Having a party--Angry Birds style

Birthdays are kind of a big deal in our family.  Not so much in terms of large amounts of gifts or guests, but rather in the way the day is tailor made for the individual birthday person.  Growing up, my mom always made our birthdays extra special, even when there was not much to make do with. 

A theme was chosen--thought over, talked about and decided with plenty of advanced notice by each of us kiddos.  Mom then set about creating a whole design around our idea. Cakes (or in my case pie or cheesecakes) were always homemade (except for the rare DQ ice cream cake).  The decorations were never over the top, but reflected the theme perfectly.  Family was always the first on the list of invites, followed by just our closest friends. 

I still to this day look forward to my birthday.  My husband now helps with the "plans", but my mom is always involved.  Usually there is a favorite meal and dessert made for each of the "grown kiddos" on our birthdays.  I still feel special and very, very loved on my birthday.  Amidst all the craziness of day to day life it is still nice to have a day just to myself.

This is what I seek to do when I plan a birthday for each of my children.  It is not about the presents or number of people that come.  Their special day is all about being celebrated for exactly who they are at a very special time in their lives.

Today is Kaelan's 9th Birthday. Our family always lets the birthday child choose a special meal on his or her birthday but today we made a bit of an exception.  We stayed home for lunch but afterwards we went out for dessert at a new little ice cream place in town called "Chill Out."  They thought it was so cool that we were there to celebrate a birthday that they even gave KK a whipped cream goatee!!!

*Kaelan getting ready to blow the candle out on his custom sundae!

Kaelan was lucky this year and was able to have his birthday party this past weekend--theme Angry Bird.  We had his party at one of his absolute favorite places ever--my grandparents farm.

Kaelan asked for an Angry Bird cake so I did my best to deliver.  First I stacked and frosted 2 chocolate sheet cakes for the base adding green icing grass embellishments.  The birds and pigs are donut holes dipped in melted, dyed white chocolate.  Their eyes are piped frosting and their beaks, feathers, ears and nose are Jolly Rancher chew candies that I softened up in the microwave and hand shaped.  I wish they would have turned out a little bit smoother, but Kaelan thought they looked great.  For the pigs perch I used chocolate peanut butter wafer sticks, chocolate wafer cookies and rice krispie treats held together with icing and toothpicks.

To continue the theme I also used some punch balloons found at the dollar store with some hand cut cardstock embellishments to make the birds features--I made one green king pig and a yellow, red and blue bird.  The kids had a blast playing with them until the unfortunately popped due to sticks on the ground and the heat.

Kaelan's favorite gift this year was this awesome lizard book, supplies for a lizard house and a gift card to get his very own leopard gecko when we return home from vacation!!!  As we have a theme of naming all of the animals in our home after Disney characters, the name of this little lizard has become quite the topic of conversation.  I vote for Wall-E....cause it is a lizard that clings on walls!

Kaelan had his friend Caden and his brother Carter to his party and of course his brother, sisters and cousins.  The kids had a great day playing together.  There was an epic water gun fight followed by exploring the pond's edge and plenty of fishing.  The weather was perfect, the company amazing and the day enjoyed by all.

Happy 9th Birthday Kaelan!

Kaelan Turns 9

Tomorrow Kaelan turns 9.  My Kaelan boy has always been in a rush for everything--including entering this world! 

After a scary morning at the hospital having my firstborn, Tristan's, forehead glued shut (run in with a chair in the church nursery--the chair won!) I thought my excitement was over for a while.  Little did I know that the excitement had only just begun.  At 7 the next evening my water broke--3 weeks early (yes, Kaelan, you may blame your early birth on your brother)!  By 10:30 pm on June 6, Kaelan Quinn had arrived--6 lb 6 oz and healthy as could be!

*Our little family celebrating the birth of Kaelan

Kaelan, you have always carved your own unique path, made big messes, tackled adventures, found a friend in any situation, and brought endless laughter to our family.  You have charmed ladies at the supermarket with your out-of-control curly hair and regularly have toddlers clinging to your legs just hoping for you to play with them.  There is no problem that is too big for you to solve with a creative solution.  Silliness come naturally to you, as does your incredible knack for sports (definitely given to you by your father--not me!)  I love how you love people no matter their situation or appearance--young and old alike.  Your generosity amazes me regularly. I have learned through you the beauty that can be found in the glistening wings of a cicada and the patterns on a caterpillar.  You, my son, have inspired me to slow down and enjoy the wonders that God has given us all around.

Kaelan, I can hardly believe that you are actually turning 9 tomorrow!  From my little kiddo stomping around in his favorite neon green Croc boots telling me "You smell good mommy" to my boy who can find coins in any and all vending machines, make the whole family laugh without hardly trying, find adventure around every corner and give the biggest, bestest bear hugs ever.

