Secret Spy Training: Birthday edition

When we started discussing Colin's sixth birthday, (SIX!? when did that happen by the way?) there was absolutely no question, he wanted a secret spy party. Incase you didn't already know, when Colin grows up he is going to become a secret spy or a secret ninja we're clearly still working out the details at this point. But that's down the road when he turns 10, for now we decided a spy training party would be the most fun. 

Like any good mom, I waited till the last minute to plan the party, actually panicking while on vacation in Mexico that I'd totally forgotten about invitations and found these on etsy, naturally and was able to order them while away despite the spotty service. 

Grandpa and Grandma manned the laser training. The picture doesn't do the amount of time that went into this activity justice. Needless to say it fell about three times before we could get it built for the party and I'm sure it would have collapsed any moment were it not for Grandma and Grandpa. However, the kids loved it, none were injured and no one from OSHA showed up to shut us down so its a win in my book. 

This seems like as good a time as any to mention I might have gone a wee bit overboard on planning activities that also required adult supervision to oversee with out actually planning on anyone other than myself to oversee them. Thankfully Namma, Grandma & Grandpa and several of my friends were willing to take on any role I desperately threw at them as long as I provided wine. I'm nothing if not a pusher of libations so it all worked out. 

Unfortunately the forecasted rain meant we had to move the party in doors thus canceling the (water gun) firing range training and replace it with pin the "top secret" sticker on the target. I definitely thought that would be the weak link but who knew the power of a teeny gold star sticker?! For each activity they accomplished they got a gold star. Here's is a pro-tip, kids will do absolutely anything you want for nearly as long as you want as long as there is a gold star sticker at the end as a reward. I immediately went out and bought 2 more packs of gold star stickers for our house but that's another story. 

The one training activity I thought would be the most fun and time consuming ended up being a bust. Not because the kids didn't love searching amongst a sea of inflatable beach balls to find the one marked with their secret agent number, that was the engaging part, no what I failed to foresee was that a group of boys would then use said beach balls to pummel each other. *sigh* When will I learn?

Speaking of secret agent identification numbers, the badges and gift bags turned out pretty well, if I do say so myself, mostly thanks to Namma's help at the "registration" table! Each kid was fingerprinted and given an id badge along with a secret spy name and number they used through out the party. At the end, they each got a certificate of graduation from spy training as well as a mission accomplished bag of spy goodies. This was the most fun putting together. I found the lie detector cards at the International Spy Museum's online gift shop. The mustaches, faux wayfarer sunglasses, secret spy pens and glow sticks all came from Amazon, prime of course. God bless Amazon Prime and their overnight shipping but I could do a whole post on my love for them. 

And no birthday is complete at our house without dinner at Los Tios, a sombrero and singing wait staff. This year was no different. 

Well that was much wordier than I'd planned but I hope you enjoyed some of the pictures. It feels like Colin has grown 5 inches this summer and is immeasurably older acting and speaking. I can hardly believe it. 

Cheers, 
Mamma Toad & Frog

Deep in the Heart of Texas

The first week of June we headed south to Texas for Aunt Wendy's wedding to Mr. John and since we were going to be in Houston, why not drive over to Austin for a few days? This is such a difference between the East Coast and Texas. Here, I complain about driving someplace that is 30 minutes away but for some reason in Texas, three hours feels like nothing. Jim isn't quite on board with my thinking, surprise surprise. Incidentally, we also discovered our new favorite family resort, Lost Pines in Bastrop. We could have stayed a week and not done everything. For the most part the kids wanted to spend every waking moment in the pool. And "pool" by the way, hardly describes this mecca of water activities. A lazy river complete with your own inner-tubes  a sandy beach, kids pool, adult pool that I longingly looked at from afar and a ninety-five foot high twisty water slide. Can you guess where we spent 95% of our time? You would be correct. 

We finally arrived back in Houston for the highlight of the trip, Wendy's wedding!! She looked absolutely stunning and the service was one of the most heart-felt weddings I've ever attended. We kicked off the festivities with a family dinner at Aunt Tracey's where both boys attached themselves to sweet Elijah. They are still talking about how much fun they had and asking when we can go back to Elijah's house! I mean seriously, they asked me this morning when we were going back to their "big kid" cousin's house. 

The following evening Mr. Fred and Ms. Linda hosted a wonderful rehearsal dinner at their house. It would have been a perfect evening had one little stinker William not fallen head first into the pool while I was inside and John's sister-in-law had to rescue him. Needless to say I was a hot mess for the rest of the night. The one moment of hilarity came as I was collecting his wet clothes and he was wrapped in a big towel facing the stunned gathering of say 30 people? He unwrapped his towel like it was Superman's cape and flashed the entire party! I'll say it again, we are nothing if not classy!

Till Next Time, 

Frog & Toad

St. Paul's Graduation

We officially kicked off summer with Colin's graduation from St. Paul's. Its lucky (for you) that I'm writing this two months later because I was such a sappy sentimental mess that week this post would have been three times as long regaling countless example of why we love St. Paul's Nursery School and the amazing teachers and administrators who have become like family to us. *sniffle* Ok, I'm going to stop before I digress. 

Just going to post a few pictures from that day. Including two with Mrs. Raue, the beloved 4's teacher and school bus driver who is moving back to England at the end of the summer. I'm not sure who was more upset at her leaving, me or the kids? She is one in a million! 

And a brief thanks to amateur photog, Jim Morrell for the close ups of the boys, including the one of Colin I like to think resembles  JFK's official presidential portrait. Mom bias? I think not. Enjoy... 

 

Till next time, 
Mom to Frog and Toad

PS I'll have them "write" their own post one of these days. 

Summer Adventures Redux

I don't know how I posted so frequently last summer but considering the fact that we're already half way through this summer, wait WHAT? seriously already half way? *runs to check calendar* Yep yep, half way through. Boy, that went quickly. Needless to say, I don't expect to post much this summer. Having said that we have had a few extra fun adventures that I thought I'd share here. I mean after all Toad and Frog are growing up way too fast and I'm sure in no time they will be off to sleep away camp and I'll be stalking the postman for any proof of life signs.