Birthday Wrap Up

Jack's birthday was a success! It was beautiful (despite the rain) and fun (with all the kiddies running around, who wouldn't have fun) and sweet (of course, all eyes were focused on the sweetest one-year old around.)

Our house was brimming with the people who love our son the most - family, dear friends (who are so much like family that they might as well be), and the ever present spirit of my mom and dad.

I have many many details to share - which will have to come later - as I didn't take many pictures of the big event. I know. Bad mommy. I was just so busy re-arranging everything inside our house to accommodate the outdoor function moving in that I didn't stop long enough to take pictures of all of my handiwork. Thankfully, one of Jack's godmothers is also a photographer, and she hauled around her big camera and took loads of pictures. As soon as I get them from her I'll update the blog again with pictures of all of the little details.

So this non-visual post will have to suffice - for now...

We awoke bright and early Saturday morning to a doom-and-gloomy forecast. I had high hopes all week that the 20% chance of rain "late in the day" would hold off until the night - to no avail. It started raining early in the morning. Promptly after the bounce house guys delivered and set up the bounce house.

I had two sad little faces looking out the dining room window at the rain falling, drowning the hopes of my little prospective jumpers. As the bounce house started to sag under the weight of the accumulating rain water, James cried out "Mommy, the jump house is broken" - with a look that made me almost want to cry.

Thankfully the weather eventually cleared up - and Deonne was able to get out, relieve the roof of its saggy water, and towel dry the inside - and by the time the party started - it was usable.

Of course, the plans I had for the party to take place outside had been completely obliterated - ensuing in the mad dash to re-arrange the inside of our house to accommodate 20 adults and too many kids to count.

Folding food table set up in the dining room for a buffet. Card table set up in the corner of the dining room for a cake table. Tent on the back porch to cover the drink table. Sweet shoppe/candy bar set up in the living room.

And all of my cute tissue paper pom poms and red Chinese lanterns and birthday banners were hung off of chandeliers (looking a little silly) and across windows and the living room instead of from porch railings and from the inner workings of tail-gate tents.

The screen porch worked for a 'craft station' where we set up the sock monkey puppet paraphernalia - and really, it all worked.

I was disappointed, of course, that we didn't have the beautiful sun-shiny days we've had the past three weekends. That the kids didn't get to run and play in yard, or color with sidewalk chalk, or truly appreciate their bubble machines, or play in the sand box. I was disappointed that the adults didn't get to see the fruits of Deonne and I's efforts (cleaning out the yard, planting a gazillion red flowers, mulching, and organizing.) And (truth be told) I was ticked off that I'd neglected the inside of our house so much that I had to run around and clean up like a crazy person - completely thinking the entire week that everyone would be outside and I wouldn't have to worry about it.

But, again, it worked.

And Jack had a ball. He grinned and giggled and put on the biggest show. He loved the bounce house (once he got his 'bouncing' legs). He loved all of the attention and kisses and hugs from friends and family alike. He had fun playing with his little smash cake - even if he didn't/couldn't eat any of it. And even though he probably had no idea what we were doing making such a fuss - I know he had fun.

And that is the most important part.

Happy Birthday Jack

Happy Birthday Jack!

I have so many thoughts and emotions on this bright birthday morning - that I'm not sure where to begin. You have been such a joy and gentle spirit to our family from the moment of your birth. Your easy smiles and laid back personality have blended well into our lives, and completed our family.


You have been by far my 'easiest baby' in that you have always been easy to please - feed you when you are hungry, put you to bed when you are sleepy, and give you freedom to play and explore your world around you.


Of course it hasn't all been seamless - there have been bumps and concerns along the way - including your slow weight growth until about four months old when you finally started packing on those cute kissable rolls and your string of ear infections and high fevers resulting in tubes - but thankfully, those have been the scariest and worst medical concerns thus far - and we are truly blessed in that respect.


You love to laugh and giggle - and hearing your big hearty guffaws makes my heart soar.


You love to explore and take in the world around you - and are no longer content to just watch it go by. You are itching to keep up with your older siblings, and follow them around the house, getting into whatever mischief they happen to find right along with them.

You are no longer satisfied with crawling - although you are a faster crawler and will often default to that form of transportation when teetering and toddling won't get you there quick enough.

At the age of one you have already figured out how to throw things - and delight in sitting amid a pile of toys, tossing them around you, then fetching them to toss again. Complete with grins and giggles.

You have four teeth - the top two and the bottom two - and I think are trying to get some of your side teeth as well. You have a tough time with teething (who wouldn't?) and it results in lots of drool, chewing on anything and everything, and night awakenings.


Your baby fine hair is growing in very very blond! Lighter in color than Anna's, more akin to your Daddy's hair when he was a little boy. It is so sweet to see it glinting in the sunlight - and I wonder how long it will stay that golden hue. There's nothing like a child's true golden blond hair - and I love that one of my babies has a head full of it.


So far your eyes are still a dark shade of blue - and I'm wondering if they will stay that same color. I hope so. Not only will it make each of the Party kids have eyes of a different color - our own rainbow so to speak - but blue eyes will forever remind me of my own Daddy, and his sparkling, twinkling blue eyes.


