Lindsey Bug is Three

I had a hard time deciding on a theme for Lindsey’s birthday party.  Her Crayola party was so cute and fun last year- I was tempted to do a redo party.  Then as I was reading to her one night it dawned on me.  She LOVES all of Sandra Boynton’s books and we are always listening to her CD’s. So a Sandra Boynton party it was.

There wasn’t much on Pinterest for this party so I had to actually get creative on my own. That hasn’t happened for a very long time. I couldn’t resist making the subway art. When the girls got here they colored some Sandra Boynton coloring pages. Then we read the Birthday Monster book. Lindsey’s favorite book is Blue Hat, Green Hat. She loved reading it to them and then we role played and did our own Blue Hat. Green Hat. They all loved being the “oops” person. Then we read Horns and Toes and traced our hands like they do in the book.  Another favorite thing Lindsey loves to do. We are always tracing each other’s hands and fingers. Next up… a Monster snack

Lindsey loves popcorn- so popcorn it was. Of course, the kind with white chocolate, peanuts, peanut butter and candies it in. Then we read Perfect Piggies and listened to the song, “Pig Island”. The kids had pig puppets and when they heard the word pig they held up their puppets. With all the dancing that was going on it was hard for them to do both.  We even had to do it again later- it was that fun! (A blurry, but cute picture)

Then it was time for ice cream and cake. I usually like to make my cakes, but this one was beyond my limited skills.  So a week before the party, I took my book and detailed instructions to Wal-Mart bakery (big mistake right there) and told them what I wanted. The day before, they call me and tell me it can’t be done. Really? So I call my friend in a panic and she saves the day for me.  Check out this cute Monster she made.  I love it. And so did Lindsey.

Then we played Boynton Bingo with pink starbursts. Lindsey loves Starbursts and honestly I buy them because she says “Starbursts” so dang cute.

And of course, we couldn’t let our friends go home without a Sandra Boynton book!

I love my little 3 year old, eating her “pupcake”. Greg’s been working with her on getting those 3 fingers just right all week!

Dressing Up

The girls love to get in their dress up dresses, including shoes and jewelry. Then make up and painting nails.  I love how Lindsey wears her bracelets under her armpits and Lauren gets the flower tattoos out as part of the dressing up. I even sent Lauren to music class with that awesome make up job. Something I thought I never would do. But she was so proud that she did her and Lindsey’s make up all by herself. So I told her she just looked beautiful and sent her on her way.

Soccer season is Here

Lauren just started her first season of soccer and is loving it. She has one other girl on her team. She was giddy before her game and ready way early. When I asked her if she was excited for her game, she said, “No, I’m excited for the treats!” That’s my Lauren.

Taylor has been playing 3 on 3 with no goalie. He has been waiting and waiting to be the goalie.  He even had the whistle blew on him a few times last year because he would run down the field when the ball was coming and stand in the goalie box.  So this year they are 5 on 5 and he finally got to be goalie. He was in heaven and had an amazing block! And Lindsey sits on the bleachers and cheers for both of them. “Go Wawin, kick the ball”, Go Taywer, run fast” She has it down!

Leprechaun Day

No matter how many times we reminded Taylor- he still called it Leprechaun Day. And at our house, Leprechaun Day is all about the food.

We also played LUCKY Bingo and the kids went on a treasure hunt to find these GREEN desserts in the fridge with gold coins on the bottom. They spent lots of time making a trap for the Leprechaun and tried really hard to catch one.  The Leprechaun left the toilet water green, put green ribbon around the toilet paper. Lindsey who is potty training right now thought that was SO funny. He also left green pieces of fabric on the lamp and up the blinds. Guess he was trying to escape quickly.

