Cam deserves a medal this year. When Jenna hurt her ankle in November, we had no idea she'd still be hobbling 5 months later. There was zero way for Jenna to plan and run a birthday party for Campbell so she went along with postponing it. The poor thing had to wait over 4 months but her mom came through with a fantastic sleepover.
Noah's 11th Birthday and Downtown Obstacle Race
As always, Noah's birthday party was delayed due to the end of the school year crush. This year though we had a definite end goals. The Jones Center was having a kid's obstacle race the first weekend in June and Noah circled the date. He invited some buddies over for a sleepover and the next morning they would race. Friday night, we took them swimming. We celebrated low key on his actual birthday. He wanted cheesecake for both and we happily obliged.
Campbell also wanted to race so she invited a friend to spend the night (with the dual purpose of keeping her occupied from her brother) and they raced also. The morning of the race came and they went off in waves by age. Campbell's race was a half mile. She came through the first few obstacles in the middle of the pack. At the midway point though there was one boy in front of her. At the end, though she was in the lead. The final obstacle was a slip and slide down the hill. She sat down and started scooting and I had a flash she was going to lose first place by not just sliding. Luckily the other 7 year olds didn't know what they were doing either. So first place for the baby girl. The best part of the video is the finish line volunteers cheering on that a girl was going to win! You'll have to excuse the end where Oliver finds a bone in the video :)
Noah is such a competitor. He walked the course 3 times when we first got there. He kept asking me if they were doing the route twice since it was twice as long as the 9 and under route. After the 75th time of me saying I didn't know, he asked somebody 5 minutes before his race. Of course they told him the second half of his race was on the other side of the Jones Center. He went pale because he hadn't scouted those obstacles. He was panicked but it didn't show. He won his age group and he wasn't messing around with his slip and slide finish. I kept it running to see the gap to second place.
Noah's surprise birthday party by the Titans
Last Friday was our little boy's ninth birthday. Crazy right? It was going to be a rough weekend though between a baseball tournament and Mother's Day. Each year we give the kids the option of either a big party/small present or a small party/big present. Well this year he wasn't given a choice, we had no time for a party.
Then the tournament brackets come out on Wednesday. For the first time in forever, we not only don't have a Friday night game; we don't have a game on Saturday until 3:30! So last minute we start calling places and seeing if we could have a party. Of course being last second, everything was a no. So we reached out to the Titan's baseball team to see if any boys could sleep over. We got resounding yes' with every teammate being able to make it.
Then we realized Noah had no idea yet, so could we pull off the surprise party? Absolutely. Annie and Pops took him to see the Age of Ultron right after school but they had an extra 20-30 minutes to stall until all the boys could get to the house. He was suspecting something with them but he had no idea it would be all his teammates.
Cam turns 5!
Campbell Christine celebrated her fifth birthday with a Fancy Soiree on a rainy day in November. Her fancy ensemble include ballet slippers tied to the knee, zebra striped tutu accented with pink trim and a crown pin given by Aunt Sarah, and a hot pink leotard emblazoned in silver glitter with Fancy Campbell. Her hair was lovely curled tight by her mother and adorned with colored butterflies and a tiara. Her ensemble was decorated by shiny, family costume jewelry. Tres belle!
Campbell’s fancy entourage arrived and were greeted by handsome, well dressed butlers. One butler took her coat while the other placed a paper flower corsage on her wrist. (Corsages courtesy of mom and Annie). As the girls entered, they were announced and walked into the soiree through velvet rope. Guests were then adorned with borrowed fancy jewels and picked out other lovely accessories to complete their own ensembles.
The fancy fashion show commenced. The girls walked the runway to tunes included in selections from Kids Bop iTunes radio. They balanced bananas on their heads to learn the art of runway walking. Within moments, all were superior and walked the catwalk many times.
After the fashion show, the girls enjoyed peanut butter and jelly swirls, sugared strawberries, and grapes. Campbell blew out her five curly Q birthday candles atop a birthday parfait with sprinkles and a cherry. She opened gifts including Elsa pajamas, jewelry, books, and fancy make-up. Fun was had by all!
Joyeux Anniversaire
Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl!!
Noah's 8th Birthday Party
Noah turns 8
Isn't it great? Not really. He is so grown. I have to look at pictures to remember my "little boy." We have a BIG weekend planned so I'll update you with a gallery on Sunday.
Campbell turns 4
It was a rough few weeks for the Sullivan clan and I neglected to wish Campbell a happy birthday. Our little girl turned 4 right before Thanksgiving. This year the holiday was later than usual so she didn't have to compete with the turkeys. Her party was at Hopes and Dreams gymnastics and her friends came out in force. She always loves being the center of attention and people did not disappoint for her.
To Campbell,
Happy birthday baby girl. You're growing so fast your daddy can't catch his breath. I'm so glad your day was special. All my love.
Dad
Lordy lordy...
My 40th birthday happened to fall on a supermoon this year. When we discovered this last year I was dead set on camping out on my birthday. As the time neared and Jenna discovered I was serious she became a good sport and the weekend was on. The Green's were gracious enough to join us.
We went to Petit Jean mountain. I've been there as an adult but haven't camped there since I was a kid. It was fun to take the kids a place I went several times when I was their age. It hasn't changed much at all with the exception of the walkway over the lookout point. Luckily they had steps down to the old points so I could take my kids out on the rocks where Dad took me.