 

Daddy and I have prayed (and sang) this verse to you since you were very small: Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you be strong and courageous? Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

As you grow, don't lose sight of the strength of your 9 year old convictions.  You are more courageous than you know.  Don't give up--use your amazing creativity. You wear your heart on your sleeve--and that is ok--keep loving and caring, it is what makes you you!  You are my dreamer and think you can tackle any problem, right any wrong, feed all the homeless--keep it up--maybe you can!  Be a best friend to your brother and sisters--no matter what! Keep making messes (just clean them up--please!)--you never know what you may discover just by getting messy! Don't ever stop giving me your trademark hugs--mornings and bedtimes just aren't the same without them. 

"Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go"

...and your Momma and Daddy, and brother, and sisters, and grandmas and grandpas and aunts and uncles and cousins and.....

for you are loved Kaelan--all the way to the moon and back and bigger than a dinosaur or elephant or mountain or whale and infinity plus two!



Serving Alton--little by little....

I have lived in Alton most of my life and really do love it here--yes, even with all its quirks and peculiarities.  I love that I can get the best roast and ham salad at Schwegels, that Janet at Hayner Public Library knows each member of our family by name, that the Upper Alton postmaster, Bill, knows how each member of my family is related and who has already been to the office that day, that my parents and my sister's family both live within walking distance of my home, that I still see childhood friends while shopping at Target and can still take my kiddos to some of my favorite parks like Haskell and Gordon Moore. 

This is why, in the past year or so, our family has really felt a burden for this city and the people who live here.  Our family is part of a very missionally minded church at Emmanuel Free Methodist. On top of that, we decided to join a small group within our church of people desiring to reach out to and serve the people of Alton--just getting to know our neighbors and be involved in what is happening here.

One of Dustin and I personal goals within this bigger mission is teaching our children to be missionaries in their daily lives.  I grew up thinking that in order to be a missionary I had to risk my life, learn a new language, eat bugs and travel halfway around the world.  The reality is that I should have been being a missionary, right here, all along.

An opportunity arose, via email from our church, regarding a summer meal program to feed the children of our community who would usually receive free or discounted lunches through the school district.  Instantly I knew that this was something we could commit to as a family.  This was something that would have a direct impression on the kiddos and be able to be participated in by each one of them. 

This week, on a chilly and drizzly Thursday, we set out for Main Street Methodist Church to hand out sack lunches.  What a simple thing to do--sit outside on benches and wait for people to come--no questions asked, just come.

The kiddos knew what we were going to do and were rather excited about meeting new friends more than anything else.  They know, in their little kid way, that there was a time not so long ago that a program like this would have been very valuable to our family.  Dustin and I know that it is only by the grace of God that he has a good job and is able to provide for our family. 

The summer program is called TWIGS (ummm, still not really sure what exactly that stands for) and is being enacted all summer long at various locations around Alton. 

Our family is committed to being a part of our community.  We want to know our neighbors and for them to know us.  Handing out these lunches once a week is such a small way for us to stand together as a family and show Alton that we do care. 

Memorial Day Weekend

I love Memorial Day.  I love living in Alton on Memorial Day.  I love the symbolism, the patriotism, the coming together of families for BBQ's and fun--basically I love everything about this day with no presents or trees or costumes or candy!  Here in Alton we have the longest continuously running parade on Memorial Day--145 years!!!!  I grew up walking to the parade and sitting at the corner of College and Main--right by the laundromat--and that is where you can find the family and I on Memorial Day still. 

Walking to the parade is a tradition in and of itself.  I have almost always lived close enough to walk--Clawson, Brown, Spaulding and Jackson. This year while walking, Tristan wanted to know if we would be at the same spot as "always."  When I told him we would because that is where our family has "always" sat he was relieved, letting me know that we "always" had to sit there for every parade, every single year!  Gotta love that firstborn who loves tradition as much as his momma!

"The Girls" waiting patiently in the heat for the parade to begin.

Clara, with her cute little pigtails, watching the flag pass by.

Of course the parade was not the only event of our Memorial Day weekend.  Even though Dustin ended up having to work both Saturday and Sunday I was bound and determined to make the most of our time.  Of course, when I am "bound and determined" it never seems to come out quite the way I imagined it.....

Saturday I enlisted the kids help in cleaning the basement with the promise of a fun evening to follow if we could whip the basement into shape.  Everyone started out great but the labor force quickly fizzled to me, and "Tiny" trying to "help" by taking out whatever I put up.  Dustin came home dead tired, the kids had lost sight of the goal and mommma was frustrated.  The night however still proved to be salvagable, so after some encouragement from my husband and some re-motivating for the kids the basement got cleaned and the fun could begin! 

We made homemade, individualized pizzas and played Disney Universe on the X-Box!  The kids had pepperoni and bacon pizzas while Dustin and I went a bit gourmet with an alfredo sauce, provolone, grilled chicken, bacon and basil pizza-YUM!

 Other highlights of the weekend included learning how to set up Dad's pop up camper for our upcoming trip to Maryland, enjoying an afternoon BBQ with most of the family on Memorial Day and learning how to take the camper back down and hook it up to our vechicle.

Happy Memorial Day!

A special thank you on this day to my brother Nathanael Rayborn serving in the Navy and my cousin Matthew Golliday serving in the Army.