Nate's Drive-In Birthday

This weekend we had a pre-celebration of Nate's 5th birthday by throwing a fun outdoor movie party.  It sounded like a fun and simple idea when Nate and I first started talking about it but once I started planning I quickly realized logistics were a little more challenging than I thought they would be!  We obviously had to have it late in the evening to be able to see it so I was worried about everyone having the kids out late...and would the kids even sit still to watch a movie!  But, I have to say...it went off better than I had hoped.  I wish I had a photographer taking pictures for me because, once again, I have missed so many details and photo ops just by having fun at the party!

When the kids got there, they found their "car" and went to town with the stickers and markers decorating them.

I had a "concession stand" set up and my only mistake was putting the movie treats - popcorn and candy - out with the hot dogs...the kids went straight to the scoops of popcorn and M&Ms and Twizzlers before they got dinner in, but I think most of them eventually were forced to eat a little food!

We were actually pretty fortunate that there was a threat of rain because the overcast cloudiness let us start the movie a little earlier than I thought we might have to.  I made the boxes really to have an activity to kill some time before showtime and wasn't sure if they would care anything about them, but most of the kids actually sat in their boxes for the movie and almost all of them insisted on taking them with them when the left.  I was so happy! :)

So all of the kids pulled their cars up and we started the show - Nate chose "Up" a couple of weeks ago and never wavered from that decision so we obliged.  It had their attention for a while and then it got dark enough for the bucket of glow sticks to come out so some of the attention shifted.  But they came back and, for those that stuck around, even started a 2nd movie afterwards!

Nate looks a little crazy in this pic but I think it was because he was trying to watch a movie and the paparazzi was flashing cameras in his face.  I just loved the two of them laying on the beanbag together....

Given that the party date fell in between Michael and Nate's birthdays, I tried to include Michael in on the celebration...I admit to him that I got caught up in the kid stuff and faltered on making it special for him but we did have LOTS of barbecue and beverages for the grown ups and we stayed up (too) late enjoying ourselves so I hope he knows we were celebrating the last of his 30's as well!

The Graduate

Nate's Pre-K graduation was a few weeks ago...and him in a cap and gown was pretty darn adorable.

After much debate and consulting with his teacher and other parents for perspective, we made the decision to keep him at his current school for a 5 yr old Kindergarten class next year (and then probably repeat Kindergarten in Elementary School the following year).  So, since he will be back in the fall, it didn't feel like a true ending.  Which is good...I wasn't ready. :)

But it was sad to say goodbye to both of the boys' teachers.  Fortunately, many of Nate's buddies from his class will be in the 5 yr old class with him next year...which has really helped to put me at ease with the decision.

Nate has come so far this year - his writing (and motor skills in general) has improved, he can count to 100, he can add and subtract really well, and most impressively he is reading really well.  He knows sight words and can sound out most words...it is so exciting to watch him "get it"...and he loves to spell, so our days of spelling things we don't want the kids to pick up on have ended!  I love to brag on my smart cookie - so I am obviously not keeping him back due to lack of smarts!

At the graduation ceremony, they asked each of the kids what they wanted to be when they grew up and Nate excitedly said "An Astronaut"...there were lots of policemen, firemen, and doctors but only one little Astronaut!

Spring Wrap Up

All of the craziness of school ending and all of the other Spring events have finally wrapped up and we have somewhat slowed the pace...however, we have so many special events in the month of June that I figured I should probably catch up on Spring before we roll in to Summer.


I skipped right over Easter, which is now Nate's self-proclaimed "favorite holiday".  I am pretty sure that can be directly contributed to all of the candy he ate.  When they woke, the Easter Bunny had left a trail of eggs from their rooms leading them to their buckets.  Nate was very eager to follow the trail (he came bounding in to our room early that morning saying "The Easter Bunny came!") but Matthew was content opening each egg along the trail and having jelly beans for breakfast.  He was in no hurry.

We spent the afternoon enjoying the beautiful Spring day playing in the yard....which entailed a couple of Easter Egg hunts...

I was trying my best to ration the candy intake but at one point I caught Nate hiding under a chair snarfling down M&M's

Then Nate was kind enough to hide all of his eggs for me to find

Then played a round of crocquet

Then the boys wanted to try out the kites that the Easter Bunny brought them...unfortunately we didn't have much luck with take off

 Little Brother had to try too

It was a lovely family day....but this is the best family shot we got