Holidays are “kinda” a big deal around here

We had a fun night at home with the kids. We had Shrimp Alfredo w/ sun dried tomatoes, heart shaped red lobster biscuits, red jell-o, pink milk and for dessert pink love potion floats and pink lemonade cookies. I thought the floats would be a huge hit. Umm, they wanted just ice cream in a bowl. Oh well. Since I did Joy School with Lauren last year, this was her first school party. I got to go to her preschool and help out. She loved making her gumball Valentines for her friends. Taylor made Star Wars Valentines for his class party. Last year we started writing Valentine’s for each person in our family.  We got our pails out again this year.  Greg won hands down for writing the most Valentine’s to all of us. We had so much fun reading them. (Click on the pics to make them bigger)

Sisters

When I was pregnant with Lauren and we found out she was a girl, I knew I really wanted another girl.  There is just something about sisters.  I have brothers and love them too. But it’s my sister I call when I  want to know about kid things, decorating, what she’s making for dinner that night. The list goes on and on. So when Lindsey came, I was ecstatic… for Lauren. She would grow up with a sister. I hoped they would be the best of friends. And so far- they are. Lauren is an amazing big sister to Lindsey. When Lauren is at a friend’s house, Lindsey begs me to go get her. Lindsey cries for Lauren when she goes to preschool. I’m going to be in trouble when Lauren leaves EVERY day next year to Kindergarten. They have become quite the pair.

Will I miss this?

More times than not, I have toys in my bathtub or on my couch in my bedroom.  It’s just what they do. Every few days I get sick of it, and put everything in the hallway and they have to come get it all. Then a few days goes by and sure enough they are all back in my bathtub. Kinda like these pictures. I know one day I will miss the imaginative play and their cute voices and ideas. But I’m pretty sure, I will not miss the toys- even though Lindsey does have these very organized!!

For Sure

For sure she “thinks'’ she is done with naps. For sure she will fall asleep in 2 seconds flat if we go anywhere in the afternoon/evening. For sure I have left her in her car seat, in the garage to get in a little snooze.

Potty Training

Potty Training at our house means reading lots of Dora books and smiles when we actually go in the potty.

But at the end of the day.. it’s still rough. On everyone!

Lindzabug

Meet my Lindzabug who has entered the terrible twos. She is stubborn and determined. Lindsey is my first child to cut her own hair, to color on the table and tile floor and to climb out of her crib. At the young age of 2.5 she is trying to give up naps. I’ve tried to explain to her that she is a Gardner. And that Gardner kids take naps til 4 years old.  Yeah, she’s not going for it. So we try every other day and she ends up playing in her room for 30 min. before she comes out. After taking one look at her room, sometimes I wonder if it’s worth it. She has pulled out every book and toy in that room. When I tell her she wants to be a big girl and wear Dora underwear, she says, “No, I’m not a big girl, I’m Lindzabug.” Oh dear.

In this picture, she is trying to get the laptop that is on top of the fridge. I have to limit her screen time because she loves the computer, TV, itouch and Leapster a little too much. In the beginning, I would just put the electronics on the bar. Until one day when she got the step stool out of the pantry and climbed up on the counter.

Good thing she is pretty dang cute too!

Cute Lindsey in her favorite outfit

Lindsey is TWO

 Lindsey loves to color.  She just loves crayons!  So it just made sense to have a crayon party for her 2nd b-day.  Crayon invites were so fun to make and give to Aunts and Uncles who were coming to the party.

 We did TWO simple activities.  The first one was a crayon scavenger hunt.  She looked for crayons and put them in the right crayon bag.  She was so cute saying the colors as she put them in the bags.  And she got most of them right!!

 And a party would not be complete without her favorite snacks- pretzels (edible crayons) M&M's and colored Goldfish.

 Our next activity was Do a Dot Art (in her Crayola smock)  All the kids and adults loved this. 

 And cake! All day she would come to me and give me a hug and say, "Happy Birfday, Mama!" It was so cute. After a few people sang to her by the next day she would say, "Enzie Birfthday"

 And presents- I couldn't resist the Crayola books!

 She got not one, but TWO Dora dolls and they both had to ride her new Wiggle Car with her.  And she now sleeps with both Dora's.

Party favors

It was so fun to have my brother, sister-in-law and my other brother here for Lindsey's party.  And to capture cute pics like this one.  I just love my little Lindsa-Bug!

1 minute Birthday cake video HERE
40 second Dora video HERE