Mealtimes are still a challenge for you - not that you don't love to eat and have a very healthy appetite (read: three packages of Stage 2 baby food per meal) - but that you still can't seem to swallow anything that isn't thin baby food. We'll talk to Dr. Ted about that at your check-up next week - see if there is anything we need to be concerned about or if it's just something you'll eventually get the hang of. (Which is my true suspicion...)


You are a big boy - the biggest baby of the bunch - and have far surpassed your elder brother at this age. You are already wearing size 18-24 month clothes - the same size he was wearing last summer. At the age of two. That he could really wear now due to his skinny waist.


You are my last baby. I am in no hurry for you to grow up. While I am excited to see you reach the milestones of crawling and walking and jabbering and chattering and starting to say your first words, I would be lying if I said it didn't tug at my heart. I know my days of doing simple 'baby things' like giving you a bottle or rocking you in my arms are numbered.


As a mother, that is one of the biggest challenges. Loving your baby, your child, the person you knew even before they were born and encouraging them to grow up. I've written about this here before, but I still struggle with it - as I suspect most moms out there do as well.

It's my job as your mother to love you, teach you, help you grow, and eventually - let you go.

Thank goodness you are only one - and I have a few years to adjust to that idea. Although if the following years go as quickly as this past one - you'll be graduating from college before I know it.

Oh my sweet Jack - my love for you is immense. Your smiles, your grins, your temper tantrums when your siblings cruelly take toys away from you, your peaceful face when you are sleeping, your sweet little legs and feet and hands that I can't stop kissing, your love of splashing in the bath-tub and completely soaking mommy and daddy while squealing the entire time, your jabbering, your hysteria at realizing you are walking to the point that you laugh so much you fall down... all of this... all of these things... make you who you are today.

Make Mommy one promise, okay?

Don't up grow up too fast.

My sweet sweet baby boy.

Note: Pictures above are from the "One Year Banner" I created to be hung at Jack's party. Total credit for the idea goes to Kathy - where I seem to get most of my crafty ideas these days!

Party Planning Frenzy

It's Party Week!

Sweet baby Jack is turning one on Thursday. While my heart skips a beat just typing that out - I'm trying not to be too melancholy and sappy - and stay focused on the task at hand.

Which is preparing for his big first birthday bash on Saturday.

Banners have been printed, cut, and strung on ribbons.

Monkey puppets have been prepped for little fingers to craft. (Thanks N!)

Party hats have been assembled and glued.

The Sweet Shoppe (assorted candies in the party theme colors of brown and red) has been prepped, glass apothecary jars have been cleaned, candy tags and ribbons stand at attention.

The lollipop ribbon tree has been created.

Hudson's BBQ for 20 adults and 16 kids has been ordered (and will hopefully be delivered on time.)

Balloons and helium and curling ribbons (in the party theme colors) stand ready for blowing/tying/hanging.

The backyard has been cleaned, pots are brimming with red and white flowers, and the 'meadow' has been mowed flat in anticipation of the bounce house castle that will be delivered Saturday morning.

The big beautiful sock monkey birthday cake (and associated smash cake) have been ordered and will be ready to collect on Saturday morning. (Although - given Jack's inability to eat anything other than thin baby food - not for lack of trying - it should be interesting to see what happens when he is given a whole cake to himself.)

The copper monkey cookie cutters have arrived and butter is currently coming to room temperature on my counter in anticipation of sugar cookie dough making later this afternoon.

Jack's sweet Sock Monkey romper, bib, and party hat have arrived and are laid out on the table - ready for his wear on Saturday afternoon.

The house is *somewhat* clean - but we'll work on that this week.

So what is left to do you ask?

Find boxes appropriate for holding the enormous amount of candy from the Sweet Shoppe.

Attach ribbons and sock monkey stickers to said boxes (once they have been found and purchased.)

Take one last picture of Jack (for his "one year" photo in his first year banner), resize in photoshop, edit color, add caption, print, cut, and affix to banner paper. Then string all 13 papers on ribbons.

Create all sock monkey cookies - roll, cut, bake, cool, base ice, and pipe to look like sock monkeys - not sure yet how to do that - and surprisingly, Dr. Google has been less than helpful in giving me pictures of sock monkey sugar cookies.

Finish making red and brown tissue paper pom poms to hang from tents outside. (The first two didn't turn out so great - I may scrap this depending on my patience level/sanity with the third attempt.)

Wrap Jack's birthday gifts. (Which we still haven't finished shopping for yet.)

Finish cleaning up the house - including guest bathroom, dusting, and vacuuming. (I finished the worst of it last night - that would be the kids' bathroom - mostly thanks to James - who needs to improve his aim at the potty....ahem...)

Last minute shopping - beverages for the party mostly, and strawberries from the strawberry stand near our house.

Oh, and make two desserts for Teacher Appreciation Week - that just so happens to fall this week - of course - help Anna with her final Home/Family project - that just so happens to be due on Thursday - on Jack's birthday - of course - and make cupcakes to take to school on Thursday (even though Jack can't eat them - we'll still try.)

Whew.

I'm exhausted thinking about all of this.

