Moorlag Family: The Cars Birthday

Let me just first begin by saying, "thank you God!" I am in a stage with my kids that I just want to push the pause button on life and soak up all this goodness. The kids are all at such fun, wonderful, and hilarious stages and quite frankly there don't seem to be enough hours in the day to fit all the fun in. It helps that the weather around here has been more summer than spring like. It may be partially due to the fact that I am coming off the Spring Break high. It could be that I didn't work on Friday since I played with my kids all day. It could be that all my kids are rested, healthy, and extremely funny and happy! I feel like we are in a new wonderful chapter of life (which is part of the reason I have been so delinquent in keeping up with my blogging). We celebrated Carter's birthday on his actual birth day and then waited for this weekend for the party. We couldn't have planned it better if we'd been trying. It was absolutely fabulous outside. I had planned the party for a Friday night bc Elle was supposed to start soccer practice today but they ended up moving it back a week (so look for a soccer post next weekend) and we were also supposed to have small group today but that too was moved to Sunday. So we had two gifts this weekend Friday= Carter's party and Saturday was this beautiful wide open summerish day.
We also did not have daycare this week, thankfully, mom and dad came to help out a couple of days, Scott took off 2 mornings and I was BLESSED to take off Friday.

Friday was fun. We all packed into the van in the morning, ran Ella to school and then I got a chance to hang with the boys. We had so much fun. Carter was ecstatic to be the big kid with Ella gone and Christian was.....well.....Christian (aka sweet and laid back...mostly.) One thing I LOVE about Carter is that he is so thrilled and over joyed by ANYthing you do just for him. As I decorated the house, he kept saying, "thanks mom for doing my Cars party. This is the best." While Elle was at school, I took him into Kohl's on the off chance that we would find him an actual Cars shirt for his party. He was so cute. As we entered the children's section a salesperson greeted us and asked if there was something we were looking for. I said, as a matter of fact...then handed the conversation over to Carter. This is what ensued: Carter: " I need a W-ightening McTween shirt for my Tars Par-TEE today. I am free...years old." The saleswoman was more than tickled to take us to our destination. Shocked there was only one shirt left with "mcTween" on it (in a 5/6) but we took it. As she checked us out, she whispered to me, "he is so adorable, if I could give this shirt away, I would in a heart beat." Ahh he was so cute, so proud, and so ready to wear that shirt! It was big, but you will notice he wore it proudly to his "par-TEE!"
I must have been bitten by the bug...the go-back-and-relive-your-childhood bug. I threw my "Party to do list" out the window and had an absolutely wonderful and fun day with my kids. Since the week had been a bit on the unusual side, I had left far too many things to be done at the last minute (assuming I would have tons of time for merrymaking since I wasn't working on Friday) but I got caught up in all the fun and not having to work and the breathtaking weather so this was our day:
Drop Ella off at school. Sing Carter's favorite songs all the way to the library, take the boys to the mall, do a little shopping (not nearly as productive as when with Elle) ride the carousel, pick Ella up at school, throw caution and to-do list out the window, went to best park in the world for way too long with kids, had picnic lunch in van since we had too much fun at park and time got away from us, took the kids to Sam's to pick up party necessities (Carter almost came out of his skin when he saw the lady making his "cars cake") then couldn't resist but we ran Scott's errands and went to Meijer to pick up balloons and ice cream then headed home where I reinforced a strict nap time for all but myself and then miraculously we pulled off a SUPEr fun party! Whew, I fell asleep in the chair reading a magazine at the end of the evening. Scott scooped me up and put me in bed as if I were the three year old! Here are some shots from his party. It was so fun. If you weren't able to make it, I hope you can get a feel of the level of fun HE had.

A perfect night to play outside. Scott gets so much joy just seeing the kids enjoy the playset he put together.

Grandpa and Grandma Blackmer enjoying the kids outdoors! Hefty work, I say!

The party guy enjoying his pizza dinner on his Cars towel in the backyard.

Christian was less than thrilled with the hat! "Show me cake, people!"

One of Carter's best buddies from small group and daycare (I think he is more like a partner in crime) but we will call it best buds for now

Elle and Brooke loving the balloons

Carter and one of his favorite guys...Uncle Evan!

The thrill of gift opening!

More chaos!

The box of presents from Grandma & Grandpa Moorlag

"WOW!!!!"

my very own LEAPSTER

and wheelbarrow

Christian had had enough of the life size poster so he

went into destroyer mode.

A few presents were too big to be wrapped so we did those out front.

A table for his Cars and trains from Grandma & Grandpa Blackmer and Evan and HEather

So awesome!

And.....his very own bike from Mom and Dad! (no more princess bike of Ella's for this big guy!)

Could we put a helmet on the kid?? Look at all those bruises already???

And the beloved Cake......

Christian LOVEs cake, grandpa's lucky he shares.

Weren't these guys just turning 3 not-so-long ago???Now they are sheer silliness!

Joy....and sugar fuel this smile

After the crowd leaves, we get on pjs and have a little wind down time. Which toy does he pick to 'chillax' with?? The new Leapster. Check out his focus...all the way to his toes. :)