Charlie's 4th Birthday

    Charlie has had a thing for Spider-man for quite some time.  He watches the movies and cartoons over and over and over....  This year I asked him what kind of a birthday he wanted and I wasn't surprised at all when he yelled Spider-man!  I sat down at the computer a few weeks ago looking for inspiration for a spider-man cake.  I wanted it to be smaller than I've made in the past.  We have always had way too much cake left over and I spend more than a day baking all the stupid layers only to throw most of it away.  What I saw online helped me formulate a design for Charlie's cake.  I drew it quickly and stuck it to the fridge.  I had some technical issues in the construction.  I'm not very good with fondant yet and the picture of the building in my head was much cooler than what can to be.  I wasn't sure if I liked it until I showed it to Charlie.  He thought it was amazing!  So I guess I pleased my target audience and that's all that really  matters.  One of these days or years, I want to take a cake decorating class and really learn how to do this properly.

THE CAKE

 The Party

     It's hard being in a new place when birthdays come around.  The kids are used to having a big party with all their friends.  New places mean not as many new friends.  We were able to get a nice little group together at a nearby park to play, eat cake and open presents.  

 He was so happy it was finally his birthday!  I think he had a lot of fun playing with all his friends.

 Lighting the candles on the cake proved to be tricky.  It was really windy and we were in it's direct path.  After about 10 failed attempts at keeping the candles lit, I handed the matches over the the boy scout, aka Dad.  The wind died down just enough to get them lit and for Charlie to blow them out.  He was being a ham and taking his time with the blowing out part.  Luckily he beat the wind to it and got all 4 of his candles extinguished.

 Yummy.

 Presents!  Charlie loved everything he got.  He and Leah have been playing non-stop with them since we came home from the park yesterday.

 For the first time ever, Leah was able to make it all the way across the monkey bars by herself.  

Though she did fall on her rear a few times before she managed the task.

Savannah

Over Memorial Day weekend, we took the family on a short vacation to see some of Georgia.  Last time we were here I was pregnant with Leah and too sick for trips.  Little did I know the same thing was about to happen.  I was pregnant on this trip, I just didn't know it.  I'm glad we got this one in before we were all sequestered to the house.  

We decided to head to Savannah since so many people have told us how beautiful it was and it's such a historic city.  Our trip was hampered a bit by the rain.  We managed to head downtown and see a really cool old railroad museum.  Our plans of touring around downtown after the trains were curtailed by the rain.

 Charlie inside one of the box cars.  I loved the huge wrenches.

 Sitting in the caboose.  The seating was up high and it was open underneath for who knows what.

 The Caboose

 There was a fantastic model city of Savannah that was well over 20 feet long.  The kids spent a good amount of time watching the several trains make their way through the city.

 Leah took my picture.  Probably one of the only ones of me from this year since I'm always behind the camera.

 All the trains were housed in a traditional train shed. I didn't know those were really used. I thought it was only on Thomas the Train.  They even had one of those circular rotating tracks to turn the engine.

Our next day we had much better weather.  He headed over to Tybee Island for some fun on the beach.  It was a beautiful day.  I can't believe how much warmer the Atlantic Ocean is compared to the Pacific.  People aren't kidding when they say it feels like bath water.  It was a little colder than bath water for us, but then again we were there in May not August.  Charlie didn't want to go in the water, but Leah is turning into a little fish.  She loved playing in the waves.  We even saw some dead jellyfish floating in the water and on the beach.  Tybee was a pretty place, but very touristy.  It really reminded me of that busy strip through Lake Tahoe, I forget the name of the town but it's the west side of the Lake.

Savannah definitely had some pretty parts.  I enjoyed seeing some of the old mansions in the downtown area and all the old trees covered in Spanish moss.  Most of the old homes were run down, but you could see where some people had purchased them and were restoring them to their former glory.  I would have loved to tour through some of those old places.   The rain kept me from taking pictures.  

First Day of School

Leah's First Day of School

I had every intention of having a great first day of school outfit for her.  I had the fabric bought and the dress designed.  Alas, morning sickness struck and the kids were lucky I even managed to get out of bed most days.  I feel even more fortunate that Derek's class ended when it did because he was home most of the day to help me out.  Really I don't know how we would have survived without him.  Anyway, I get off topic.  Leah's first day of school.  We went to an open house at her new elementary school a few days before the first day to meet her teacher and get acquainted with the school.  It was a crazy night and I felt a little lost.  This place was huge, well at least compared to where I went to school.  We got her all set up, the paperwork filled out and ready to attend on the first day.  She was so excited that morning.  She wanted to ride the bus right off, but I drove her.  I wanted to make sure she could find her class and not be one of those little lost girls crying because she didn't know where she belonged.  I speak from experience here.  I remember vividly wandering the halls of my elementary school trying to find my classroom.  My mom had gone to work and I'd taken the bus.  The class lists where all by the doors but I couldn't read my name.  Another mom helped my find my name and I made it to class, but this obviously had a profound affect.  I never want Leah to feel that lost.

 Charlie needed his picture taken on Leah's first day.  He was excited too.

 The first day was not without its snags.  I drove to pick up Leah from school that afternoon.  I left a little early because I was warned the pick-up line was crazy.  Really, I had no idea how busy it would be.  I waited and waited while my poor car came close to overheating, but there was no way I was turning it off and loosing what little A/C I was getting.  It was over 100 degrees outside and I was close to loosing it.  Finally the line started to move as the kids were released from the school.  I made my way slowly to the front of the line.  Right before I reached the front, this is after an hour of waiting in line, Derek calls me on my cell.
"Are you still waiting to get Leah?"
Me "yes, this line is nuts."
Derek "because she's here, she took the bus home."
Me "What?!!!  I'm stuck in line, I can't move, I'll be home when I can."
I finally made my way to the front of the line so I could get out and drove home.  I was so glad Derek had been home to receive Leah.  I was upset about what could have happened.  I tried to figure out what happened and decided I needed to take Leah to school the next morning to get things straight with her teacher.  We had had a discussion on orientation night with Leah's teacher that she would be a car rider for the first few days until she was comfortable taking the bus.  I guess in the craziness of it all, that was confused.  She had been a bus rider ever since and she loves it.

Charlie's First Day of Pre-School

 Charlie was able to start pre-school the very next day.  He was so excited to finally be going to school too.  I watched all the other kids and moms in tears at the separation.  Not Charlie, he ran into the classroom and barely gave me a backward glance.  I was happy for his easy transition.  It wasn't that difficult for me either.  I was so happy he was happy.  He was nothing but smiles when I came to pick him up again.  He wants to go to school everyday, but he's only in a 3 day a week program.  Next year we will aim for a 5 day pre-k.

I spent the kids first day of school enjoying my freedom with some much needed mall shopping and lunch.  Something I NEVER do when I have one or two in tow.
I am savoring my freedom while it lasts.  Pretty soon, I won't be alone while the kids are away at school.