a party for sports lovers

Yesterday we celebrated Logan's birthday by throwing a big ole' party at his favorite local kids gym, a place called Jumping Jack Sports.  They have an awesome space that is part interactive sports arcade, part massive gymnasium full of things to climb, ride, jump on and throw.  Logan has taken sports classes there before, and Dylan took two skateboarding clinics.  Its a great local business and my kids love it.  He wanted to have a  sports challenge birthday party, and that was just the place to do it.

He invited his cousins and his friends from all parts of his world, some from preschool, t-ball, taekwondo, the neighborhood, and their older siblings.  My Mom and Robby came too, and  Robby got into the moonbounce and let the kids dogpile him with his bad back.  Now that's a good Grandpa!  It was A LOT of fun, and the staff did a great job playing games with the kids including dodgeball, football tackle, and having some relay races.

It was a great day.  It was fun to have a big party for Logan since we've usually only had smaller family parties for him in the past.  He very sweetly said from the back seat on the way home, "Mommy, thank you for letting me have my party there."

When we got home, he enjoyed opening every single present.  Today we've spent hours assembling Legos, a giant marble run, playing his new games, and shooting Nerf guns all over the house.  He now has six Angry Birds and a cool Angry Birds shirt (thanks to Grandma!), spy vision goggles, some Pokemon toys, a trick Gravedigger, and a whole of new stuff to keep him busy the rest of the summer.

What a fun day. And what a joy watching your youngest child turn into a little boy right in front of your eyes.

I'm glad you had such a great birthday, sweet buddy.

cousins!

buddies from t-ball and swimming

Logan and Dylan C, and my Logan and Dylan

getting ready to play!

happy jumper!

Maya!

Josh!

This is E, she lives four houses from us and she and Logan play together almost everyday.  They say they are married, and they're such great friends.

This is Logan's "other" wife K, with her big sister B. Such sweeties.

Logan and his best buddy Josh from preschool.

A and A, brothers, and some of our boys' very best friends.

Logan takes down the mat in a football tackle.

a motley crew

my sweet birthday boy

6th meet

Dylan's sixth swim meet of the season was yesterday morning.  His team is having an amazing season .. out of 6 meets this year they've only lost one.  We have some amazing swimmers on the team.  I'm so proud of Dylan for practicing so hard and doing his best to beat his own times every meet.  Yesterday, he had his best ever 25 Meter Backstroke.  He'll have another ribbon to add to his collection from the season so far!  Only a few more meets..we'll be sad when its over.  I'm going to try and find a year round swim team for him to join, its really been a huge hit for him.

Did I mention the Saturday meets are super early?  We rose at 5:30 am yesterday morning to get there for warm ups!  Bless his heart.

5

Dear Logan,

Five years ago, you became the fourth member of our family, and made it complete. 

You didn't know right at that time, but you'd have someone to look up to for your whole life.  And Dylan was amazed by you.  In fact, he was the very first person to ever make you laugh.  We always know that wherever Dylan is, chances are you're right beside him.  You all have secrets and games no one else knows.  When you have something important to say, you tell Dylan first.

Your cousins Josh and Maya were born three weeks before you, and it was exciting to think of all of you growing up together through the years.

You've grown so much in these five years.  We've watched you crawl, then walk, play and laugh, go to preschool.  And in a few weeks, you'll begin kindergarten. 

Your life so far has been one adventure after another.  Sometimes challenging, but never, ever dull.  We've been trying our best to help you in the areas you need help, and we've been loving you with every ounce of our beings.  You've taught us about patience, courage, endurance and unconditional love.

Your favorite things to do are ride your bike, play Mario Super Sluggers on the Wii, jump on the trampoline, play with your friends, play baseball, eat treats (especially candy), taekwondo, and play Legos.  You love Cinammon Toast Crunch cereal, Sour Patch Kids, strawberries, pizza, and chocolate ice cream. You're super busy and somedays its all I can do just to keep up with you. 

I'm so excited for all the adventures we'll have in the coming years together.  I love you so very much, and there isn't a thing I wouldn't do to keep you safe.  I'm so proud of you, buddy.  It is the priviledge of a lifetime to watch you and your brother grow up, and to share all of this together.

 I love you always, and forever, and always.  To the moon and back.  Happy Birthday.  May all your dreams come true.

Love, Mom

You can read here about turning 4, 3, and 2.

boatin', crabbin', swimmin'

Just returning from a lovely weekend visit with my Dad and Stepmom, at their rural waterfront home on the SE shore of Virginia.  They moved in late last summer, but their big boat didn't arrive until later in the fall.  So this summer is the first time we've really been able to get some serious boat time in on the Chesapeake Bay.  And what a perfect weather weekend for it!

Both days we were there were spent entirely on the boat, navigating to little islands in the Bay where we set up a canopy, picnicked, fished, swam, dug, explored and watched the boys innertube behind the boat.



My beach boys

crabs from their crab pots

Logan tubes

Sunday night we had a little birthday celebration for Logan with my Dad and Bobbie, who can't make it up for his party next weekend.

Grandma let Logan decorate the cake himself.

bathroom, finito

Last week, the bathroom remodel job came to completion with the addition of our frameless shower glass doors and walls. 

You can find all the other photos of the bathroom remodel from start to finish and day by day here, and here.

Disgusting deteriorating, crumbling old shower full of mildew and old tile:

Beautiful new spa-worthy shower. 

 

 
My only complaint about the new shower?  Its so nice in there you don't want to get out.  I dread seeing our upcoming water bills.
 
Again, a huge thank you to our contractor Craig who understood what we wanted and made it happen with all of his skills, talent and expertise!