Birthday Cake

I know I'm a bit behind on the blog.  I have had a busy life this last week so blogging has had to take a backseat to that.  However, the other night we went to my dad's house to celebrate his birthday.  It was Wednesday, my late night at work.  BJ and Elijah showed up at my work and we took one car there the at the end of the night we went back to my work and got my car.  We didn't get to my dad's house until about 7:30 but dinner was ready and it was delicious as always.  However, before we started eating we noticed that the chocolate cherry cake my sister made earlier that day had all the candles in it and they were all droopy.  BJ and I being annoying went to straighten them but they wouldn't straighten.  That was when BJ pulled one out.  All that came out of the cake was the wick, no wax.  Um okay.  We tried another one, more wick no wax.  Weired.  Finally we decided that the cake must not have been cool enough when the candles were put in.  We left most of the candles in and had dinner.  By the time we were done eating we waited a bit before singing and doing all the fun stuff.  However, as we were pulling the rest of the candles out of the cake they came out with all their wax.  What the heck?  So weird.  Guess the cake wasn't cool enough initially, but when it did cool down enough the wax reformed around the wick and came out of the cake.  We just had to be careful while eating it.  While I was eating the cake I almost broke my tooth on a cherry seed.  My sister just looked at me and said, at least we know they were real cherries.

Even with the seed and the wax it was still a delicious cake.  Even if BJ took all the cake he brought home to work and didn't leave any for us here. 

Remember me?

I barley remember you.  We have done a lot of stuff in just two short weeks.  I don't know if there will ever be a Zoo Part II.  I still have to get to Elijah's Birthday party.  Then there is the wedding I was in this weekend as well as the 4th festivities.  I will try to do a quick run through, but I will save the wedding for it's own post. 

Elijah's Party:

We had a dino themed party, with the appearance of a real live dino. 

We went on a Dino egg hunt.

And had a Dino dig.

And a Dino cake.  Who can't like a party like that?

The Zoo Part I: By Elijah

We went to the Zoo for my birthday.  It was fun.  I fell asleep right before we got there and was a little slow to start.  As soon as we got in we went to see the bears. 

Mommy really likes the bears so she wanted to see them first.  It was a good choice mommy.  The bears were all being crazy.  We stayed there for almost half an hour watching the bears swim and walk around. 

Mommy and I got with in 2 or 3 inches from the bear.  I gave the bear a high five.  It was so cool. 

We spent so much time with the bears, I turned into one. 

After the Bears we went to the children's zoo but my polar bear needed a snack so I gave him one.

 Come back tomorrow for more zoo trip fun.

Happy Birthday Elijah

Oh Elijah,

Another year has passed and you have become a year older. I didn't think time could travel much faster than it did the year before from when you so new, but I think the last 12 months went faster than before. You keep growing and I keep thinking that if you get any bigger Daddy and I might have to talk about having another baby soon because you are so not a baby any more. You are definitely a toddler now. A copy everything you do toddler too. I think my favorite thing that you learned to do this year is put Rescue in her crate every time we leave. You still can't say her name. It sounds a lot more like "dodo" or sometimes "dedoo" but Rescues knows its her time because you would always have a yummy treat for her. I think one of my favorite times was when you tried to fill her food bowl one kibble at a time.

I forget how much you have grown over the year until I look back and compare your then and now pictures. You have so many teeth now, your hair is darker and thicker, you are starting to lose all of you rolly polly parts and stretching out. You are super smart, but I think all mommies and daddies think there babies are the smartest one in the whole world.  I forget that a year ago you couldn't even walk.  Now you look at us and take off running while you yell, "un, un, un, un" the whole time (run, run, run). You currently love your animals and know most of the animal noises. My favorite one is your wolf noise and of course your dino roar.

We didn't travel that much this past year. We just didn't have that may places to go. We still did a lot though.  You spent several nights throughout the year with grandmas and grandpas while Mommy and Daddy had some quiet time.  It felt weird to be in the house without you though.  Like we were missing part of our everyday routine.  Over the last year we:
Saw Fireworks with Grandpa,

Had plenty of Driveway BBQ's

Went to a real pumpkin patch with Grandma,

Went to Augustana for Homecoming

Carved pumpkins
Went Trick-or-treating as a spider

Got sick several times

Hung in your PJ's all Saturday

Had your first (knock on wood, only) ear infection

Saw Santa 4 different times and still couldn't get a good picture.

Wore your first suit

Made new friends

Were snowed in by the BLIZZARD of 2011

Went to the Car show

Played in the snow for the first time
Met your baby cousin Landon

Had a red carpet event with Grandma, Grandpa, and the Gregersens

Went on many Easter Egg hunts

Went bowling for the first time

Colored Easter eggs

Landscaped

Went to birthday Parties

Had lots of trips to the zoo.

