{CAMERON'S 3RD BIRTHDAY BASH...}

The big lil's 3rd birthday party was last Saturday after our visit to Adventure Aquarium. I am so super pleased with myself actually throwing things together after missing his ACTUAL birthday because I was sick. I had planned on an "Under the Sea" theme to go along with our trip to the aquarium but things didn't quite pan out that way. Instead I decided to play off of his movie of choice right now and chose to play it Toy Story style. 

I remember birthdays being very small and intimate with a homemade birthday cake, (my favorite memories from my childhood) and I want, more than anything, for my lil's to share that same joy. So, homemade birthday cake it was...

Simple streamers are very inexpensive and a great way to add a little fun, flare and excitement. I lined them across the doorways for the lil's to run through in order to enter the party...

he LOVED it...

they did it over and over again before they even realized that there was more fun ahead...

the inspiration...

juice and snacks...

favor bags full of fun...

opening gifts...

Nana and Pop Pop's birthday gift. Great game... too bad the big lil' LOVES to watch us play it instead of playing it himself LOL...

a birthday hug from his God-sister...

the birthday boy...

the new lil' was super tired so he wasn't too interested in joining the fun. He just laid back and watched...

loved that the streamers also made and awesome backdrop for the birthday table...

and time for blowing out some candles...

a lil' dur-day cake...

and some self timer fun for mommy and daddy...

just know that I am only including more pics of myself because I know that I enjoy seeing pictures of the bloggers that I follow. But, please me know if it's getting to be too much. I will gladly cut back ;)

My babies had a blast and that makes me one happy momma. I really have a greater appreciation for parents who make these great memories possible for their children. It's rough work but it's SOOOO worth it. 

I love them!!!

Maybe year 4 or 5 I will start inviting a bunch of kids to the boy's birthday bashes. But for now, I don't think they even notice so why bother?!? How do you do your kids birthdays??!?? Go all out or keep it small and simple?

XoXo,

Syreena

{ADVENTURE AQUARIUM: CAMERON'S BIRTHDAY TRIP}

Last Saturday we tripped it to Adventure Aquarium as a part of the big lil's birthday celebration. Eventhough it was super duper cold outside, and even saw a few flurries, we picked up his God-sister and headed to the aquarium with the 'rents and the sister. IT WAS PACKED!!! 

My amazing momma had gifted the big lil' a family season pass which is more than amazing because it basically pays for itself in one big family visit. We can take up to four adults and four children with our pass when the regular admission price is around $28.00! Ummm, score! (thanks momma :)...

I couldn't help but to think that the last time we visited the aquarium the husband and I were celebrating our two yeaar anniversary and I had just started playing with my first camera. Eventhough, the husband swears that we had Cameron when we visited and he promises that he remembers us having a stroller....LOL. So, I showed him proof that he was wrong...HERE...

I loved this pic because it showed how much better my photography has gotten...:) Yayyy for progress people...

Like I said...it was freezing and the bear hat that the new lil' got from his Grammy for Christmas was EverythinG...so cute...

that was our crew...in the bottom right corner...tryin' to get our lives together before we threw ourselves into the super packed aquarium festivites...

my boo's a daddy :)

first we explored the Caribbean Current...

Trying to get decent pictures of the kids and how excited they were was a bit of a challenge. The fight for light and space was a bit rough.

We stopped by to holla at Mighty Mike the alligator. I forgot to get a shot of Mighty Mike but got these cute ones of the lil's...

Kendall Bear was a tad moody. His brother woke him up at 5am and between sleep deprivation and kid overload...I think it was a bit much :/

I LOVE seeing people take point and shoot pictures all super slowly while I shoot and go. The joys of being some what of a professional :)

cute...

and a little shark anatomy...

The Sting Ray Beach club was pretty neat although I think I went in here bymyself. Gotta take the kiddies next visit.

We were running into naptime and it was showing all over the big lil's face, please forgive him...LOL

Then we entered the home of the hippo. It was super stinky in there so I am surprised they were able to smile for this pic... the dad and the sister...

