Dancing!

Yesterday we headed back to PA so that I could attend and participate in the OPAF First Dance. (Disclosure, I'm on the Board of Directors.)  My Mom took full advantage of the visit by throwing Timmy a birthday party. When we arrived the table was decked out with party favors and balloons were floating through the living room. Needless to say, Timmy was utterly delighted!

The First Dance was held a little further away than I had originally anticipated.  It took us nearly 2 hours to get to the venue. After a 2.5 hour drive to get to PA, I was tired of being in the car by the time we arrived. Unfortunately,  I also had a 2-hour drive back to my Mom's house when the dance was over.  

I took my niece and Robby to the Dance Clinic.  Robby has some dance experience with Cotillion and was eager to help. My niece is going to her prom next week (gulp) and was feeling anxious about her lack of dance experience. I don't know if the pair refined or learned any dance skills, but they certainly had fun!

Birthday Shark

It's safe to say that my sweet little Hamlet had a fantastic birthday. He woke up grinning from ear-to-ear, searching the house for his Christmas tree cake as soon as he hopped into the living room. He was delighted with both the cake and the lights strung along its sides, giggling and begging to cut into it for breakfast.  I managed to divert him from the cake with a plate full of bacon.

We spent the afternoon playing at the Animal Park. The weather was gorgeous with perfect temperatures and a bright blue sky dotted with puffy white clouds. Timmy was especially delighted that Robby joined us on our adventure. The brothers played, explored and talked about the animals throughout the afternoon.

I managed to corral the pair after four hours because I needed to get the "roast beast" into the rotisserie if we were going to have dinner on time. Timmy spent the rest of his birthday afternoon riding his bike and playing outside, all while singing Baby Shark and Happy Birthday to himself. 

He thoroughly enjoyed his dinner, loved his presents and finally got to cut the cake in the early evening. He went to bed with a huge smile. Yesterday was definitely a parenting win!

Happy Birthday Timmy

Dear Timmy,

Happy Birthday to my sweet, mischievous, adventurous and loving Hamlet.  My goodness, it is hard to fathom that you came into this world five years ago. So tiny and earlier than expected, you had me on my toes since the very beginning. 

Time has moved so quickly that thinking about the days that have passed makes my heartache.  You are no longer our tiny little baby. Nor are you a toddler. You are now a full-blown little boy. Sometimes I wish I could freeze time and keep you little forever. 

Today we are heading to the Animal Park with your favorite person, your big brother Robby. He has even agreed to wear a matching "Big Brother Shark" shirt in honor of your special day. I know that you will have a fun afternoon exploring and playing, working up an appetite for your "Roast Beast" dinner and Christmas Tree cake for dessert.

Hamlet, I love you so very much. 

Mommy

Break Over

In the blink of an eye, Spring Break is over. Today Scott returns to work and Robby will be hitting the books. We are in the homestretch, with the countdown to summer vacation now in weeks instead of months. While we didn't do anything grandiose over Spring Break, simply slowing down and taking a break from the neverending schoolwork was welcome and much needed. 

Scott and Robby joined Timmy and me in Pennsylvania on Friday. Because the weather was so beautiful, we were able to work on her flower gardens over the weekend, getting them cleaned out and ready for summer. Robby and Scott weeded and laid down weed block while I worked on mulching and putting up on new borders. Timmy even pitched in by picking up sticks in the yard and pulling dandelions. If I could motivate the boys to work as hard in our yard we would have the best yard in the neighborhood, but somehow helping somebody else always makes the task more fun.

Our gorgeous weather will continue through today, so perhaps I can motivate Timmy to help me outside. We certainly have enough sticks to pick up to keep him busy for hours. In reality, he will probably pick up a few sticks before becoming distracted by his tree house and bicycle. Either way, I'm sure we will have fun.

Easter Fun!

Having a little one on Easter is so much fun. Even though the expense was minimal, this year we knocked the Bunny magic out of the park! Timmy (and Robby) found surprises throughout the morning, with his anticipation and excitement piquing with the arrival of his cousins in the afternoon.

Saturday night we planted jelly beans in my Mom's flower porch flowerpots.  He was awake with my Mom and quickly playing around the house. I heard him squeal with delight when he made the discovery. After rousing me from my bed, we went outside to harvest his lollipop crop. 

The excitement of the lollipop harvest made him forget about his Easter Basket.  About an hour later he found it, sitting in one of his favorite play corners of the house. He carefully unpacked his basket, thoroughly examining each item.

A few weeks ago I found a local fundraiser which set up an egg hunt in your yard, after dark on Saturday, with plastic eggs filled with toys and candy. I thought the fundraiser was a brilliant idea and decided to give it a try.  My goodness, those cheerleaders did a fabulous job! I kept waiting for Timmy to look out the front window, but it wasn't until he heard the dog bark that he peeked outside.

When he saw the eggs he shrieked with delight, went running to wake up Robby from his bed and pleaded to go outside. Both boys enjoyed finding the eggs. Egg hunts are definitely more fun when I am not the one setting them up in the wee hours of the morning.

The afternoon was topped by the reunion of the Cousin Crew and a water balloon battle before bed. It was a fantastic Easter!