Celebrations

Spring is a busy time here, full of celebrations.  Once Christmas is over, the craziness of birthdays begins.  First TanMan, then Braden, and Riley.  Three birthdays over the course of 7 weeks.  (Even their dad has a birthday just 3 weeks later!)  My spring boys…  Thank goodness these guys are good friends as well as brothers and we can finish off with a bigger combined party.  Makes life a little easier, at least for now.  I am sure that one year soon, the boys will each want their own day.  We will cross that bridge when it comes.  We usually do a small cake for each of the earlier birthday boys on their actual birthday too.  That way they get a little celebrating in on their own birthday.

First was TanMan’s 2nd birthday…  I posted a brief couple of pictures last time too.  Tanner wanted a train cake.  He loves Thomas and all trains in general!  We are going to have to take another ride on the amtrak sometime.  Maybe a trek from Central IL to Chicago???  Hmm…  We will have to see what we can work out for that one.  He was excited to tell everyone that he is two.  He spent much time trying to get his fingers to work so that he can show the world he is two!  I can’t believe what a big boy he is now.  He never really wanted to be a baby.  He had keeping up to do.  No time for that little baby stuff!  He is now potty trained, sleeping on his new big boy bed, and playing with all the big boy toys.  Where did my baby go?  He will be in college in the blink of an eye!

  

 Next came Braden’s 4th Birthday!  Did I already say that these guys are growing up too fast?  YEAH????  Well… I just said it again.  Braden got to help me decorate his cake.  We did a dinosaur cake with a river running across it.  Most of the time Ross does the cakes, but we decided that Braden and I would attempt this one.  It was fun.  Braden helped me figure out where to put the river, picked out dinos to put on the cake, and then placed most of the dinosaurs himself.  He was proud of his work.  That evening we went to McDonald’s for dinner so that he could have his favorite chicken nuggets, and then came back for cake and nutty bars.  He was ecstatic about his special night.

 

 Finally came Riley’s 7th birthday, and the boys’ combined birthday party!  Riley and Braden decided together quite a while back that they wanted a wildlife themed party.  After we looked at many ideas for cakes and decorations, we decided on a camping/wildlife theme.  It worked out great.  Ross and I used teamwork to tackle this cake.  He baked it and did the base green icing.  I put on the river, and border.  Then we both worked to add the finishing touches-rocks in the river, a tent, campfire, log benches, and plants all around the campsite.  The trees were the only thing that were not edible.  We even let people eat the rocks.  Great Grandma Pogue got quite the kick out of that one.  I think I am going to have to find her some rocks of her own to eat.

The boys got to invite some friends and we invited a few family friends too.  Grandma, Grandpa, and Great Grandma Pogue were all able to come for the weekend too.  It was a good party.  Just wish it would have been warmer so that we could have spent some time outside too.  Oh-well, maybe next year. 

 

 

Now it is time for much exploring for the spring.  I am so looking forward to days spent outside as we meander around our backyard and beyond.