a 2 and 3 year old.
I love my life.

Ok... So every time we asked Judah what kind of party he wanted to have,
this was his response: "Reeeeed cake! Bluuuuuue cake!"
He can count to ten. And he only knows two colors: red and blue.

Dr. Seuss was the obvious answer here.
I ran with "One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish" and he loved it!

Here is daaaaays worth of a 2nd birthday party that we threw for our littlest.

...PICNIC & TRIP TO THE ZOO...


When we pray, Judah bows his head and repeats every word that we say.
I don't ever want to forget his little details. Too precious.




...PARTY TIME...


The morning of Judah's birthday, Isaiah was having a really hard time.
He wanted presents. He wanted attention. Nathan and I were both shocked when Judah,
unprompted and true to form, said: "Here. You open one for me, Zay Zay."
I cried a little. Is that my child? His heart is sooooo good. Teaching his momma lessons.



A wall of seaweed made with green streamers ||
red and blue fish made from glittery cardstock.



Clearance cups from Target. Picked up a dozen for $1. Filled with "fish 'n rods" =
Swedish fish and gluten-free pretzels! Also - found a $0.60 fish cookie cutter
at Hobby Lobby. SCORE! Landed us some fish-shaped rice crispy treats.



Bogie. Short for Booger. Our red beta fish was the party mascot!




I made fishing rods out of short, dowel rods, rope, and magnets from Hobby Lobby.
Hot glued the magnets to the rope. Worked like a charm! Cut out red and blue fish
from cardstock and put a paper clip on each one.
My kids are STILL playing with this little game!!!



Praying down blessings on the birthday boy here!
So blessed to be surrounded by family and loved ones of FAITH.



Homemade cupcake toppers made from cardstock and a paper punch.
Taped them to striped, paper straws that I cut in half. SO CUTE.
That idea was inspired by the crazy-talented Natalie over at The Busy Budgeting Mama!

I love you, little one. Your life makes my life so special.
Happy you were born to me. Blessed to be your momma. Happy Birthday... again!