3... 2... 1... BLAST OFF! Ethan is 5!

We took a trip to the moon today and I am exhausted!  Ethan had a great time celebrating with friends and after seeing the smiles and imaginations come out when the kids put on the jet packs... all the hard work and late nights was worth it!  Thank you to all who joined in this "out-of-this-world" adventure, and thank you to my amazing husband, who supported my crazy desires and pipe-dreams!  You are the best!

For those that are interested, here is how the afternoon went:

When the kids arrived, they sat down at the table and colored rockets to use in the game "Land Your Rocket on the Moon". 

After everyone had arrived, we passed out jet packs and explained that we were going to take a trip to the Moon!  (You can imagine the looks on some of the faces, so, I rephrased it and explained that with our imagination, we were going to take a trip to the Moon.)

The kids put on their jet packs, I rolled out the bubble wrap, and everyone prepared for the count down.  10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1...BLAST OFF!  They all jumped up and down, shaking their rocket jet packs and popping the bubble wrap under their feet.  You can imagine it sounded like a real rocket blasting to the moon, right in our living room! 

After lift off, I told them we were going to land our rockets on the moon and enjoy a Lunar Lunch.  They all gathered around the table as Derrick and I introduced them to the Lunar Lunch we had prepared.  Planetary PB&J, Galactic Grilled Cheese, Solar Slime and Cosmic Carrot Sticks, were just a few of our menu items.  They all got a pack of personalized Jet Fuel to wash it all down with (a few smart cookies pointed out it was actually juice packs). 

While they ate, I read them a great book, On the Moon by Anna Milbourne and Benji Davies.  It is a beautifully illustrated picture book that takes you on a journey to find out what it is like to go to the Moon.  The kids seemed to really enjoy it.

After they blasted through lunch, we grabbed our jet packs and paper rockets and played the game that Ethan and I invented called "Land Your Rocket on the Moon".  (very similar to pin the tail on the donkey)

Then, we went downstairs to compete in a few Rocket Balloon Races.  The kids enjoyed this a lot, but after about the 5th balloon, I was starting to rethink my idea.  Derrick did a great job taping the balloons, after I inflated them, to the straws, and the kids were lining up wanting to race again and again!  The first place winners received a rocket notebook and those that got 2nd and 3rd received balloons to take home.

When we were all raced out, and my body couldn't inflate another balloon, we headed upstairs to open gifts.  Last year, at Ethan's birthday party, I started a tradition with gift opening that I think makes everyone feel special.  The kids all sit in a semi-circle around Ethan while each takes a turn, in alphabetical order, coming up and sitting by him while he opens their gift.  After their gift has been unwrapped, the gift giver does a little "show-and-tell" about the gift they were giving.  The kids seem to really enjoy this and I feel it makes the whole experience a little more personal.  Ethan shared with me that he enjoys this too, because he knows what the toy/item does and what they like about it most.  Opening gifts is always a little chaotic, and with Everett in the mix this year, it was even more, but we made it through.  The kids seemed not to mind him standing in the middle of the action too much, although he did try and open a few presents which caused a few to have concern.

 

After presents came Space Sundaes, and while I scooped and prepared the sundaes, they all drew pictures of the favorite part of their space travels.  To top the sundaes, we had Milky Way Mud, Super-Sonic Sprinkles and Comet Crumbles.

Over all I think the kids enjoyed the party and our adventure to the Moon!  Ethan later told me that this was the best birthday party EVER!  I am glad he had so much fun!

The results are in...

Baby Huffey #3 is going to be a BOY! 

We went for our routine ultrasound today to check on Baby Huffey #3 and see if we could find out if he/she was a boy or a girl.  As soon as the ultrasound tech put the probe on my belly, I knew it was a boy.  We had told the tech before that we wanted to keep it a secret until we got home if possible, so she didn't say anything.  I looked at Derrick and he too saw what I saw.  Our boys are not shy.  :)

After she was finished with the evaluation, she asked us if we wanted to still keep it a secret or if we wanted to know.  She said if we wanted to keep it a secret we should look away.  I told her I had an idea as did Derrick so we were okay if she could show us.  Baby was not shy and it was obvious he was a boy.  By this time, Ethan had lost interest and wasn't even paying attention, so we were good in keeping it a secret from him.  Everett was in the corner messing with the chair... he had no idea what we were even doing there.

A few minutes later Ethan said "I can't wait to find out if our baby is a boy or a girl!  How are we going to know?"  I explained to him that the lady was going to write the results down on a piece of paper and put it in an envelope.  Then, when we got home I would put the correct color of balloons in the box and tape it shut.  Then he could open it and what ever color comes out will be the answer. 

We went home with photos and the envelope and Ethan couldn't wait to open the box when we got home.

I put the balloons in the box, taped it shut and wrapped it.  While I was wrapping the box Ethan made the comment "We should do this every time we have a baby!"

When Derrick got home we opened the box with the cameras rolling.  Ethan was so surprised!

Let the sunshine... let the sunshine in

I keep saying this, thinking it isn't going to last, but God has once again blessed us with another beautiful sunny day in the middle of winter!  Is it really January in Iowa?  I really can get used to this! 

Today we went outside and enjoyed the sun, the quiet peacefulness of the winter, watched some eagles soar over our heads, and even went on a short winter hike to build a stick sculpture.  Ethan had a friend come along to play and enjoy the fun. 

Ethan and his buddy, Caleb, acting like a couple of monkeys



Running and playing in the January sun



Everett came down the slide head first and face planted into the wet mulch.
He fussed for a second and then took off running again!





Loving the tunnel slide!



While on our hike we came across this little friend.
He was attached to a leaf we were putting in our sculpture. 
He didn't stick around long.



The boys love exploring



So proud of their creation!



Ethan, adding some final touches.

Now Everett is napping and the two boys are playing imaginative games in the basement, leaving me to catch up on some housework and enjoy the calm of the day.

"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

Look! It's a bird! It's a plane!...

No, it's a helicopter!  Derrick came home today with a new toy for him and the boys. 

Look at the concentration on his face!

Ethan loves it and when it needs to be recharged, he can't wait to fly it again!  Everett likes to watch it fly, and laughs like crazy when it gets close to him.