Tyler's 4th Birthday: Part 3

To say that Tyler was excited about his birthday party would be a huge understatement.

 

We sent out these invitations:

 

 I had fun making a lot of our own decorations for the party.

 

I love using my Cricut when I have a chance.  I would love to be more crafty if there were only more hours in the day.  And, yes, I used my sewing machine to sew the banner together.  Someday, I will get to some real sewing projects I want to do. 

Thomas and Percy cupcakes.

A Thomas cake, of course!

My little train I created with a snack car, produce car, log car and coal car (I should have gotten the mini Oreos for the coal car). 

The "refueling station" was the whole kitchen.  Jeff helped me a ton with the food and the party execution!  He is amazing! 

The BIRTHDAY BOY with the infamous birthday hat. 

This is the hat that his teacher, Ms. Ashely, sent home with him since he wore out the first one he got at school. 

He wanted a Thomas shirt too so I made this one with the iron on transfers.  I saw some cute ones on Etsy but was too cheap to pay $35 for a one day birthday shirt. 

He loved having everyone sing Happy Birthday to him. 

Let's be honest, Tyler loves is anytime all the attention is on him. 

He had been eyeing the cupcakes ALL day long! 

Maggie and Hadley enjoying some of the festivities.  I am pretty sure Hadley is going to keep up with my boys in the eating arena.  I just cannot get over how cute she is! 

Nathan had been eyeing the "choo choo" on the cake all day and finally was able to get Aunt Sandy to understand what he wanted.   

Partial crowd shot.

Tyler got a lot of new books for his birthday which is perfect for our little man.  He wanted to read each one of them before opening the next gift.  He is such an amazing reader already! 

Funny story:  He got several new books from the Little Critter series and he calls them his "Mercer Mayers."  Mercer Mayer is the author!  Nerd alert! 

Hadley enjoying round two with her dad.  I don't know where she gets her love for eating so much...Kyle's face doesn't give it away, does it?  ;)

  

More reading. 

I had to include this photo.  I am not sure why Popo had a shoe box on his head...  Random.

 

Tyler, thank you for making us a family 4 years ago.  It is hard to beleive that you are already four, yet at the same time it is sometimes difficult to remember what life was like before you entered it.  We do know that the world is a much better, brighter and more fun place because of you.  We love you to the moon and back! 

 

Happy Birthday, Tyler Jeffrey! 

 

 

 

Tyler's 4th Birthday: Part 2

After naps on Tyler's birthday we headed to Zick's Great Outdoors for Bandana Bash 2013.  We had a great time supporting an even greater cause. 

 

Tyler loved the bounce house obstacle course and went through it about 10 times. 

Nathan was a bit too small for most of it but he did check out the small tunnel. 

Tyler and Daddy worked on Tyler's accuracy. 

Again, Nathan wanted to do the same thing as his older brother.

Tyler had been eyeing the mechanical bull since we arrived as as we were heading to the food area, he asked if he could do it.  Sure, why not!  Every 4 year old rides the mechanical bull...right?

I love this one.  He did a pretty good job hanging on.  At one point he even put his hand in the air. (I am so mad I didn't capture it on camera). 

Down and out.  When asked if he wanted to do it again, Tyler's response "No thanks, I am good."  As a mom, I have to admit I was relieved. 

After dinner, it was on to listen to some great music.  Tyler Filmore donated his talents for the event and he was great! 

Nathan was breaking out some of his moves in front of the band. 

 

These two sure do keep us busy...and happy! 

I am pretty sure we all felt like this after a full day of birthday events.

I am not sure how Nathan got like this or slept like this.

We had to get ready for the Sunday family birthday party though!

Part 3 coming up soon!

 

Tyler's 4th Birthday: Part 1

Whew!  Tyler's birthday festivities are over and I have several posts worth of material.  (I know, I know...I am behind....again!)  Tyler has been talking about it for at least 3-4 weeks.  It has been Thomas the Tank Engine extravaganza at our house. 

 

He took Thomas cookies (thanks to Schulte's Bakery) to school with him on the Thursday prior to his birthday.

 

There is no way I was going to have time to make and ice 40+ Thomas cookies. 

Tyler's favorite part about his party at school was he got a birthday hat.  On his first day of preschool, it was a girl's birthday that is in his class and he talked about the birthday hat she got to wear for several days.  One of his teachers, Ms. Ashley, said Tyler loved his birthday hat and she had to convince him to take it off for nap.  Since they played outside 3 times that day (it was nice out) she said it was completely destroyed.  She was sweet to send him home with another birthday hat for his party.  There will be photos of the infamous birthday hat coming - the second one too was destroyed. ;)

 

The day of his birthday was a busy one.  He woke up to balloons in his room and streamers hanging on his door.  He was pretty excited and came into our bedroom to wake Jeff and I up with "Mommy, Daddy...it's my birthday and I have ribbons and balloons already."

 

We had breakfast at the Rotary Pancake Breakfast.  Tyler LOVES pancakes, it was for a good cause and Rotarian Great-Grandpa Wood had given us tickets so it worked out perfectly!  Next on our agenda was Tyler's first soccer practice and "game."  He was excited and had practiced in the back yard with Dad for a bit before hand.  We had to explain shin guards to him as he had never worn them before. 

 

Enjoy photos of soccer practice/game #1:

Warning: there are a LOT of photos!

 

Getting some practice in before meeting his team.

Rule #1: You cannot touch the ball with your hands...unless you raise your hand to become the goalie first (more on that later). 

Nathan's photography skills.  He wanted to take pictures.  There were also several of the trees and sky. :)

Nathan wanted to get in on the action too. 

Watching 3-5 year olds do attempt jumping jacks may have been my favorite part of the practice.  It was very comical. 

I love this one!

Like I mentioned earlier, Tyler was very eager and raised his hand first to play goalie.  Much to his dismay, there was not any action on his side of the field when he was in goal.  I went behind the goal to talk to him and make sure he was still paying attention.  Tyler said "Mom, you need to go sit down.  You can't be here." 

Dad and Nathan walked around the field though and they could stand by Tyler when he played goalie.  Dad must have played it more cool than I did.  :)

 

We brought cupcakes for his team to celebrate Tyler's birthday.  While it wasn't exactly the "healthy" snack the YMCA suggests, I did get permission from the director and the kids sure liked the idea. 

 

After soccer, it was home to take naps and then the birthday festivites continued...stay tuned! :)  

 

 



Are you ready for some football?

Two weeks ago, the new $2.3 million Washington High School Athletic Complex had an open house.  Tyler and I couldn't resist the opportunity to check out the new field.

As much as Daddy resists artificial turf, the new field does look nice. 
(You have to remember Jeff has a degree in horticulture with an emphasis in turf management.) 

 

Tyler's form may need a bit of work before he officially takes the field at WHS.  Luckily, we have a few years. 

A photo opp with the fierce looking Bluejay. 

Loving the end zone. 

Okay, so he was busy watching the band. :)

The band practicing. 

 

We had tears when it was time to go home and they were not mine. 

 "Mom, I want to play football with my friends pleeeeasse!"