Eleven--Minecraft, Bouncing, and iTunes!

Birthday party time!  He chose Skyzone again so I enlisted Jeff to help drive 10 boys to Indy to bounce their brains out at the indoor trampoline park.  We had a really good group of kids this year.  

Mathew, Kaidan, Landon, Jonathan, Brayden, Mason, Mason, Jayke, Zach, and Perrin.  We had to wait a bit before our jump time so Kate, the party hostess came out to entertain the boys.  As  you can see, they liked Kate a lot.

Jayke got a special shirt that would allow him to jump to the front of the line...his buddies chose pink for him.  He didn't mind.

We had a minecraft creeper cake.  Dad and MJ picked it up for me, as usual.  They had no idea what it was.  I had a hard time explaining as I'm not even sure what that crazy game is.  Jayke loved it though and knew exactly what it was, of course.

As he opened his gifts we all had to laugh as each gift was the exact same thing.  He got $110.00 in iTunes gift cards!!!  I asked him if he told everyone that was what he wanted and he said no...it was what I told everyone who asked me though.  It was, after all, the only thing he told me he wanted since he just got everything you can imagine for Christmas.  He did get another pair of shoes from Meemaw and P'pa!  

When we got back from Skyzone they played outside for about an hour running around playing hide and seek.  By the time they came in they were worn out and the remaining five who were spending the night quietly watched a movie until they all fell asleep.  In the morning they went out and played in the rain and mud until everyone was picked up and it was time for Jayke and Zach to go to their basketball games.  They will probably all have pneumonia in a day or two.  Happy Birthday, Jayke!  Hope he enjoyed this party because it will probably be the final one since he is off to middle school next year.  I don't think you have birthday parties in middle school...at least that is what I'm going to try to get away with!

Josie...For Now

It is a really bad idea to watch Pet Vet on the morning of your son's birthday party when you haven't gotten him a gift and don't have a clue what to get.  I've had fur baby fever for a while now.  I know the dogs are not going to be with us much longer and that will eliminate a lot of cleaning so I finally talked myself into it.  I decided to get The Boy a kitten for his birthday.  Now, I just had to find one.  

I made a quick stop in Pet Smart and checked the Action For Animals kitties but they were all full grown.  I refuse to bring an adult cat in because I think that would be more difficult for the other furry kids to adapt to.  Jayke was immediately onto me when I came out of Pet Smart with nothing.  We checked ARF next but they were closed.  I posted it on Facebook that I was looking for a kitten hoping someone would have a freebie that needed a home but no luck.  We finally decided to try the Animal Shelter with not very high expectations.  

I had an idea of what kind of cat I wanted.  White, long hair, maybe a seal point...something pretty and different than what we have.  When we went in I knew immediately they didn't have anything like what I had in mind, but sometimes a cat chooses you...and that is exactly what happened.

The volunteer handed this little girl to Jaykeb and she wrapped him around her little paw!  She cuddled up to him like she had loved him her whole life.  Then he handed her to me and she just lay her head on my chest as if she was saying, "Finally, I've been waiting for you."  That was it.  She had a home.

We went to the counter to pay and were greeted by Izzy, pictured above.  She approved the adoption, Jayke forked over his birthday money (by choice, so now I STILL owe him a gift) and we had ourselves a new baby!  He even made a donation to the shelter for the other kitties.  Such a softie!

Her name at the shelter was Josie.  So far, it's still Josie but I feel like we should give her our own name.   He disagrees.  It will probably stay Josie.

She has to stay separated from the others until we can have her tested for feline diseases but everyone knows she is here.  We let her come out as long as we are watching and making sure the other cats stay away.  They are curious but so far, no issues.  Josie walked right up to Laynie and rubbed on her.  Laynie is an old pro at receiving new pets into the house.  She was less than impressed but Josie is determined to make new friends.  

She has made ONE for sure.  The boy had tears in his eyes when we finally got her home.

I took the picture below of the other two feline residents and I think I interrupted them about to smack each other.  I can't say whether that is due to the newbie or not, they smack each other quite often and I'm sure will be smacking Josie soon too!

Bet you thought that was a picture of my new dog in the beginning, huh?

Double Digits!!!

I can't believe it's been 10 years since I was in the hospital waiting for 27 hours for Jayke to arrive!!  The Boy is still poky so I guess that should have told me something.  Apparently by age 10 you start to forget your child's birthday. On the day of his actual birthday, the 23rd,  I didn't say it on my way out the door  so when I called to tell him, he gave me a disgusted, "About time!"  In my defense, the party is today and he got his gift early so I was either in the mind set that it had already happened or was happening Saturday.  Regardless, I STILL told him, just a little later than he expected.