When the big lil' saw the hippo he screamed, "Wook...it's Moto Moto!!!". I laughed SO hard. For those of you who don't know... Moto Moto is the hippo on Madagascar. TOO FUNNY!!!

Finally got in a picture...

Trying to grab some Cherrios for the new lil' who wouldn't let anyone else hold him almost the ENTIRE time. Had to grab snacks to convince him to go to someone else for a bit. (Trying to hold a 25lb toddler in one arm and a camera in the other is rough.)

my favorite part...

they were SO PRETTY...

and look at this baby...

Then we entered the Shark Realm...

Was so pleased with the husband. It is rough the gather kids and navigate through a screaming crowd all while staying patient and enjoying himself. My heart smiled inside. BIG!

the sharks were swiming over us and they were WAY excited...

Momo kept saying, "SHarkkkkkkkkkkkkk!" and if we were anywhere else that could have been a problem. Funny.

no words... I love them...

We had a ton of fun and it was a total reality check that, yes, this is my life now. 

I LOVE IT!

p.s. Anyone have season passes? I'm trying to find more to do with the lil's while keeping hold of my budget. Things can get pricey. I was thinking of also getting a pass to Sesame Place when they open around April. What else do you do with your kids? I can see you guys are reading. I don't bite. Comment. I would love to hear suggestions and thoughts!

XoXo,

Syreena

{ALL HE WANTED WAS TO RACE...}

I really love it when I have a simple conversation with peeps and it turns out to be a good ole' therapy session for me. The husbands parents were sharing stories with me about when he and his sister were small. I shared with them the frustrations that I had been experiencing lately with the lil's and how I really dislike the fact that I get irritated with them so easily. By the end of the conversation I had discovered that the realities of my life I hadn't yet come to terms with. The fact that my life is REALLY different, the way I do things is different and the way I function from here on out will never be the same. I think I am finally starting to get it now. And, that reality really changed my thinking. This morning, when I woke up, my outlook was completely different from the one just before it. 

Moving on with the day. Smoothies for breakfast.... yes please.

and melted provolone on ciabatta...anytime.

the lil's were totally happy with breakfast as well :)

The day seemed to be going so smoothly and then, all of a sudden, the big lil' started actin' a tad bit like a crazy. Everything that his brother tried to play with he took. And not just took but he would snatch it away with a vengeance. What In the WorlD???

It was about my 85 hundredth time telling him the "please, give it back to your brother..." and I could feel my patience running seriously thin. After crying for a bit too long, the new lil' had fallen asleep and I closed my eyes and asked the big lil', ever-so-calmly...

"what is it that mommy can do for you?"

He quickly spouted out, "mommy I wanna race..."

So, I laid the new lil' down in his crib for his nap and I decided to let the big lil' skip his nap time for a lil' quality mommy and me racing cars...

I've also recently found out that the big lil' LOVES the self timer...

we just couldn't get enough...

and this is what happens when he tries it on his own...

this face was definitely worth the extra push for patience on my part...

and we spent nap time racing our little hearts away...

it made for one happy Cammy...

and an even happier momma...

The biggest challenge I encounter is how to "juggle it all". How to divide/share/spread my time and my love, the stress of it all can be a bit much. I've always said that the big lil' has been AMAZING since his little brother arrived. He doesn't often fight for attention and he is so wonderful with him. But, I think that I had started to take that for granted and related his growing older with him not needing as much quality time with his mommy.

I'm so grateful for my little "therapy" session the night before. And, for some reason I feel like I've accomplished so much today. I guess I could say that it's all about the little victories!

Was it difficult for you to juggle your little ones attention/needs etc??? I'm open to any/all suggestions to add to my bag of tricks when things get rough :)

XoXo,

Syreena

{THIS MORNING...}

This morning was kind of like every other morning.

The big lil' rises first.

Wakes up daddy. Wakes up mommy. Insist on waking up brother.

The norm. 

I try to ease myself out of bed. No real excitment for the day. This morning, just like every other morning. At home. With my boys. 

Washing faces. Brushing teeth. Dressed. Chores. Down the stairs and ready for breakfast.  

Oatmeal. Cheerios. Daddy says goodbye and he's out the door.  