To be honest Elijah, this last year you have given your daddy and I a run for our money.  You started being two around 15 months and have added some very trying behaviors at times.  I do say I am sorry for the 2 spankings you had this year, and for the numerous time outs you have had, just so I could get away.  You are really a sweet boy and if I could get you fed, or to sleep before you reach your breaking point we would have a much better life.  There are many days when heading to work is very difficult for me, because that means that I am missing out on 10 or more hours of natural curiously, but I am glad you have friends at school. 

I continue to look forward to the years to come and wonder what they will bring us.  With every day you show me something new and find a new way to push our buttons in just the way that will benefit you the most.  But kid, we love you.  You make us smile more times than not and the more you talk the more I understand what you are thinking.  I can't wait to see where next year brings us. 

Love Mommy

I got a birthday present early.

I got a smart phone.  I convinced BJ to get me my phone early because it would take me quite a while to figure it out how to use the darn thing.  It took me quite a while to figure out how to make a simple phone call let a lone send a text message.  But I am in love with the new thing. I have apps on it to help track what I eat, I have games for Elijah, I have facebook apps, and there are a million other things that I want to put on the thing.  Everyday I find something new.  The first day was the crazy ridiculous flashlight app.  Yesterday I figured out how to put my calender on it.  Today was the fit food program.  Who knows what tomorrow will bring.  So any good droid apps that I can add for Elijah?  I tried a talking giraffe but she is kinda spooky.  BJ and I had fun with her for a while but it is to complicated for Elijah to complete. 

The best part about the phone.  It has a purple case.  And it matches my wedding ring.  Wahoo. 

Let's all sing!

Happy Birthday to you!  Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear BJ, happy birthday to YOOOOOU!

Today was the first day of the last year of BJ's 20's.  We had a great day togeather.  He opened his gifts, we sent Elijah to daycare, we headed off to meet with our financial planner, stopped by Barnes and Nobels, met with a photographer to plan our wedding album, drooled on a Cobra Mustang, went out to lunch at the Tilted Kilt, got some cleaning done and went out to dinner with the neighbors at Portillos. 

The only down fall to the day, we found out we need to be saving a rediculus amount of money over the next 3 years.  Boo to that but wahoo life goals. 

Happy birthday dear.  I love you!  Good luck to your year of fitness, who knows in the next 3 months I too might catch the fever to get in shape before I turn 30!

Grandpa's Birthday

On Sunday BJ's mom and dad came over to watch the Daytona 500 and chill for Bill's birthday.  I fell asleep because car racing does that to me, that and baseball, oh and football, and maybe golf but I never put that on the TV.  After our afternoon naps we made lunch and chilled for a while with toys and cars and fun stuff.  Oh and lots of books. 

I'm still here

Its been over a week since I was here last.  Sorry but the last 7 days + days were crazy. 

Wednesday: I worked until 7 but my last kid left at 1, so I was a bit crabby.  We went out for dinner with the neighbors.
Thursday: We woke up at 7:30 Awesome! and watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with my little guy.  I don't know what my deal was, but I cried about 10 times.  The worst one was when Santa came.  I was a blubbering mess.  Then we left for the Okel home, where we ate and ate and ate. Then we came home.

Friday: We slept int until 7:30 again it was awesome!  we did some cleaning and then we headed out to the mall to see Santa and Auntie Megan.  We then at dinner at Ed Debbviks where I proceeded to lose the Santa picture.  We bought Elijah a suit and maybe one Christmas present.  Then we drove to see Uncle Brett, Aunt Suzanne, Aunt Kelsey, Uncle Jason and Peter.  That's when I started realizing Elijah was a bit warm.  By 8:00 when we got home, Elijah had a 101+ fever.  I gave him drugs and put him to sleep. 

Saturday: We woke up at 8:00am, and got ready to go.  We headed out to the Children's Museum to hang with Grandpa Brian.  On our way to Grandpa's, Daddy got a flat tire and had to spend the next 2 hours fixing it.  By 6:00 Elijah had a fever again and it stayed with him ALL NIGHT LONG.

Sunday: We woke up at 8:00am and was real happy we had mastered sleeping in.  We skipped church to get healthy and get found Christmas in the attic.  And we started getting it all out.  We then headed out to Target, and to dinner for Great Grandpa Chapman's birthday.  When we got back we started putting up Christmas. (pictures to come when we are finished).

See busy not time to post.

100th post of the year!!

First Time since beginning to blog have I hit 100 blogs in a single year. Soon I will also hit a record # 300 blogs for the sight!