This year we had the party at the bowling alley and invited his AAU team, plus Zach and Mason.  It was his best turn out yet and I even let him bring 4 boys home to spend the night, something I've never done before.  I had Jeff there to help me though.  He is used to a house full so I thought it was the perfect time to do it, while I had someone experienced with chaos there!

Zach, Mason Neal, Walker, Justin, Landon, Jayke, Mason, Zack Jeffers, and Adam.  Meemaw and Ppa in the background talking to Landon's dad.  Matthew was also there for a while but I didn't get a pic of him.  Jayke thought he was pretty cool being there with his basketball team and having someone from the Delta freshman basketball team there for him.  Alec would have been there too if he wasn't busy.  I love that these older boys will still show up for Jayke's and Mason's birthday parties.

Mason got Jayke Madden 25 for his xbox...we couldn't believe it.  I am going to have to do something extra special for Mason next year on his birthday!  

Sky Zone B-day Extravaganza!!!

We celebrated the birth of The Boy this year by taking him to Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Park!  Jayke invited friends from school and his soccer team.  We caravanned with Bob and Ryan to Indy and I think the ride down was enjoyed as much as the party.  Bob brought along his walkie talkies so the boys in each vehicle could communicate with each other.  As usual the adults ended up enjoying it almost as much when we took over the walkies to critique each other's lack of pace and other driving skills.  Those were two very loud vehicles!!

We had two renditions of Happy Birthday sung, one in English and the other in Portugese by Gabi, who is part Brazillian.  Jayke was super embarrassed when she serenaded him solo!

His cake was awesome...as always and made by Cheryl at Pat-a-Cakes and Cookies Too, who has made his birthday cakes since he was born!  

He had a great day sharing his birthday with Mason, Chase, Aidan, Cooper, Gabi, Ian, Parker, Carly, Matt, and Alec! The Pierce's, Bob, Tiffany, Ryan, Meemaw, and P'pa were all there too.  Jayke is lucky to have so many friends and family to share his 9th birthday with him!

40 and FABULOUS!

For my 40th birthday Bobby and Angi planned a surprise party for me.  They had everyone gather at Puerta Vallarta for the big surprise.  I was shocked at the turn out.  There were some old friends I hadn't seen in a while, the usual group we hang out with, and our new group of soccer parents.  They had balloons and decorations and a very special cake...

Not sure whose idea the cake was...

I'm guessing my mom chose it.

The morning of my birthday the girls at work had had their fun with my advanced age as well...

When I got to work my cube was all decked out.  The entire company came up to sing Happy Birthday to me.  There was cake, cards, and they even got together and took up a collection to give as a gift!  My work is big on birthdays, especially BIG birthdays!

I think They are Trying to Tell me Something...

Just some of the signage my sisters and father decided to post for my birthday get together at Dad's house.  They went all out with the decorations celebrating my 40th (I know I can't believe it either) and MaryJo's 75th!

I finally got my Hello Kitty Birthday party!  Only took 40 years!

Happy Birthday Jayke...and Introducing Nataleigh

Jayke's birthday was at Escapades again this year.  They had a blast.  I was a little confused by the guest list.  He invited all boys from his class and Nataleigh.  I kept asking if he wanted to invite any other girls from his class and he would just say, nope...just Nataleigh.  I started to think maybe he had his first crush.  After meeting the infamous Nataleigh I was praying I was wrong.  That girl came in and RAN that party.  She bossed those boys around like it was her job!  Turns out she ran me too.  The party was over and all the kids had been picked up except the ones I brought and Nataleigh.  We waited and waited and waited and no parents came for Nataleigh.  I even asked her how she got there and she told me her mom.  Eventually I had Maci go drag Nataleigh over to me and told her she was going to have to call her mom.  She said, "Why?  My dad is sitting over there!"  She then ran off and Maci and I just looked at each other.  This little girl duped us into having he party go an extra 45 minutes while we waited for her parents to come pick her uup!  I asked Jayke later why he invited her and found out that she had promised him a certain Lego kit if he invited her.  Turns out she didn't get him a Lego kit either.  That Nataleigh!  Gonna have to watch out for her!

Beiber Fever

Jayke's favorite gift he got for his birthday has to be his Ipod Touch(4th generation I might add...makes it better than mine!) He got it from Meemaw and P'pa and has barely set it down since!

Shortly before his birthday he had pretty much taken over my Ipod. I even ended up putting some Justin Beiber on my Ipod for him! GASP!! Beiber...really? (okay, I secretly like a couple of his songs and this is the perfect cover for why I have Beiber on my Ipod :)...)If anyone says I like Justin Beiber I will DENY IT! It had gotten so bad that I couldn't even find my Ipod anymore because he was always taking off with it! We were fighting over it to play Pictureka every night. The battery was always dead and I was starting to worry about him listening to MY music which is not all appropriate for a 7 year old. Problem solved. He got his own Ipod this weekend and I got mine back from his grimy little paws.

