Jalen's family party

The day after Jalen's real birthday we had family over to celebrate Jalen's birthday. I had cupcakes leftover from his friend party but I needed more cake so I decided to make a volcano cake. Once I decided that was what I was going to do I researched how to make it erupt or smoke. I really wanted it to erupt but I just didn't have the time to put into that since he had just had a party the day before. So I settled on it just being able to smoke. 

When I started thinking about his punch I wanted to do something different so I researched different punch ideas and found Paula Deen's volcano punch. I was perfect except for that fact her punch was alcoholic so I just omitted the alcohol and added dry ice and his punch bubbled and smoked also.

 

It was so neat! Jalen loved it and I am so glad I took the time to make this cake for him.

Jalen's first friend party

This was the first year Jalen had several friends he wanted to invite over for his birthday party. I gave the boy all the options in the world for a party but all he wanted was for his friends to come over and play Wii. So on his birthday after school we had four of his friends come over and we made pizza and played Wii. Jerald kept trying to get me to order pizza and not have the boys makes it because he didn't think they would like it but he was wrong! They loved it!

I made dinosaur cupcakes for his party and he had a sparkler candle that was a hit. I am just surprised it didn't catch anything on fire. 

Jalen had so much fun with his friends. I am so thankful that he has made some great friends in school. 

Five

I can't believe my first born son is FIVE years old today! It seems just like yesterday that we were getting ready for a weekend with Jerald's brother and his family when my water broke and off to the hospital we went to wait on the arrival of our sweet little boy. 

Jalen Daniel was born at 5:43pm after 18 hours of labor and then an emergency c-section. Once he was born we realized quickly why he was so hesitant to come into this world on his own he was 9 pounds 6 ounces for heavens sake. 

It has been such and joy and a blessing to watch my little man grow up. Jalen is such an amazing kid! He is so smart and blows me away everyday with the things he knows. He loves school and learning especially about animals and science. He can navigate the computer with ease. He is a great big brother! I am just so proud of him.

I love you do much Jalen and can't wait to see what the next five years has in store for you and many years after that.

Moster Jam

Last night we took the boys to Monster Jam. Last year we took Jalen for his birthday and had an awesome time so this year I asked my brother to get the boys tickets for Christmas. It was so fun to get to see Jace's reaction this year since he didn't go last year. Jace was so funny to watch. He loved it and has already asked to go again. 

Here are a few pictures from the night. 

CARS 2 Party

Here are a few pics from Jace's 3rd Birthday party.

2011

I thought I would do a month by month review of events and activities in 2011 for our family. 

January

Cruise to Mexico-Our family plus my parents and Aunt and Uncle went on a cruise to Mexico with Carnival Cruise lines. My parents had cruised before but my aunt and uncle and our family had not. I think my parents turned us all into cruise fanatics! 

I was able to take my Gram Ruth to Florida to see her sister for the first time in years. It was the first time Gram had flown on an airplane in over 15 years. 

February

Jalen turned 4! 

We had really bad snow the week of Jalen's birthday and we were snowed in for several days. For Jalen's birthday we took him to Monster Jam because he loves monster trucks. He had a blast and January 2012 we are taking him and Jace to Monster Jam. 

We adopted  a cat. His name is Tommy and he is a Maine Coon. He is a really good cat and we enjoy having him in our family.

March

Jerald turned 32! 

Also my Gram Ruth turned 80 this month and I organized a surprise party for her. The majority of the family showed up and lots of her friends. It was a great party and she was really surprised.

April

Jalen started playing T-ball. I wish I could say he had a great time and loved it but he didn't. It was a great learning experience for us and I will thoroughly check out sports leagues in the future before they play sports again.

May

We took the kids to the Oklahoma Science Museum in Oklahoma City. Jalen LOVES science and he was in heaven there. 

 I stared selling birthday cakes. 

Jalen went to his first friend birthday party at Incredible Pizza. 

June

Jerald's daughter Marittza came for a few weeks. She turned 9 years old while she was here and we had a party for her. She had a blast and loved her Justin Beiber cake I made her. 

Jerald got to go to his first Black Gold days. It is a yearly festival/carnival in Glenpool.

July

Me and the boys went to an awesome birthday party at an indoor water park. 

August

Jerald and I celebrated 6 years of marriage!

Jalen started Pre-K at Glenpool Elementary.

He has a really great teacher, Ms Lemons. Jalen loves school!

September

I turned 30! 

For my birthday Jerald took me on a cruise to the Bahamas! It was just a short 4 day cruise but we had a blast! We cruised Norwegian Cruise lines and we left out of Miami and we to Grand Bahama, where we did a Jeep tour, then Nassau, where we took a tour of the island, and Norwegian's  private island, where I got Jerald to go snorkeling with me. For those of you who know Jerald know that was a huge thing for him. I have the best hubby who made my birthday so special.

October

This was the month of short trips with the kids. First we took them to the Tulsa Air and Space Museum. The boys had fun but I think Jerald had the most fun.

We took the kids on a trip to Oklahoma City. We visited the 45th Infantry Museum, the Railway Museum, the Museum of Osteology and the new Outlet Mall. The boys had a blast and by far the enjoyed the Osteology Museum the most. It was filled with all sorts of skeletons from very small to a full size hump back whale. 

We also took the kids to Hallomarine at the Oklahoma aquarium. Jalen went as Batman and Jace didn't want to dress up this year. The boys had so much fun and came home with tons of candy. 

November

We had our first ever family pictures taken. 

We went to Kansas to celebrate Thanksgiving with Jerald's brother and his family.

December

My parents took us to the Christmas Train. It is at a church's camp grounds and is set up like an old wentern town. The main event is the steam train ride and there is food, rides and music. It was very cold but very fun. 

Jace turned 3! 

He had a Cars birthday party and I went way overboard on his cake.

We had an amazing 2011 and can't wait to see what's in store for 2012!

Happy Birthday Baby Boy!

Jace is 3!

I can't believe my baby boy is three years old. It just doesn't seem like three years has gone by already. Happy Birthday to my baby, your are the most funny and crazy kid I know. I  love you so much!