But honestly am glad to have the distraction.

I had my pre-birthday emotional meltdown last night. The one that always comes. The one that lurks in the background and pops up when I least expect it. This one came about as I was dusting Anna's room. She has a framed card that my mom gave her on her birth-day. The day she flew all the way across the country to be here - arriving at the hospital an hour before Anna was born.

Being the glutton for punishment that I am - I unframed it - and read the words. I had forgotten she had written a separate letter inside. A letter telling Anna how much she loved her. Describing all of the fun things she couldn't wait to do with her. The baking. The story telling. The wading in water and collecting clams from her beach.

All of the things that won't come to be.

And it brought home that she's missed this first year of Jack's life. She's never held him in her arms. Never given him a bottle. Never rocked him to sleep. Never sang him a lullaby.

And it made me sad.

And I cried.

A lot.

Life is beautiful. But cruelly unfair at times.

Accomplishment (Part 2)

Remember this post from last October?

Results are in.

We received $2.4 million in funding.

A 57% success rate of the grants we submitted.

8 communities are receiving much needed funds to assess derelict properties and work to return them to productive use.

A lot of hours.

A lot of writing.

Extreme exhaustion and fatigue.

But worth every minute spent in front of this screen.

Accomplishment.

Health

I'm almost afraid to post this - but I think the Party may be back on track and well on the road to recovery.

Poor little Jack had the everlasting tummy bug - that started last Thursday and finally ended (fingers and toes crossed) Monday afternoon.

I think we all had some version of it at some point over the last week - but I'm happy to say all three Longs are back to school today - and Mommy and Daddy are both in our respective offices.

Breathing a sigh of relief - while bracing for the next health crisis....

Hopefully none will come - at least until after next weekend - and Jack's big birthday shin-dig.

I can't believe my baby, my last baby, is turning one next week.

But that is the topic of another post - for another day.

Anna and James' TV Debut

...and shameless political plug...

Check out my darling stars - broadcast across the www and the local TV stations - they're at the end of this political campaign commercial. (Make sure to pause the music on the sidebar first.)



And you fellow Columbians - get out and vote for Steve Benjamin!

Easter 2010 with the Party of Five

'Twas the night before Easter and all through the house - the Party was planning the arrival of the Easter bunny - complete with carrots and water ('cause the bunny might be thirsty after all that hopping around mommy.)

We sat down and read the True Story of Easter to the kids - and talked a lot about how the bunny and eggs were just symbols - and reminded them of what the true story of Easter really is. I don't know why I marvel at this so much - but they really understand. They really 'get' that Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins. They believe. With that whole-hearted amazing child way of believing.

And I am in awe.

And blessed.

And then Easter morning arrived.

And the bunny stopped by in the night and filled the kids baskets.

And left mommy and daddy some treats as well!

We did allow the kids to have a few pieces of candy first thing - then paused to eat a good breakfast - I made quiche Lorraine, fruit salad, and a cheese strudel - then the mad dash to get ready, dressed, and out the door for church began.


I never seem to estimate just how long it's going to take to get five people fed, dressed, packed, and into the car.

Of course, I don't ever anticipate the stumbling blocks that always seem to arise - like Jack - blowing out of his Easter outfit - right before we headed to the car - resulting in scrambling and digging through the box of James' old clothes to find something - anything - that would fit and somewhat match his siblings.

So much for the beautiful matching Strasburg seersucker outfits....

But we managed to get us all into the car, lemon meringue pie and sugar cookies and goodies for the nephews and all. (A side note - the lemon pie was TOPS this year - I try to make it every year - it reminds me of my Dad who insisted we have a lemon meringue pie every Easter. I finally got it right - used the recipe from the "Best Recipe" cookbook - and it was perfect - didn't weep - was lemony and creamy and not runny at all. If you want the recipe - lemme know and I'll type it out.)

We attended the service in Deonne's hometown with his Aunt and Uncle (who are also Episcopal). It's a tiny country church, and we love it. (We also love that it isn't crowded - we don't have to fight for a seat on Easter morning - and once we're there - we're a short drive away from Deonne's parent's house and Easter lunch.)

There was an egg hunt at the church following - which the kids participated in - and loved. James is all for running around at any chance he can get!

And then lunch with Deonne's family.

Followed by the final egg hunt of Easter 2010 - sponsored by Deonne's mom. Now, this egg hunt is much different than the other ones the kids have participated in - in that D's mom likes to hide eggs. I mean HIDE eggs. To the point that the kids lost interest and we adults had to scrounge around inside of azalea bushes and under bricks (yes, under bricks) to find the eggs. I think we managed to find all but one - which she'll look for after the azaleas stop blooming.

Thank goodness she stuffs her eggs with quarters and not chocolates.

We finally returned home around 4:30 - which is right about the time that my tummy started taking a turn for the worse - and I spent my Easter night being sequestered to our bedroom/bathroom.

Not a fun way to end the holiday - especially because I hadn't had a chance to call my mom (I'd planned to do so that night) or really sit back and think about the holiday (what it means) and process some of the thoughts and memories dwelling in the back of my mind.

But all in all - a wonderful Easter.

Praise be the Lord!