Two!

On August 9th, Justin turned two.

I'm finally getting around to blogging about it.

I was waiting 'til Todd and I finished his present, but who knows when that will happen.  

Thankfully,when you're two, you have no idea that the Color Wonder coloring book isn't the only present you're getting from your parents. 

(He's getting a play kitchen.  I found it at DI but it needed an oven door and a new sink. We're still working on it, but  I'll post pics when it's finished.)

It's times like these that I really wish I were a better photographer.  On Justin's first birthday, I took a picture of him next to his newborn photo.  I had an 8x10 printed so I could take his picture with it again. I hope to do this until he starts kindergarten.

 Justin LOVES Elmo (what two year old doesn't?) so we went with an Elmo theme. I made Elmo Oreo pops with the red candy melts that I've had sitting in the pantry.  They were really easy and kind of fun to make, but I sure didn't want to eat any!  I made a 9" round cake that was frosted and covered in chocolate chips to look like a giant cookie and stuck Justin's toy cookie monster on top.

 Todd bought a goldfish on his way home from work, so Justin could have his own "Dorothy" fish.  Unfortunately, Dorothy killed over about four hours later.  The pet store offered a 30 day money back guarantee, so the next day we took a water sample and our beloved dead fish back for a replacement.  It turns out you can't put goldfish in soft water.  Oops.

Dorothy II was with us for a whopping 18 hours before she began the eternal backfloat.  I didn't have time to run to the pet store again, so I stuck her in the freezer.  A few days later, when I was running errands, I took the fish with good intentions, but never made it to the pet store.  After sitting in the hot car in 107 degree's all day, she wasn't lookin' pretty.  I stuck her in the freezer again, but when Todd found her tonight while looking for the frozen peppers for our pizza, he *hinted* that it was time to "throw the damn fish away".   I guess our pet goldfish days are over.

The best part of the day was when we took the boys to a park with a lazy river, and splash pad.  Justin was in heaven, and cried when it was time to leave after only two hours.

 The birthday boy eating the frosting off his cupcake and drinkin' his juice box.

I can't wait to surprise him with his play kitchen...he's gonna love it. 

Brayden's surprise

Brayden had a hard time coming up with a birthday wish list this year,

and finally decided he'd like to be surprised.  

Todd and I tossed around several ideas for our resident "bookworm" before 

deciding to get him a kindle.  Now he can check out library books from home!

There was no way I was spending an extra $40 for a kindle case, so I came up with this one myself.

Since Grandma S. has a kindle too, they can send each other messages through their kindles.  She sent him a Happy Birthday message and it was waiting for him when he opened it.

I debated long and hard before giving my eleven year old a gift that can get online anywhere at any time.  It's just not my favorite idea....at all.  I finally decided, though, that a few of his friends already have their own ipod touches, and even if he didn't have access to the internet, his friends do.  I decided it was better to teach him how to use technology appropriately rather than try to hide from it.  I hope I don't regret it.

The rule for now is that he isn't allowed to get online with his kindle without a parent nearby. (There are no parental controls).  I have the ability to check the history, so hopefully this will end up being good "technology practice" before he ends up with a cell phone in a few years.

Does anyone have any advice or ideas for teaching kids about the dangers of some of the technology out there?  My biggest worry with having four boys is pornography addiction.  I believe that a lot of boys get addicted before they even realize what they're getting into.  I want to plan a RS activity where we learn about and discuss ways to protect our family and use technology appropriately, but I have no clue where to start.

Caleb's Lego Party

Caleb chose a lego party for his birthday this year.  I was so excited for this one, but it ended up taking a backseat to our craziness right now.  I didn't make it to Walmart beforehand, so I had to make do with what I had on hand.  I'm glad I bought lego candy the last time we went to Cache Valley!

The boys made a number 9 out of legos for the centerpiece (surrounded by all their one-legged lego guys).
I made "lego head marshmallow pops" and for a game we had to guess how many lego candies were in a jar.

Since his birthday was on General Conference Sunday and we were home, we made a traditional Thanksgiving Dinner with turkey, potatoes and gravy, yams, stuffing, and cranberry sauce.  Nate and Erin came over for dinner, as well as our next door neighbor.

I was so proud of Caleb when he got this Harry Potter Wii game.  He knows we don't play Wii on Sunday, and he never even asked.  He just waited until the next day to play his new game.  Honestly, if he'd pestered me I probably would have let him play since it was his birthday, but I'm so glad he didn't.

This lego cake has got to be the worst looking cake I've ever created...and that's saying something, 'cause I've made some doozies.  I think it needed a couple more minutes in the oven, because it fell in the middle, and when I tried to dump it out it broke in half (even though the pan was lined with wax paper).  I ended up leaving it in the pan just so it would stay together.  I used OREO cakesters for the "nubs" on top of the lego.  My homemade frosting was too thin, and there wasn't quite enough to go around so we got this:

It should have been the easiest cake ever.  Leave it to me to mess it up.  Cake decorating is so...NOT MY THING!

We used up all the candles for Todd's 37th, so we didn't even have candles.  I think I might try again on the lego cake since Caleb got shafted last year because of my morning sickness and our basement remodel.  His cake was a "starfish" made from five twinkies.

Caleb is a huge help to me these days.  He is the only brother who has attempted to change a diaper, and he is always willing to keep Justin happy while I'm trying to get dinner ready. When I need a can of soup from the basement, I always ask Caleb because he is so quick to obey.