Elijah's Birthday party

Things didn't start out the way it was all planned. BJ called me on Thursday and told me that he needed to work at some time this weekend. I went into major panic mode thinking that BJ wouldn't be able to go to Elijah's first birthday party. BJ worked things out to the best scenario possible. That being he would work his 8-4:30 shift on Friday, come home eat, sleep from 8-about 11 get ready to go back to work, work from 12-7 come, home, shower, sleep from 8:30-10, wake up, help me get ready for the party, have the party, sleep, go on with the day. Therefore, I was needing to get everything ready by myself. Thank goodness my co-worker from Rainbow came over to help Friday night. She wrapped all Elijah's gifts and cut up all the fruit for the party. We had all of our family here for the party and it was wonderful. Elijah started to get a bit done with it all after awhile, however, he wasn't feeling the best. He really wasn't about the cake, but that was the first time he really had that much sugar at one time.

It was a great day, maybe next year BJ won't be so sleepy.

Ah what a golden day

1. I know you are all on the edge of your seats to find out about Elijah's party. You have to wait until tomorrow.
2. It finally stopped raining and threatening the end of the world here in Chicago. It was beautiful today.
3. I traded in my SLP title today to relive my hay days as a registrar.
4. The kiddos I did treat today were fantastic and well behaved.
5. Except the child who kept reciting the advisories from the Disney shows he just saw (tease!)
6. Had Jimmy Johns for lunch.
7. Possibly ran a red light with a red light camera (wahoo! Birthday gift from the state)
8. Spent about 6 hours trying to complete one eval.
9. Spent 28 minutes writing a thank you note to a doctor.
10. Received 28 text messages from my hubby today!
11. Spent 28 minutes on Facebook getting all my birthday wishes
12. Read about 28 old blog posts
13. Decided for the second time in my life that I won't work on my birthday again.
14. Realized my plans for the weekend needed to be switched around by a day because I'm living a year in the future.
15. Took a 28 minute lunch outside today.
16. Did not fold the laundry.
17. Did not clean the mess up from Elijah getting into his nicely organized birthday gifts.
18. Did not clean out the garage for the car to sleep inside.
19. Took a stroll through the hood, all is quiet.
20. Got to pick the TV for the evening.
21. Ate Olive Garden for dinner.
22. Stepped in for the evening dance with the baby.
23. Was bit by the baby.
24. Baby laughed so hard when told "NO" that I couldn't hold my angry face and spent about 28 seconds laughing too.
25. Tried to change the diaper genie but almost died. So I stopped.
26. Made BJ change the diaper genie.
27. Had tiramsiu for dessert
28. Had a wonderful Golden 28th Birthday. Thank you to all for my day!

My Birthday at the zoo: By Elijah

I realized many things today. First of all, I have one of those sets of parents that are a bit crazy. Second of all animals are big. Let me tell you about it all.

My day started with Mommy and Daddy singing and dancing when they came to get me out of my crib. It was a bit cloudy outside but they didn't seem to care. Then we got dressed, in animal outfits, and headed downstairs for breakfast. That's when Mommy said that I wasn't going to school today. We were going to the zoo?? Daddy made eggs for breakfast, then we packed up the baby bag and out we went. It was rainy and wasn't looking like a good day to be outside ALL DAY LONG. Mommy kept saying that it would blow over and we would be fine.

We drove off to a big building to say HI to all of Daddy's old friends at his old work. Then I took a quick nap. When I woke up it was raining. We got of of the car, I got in my stroller and Mommy kept dripping me with the umbrella. We went around, went into a building, it was very empty, except for the animals like the bear thingy. We watched the otters play, swim, run and jump, we looked at snakes, cats, and bugs. (Mommy didn't look at the bugs.) Then back out in the rain. We walked down to see seals and they swam round, and round and kept coming to the window to say HI. Nobody was there but us. It was fun. Then we found a tiger, and a little bear. Saw the merkats, the naked moles and some fox looking things. Then it sort of stopped raining. Then we found the Giraffes. They were SOOOOO BIG! So much bigger than Rescues and my stuffed animal.

We had Lunch, then we went to find the bears. ROAR! Mommy was so funny. She loved the bears so much. She wanted to take them all home. Daddy said the polar bears wouldn't fit in the car. Mommy almost cried. I made a cute face and she was happy again. Then I took a nap, Mommy said I missed the Pack a something. Guess I will see them next year. Then we had ice cream, and saw the fishies and road a sea turtle, then off to the penguins. I liked the penguins they were funny and they almost walked right up to me. Then Daddy and I went through the swamp and we both got a bit scared. Daddy said it was going to be okay, but he was kinda scared himself. Then last but not least we saw the monkeys.
We got back in the car and I was asleep before we were out of the parking lot. I slept the whole way home. Mommy said we drove through 2 tornadoes, hail and some other crazy weather. When I woke up we were at Grandma and Grandpa Sarlina's house to have crazy fun time. Then home for bed.

It was a great birthday. I can't wait for the party but Mommy is stressed out. She doesn't think there will be many blogs until the party is done.