Chuck E Cheese party

Easter weekend we headed back up to Sioux Falls.  

Friday morning we started our journey up and for lunch we stopped at Chic-Fil-A.  Of course Sterling couldn't make it out of town without falling asleep with a nugget in her mouth

Nick wrangled her for 30 minutes to either eat the nugget or spit it out.  She'd demanded to eat it, refusing to spit it out.  She'd start chewing, then fall asleep again.  Finally after she gave in and finished chewing and swallowing it, she fell peacefully asleep and slept until we got to the hotel.

After we got to the hotel we met up with the rest of the family.  I went shopping with my cousin for some maternity tops (for her) and some supplies to finish the kids party favors.  The kids and Nick stayed back at the hotel and went swimming with their cousins.  Xander hated it, Sterling loved it!  She was even jumping in the pool to Auntie!  After all that fun, we gathered our large group and went to Texas Roadhouse.  Worst service ever!

Saturday morning while the rest of the family group went to breakfast, we stayed at the hotel and got ready for the day.  Before heading out to the party at Chuck E. Cheese...aka, The Mouse House, we took advantage of the hotel's "Falls Park" creation.

So sweet when they want to be! 

Some of the birthday party attendees.  We had a big crew that showed up and blessed us with their presence.  There were; my sister and her family, both of my brothers and their families, my grandpa and his friend, my cousin Heather, my aunt Donna and my cousin Duane and his family.

Mr. Chaotic himself...  

Sterling had her first slice of pizza whole 

Some of the kids waiting for the Chuck E. to arrive

He arrived .  Xander wasn't afraid of him, but Sterling wanted nothing to do with him

Caleb was really getting into it! 

It's time to rock with Chuck E. 

Xander and Sterling then received their rock star medals 

Photo op with Chuck E....Sterling was terrified! 

Xander wanted to go in the ticket machine.  He didn't like it. 

Cake time.  We did princess for Sterling and Pirates for Xander 

Sterling loved her tiara 

Present time.  These kids received so much stuff!   We almost brought the car, but good thing we didn't because we wouldn't have fit everything.

My super talented sister created the kids' birthday invites!  I showed her what I liked and she found and created the details!  I LOVED it!

Thank you everyone who came and loved on my babies!  We had an awesome time!

Sioux Falls visit

The kids and I made a trip up to Sioux Falls, SD on the 6th.  My sister (Renee) that lives in Vegas was in the area so we decided to head and up visit her while she was so close.  It was a quick trip, but it was fun.  I love visiting family!  On Monday, the 7th, we headed over to my hometown in MN to drop off the kids little motor bike with my cousin for her son, then to have lunch with another cousin.  While I was in town, I decided to see if my grandpa was home.  He wasn't at first, but not even 2 minutes later he drove up.  He was so surprised!  He (and his tag along) came to lunch with my cousin, the kids, and I.  It was nice to be able to visit on such a short notice.

The drive up was nice and peaceful because the kids slept.  Sterling slept the entire 3 hours and Xander 2 hours.  Nice!

The kids and I enjoyed lunch at Chili's then headed over to Barnes and Nobles to wait for Renee.  We then played outside while waiting for her to arrive.

We took the kids to Build A Bear, their first time.  Xander got a very special dog to stuff. 

Sterling choose a special bunny to put her special heart in 

After filling both animals, it was bath-time.  This station was the favorite, it was hard from them to concentrate on anything else. 

Xander's dog is awesome!  A little story behind it, he really wanted the My Little Pony at the front of the store that had a leash and skates.  So we compromised on the puppy with leash and skates.  More fitting for him. 

And this bunny and carrier were perfect for Sterling 

After the mall we headed to the hotel.  We first swam at the water park for awhile.  Went to dinner after we were all starving and our insides were eating themselves.  After dinner we headed back to the room where Auntie gave the kids their birthday presents.  Lego's!  We all had so much fun putting them together and creating new designs!

Time to get ready for bed and Sterling couldn't forget all of her babies! 

Monday morning we woke up, took our time getting ready then headed over to my hometown in MN.  We made a surprise visit to see my grandpa.  He was so surprised!  The kids love playing with him and don't realize that he don't move as fast as them...as Xanders tugging on his legs and arms to come faster.  Hopefully he wasn't sore after our visit!

We're going back to Sioux Falls Easter weekend and am so excited!  We are having a party for the kids and then of course Easter with the family.  So excited!

Xander's Birthday

Xander had a great birthday.  He beamed.  He was proud as he told everyone how old he was and to look at his ribbon.  He's smart, is eager to learn, and has such a fun personality.  He speaks beyond his age, but he is our "repeat machine" :).

Some fun facts from his check up on the 4th:
Weight:  29.4 pounds (3.4 lbs lighter than Sterling)
Height:  36.25 (half inch taller than Sterling)
Did you know that he's supposed to be drawing people already?  I didn't.  I haven't even started working on that with him yet.  I thought he was too young to understand.  Well according to his milestone progress, he should know.  Um, okay, we'll get working on that!

Some fun facts from mommy:
Wears a size 8.5 shoe
Wears a size 3T
Loves his dinosaur blanket and books.  He loves playing with almost everything.  Every day it's something different.  Some days it's his construction outfit, other days it's his trucks, some days it's his lego zoo village, and others it's playing with Sterling's boy baby doll.
He still loves Elmo, Bubble Guppies, Caillou, Daniel Tiger, Dora, but I think his favorite is Croods (movie).  He asks to watch it ever night.
He has a gentle heart.  Lets everyone know that he loves them.  When him and Sissy have been apart, they run up to each other and gives hugs and kisses, where he then says he missed her.  So sweet.
He loves activities of all kinds.  Has melt downs when they are over.  His favorites are gluing, painting, coloring,  puzzles, learning apps, and building things.  He loves to go outside and run his heart out, chasing Hawkeye or Sterling.

Now for the pictures.  There are 32!  He was acting silly when I took his pictures before school.  It's him and his personality so enjoy!

I love this picture!  I wanted a picture with the birthday boy and his reaction looks like...oh mom, please no picture!  Love him!

Sibling love on his birthday.  LOVE these two! 

We can't forget a picture without his zoo animals

Before heading to school I wanted a picture of my two favorite people

After school we stopped by the construction site in the neighborhood.  They were in amazement at the excavator dumping dirt in the dump trucks and the trucks coming down the hill (Sterling was fighting her way through Xander to get up front)

He was so excited to have his green cake.  I let him have it when we got home and glad I did because we didn't get any pictures of him enjoying it when we sang to him after dinner

Present time! 

Sterling got upset because we weren't fast enough cutting off tags 

The dump truck was (and still is) a favorite. 

He took forever opening gifts because he had to play with each one after they were opened! 

And here is when the fighting began

gifts from the grandparents

This is another favorite 

Sterling cracks us up.  She discovered that you can sit in the front of it when the dump is up!

This dump truck is multi-purposed.  Cleans up the birthday mess too!

Reading his map (blueprints)

This birthday was great.  He enjoyed all his gifts and still talks about them.  We're planning to buy a sandbox and his construction toys will get good use and many hours of playtime.

Xander, continue to be such a fun, spunky little boy!  Have fun buddy!  Continue to love on others, your love can change the heart of so many.  You're the best big brother, ever!  Sterling loves you.  Mommy and daddy love you to the moon and back!