More of MJ's birthday photos

Good Morning Birthday Boy

Here are some photos of what we did for MJ's actual birthday on Tuesday.  We mostly played at home for the day.  I asked TJ if he feel like going to a splash park, but the boys enjoyed  the house more.  We played bubbles, painted, looked at photo albums and had a wonderful day together. Dinner was MJ's favourite meal of spaghetti ('gebby') and ice cream for dessert.

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New Socktopus and bottle quickly found their way into the truck

painting with bubble wands, balls, etc.

Body painting

More body painting

MJ covers himself too

Foot prints

 The boys loved this messy painting.  They enjoyed the feeling of the paint on their feet.  The lawn looks bad, but should clean up after the next mowing.

Happy Birthday my little one!

Happy Birthday MJ

I can hardly believe my little MJ is already 2 years old.

He brings such joy to our lives.  This year he has really begun to communicate.  He started with signing and quickly moved on to a few words, and now he won't stop talking!! I love the running commentary of his day.  It also help greatly now that he can tell us what he needs and what is wrong.  He also love to sing!   

MJ is also a mover.  He has already learned to ride a tricycle, the teeter-toter swing in the swing set, and climbs anything!  He loves to run all over and wrestle too.  And MJ is all boy, anything with wheels is a delight for him, along with sand, mud, puddles...

My little MJ is also a cuddle monster.  He loves his bottle and 'Taggie' and suggling with me.  I think he would enjoy being carried everywhere (except when he is running around).

MJ at the hospital a few hours old

On Saturday we had a birthday party for MJ.  I had decided to make cake pops (photos coming) so we had to have some cake for breakfast! I spent the morning with Aunty Bonnie making desserts while the boys went on a special mission to buy a toy boat to replace TJ's.

TJ is thrilled about cake for breakfast!

 In the afternoon we went to Lowville Park for a picnic.  We joined by some family and friends to play in the river and eat.  It was a wonderful time.  I'll be posting more about that and what we are up to today a little later.

Handmade party hats for the boys.

If you are interested in a party hat you can contact me through my Facebook Page

Christmas Sneak Peek - Gifts For the Boys part 2

Oh how I love looking at the inspirational ideas from different blogs.  Unfortunately the more I look the more ideas I get.  My list keeps getting longer and longer.
Who couldn't want some of these incredible treats by Dana from Made

I began to look around for more felt food  and made a huge shopping list.  I only made a few things on the list, but I'll keep making more if the boys enjoy playing with these fun treats for Christmas.

Here is MJ's Christmas present

Breakfast: Bacon, eggs, pancakes

Bologna sandwich and hotdogs

Mushrooms, carrot, pear, banana, fish

Treats: cookies, lollipop, popsicle chocolate bar

Adorable small tote from Value Village on sale.

 I think I'll work on more food for Easter or Valentines.  I have this super cute material from Ikea that I want to make a shopping bag.

If you are interested in making some felt food here are some great blogs to get you started
Playing with your food
Free Play Food Patterns
Helping Little Hands
Felt-o-rama

A Happy Ending

Today ended so wonderfully that I just had to write about it.  My boys played mostly by themselves today, nicely, without needing me too much, for over half an hour!!!!!!! I still can't believe it happened.

It all started this morning...

TJ and his incredible memory remembered a toy that he wanted to use.  He tried to describe it to us but both mommy and daddy were thinking of something else and mistakenly told TJ that we no longer had it.  So after a melt down and slightly stressful pancake breakfast, TJ tried again to describe what he wanted.  Once we clued in it began an early morning hunt all over the house for a Playmobile tractor.

As soon as MJ saw the tractor, he wanted it too so they started to fight.  I had a revelation and remembered that we had a tone of Playmobile in storage, so Jon dug out the ladder and went looking.  We found another large tractor and a helicopter.

It was like Christmas came early for those two.  All day they played with these toys without stopping.  MJ would twirl around in circles to make the helicopter fly.  TJ loaded the tractors with millions of different loads. One load included my Blackberry which ended up outside in a compartment of the Skidoo (thanks Jon for finding that one!)

TJ pulling a toy pot full of random things

MJ driving a tractor on the couch

In the evening they chose to play with these toys instead of our sensory bins!  MJ is learning to play and copy how TJ drives the tractor around to pick up loads.  He tried many times throughout the day to join in our imaginative play.  TJ attached the helicopter to many different containers and made deliveries.  He even helped MJ fix his tractor when the trailer came off.

TJ with the helicopter pulling a flatbed truck

MJ and the tractor with his Taggie blanket

On a side note it was also a very productive day.  I got more leaves cleared, finished TJ's christmas present (will post on that soon), did some house work and Jon and I put some company labels on his truck! Oh and MJ has been trying to sing to me.  He is copying a song from Baby Signing Time called sunny day.  It comes out more like "sun sun sun a guy", he is trying to say "sun sun sun in the sky".

Curtain Tip

Do you have a room where the sun shines in so brightly that you have pined up a blanket or sheet to block out the light?

Well MJ's room was so bright during the day that he wasn't napping very well.  I tied a bed sheet across the window, but after a while it starts looking a bit collage student like, and the curtains aren't functional.  In a stroke of genius I thought to my self, why not just sew some bed sheets to the back of the curtain!

I took off to the thrift store and bought a large dark coloured sheet, cut it in half and sewed it to the back of each curtain.  Tada!!!!  MJ's room is darker now and all the blankets are off the windows.

Happy Birthday MJ Happy Father Day Jon

I can hardly believe it it has been a year since you were born.  You have changed our lives and taught us so much in this short time.

To celebrate we had a joint party with TJ at the beginning of the month.  We had an Orange coloured theme as i is TJ's favourite.

TJ in the new sandbox Daddy built

Mommy and MJ

One of many attempts at a family shot

Today is we are having my family over for breakfast to celebrate MJ and Father's Day.  Later today is a family reunion for my mom's side of the family. 

 We made this picture for Daddy and one for my dad and Jon's dad using different family members.  I can't remember exactly where I got the idea from but many people use a frame with 3 spots and take the same photos every year so you can watch the kids grow.  My computer program won't let me load the original o just imagine the 3 pictures next to each other.

We are looking forward to another exciting year with the boys.