Gymnastics and Despicable Me

So I took Cort to pick out his birthday cake. In the past it seemed to work better by picking out the cake as a way of deciding the theme of the party. Cort picked out Despicable Me. I started shopping at WalMart and Party City for Despicable Me party supplies only to find none. Apparently, there do not market Despicable Me yet WalMart had a cake kit. I even had to have this invitation custom made by someone I found on ebay. It turned out really cute. With the lack of Despicable Me supplies on the market, I just decided to use a black table cloth, yellow plates and napkins, and yellow balloons. The yellow balloons would be decorations and also party favors accompanied with a goody bag of candy. Once Mark picked up the balloons the day of the party, he (being the creative one in our family) decided to draw Minion faces on them. It made the party! They turned out super cute and we received so many compliments. Of course, I didn't get to take the credit, but I was glad that everyone loved them.

This is the second year in a row that Cort wanted to have a gymnastics party. We let Cort make the complete guest lists which he mostly invited friends from daycare.

Flying high! Keaton on the rope swing

Group picture

Aidan, Cort, Blake, and Louis

Cort jumping on the trampoline up to the hot air balloons in the sky.
Listening for instructions from the coach as they move stations.

Cort having a blast!

I took some of the pictures, but so did Mark and Kerrie. I am actually glad I didn't see some of these things take place. Always makes me nervous, like this crazy move.

But I have to give this one a 10!

Here's another move I didn't see happen.

Cort received a gold medal! Way to go!

The Despicable Me cake with Gru and the Minions

Happy Birthday Cort! Make a Wish!

So after all the guest left we decided to have some family fun. This is us doing the Nestea Plunge. Funny to see I am the only one that didn't trust it. They all have straight legs and 'took the plunge'. I kind of cheated it looks like.

We were jumping on the trampoline for this group shot. I love this picture despite my shirt coming up a little. I think whatever Keaton is doing is hilarious!

Once we were home Cort unwrapped his presents. Don't you just hate it when the birthday kid doesn't open his presents at the party?? But the birthday guests would rather play extra time than sit and watch. We invited the neighbor kids, who were at the party, down to help Cort tear into his loot. Gee and Papa Dan were glad they got to participate in the gift opening. They stayed home with Gage and missed the party. So in a way, we brought the party home to them.

Gage was more than happy to help Cort open some presents.

This is the Super Bomber Cort and Mark are working on building.

410 pieces!

I still can't believe you are 6. You are such a grown up little boy. I hope you had a wonderful birthday and enjoyed your special day.

Big Six year old

Look at that little guy. This is Cort at 1 year old. And now look at him. Growing up so fast.

This year was a big year for you, Cort.

You became a big brother. I remember not long after Gage was born you told me you didn't want to have any more birthdays until Gage turned 5 so you could be the same age. Too bad it doesn't work that way. You will always be Gage's big brother and I know you will be a terrific one.

You started Kindergarten at Lowery Elementary in Ms. Cleboski's class and you are doing great! I am so proud of your reading and writing. You are very detailed in your thought process and the pictures you draw for your stories. As a two year old you were very strong willed. You knew what you wanted and it had to be exactly the way you wanted. This year you have had to adapt to Kindergarten. It was a little scary for you at first. You like routine. You put a lot of thought into things. If you have taken the time to think it out, you are very upset if it doesn't go the way you had planned. At the beginning of the school year there were a couple of times that you actually obsessed about, one being the Thanksgiving feast. This event totally through you for a loop for about a week. You begged not to go to school that day, but it turned out to be fine. I think because it was new and different you didn't know how to visualize the day and plan accordingly. Now that you are becoming an experienced Kindergartner, you seem to be loosening up a little. And we are so proud of you. You are doing absolutely wonderful! You rarely get a note from the teacher on your blue card and we love your report cards!
You are a sweet, lovable, and snugly little boy. You can make the cutest, sweetest, funniest facial expressions, and you always have a smile on your face. That stubborn streak comes around once in a while, but I think it is just the frustration of not being able to communicate what you are thinking as adequately as you want.
You lost your first tooth just a few days before you turned 6. That tiny little tooth had been wiggly for a while and your hand was always in your mouth playing with it. It probably would have been fine for a few more days, but dad convinced you to let him help you pull it out.
You weren't too happy about it at first because it hurt and there was blood. You never do good with the sight of blood. Any boo-boo can be a tiny little scratch, but if it is bleeding you totally freak out!
In the end you were glad the tooth fairy would finally come see you for the first time.

We had a great celebration for your party. (post to come later) Mommy and daddy got you this awesome set of Ninjago Legos. It is all your favorite things in one.....Lego is so smart! It is, of course, Legos with cards (like Pokemon or Bakugan) and fighting, spinning tops (like BeyBlades).
You would rather sit and play Legos or a puzzle than a board game or cards. You are so good at them and usually can put it together all by yourself as you did this Ninjago vehicle. You and daddy are working on a large bomber airplane that Nana and PawPaw gave you. It is a project that is going to take a while, but you are enjoying it and the finished project will be well worth the wait.

I asked you not that long ago what you wanted to be when you grow up and you said a person who tells people about God. You are a wonderful son and I love you very much. I look forward to watching you grow up and seeing all that you will accomplish.

10 months

How is it going by so fast. Only 2 more months until Gage turns 1! It seems like just yesterday when we were in the hospital. Here is Cort playing with Gage in his pack-n-play. Gage likes it so much better if someone is in there with him. Every once in a while mommy needs a few moments to not have to watch Gage every second. Yes, every second at our house. The amount of small pieces a 7 and 6 year old have is maddening, from Lego's to BeyBlades. So we have to watch Gage all the time. Even if the house is completely picked up, Keaton and Cort could be playing and drop a small piece unknowingly. We make them aware of how important it is to keep everything picked up.

Gage has learned to hold and drink from a sippy cup.

See my juice mommy?

We even took our snack outside on a cold afternoon to watch the boys play.

Gage all bundled up, trying to stay warm.

The sun was shining so it helped warm us up too.

Gage is doing really well eating finger foods. His snack this afternoon was star puffs.

Here he is talking. It's a good pic of his two new teeth coming in. He was probably hollering at the boys trying to get their attention. Mark and I swear he says Teakon (Keaton) already. And he definitely has been saying MaMa a lot now.

Hanging with daddy on the couch before bedtime.

Keaton at 10 months

Keaton at 10 months with daddy.

I have been dying to share this picture. This is Cort at 10 months with Keaton who was 2 1/2. They had so much fun that night playing the in the chair together laughing.

And here is Cort getting Keaton!