We read. We sing songs. We play with train tracks as I count down the hours until nap time even though they just woke up. 

I've purposed to take pictures EVERYDAY no matter what. So I snap a few here, and get a few there. 

I watch as he pretends to read from the pages of a beautiful book. Far from tuned in and still counting down until my next "break". 

 

We stop to color and have a little snack. 

And then back to reading again. 

 

Finally, nap time rolled around. I quickly changed them, started their favorite flicks and put them down. I plopped myself down on the couch and thanked God for getting me through the morning. I flipped through a few channels and tip-toed upstairs to grab something really quickly. I peeked into the big lil's room for a sec and found this...

Apparently, he did a little reading before he decided to make himself comfortable in his tent and get a little rest in for the day. 

I inched myself back and sat in the chair directly across from my precious baby boy and I cried. I cried at the thought of how ungrateful I had been.

I had taken for granted everything that was so beautiful about this morning. Everything that I had spent so much time wishing would go by quickly. Trying to speed through from morning to nap time and then nap time to bed time.

What had I done? How ungrateful had I become?

This morning...

there was so much beauty right before my eyes. My beautiful, healthy, vibrant, joyous boys. My amazing, loving, devoted, Godly husband... I could go on. 

This morning...

I made one good decision. And, as I downloaded the images from the day, that I forced myself to take, I was able to replay and re-live a morning that should have been filled with gratefulness and joy. 

It is so easy to focus on all of the things that you DON'T have or DON'T get to do. So easy to focus on the people that get to go out and the couples before kids that get to travel and do things on a whim. 

If you're not careful, it's so easy to become so ungrateful in a situation where gratefulness should abound you. 

So, this is me...reminding myself of that very thing...

This morning.

XoXo,

Syreena 

{A MORNING IN THE LIFE OF...}

Since I have been the definition of the flu for the last couple of weeks, my camera and I have been separated. She don't love me, I don't love her and the simple thought of picking up my camera runs the risk of cracking its precious glass due to the mess that is my life right now...LoL. So, instead of pushing the limits in order to document the no-happenings that has been going on while I've been under the flu's ugly spell I dusted off a few images from a day, a few weeks ago, with my boys. I woke up to this...

that lead to this...

and then a little bit of this... 

LovE him! Last week I picked up a few cork and dry erase boards along with some animal and car stickers for a chore and potty chart for the big lil'...

they turned out pretty cute and the big lil' LOVES them. He has a list of 5 chores to complete every morning. Getting dressed, brushing teeth, making the bed, putting away dirty clothes and cleaning up toys. He gets an animal sticker of his choice for every task he completes.

then it's potty time... the new lil' typically comes along for a quick overview of things to come and some moral support (he's so cute).

The potty station is just above the throne. It holds a few books for reading, clean undies, wipes and treats...

this is when I hang out and do a little waitin'...

I adore that morning face...crusties and all...

the potty chart is marked with 7 slots by time. each time he goes he gets a Car's sticker of his pickin'...

then we brush our teeth...

make our beds...

and dart to the charts for more stickers...

while this guy is still soakin' it all in...

I absolutely LOVE his morning routine, although it's been kind of tough getting other grow people in our house to follow the plan he seems to fall right back into the swing of things every time mommy handles morning so that's good...

then we snap as many pictures as we can...

then it's downstairs for some breaking of the fast...

I started a Pre-school workbook routine with the big lil' that he seems to really like. Each day has it's own designated subject with Wednesdays being field trip day and everyday includes some computer time (ABC Mouse.com is the BOMB!!!)...

we get some money talk in learning about nickels and dimes while the new lil' does a little exploring...

love that the big lil' must have his Cars' slippers but not necessarily on his feet :)

after our lesson, song bible songs and a little free play and snack, it's naptime...

the big lil' normally fixes a palate on the floor with his Cars' pull out sofa, his animals and his blanket and watches his Disney movie of choice for some nap time soothing...

I LOVE our structured morning routine and can't WAIT to get back to them. If you are a SAHM, what's your morning routine? 

XoXo,

Syreena