Happy 3rd Birthday Hayden!

Our sweet middle.little. had his 3rd birthday this July.  It's kinda unreal, but my little guys are all getting so big!  My Haddie-bug was up for an Octonaut birthday party this summer, which was a blast to throw.  One of my favorite moments: as we were setting up the party, baby Calvin napping, and these big boys jumped into the kiddie pool in their undies.

We have so enjoyed throwing themed parties for our boys while they are little.  I hope our boys can look back on these parties & have fond memories!  We served 'kelp cakes' which were apple sauce with smiling faces.  They.loved.these.  The 'fish biscuits' were just gold fish crackers in little snack bags.  We had 'bunch of munchy crunchy carrots' and hummus.  The 'Gup A' for our fruit.  (the Octo-dogs weren't cooked yet)

Thanks to Aunt Michelle for coming in early & helping out.  Hayden's second watermelon creation by Michelle!  The 'Gup A' turned out so cute!

A snapshot of our party - I loved the big wall stickers!  Part of his gift from us & now up in his room!

Octonauts hats & seaweed walls.  Sound the Octo-alert!

Clam cookies.  Made these for fun with the boys before the party.  They each got to make one & eat it after their breakfast.  It was so much fun- easy to make & looked so cute!  (made from shortbread cookies, mini-marshmellows, pink frosting & chocolate frosting eyes ;-)

Peso's medical bag party favors!

Tissue garland in the Oconaut colors, orange & teal polka dot.  The kids really loved playing with this, but it didn't tear up!  (I was surprised)  It gets two thumbs up for looking great & being kid friendly.

We had vanilla cupcakes with blue puff frosting from Publix!  I found the cupcake papers, and the kids loved them!  James wore a cupcake paper as a bracelet for the party.

To make an Octonaut cake, I just ordered a blue cake & used some M&Ms to create some seaweed.  Added his favorite Octonaut, Kwasii as the topper & Captain Barnacles and Peso there on the sides.  Hayden had his own cake for blowing out this candles. (we didn't end up cutting the cake at the party, which worked out great.  We saved it for the next day, which was actually his birthday.  Perfect size for us to share & he got to blow out his candles twice! haha).

Summer birthday parties are so much fun for swimming!  I know my boys all had a blast, and I hope everyone else did as well.

Grammy & baby Calvin playing.  He loved the bubble machine!  (I thought it would be a fun, 'underwater' feeling for playing the matching clam game in the kiddie pool.  As it turns out, the kids just we full tilt & needed no encouragement for playing or games.  It was definitely a free for all! haha)

I (regrettably) did not get a picture of our 'octo-dogs' for lunch!  We split the hotdogs down the middle to create an octopus & my Dad, my Father-in-law, and my handsome hubs cooked up some really cute hot dogs for the kids.  (the adults did not have to eat octopus hotdogs, ha!)

Next up was cake!  Happy birthday dear Hayden, happy birthday to you!

Hayden decided to wave goodbye to our family while riding hew new scooter, Thanks Aunt Michelle!
(He's just the cutest thing.  I love how tall he looks in this picture, and his sweet little legs looking so long & not like little toddler legs anymore)  Also, I made his '3' t-shirt.  I loved how the colors & stripes looked with the solid orange 3, thanks Old Navy! (also two years in a row, last year's pirate party shirt was an old navy stripe as well ;-)

Grammy got to read the boys a story for nap time, a part of their gift, an Oconaut book!  A new favorite for sure. (these books have really beautiful art as a side note.  two thumbs up!)

The following day was his actual birthday, and we celebrated with Iron Man (his new PJs from our sweet neighbors!)  Oh, how blessed we are to celebrate together.  3 years.

Happy birthday dear Iron Man, happy birthday to you!!  We love you so much Hayden.  You bring such joy to our lives & our home.  I hope you know how special you are to us.  Mommy&Daddy love you buddy!  Hope you had a great birthday.

The sweetest, littlest Prose fella.

We were lucky enough to get to visit with Aunt Natassja just the day before they welcomed their new precious baby boy!  I was so blessed just to get to be together & see that sweet momma&baby.bump. one last time.  We got to try one of their local spots, Datz (for foodies), and it was a lovely time!

We got to stay at Mimi&Grandpa's house while we waited to hear about the arrival of our new nephew.    Boys in undies playing in a kiddie pool is one of the most hilarious things to watch.

We got the news that he.was.here!  Max Stephen Prose.

We were all smitten.  Meeting him was such a joy!

 His beautiful momma was amazingly brave & looked so beautiful!

Grandpa got his first picture with all 5 of his grandsons.  and James got to hold sweet baby Max.

Congrats to you Mike&Natassja!  Max is unbelievably adorable.  Cannot wait to see you again soon!

July in Review...

July, oh sweet summer sun.  Matt & I were lucky enough to take some time away to celebrate our 8th anniversary.  We rode our bikes to the beach to just.sit. & relax.  We shopped the antique stores & walked the town.  We haven't been away, just the two of us, since we had a baby moon when we were expecting Hayden.

I loved the time to sit & read & watch the storm roll in off the coast.  We decided it was time to go when the lightening started to pop.

 

Got to read a memoir on marriage & sleep in & have a beautiful breakfast.  It barely 24 hours away, but it was refreshing.

 Our English Tea.  My husband is an awesome sport.

 Big thanks to Grammy&Papa for watching our 3 kiddos & holding down our fort.  First time away from our sweet baby Cal, but I don't think he minded at all.

Our boys have finally started to enjoy the beach.  Hayden has been scared of the ocean & going to the beach was not the most fun.  Hayden would cry when James would go to swim & oh.my.  Baby Cal & I would try to keep the peace, but no more.  Hayden loves the ocean.  Calvin loves the ocean.  James loves the ocean.  We.love.the.ocean.  YAY!

We had a sweet visit from our dear friends the Webbs!  James had so much fun hanging out with his life.long.buddy, Anna Kate.

This July we had lots of days were we did nothing&everything.  We play.  Sharks drive the Jeep around our driveway.  We swim.  We eat & nap.  We watch the Octonauts.

We play guitar.  We paint pictures.  We turn our house upside down with boys toys.  We swim, lots.  and we try to beat the summer heat.

We took out little guys out to see the new Planes movie, which was a small step up from our little 'movie theater' at our house.  Our little guys are getting so big!

James lined all the boys up & I couldn't get enough of seeing them all getting so tall.

We took Hayden for his 3 year well-check & Calvin for his 15 month well-check.  Hayden bug was 39 inches tall (wow) and 36 lbs.  Cal-vy baby was 32.5 in tall & 26.5 lbs (wow he wins biggest boy at 15 months!)

Oh sweet Florida summer, how you've come & gone.