We love you Caleb!

Todd's therapy themed party

Several months ago, Dillon announced that he'd like a science party for his birthday.  Todd took the opportunity to mock me by requesting a "social science party" for his birthday.

I couldn't back down from a challenge, and it turned out to be a lot of fun to plan.

You know you're getting old when you blow out your candles and it makes this much smoke!

I made Todd's favorite "Fake Eclair Cake". 

He diagnosed the dessert as "Delusional Subtype Grandiose" 

since it thinks it's an eclair, when it's really only graham crackers, and pudding.

Nate and Erin came over tonight and we got some pictures of the babies.  

Justin and Billy are only 4 months apart, and will be in the same grade in school.

I used a t-shirt transfer to put the word "psychobabble" on Justin's onesie. 

We did three "experiential activities" with the kids:

"Shrink"y Dinks

Find Your Marbles 

(hot/cold game with a bag of marbles)

and Ink Blot Painting.

I wanted to make angel/devil puppets to hold over our shoulders and be our conscience (id/ego) 

but that would have put us over the 50 minute session.

I decorated with Todd's Freud collection (tickle me Freud, Freud bobble-head, and Freud action figure).

The favor bags had "tissues for your issues", "Freudian slips" (post-it notes), and Lifesavers. I tied them up with a jingle bell, and a note that said "Does the name Pavlov ring a bell?"

I made this poster for Todd to hang in his office:

We had cupcakes in addition to the Fake Eclair Cake. 

I didn't get a picture, but I stuck the following signs on toothpicks for cupcake toppers:

From left to right/ top to bottom:

"I can help you find your marbles"

"[reversed] Psychology"

"I'm ashamed of what I did for a Klondike bar"

"Proud therapist of the ObamaNation"

"Marriage and Family Therapists do it on the couch"  (we didn't use this one since it's a bit inappropriate--Char, there's a similar saying for Physical Therapists...)

"Your dysfunction pays my bills"

"Does the name Pavlov ring a bell?"

"Satisfaction guaranteed or your mania back"

"How many therapists does it take to change a lightbulb?  One, but it has to want to change."

"You think YOU have problems...I have 100 people's problems!"

Ink blot picture

"The doctor is 'IN'"

"If you're passive aggressive and you know it, make other people feel guilty until they clap their hands"

smile ball

The comic has a bunch of refried beans sitting in a therapy support group.  One bean is saying, "Once just wasn't enough for me...".

Mario Bros. Scavenger Hunt

I searched the internet for a pre-made Mario scavenger hunt but didn't have any luck.  Lots of sites suggested it, but no one posted it.  

So...I'm posting the one we did in the hopes that it will help someone else.  In desperation yesterday afternoon, I went to the site that was advertising Super Mario Bros. for the wii, and copied the descriptions for each world/level.  It all just came together from there.  

I wanted it to be fun, without a lot of clean-up...no way was I setting up an entire obstacle course in my house!  The boys collected a chocolate gold coin with every clue.

World 1

Bright sunny skies and mushroom hills greet you in this first region of the mushroom kingdom.  

Jump on the goomba's to find your next clue.

(Goomba's are the little brown guys. I couldn't find brown balloons and settled for orange)

World 2
The scorching desert is riddled with sand geysers and massive quicksand traps.  Can you keep cool long enough to make it to the castle?
There is a turtle sinking in quicksand in the oven...no wait! It's a penguin!

(I put cornmeal in a small Pyrex bowl in a barely warm oven. The next clue and a picture of the penguin suit were inside)

World 3
You won't be able to chill out too much in this wintry wonderland! Step lightly through icicle-ridden caves and use the penguin suit to slide down snowy hills (stairs) to find an ice flower in the freezer!

(I put the clue and the ice flower picture in a baby food jar, then put the jar in a ziplock container of water with the lid, and froze it.  They had to break the ice with a hammer)

World 4
You'll be dying for a swim once you reach this tropical island paradise, but watch out for the slippery and prickly creatures of the deep!  Use your ice flower power to throw ice cubes at the bad guys and find your next clue.  Don't forget to collect your star!

(I had a blue tub coloring tablet--not food coloring! The alphabet letters were the bad guys, and the clue was floating inside a plastic teapot.  On the edge of the tub, there was a Mario star and some starburst candy.  I told the boys that as long as they were chewing the starburst candy, they would be invincible while finding their next clue)

World 5
Piranha plants and poisonous swamps make a stroll through this forest more than a little treacherous!  Use a flashlight and go out to the garden to find your next clue.

(The star power wasn't enough for Dillon--he was too scared to go outside in the dark, so Caleb did this part for him.  The clue and gold coin were taped to a wooden block with a POW on it.)

World 6
Mountains!  You'll become a pro at scaling walls, and exploring caves by the time you climb to this peak.  Use your POW block to destroy the castle at the top of Mom and Dad's closet.  Collect your next clue, and a fire flower while you're there.

(Caleb knocked down the block castle, and collected fireball candy to throw at Bowser).

Last clue:
Bowser has Princess Peach in his lair.  Hit him with your fireballs to save the princess and collect your treat!

I taped Bowser (standing up) in a box with Princess Peach in the back.  The boys threw their fireballs at him until he was laying down, and collected their prize.

Not a great picture, but it's all I've got.  The prize was Mario fruit snacks that I found at Target last week.