A Mini Birthday Party

For his eighth birthday, we gave Ben a choice: a xbox one s or a birthday party. I was really pulling for the xbox just because I didn't want to deal with planning a party, and the xbox would come out financially ahead of a party. Ben took the bait and asked for the xbox! We let him have one friend come over on his birthday when he opened his presents and then play on the xbox. It worked out very well. Needless to say, Ben was up at 6 am the next two days to play on the xbox...

Cameryn and Avery came over to sell girl scout cookies, so it ended up being a little bit of a mini birthday party. We kept with the Pokemon ball cake theme and had a regular ol' plain Pokemon ball cake on his actual birthday. 

Eight is Great!

On Friday the 13th, with a full moon in the sky, Ben turned 8! He was super excited. He asked for a candle in his birthday pancakes. As an extra special bday treat, his class went on a field trip the art museum. I went to school to have lunch with him and his friends and then he had Subway and a friend over in the evening. I think he had a pretty great birthday! I can't believe he's eight already 😪

He asked to take Pokemon ball cookies to school. They were pretty easy and turned out pretty good. The kids seemed to like them - I got a few compliments at lunch that day.

Happy New Year, 2017!

It was a quiet, peaceful(ish) New Year's Eve. We rang in 2017 with Lexi and Austin. While the adults played Euchre and Monopoly, the kids just ran around and go in trouble. Pretty much sums up 2016 and don't really expect much different in 2017.

New Year's Eve Glow Bowling

What better way to spend New Year's Eve than with old friends at glow bowling! It was the Secret Superheros, the Maverick Flying Ringnes, the Turtle Power Posadny's and the Wonderful Plaid Wolny's! It was a great time and it was great to see Meredith and co! 

Swim Your Energy Away

Trying to find energy consuming activities during Christmas break...To the Pool! And the hot therapy pool, to boot. Nick was having a great time floating on his back. Now, if he would just float without a floaty on.

Target Practice

One of the new metroparks has an archery range. There is a standard range and a '3D' range, which is kind of like disk golf, in which you walk to different stations and there are animals in the brush for you to shoot. The standard range has a ground level and a raised platform to shoot from. Adam took the boys over a few times during Christmas break to use their new Christmas presents. Ben hit the 10 yard target quite a few times. Nick is still working on his aim. 

Gingerbread Houses

Before he left, George the Elf brought some ginger bread houses for the boys. I was lazy and didn't take pictures until after Christmas, when I was ready to throw them out. They came out pretty good, though! I mean, to look at, not to eat. Ben wasn't aware you don't eat gingerbread houses.