Joyfully Weary

We've decided that for each of our kiddos' tenth birthdays we are going to take them away for a solo couple of days with us. A time to build memories of adventure and laughter. A time to fill them up with our love. Also, a time to have serious talks about the joy, privileges and responsibilities that come with getting older.  Big Buddy turned ten this past August and we took him to St. Louis for three days. He's a big Cardinals fan. Originally, we were suppose to go a game but I misread the schedule and booked our trip for the wrong time. He was gracious (seriously, words cannot describe how impressed I am about the man he is growing into) and was fine with just doing a stadium tour instead.  The thing he most wanted to check out was the Insectarium inside the St. Louis Zoo. This kid is insanely passionate about arthropods. Jeremy and I  joked that we should of just taken him to a fie ld for his birthday - the moments where he was bursting with the most excitem...

Big Buddy turned nine this month! Every time another birthday of his rolls around my emotions are so mixed . My heart could burst with pride when I think about the young man he is growing in to; but I also wish motherhood came with a pause button.  This year to celebrate he wanted to have some of his favorite friends over at a  local forest preservse  so they could shoot each other with Nerf guns. 

This last spring, Big Buddy took his 1st Kyuki-do class and a couple weeks ago he received his yellow stripe. He really enjoyed the class and he loves the fact they he now knows some real martial arts moves. He had spent so much time mimicking ninjago that his instructor was positive he'd taken another class before - he was just utterly obsessed.  Receiving his stripe! Admiring his accomplishment!  We've decided that for the time being our kids will take summers off from any extracurricular activities; but he's very excited to start again in August,  Jeremy might even join him. 

This past Saturday we had a joint birthday celebration for Big Buddy (6) and Mini Man (4). They have both been intrigued with knights and dragons for a while now so that's the theme we chose.  the party entrance Papa and Maca Lindsey were gracious enough to let us host the party in their backyard/secret garden, it was the perfect setting.  mini man and big buddy waiting for their guests In leu of traditional party favors, we outfitted the party guests with a sword, surcoat, and shield. Everyone's surcoat and shield was emblazoned with their sigil/initial. this tutorial was my inspiration for the surcoats we purchased the swords at dollar tree The shields were also our party craft. They are cardboard which Jeremy cut with a laser cutter. I then hot glued and taped (double reinforcement!) ribbon on the back for handles. The kids used dot markers  to decorate the shields. This worked out really well because the cardboard a...