5 Year Anniversary

Yesterday Ryan and I celebrated the fact that we have put up with each other for 5 whole years....Kidding...Kind of. :) 

We did mark the occasion the weekend before with a trip to the Nordik, escape room, The Keg and a movie! A full day just the two of us! It was heavenly and a great way to mark the day that we were joined in marriage. 

Honestly, it hasn't been all roses. And anyone who thinks marriage is, needs not to get married. Because marriage is hard work! It's loving someone even when you don't want to at the moment, it's learning to forgive and it's about being there for someone at their lowest and trying to build them back up and always be "in their corner". 

No, it hasn't always been easy and I would say we have faced some of our saddest days as a married couple in the last couple of months. But we actually grew a lot stronger in our grief. I think having each other to cling to during these days of sadness has allowed us to truly know and trust that we are going to be there "for the good and the bad". 

Ry, I am glad to get to do life with you! xo 

Sam's Mickey Mouse 3rd Birthday Party!

I realized something the other day. Planning, executing and hosting a party at my house gives me great joy. I have really enjoyed planning Sam's birthday parties over the last three years. I remember being worried after Sam's first birthday that it wouldn't "acceptable" to plan a themed party anymore since birthdays until school age would be just immediate family. But my mother-in-law said that it doesn't matter and I should have a theme every year if I wanted. 

I had been feeling pretty sick from being pregnant and then exactly 1 month before Sam's birthday we lost our girl. Through all the sadness, I found some moments of joy while I got the decorations ready to celebrate Sam being 3! It was nice to keep mind busy and distracted. 

I decided on a Mickey Mouse themed party. Sam does really like Mickey and I figured it might be my last year for this theme option! Plus I am a HUGE Disney fan so I was super excited for this theme. While there are plenty of Mickey decorations I could have bought, I just love making my own instead. I did buy Mickey napkins and ears for everyone! 

Easiest project that I loved the way it turned out. Yellow dot stickers on red solo cups to make it look like Mickey shorts! 

The food I decided to keep REALLY simple! Hot dog bar with chips, fruit and veggies!

I was reminded the night before how much I hate streamers! I avoid them as part of decorating as much as possible! 

Since Sam's first birthday, one of the traditions I have is that I print Sam pictures from throughout the year and put them on the windows of the coat closet! I love this little job and I like to be able to show off pictures of Sam changing through the year. 

And a restroom sign! I found this great site that gave me "Disney" font for free that I could use for all of my homemade signs! 

And of course no birthday would be complete without a tinfoil number! :) 

I cut all the watermelon using a Mickey Mouse cookie cutter and that was a huge hit with the kids!

Simple vanilla and chocolate cupcakes for dessert made by me. 

The favors I made up for everyone was Mickey Mouse shaped rice crispy square. This was the most frustrating task! I thought it would be simple but it took me forever to do this. But they turned out cute. 

A thing the kids (and parents) also liked, Mickey Mouse on the T.V during lunch! ha ha! 

Sam HATED everyone singing "Happy Birthday" to him and he refused to blow out his candle and then proceeded to roar at everyone! ha ha! #threenager 

Littlest Minnie Mouse

Sam perked up when it was present time. I can take no credit for the fact that my boy actually reads all the birthday cards and then proceeds to give each person a hug for the present. That is all thanks to his amazing daycare! 

Sam was spoiled and was so excited for all of his new things! Although he's a little like me and hates attention, he loved the present part. Everything needed to be out of the box and played with/worn immediately. 

It was a great day celebrating our 3 year old and throwing him a little party in his honor! 

And a special thanks to Jilly for coming and taking pics for me! It is so nice to have beautiful pictures of the day and not have to worry about running around with a camera and hosting! 

xo

Sam at 3

It feels like a long time since I gave a long Sam update. While I continually talk about him in general about the every day happenings, I never really lay out any cold-hard facts like I use to when he was a baby. Maybe because there are less changes month to month.

Ryan calls Sam "Buck-A-Roo" and we both agree that he is absolutely a great sidekick. We literally love spending time with him. I think that's why Ryan and I don't do so many trips or dates away from Sam. We usually take him with us so we can experience that time with him doing the things we love.

Sam's interests change from day-to-day but for the most part you can guarantee he will be happiest outside exploring. He doesn't have wandering ways about him which we feel lucky about. We can do some of our own projects outside without having to be so close to Sam. Instead, he is good about doing his own thing around where we are. Going back and forth from where we are working to his sand box. His little imagination is really growing. Like when he pretends to be Spider-Man and gets the ghosts. Or on his "pirate ship" looking out for Captain Hook!

I am really lucky Sam is still an amazing eater! He isn't too picky but he definitely loves his sweets, cheese, bread and french fries. But whatever I put out for supper for the most part he eats!

He is still a great sleeper and pretty scheduled. I know the days of naps will be coming to an end within the next little while. Since he turned 3, naps have been a struggle at home. It's almost like he doesn't want to miss anything and he knows we will be doing stuff. I am still pushing back though and he does eventually go for a nap. With his nap, he is in bed for the night between 7-7:30 PM. I wake him up for daycare at 6:20 but on weekends if I leave him he will now sleep until at least 8!

Now that Sam is three there are so many great things we can do together it seems. His communication skills are awesome and it is nice being able to understand what is wrong or what he wants. The rough thing about that is that even though in his head something is "right" it is hard to teach him what is wrong. We are at a huge milestone time I feel in the discipline department. He has really figured out how to push our buttons. It seems like many things are a battle these days and the tantrums are difficult and more frequent. But we take it day-by-day and try to both stand firm in our boundaries and actions of discipline yet also try and figure our when to "pick our battles. He will do the same "bad" thing again within 24 hours to gauge our reaction I think.  I am going to get any future Mommy friends a bottle of wine on their kid's 3rd birthday! Ha ha!

Our boy is still tall and lanky! I can't believe how quickly he went through clothes in the last year. But the biggest surprise is his shoes! I sent Ryan once to grab a pair of boots for Sam when he was out. I told him to pick him up a pair of size 11's. He texted me from the store saying they looked massive and he wasn't going to buy them. I assured him that size 11 was his size but he still didn't get them. We went together the next week to have Sam try them on and sure enough, size 11! I am glad it is short season too because it is hard to find pants that are long enough for Sam yet small enough in the waist.

We went through some tough times in the last two months as a family, Sam included. He knew something was wrong with Mom and Dad but didn't understand what. So, he began acting out a little while things were upside down. He became almost fearful of me because I would spontaneously start crying so he began to insist Ryan get him ready for bath, read his stories and sit with him during movies. Thankfully, we all healed. He still talks about "baby sister" but also says how she is in heaven.

We are at a new point in eating out which is nice that we can go to restaurants occasionally now. Before his attention span would be so short and he would begin wanting to walk around and not sit and eat. Now, he is happy to sit and color, play a game or watch Paw Patrol on Ryan's ipad. Yes, we are totally those parents that let their kid have screen time at a restaurant! But it makes it so enjoyable for everyone (us and those around us).

Sam can count to 14, knows his colors and shapes. He is such a sponge right now. He is starting to understand the concepts of time like tomorrow and later for example. His french understanding is great and he knows a lot of words in both languages. He loves his friends and family and spending time with them. Although he acts shy ("Nope") when he first enters new situations and people, he eventually warms up. He has a kind heart, can be super silly, has one of the best smiles and already showing patience beyond his years. He is just an all around cool kid and I am so proud to call him mine! 

xo