We had a little rain Saturday afternoon and we got a little wet. It was worth it though for the drop in temp and to get rid of the bugs. I woke up in a tent 2 days in a row. The first morning I was 39. The second morning I was 40. As you can see from the morning picks with the kids snuggled to me; there wasn't much change at all.
Noah's 7th Birthday Party
I'm not as far behind as you think. Noah's party in May was actually snowed out of all things. We had to reschedule it for 3 weeks later but it happened nonetheless. The party was at Modern Mission. It is an outdoor laser tag game with multiple battlefields and guns that shoot 300+ feet. If you've never been there, stop what you are doing and book a weekend with 10 of your closest friends. It is a boy's (no matter what age) dream come true.
Noah turned 7!
It's been a rough birthday week for the poor boy. First, his birthday party was snowed out. Yes, snowed out. Who would've thought you should plan for inclement snow when scheduling outdoor laser tag in May? It's been rescheduled for Memorial Day weekend and in a twist more kids will be able to make it now.
We did his best to make the day special for him but we were really busy. Jenna put down a blanket of balloons on his bedroom floor which he thought was super cool. Since the day was going to be so hectic, he opened his gifts before school. He loves his new bike. The fact that it's got a fork to take off-road means he hasn't found a mud puddle he can't traverse yet.
I was able to spend most of my day at the school with him and Jenna surprised him for lunch. The night tried to be about him but it's hard when he had a 745 PM baseball game. This followed an 8PM game the night before. Before the game he slid into another kid whose cleat got him just under his left eye. The way it happened and the way it looked at the moment, I can't believe he didn't need stitches or wake up with his first black eye.
I asked him last night if he felt 7 because I don't feel like he should be 7. He said "I keep forgetting I'm 7 so I guess I don't feel like I am. What's it supposed to feel like? I don't feel any taller!" I guess we build them up too much when the kid thinks they are going to magically grow on their birthday :)
He's a good kid and we are so proud of him. Love that boy.
Happy 3rd Birthday Campbell!!!
Today our little girl turned three. She's been ready for this day for quite a while. Every toy she saw she wanted for her "Dirthday Darty" and she's been showing 3 fingers for awhile waiting for someone to ask her how old she is. "I'm two but I'm gonna be this many."
The big day was today but the party was last weekend. All of her grandparents were able to be here. She was so proud her friends were there. She took Emily to each of her grandparents and introduced her. A week later she still wears the crown everywhere she goes.
Here is the full gallery...
Campbell's 1st party for her 2nd birthday
I know that is a weird title, but I couldn't figure out a way to say it shorter and not be confusing. Campbell's birthday this year falls on Thanksgiving Day. That created a whole world of logistics problems for the family so we decided to have 2 parties. 1 in Springdale and 1 in ElDorado. Yesterday was the Springdale party. She had a lot of fun. I'm still not sure she knew the party was for her but she loved the party just the same.
I started culling pictures to post but honestly, this one here sums up the whole thing. After the party in ElDorado I'll make a gallery combining the two parties. Happy Birthday to my little girl!
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Happy Birthday Noah-Happy Mother's Day!
Noah's birthday fell on Mother's Day this year. Kind of neat they got to celebrate together. Jenna didn't seem to mind sharing her day and Noah was oblivious to anything other than him being 5 years old. He had a pretty big birthday weekend. Hayden spent the night Friday and they slept in a tent in his room. Saturday we went and watched the Miracle League and then Noah had a soccer game. Sunday brought church and singing in the sanctuary for Mother's Day followed, a trip to ToysR'Us, baking a cake and getting a gazillion phone calls from people singing happy birthday.
As people who haven't been parents for too terribly long, we messed up one area. This is the first year Noah's party will be after his actual birthday and although we prepped him, he was upset he didn't have a lot of presents to open. We fixed it by that night and he was never bratty about it. Just one of those things where we forget he's only 5.
Monday morning was hilarious. He woke up and exclaimed "Yes! My first day of kindergarten!" Sometimes all the explaining in the world just can't undo what you previously told a kid. "When you're 5, you'll go to kindergarten," has probably been said a bazillion times to him. He took it with good grace that he was headed back to his preschool that morning, but I'm still not sure he truly understood why. Live and learn I guess :)
His birthday party was actually the next weekend so it was kind of a week long celebration. All his grandparents went out to eat with him the night before and he cheesed up from everyone singing 'Happy Birthday' to him. His party was at FAC and most of his friends were able to make it. Of course we paid for the slides/jungle gym/blow-up/etc. and they spent half the time in the 14X15 foot padded room. His friends enjoyed the Ben-10 theme and he totally loved being the 'expert' they all came running to for the superpowers of their alien party mask. He had another party of a classmate we were going to attend after his but the boy was pretty wired and and was a whiny mess. We went home and let him jump a little on his trampoline (his birthday present) and then bedtime came easy for all of us.
Happy 60th Magga (Mom)!!!!
Happy birthday Mom! I love you...but I still have to post the video of the aftermath of your birthday song. If you ask I'll take it down :)
Campbell's 1st Birthday Party
Congratulations to our baby girl. Her momma was emotional all morning knowing her last baby is turning 1, but she made it through. It was a lot of fun with her family and friends here. Of course the cake was her favorite part.
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