Yo ho, Let's Go!

My oldest turned 3 yesterday.  I can't believe I have a 3 year old!  It was a busy week getting ready for his party (plus the distraction of the election for a couple days) but it ended up coming together nicely and I think we can call it a success.  R specifically asked for a Jake & the Neverland Pirates party.  We re-did our backyard about 6 months ago so we were excited to host our first barbecue.  November is typically a beautiful month weather-wise in Tucson.  Well wouldn't you know the forecast predicted it would be a cold, rainy day.  Ridiculous because the day we had his party last year ended up being cold, overcast & windy.  Figures.  Thankfully, the rain came overnight and then cleared out mid-morning and eventually the sun came out.  It was still cold - about 60 degrees, which in Tucson = freezing.  It was a little windy too, but despite being cold, I think everyone had a good time.  Standing in the sun helped and we also served hot cocoa, hot tea & apple cider to help warm people up.  Once the sun started to disappear, we all came inside for cupcakes & presents.

Since R isn't in preschool or daycare, he doesn't have a lot of "friends."  Only a couple of my good friends have little ones so the party was mainly adults.  My hubby was the grill master - hamburgers & hotdogs (plus macaroni & potato salads and chips).  We put together a little scavenger hunt/obstacle course for the few kids that were here and I have to say, I was pretty impressed with how cute it turned out.  The night before the party, I asked the hubs to help me come up with the clues in "pirate talk."  The clues would lead the kiddos to a spot where they'd have to complete a task to earn their gold doubloons & treasures.  I had no idea my husband could talk like a pirate so well!  Here is how the game panned out:

(Upon arriving, we let our oldest nephews know we were volunteering them to be our pirates & read the clues to the kiddos in a pirate voice, hehe)

Clue #1 - Arrrr ye land lovers!  Take these sachels ... you will need them to collect all your pirate treasures. (They were given a party favor bag) First, ye need to sail over to Dead Man's Cave and go down Davy Jones' slide for your first piece of Cap'n Hook's Booty.

They went down the slide and got a treasure map and a gold doubloon.

Clue #2 - Oh coconuts!  Quick, scurry on over to Cubby's Court and make a coconut basket to claim ye next prize!

After they made a basket, they received a pirate keychain & a gold doubloon.

Clue#3: Shiver me timbers!  Ye Buccaneers are almost thar!  Ye need to search for your next piece of buried treasure in Skully's Cave.

They crawled through the tunnel and received a Jake sticker & a gold doubloon.

Clue #4:  Avast scallywags!  This next challenge will test all your pirate swag.  Try and drop these gold doubloons into Izzy's treasure chest for yar next piece of treasure.

After they dropped a coin into the jar they received a pirate eye patch and a gold doubloon.

Clue #5: Blimey!  Alright me hearties, ye need to come aboard the Jolly Roger and head over to the poop deck.  This be our last chance to plunder Cap'n Hook's treasure.  It's time to walk the plank, if you dare!  Arrr har har har har!

They walked the plank as the grand finale and earned a spyglass (i think that's what it's called) and a gold doubloon.

Getting their first clue

Score!

Of course R didn't participate .... he's usually much too independent and busy for group activities.  He was busy hamming it up.

I thought it turned out really cute!  This would be pretty easy to duplicate with many different children's themes.


 A few more pictures from the party....

He half laughed, half cried (combination of being upset we made him come inside and not eating anything - too busy for that) while we sang to him but was excited to blow his candle out

Dirt cups!!  I worked at Tony Roma's back in the day and this was probably one of the greatest "skills" I learned there. :)

And then there were presents.  Lots of them.  He'll be busy this week!

The only family shot we got .... at least we got one!  I love my little family :)

Today I had a birthday party "hangover."  B got over-tired yesterday so he was difficult to get to sleep last night, was up a couple times in the night and didn't nap well today.  Hoping we get back to normal tonight!  

A New Beginning

I have been wanting to start a new blog for some time.  I have had a personal blog for a few years now, but have kind of fallen off the bandwagon and rarely post anymore.  I think most people have stopped reading it by now (except my mom, who I really don't need to blog for).  I've been brainstorming ideas of what I want to blog about and can't seem to focus on just one topic.  So I've decided to just jump right in and see where it takes me.

My name is Andrea.  I am 29 years old and married (going on 5 years) to the love of my life, Rudy.  Together we have 2 beautiful boys - who I will call "R" & "B" for privacy purposes.  R is turning 3 next weekend and B just turned 5 months.  Getting used to life with 2 kids has definitely been an adjustment, but we have gotten the hang of things and so far, everyone is still in one piece. :)  We have 3 dogs - Pluto, a yellow lab, as well as Peanut & Little Boy who are both chihuahuas.  Peanut and I are surrounded by an awful lot of boys!  

I am incredibly blessed to be able to stay home and take care of my boys.  Before having babies, I was a fitness & dance instructor at a world-renown health resort and also taught at a dance studio for many years.  I have danced my whole life and it is truly my passion.  I miss it so much and am determined to get involved with it again, one way or another.  Anyway, being a stay at home mom is the greatest, hardest and most rewarding job there is.  Somedays I feel lonely and bored, but I wouldn't trade it for the world.  I get to raise my children and I feel so lucky for that!

Being a single income family of four, finding ways to save money is huge for us.  While I am not an "extreme couponer" (who needs 150 boxes of tic tacs anyway?), I certainly love good deals and coupons.  I rarely shop without them and almost never pay full price for anything.  One of the highlights of my week is getting the grocery ads in the mail .... lame?  Maybe.  But we save a lot of money around here!

I have a long list of diy projects that I have been wanting to do forever.  Maybe having this blog will make me more accountable and I will actually get things done so that I can share them here.  I have a love for scrapbooking.  It's such a fun way to preserve photos and memories and I just love the feeling of looking at a completed page.  I will definitely be sharing some of my work here.

What can you expect to see on this blog?  Reviews of my favorite baby & kid products, diy projects, scrapbook layouts, maybe a recipe here and there (links only, because I sure don't have a talent for creating recipes) and the adventures of my day-to-day life with 2 little boys.  If you happen to find this blog, I hope you will enjoy it and stick around for awhile. :)