The Boy can now be seen about the house with wires coming out of his head. He yells everything he says and can't hear in return. He also has taken up dancing. His choice location to bust a move is in front of the glass door to the deck. That way he can observe his moves in the reflection. All I can say about this is its a good thing he has started practicing at an early age because he has a long way to go before taking these "moves" out in public!

Thanks P'pa for the Ipod...from BOTH of us!!

Happy 7th Birthday Jayke!

The Boy is seven!! I can't believe it! He can though. He stayed up til midnight on the 22nd to make sure he didn't miss the moment he turned seven. At 12:01 he picked the cat up and said, "Yep! Luna is lighter, I must be stronger now. What size clothes do you think I wear now?"

I told him the same size he wore two minutes ago. I assume since he didn't Hulk out on me at 12:02 I was correct. He doesn't believe me...he is SURE he wears a different size. I guess he is going to have to go find a few more snow shoveling jobs to afford this new LARGER size wardrobe!

Spent the Day with Chuckie

We survived Chuckie Cheese's! I need to have a t-shirt made. Jayke had a great birthday party! He ended up having 11 kids come. A good group of boys from his class showed up. I managed to get the to hold still for this...



How I managed that, I have no idea because from the time these boys all arrived they were wrestling on the floor next to Chuckie's stage. Jayke, apparently was the only one who came out with an injury. A sore finger and someone stepped on his head at one point but it didn't stop the party. Tokens were handed out and they all took off for the games. I didn't see them again until it was time to eat. Pizza and cake.




The cake above is the one I wanted. Dad had Cheryl make it from the picture I sent him. The soccer ball on top is chocolate cake and the rest is white. These cakes look really cool and they taste even better! I've never had a better cake AND I got to bring home all the left overs. That could be a bad thing though.



Jayke got tons of good stuff. I was really surprised at what he got. My dad got him his Ipod touch which he has not put down all evening. He keeps saying, "I can't believe I have my OWN Ipod!" His father got him two Itunes gift cards so he can purchase plenty of apps and music. Now maybe I will be able to use my Ipod again. He had pretty much taken over mine. He hasn't gotten his gift from me yet, the Netbook computer, because it hasn't arrived yet. I did tell him about it though and he is excited to get it. Until then I think I will take him to get a case for his Ipod toomorrow before he destroys it.

I guess I can cross Throw My Child a Party at Chuckie Cheese's off my bucket list. It is definatley the one and only time I will do that! He went to Omas's for the evening and I went for a beer with my friends after!!

All About the Cake!

One week until Jayke's 7th birthday party at Chuckie Cheese's!! Woohoo!! I know everyone is excited that I am having it there. What everyone needs to remember is it's not about them it is about Jaykeb and he wanted a birthday party at Chuckie Cheese's so that is what he is going to get!

As always I have spent days browsing photos of cakes online trying to decide what it will be this year. My obsessing over the cake began his very first birthday. We had a neighbor, who owns her own bakery, bake the cake. it was an Elmo cake and she even made him his own little tiny cake that he could tear into. I don't have a picture because I've changed computers too many times but trust me it was cute! Cheryl makes the best cakes ever! For birthdays number two and three we were in South Carolina so I had to just buy a cake at the grocery bakery. Spongebob for number 2 and Cars(the movie) was the theme for number 3. It was cute but not like one of Cheryl's. Birthday number 4 was held at Escapades where you have to purchase the cake from them. It was a Scooby Doo cake. Cute but again, not the same. This all brings us to birthday number 5 and the BEST birthday cake any kid has ever had!



I found a picture of what I wanted and Cheryl tweaked it a little and made this baby for The Boy! Loved it! For birthday number 6 I decided I better tone it down a little. That 3tier cake was pretty pricey (Thanks Dad for buying it for him) Cheryl still made the cake so it was great...



Spongebob again. The Boy loves his Spongebob. As you can see the birthday has become all about the cake for me. I have to have something to obsess over and if I let it be whether or not anyone is going to show up I will go crazy...so I focus on the cake. I have found several great pictures of cakes but I think I've let my dad talk me into a simple sheet cake this year. I can tell you I am going with a soccer theme. The Lego cake I found probably would have cost about a hundred dollars but it would have taken a great picture! LOL Here it is (remember I'm NOT getting this one)




The soccer cake that I really wanted was this one...



I'm not really sure I would know how to cut this thing though. I finally decided to send four pictures of cakes I like to my dad and let him talk to Cheryl (she is his neighbor) and now I will just be surprised right along with Jaykeb when the cake gets to the party. I don't have too many more of these birthday parties to get all worked up over so I'm taking full advantage while I still can! The day is coming when he won't want a silly birthday party anymore but I can hope he will still want a cake!