Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Lilah & Jax's Birthday Evening!

When my babies' Spring photos arrive, I cannot wait to give you all details about WHO these cuties have become, what amazing qualities they contain, areas, in their lives, where improvement is needed, as well as, sharing their favorite foods, shows, friends, hobbies, toys and so much more!! Although twins, I'd prefer to give them their own post and their own moment to "shine".  For now, enjoy the tail end of their 6th birthday!

The twins' woke up and spotted their wrapped gifts, but they patiently waited an entire school day before opening them. After getting off the bus, they couldn't wait another moment.  They begged and begged, "Can we PLEEEEEEEASE open our gifts?"  Darren wasn't home yet, but he said he didn't mind if they went ahead and opened their smaller items.  
Look Who's 6!!!!
I try my best to make the gifts financially equal.  It just so happened, this year, that they received the same quantity of gifts.  
Lilah and Jax alternated opening gifts (one for one).  I love how they took turns rejoicing with whoever was opening gifts.  This is always a day where I feel a little bad for Ty.  Two of his siblings are receiving gifts and he has to watch.  It's good practice for rejoicing with others and avoiding the temptation to be jealous or envious.
As the my kids get older, their appreciation and excitement is so much greater.  I LOVED their reactions to their gifts, as they unwrapped each one.
"Cool!"

NBA and Barbie Mega Bloks.  
Baby clip on chair for her doll, "Isabelle"!
A Mega Nerf gun!
New littlest pet shop and mermaid mega blok dolls.  

This little girl was ALLLLL smiles that day!
Jax got several bug collector items.  Collecting bugs is a favorite past time of both Lilah and Jax, during the Spring and Summer months.  
Lilah's gifts.
Jax's gifts.
I am SOOOO excited to do the butterfly "insect lore" with Jax.  We did it with Ty and it was such a neat experience.  The lore comes with a butterfly net.  You receive the caterpillars in the mail.  They turn into chrysalis and then eventually into butterflies.  Once the cocoons turn into butterflies, you release them into the "wild".  

When daddy arrived home, we took the twins to dinner, as well as, to Sweet Frog.  Lilah wanted a salad from Ruby Tuesday's and Jax wanted Chipolte.  We brought Lilah's salad to Chipolte.  


LOVE THE BELOW PHOTO! SO sweet.  I hope they always remain close.
SWEET FROG!
I brought candles to help celebrate!
While eating their candy infested yogurt, the twins opened their final-BIG gift.  
Jax received a blue, 5th generation iPod touch.  
He looked at it intently, but his reaction was very weak because he thought it was "fake".  As a matter of fact, both he and Lilah both said, "They aren't real.  They are fake!" LOL!
See Lilah's facial expression?  Ty was way more thrilled than Lilah was.  Hehe.  He knew what they were getting. He knew it was real.  She thought it was fake.  
Liley received the pink, 5th generation, iPod touch.
This guy handled the day very well.  He was really happy for his brother and sister.  "Now...:, he said, "They can stop touching my iPod!"
The twins learned very quickly that the iPods were indeed real.  Check out the car ride home.  #hysterical

I can't believe this picky dresser wore his bow tie, from Sun Up to Sun Down! Love it!
Time really does fly by. I have to remind myself, daily, to cherish motherhood and to SLOW-down.  Some days, Most Days, I fail greatly. In the Christian Bookstore today, I heard a commercial, on the over head speaker, that said asked, "IF you had to describe life in one word, what would it be?"  My answer, "Busy!" or "Hectic!" I want life to slow down, so bad, so I can stop and smell the roses or BETTER yet, so I can stop and enjoy my children. 6 years! WOW!

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Lilah & Jax's Birthday Lunch, Snack, and Class Celebration!

I asked Lilah and Jax what their favorite part about their 6th birthday was, at different times, and they had the same answer... "I love my new iPod, but I really liked when you and daddy came to eat lunch with me, at my school!" So sweet!!  Darren and I met Lilah and Jax for lunch, at their school.  We also pulled TY out of class so he could enjoy the lunch I brought.  
When I greeted them, Jax presented me with a very sweet, handmade card, thanking me for the present we gave him, in the morning, before he left for school.  That kid is beyond amazing.  He did that completely on his own.  He's so grateful.  
Everything I packed for lunch was either new or I dressed it up with fun birthday picks. First up, fresh watermelon: Using my melon baller, I scooped out a ton of fresh watermelon and served it with some fun bento party picks, so they didn't have to use a fork or worse their fingers, to eat it.
I brought fun party hats for the twins to wear.
A fun drink: "Good 2 Grow Juicy Character Water".  Every time we go to the store, Lilah begs for one of these $3 drinks.  I always say "NO!" So I thought it would be special for her to get one on her birthday. 
Goofy Jax with his daddy!
More to drink: mini water bottles.  I made my own water bottle labels, with colored card stock and birthday stickers, from the Dollar Tree.
Main Lunch Item: Their lunch time is at 10:45 a.m., so I couldn't bring them Chick-Fil-A or Pappa John's Pizza.  Instead, I brought a piping hot, Digiorno pizza. I found this birthday embellishment, at our local party store, for $.89 cents.
Dessert: Chewy Chips Ahoy "Birthday Frosting Filled" cookies.
 I inserted a "Happy Birthday" pick into their cookies.
I wanted the twins to feel like it was their birthday, even though they had to go to school that day. Creating a unique and colorful lunch helped!  For their birthday snack, I found a "NEW", Captain Crunch, Sprinkled Donut cereal. 
 I bagged it up and sealed it with a birthday sticker!
 They also had a clementine orange with a birthday pick that I made.
After lunch and snack, they had a birthday celebration with their classmates.  I gave them the choice between cupcakes, donuts, or popsicles.  
 The twins chose Hawaiian Punch Bomb Popsicles.  
 We served the popsicles on birthday plates.  (Lilah)
 (Jax)
I couldn't stay for the celebration or of course I would have snapped some photos.  I had a few more birthday details to plan for, as well as, a trip to pack for!  The twins said their peers loved the popsicles though and sang the "Happy Birthday" song to them!