Declan's Fourth Birthday Party

We did a big Western style party for Declan's fourth birthday this year.  It was epic in scope.   How did we end up at a Western theme?   Well it was largely my nostalgia for Brown family style party planning.  There must be ponies, or its just not a party.  So really the party theme was to make the ponies less noticeable. 

This party has legs!

Here's the invitation-

This year, in an effort to combat the general resistance of Arkansans to RSVPing, I actually included a subtly- worded reply card: 

It wasn't just super cute, it really worked.  Good thing I had an accurate head count too, as we ended up with 90 guests, including 42 children.  Doesn't that sound terrifying?  It wasn't too bad in actuality though, as we didn't have any organized activities, so everyone just spread out to the different play areas, so it never felt that crowded.  We had pony rides, and a petting zoo, toy tractor rides, a Western playhouse town hacked out of cardboard and duct tape, and a crafts table to paint wooden snakes and make Western beaded necklaces.  We also set out the train table, parking garage, and the bouncy house from last year.   In all honesty it turned out to be more of a production than I had originally intended, but it isn't the first time I have gotten carried away, and it is not likely to be the last.  There was a great moment when Shane and I were watching them unload the veritable Noah's ark of petting zoo animals, and a llama and a goat walked by, and I looked at Shane and asked "Too much?" and he assured me it was just right.  Just the right amount of livestock to really make the party go smooth.

Here is the Western town out of cardboard. Included were jail, saloon, outhouse, general store and the shooting gallery.  For the sake of authenticity, the kids' juice boxes were kept in the saloon. 

Also note the cheesy western sunset backdrop used to cover up the huge hole in our fence where we had a dead pine tree removed last week. 

Unexpected Detour

With about 15 hours notice, I flew to Denver this afternoon to attempt yet another IVF egg retrieval cycle at CCRM. I've had my cycles cancelled so often that I really don't expect to go, but then all of a sudden I get the call and have to get gone.  I had booked about 14 appointments this week, meetings, cocktails and birthday parties and so forth, fully intending to be in Little Rock, but now here I am.  If you are expecting to see me this week, I'll be calling you tomorrow.  Wish me luck: I'm off to a better start than ever before, but many hurdles yet to clear.  

In other news, I have left these two behind to fend for themselves whilst I am gone. Wish them luck too!  They look ready for anything.

On the upside, I should manage to catch up with my blogging while here. Lisa, your wish came true.

For Miss Whitney and Miss Courtney, Declan's teachers......

On why I secretly wish you would intermittently poke him at nap time, a little video taken a mere 90 minutes before he finally fell asleep.

Inaugural Easter Drive

In Arkansas there is a longstanding tradition, that on one's third Easter, one gets to drive a motorized vehicle for the first time.  This is called a "hardship licence".   Because it is technically illegal to allow a preschooler to drive an actual car, we made do with a golf cart.  Oh what joy there was to behold.

With Shane's cousin Danny Ray, and first cousin, twice-removed, Livie.

So thrilled!

All-terrain egg collection

Easter Parade

Declan's preschool hosted an Easter Parade in the garden the week before Easter.  Each class crafted a special bonnet to wear and they all just looked so precious.  



With the rest of his preK 3 class....

Chief Navel Gazer

  Thanks to my friend Susan for the photos; I forgot my camera. And to straighten out Declan's shorts apparently.

Llama Llama Easter Drama

We went to another egg hunt hosted by a church in our neighborhood.   For those of you keeping score at home, that makes for 5 easter egg hunting blog posts this year.  Even Declan's grandparents are complaining about the repetitive content.   But somehow I find them irresistable.

 

After the egg hunt, it was time for pony rides.  Declan sure picked an ugly pony.

 Wha-a-t? 

First llama ride, he does it like a pro.



There is no audio, but here my sweet boy is thanking the llama for giving him a ride.  He is a good egg.  Declan, not the llama.

I had to include this shot, because it seems that whenever  I get used to living in the South, something comes along to surprise me.  This time it came in the form of a pony drinking Mountain Dew. 

If I didn't see it, I wouldn't have believed it.





Afterwards we went to the petting zoo.

"THINK FAST!!!"

Actual Easter Morning

We had some houseguests staying with us over Easter weekend, the Sweiggart family needed a stopping ground as they relocated from Little Rock to California.   With all the West Coast friend drain that has been going on over the past year, Declan keeps asking when we are going to move to California.  He is beginning to think of it as the Promised Land.  Anyhow, the Easter bunny left baskets in the hallway with some little toys inside for Declan, Aria, and Aspen. 

When they went downstairs, the kids found the Easter Bunny's icing sugar footprints on the front door step.  Apparently he always lays tracks at the Sweiggarts.   It was a great novelty for Declan.

Which may explain why an hour or so later I found Declan by himself on the front porch, with dropped trou, PEEING on the Easter Bunny's footprints because he "wanted to see what would happen".   In the name of scientific inquiry and all that.

 

Followed up with some Easter morning pajama ziplining. As you do.

That night, the Koch family came over for dinner and an egg hunt.  For some reason, when it came time to hunt for eggs, Declan went and put Phoebe's hamburger costume on.  I guess he figured it worked well for her. 

It didn't slow him down any, and he, Aria and Emma managed to find almost all the eggs.  I had stuffed all the blue eggs with personalized clues for each kid, to lead them on a treasure hunt to find a present hidden by the Easter Bunny.

Declan did a great job of putting his clues in order to find the Connect 4 game the Easter Bunny left for him.

Aria solved her puzzle to find a crown. 

The kids really enjoyed solving the puzzles for the treasure hunt, so it was a well-received twist on the regular egg hunt.  Since by the time Easter actually rolls around, most kids have been on half-a-dozen easter egg hunts, and are all jellybeaned up already.   Feel free to take a picture of my great Easter egg hunt innovation with your instagram and pin it to something.  No charge.

First Word

Declan wrote his first spontaneous, uncopied word this week.   Unbidden he took sidewalk chalk and wrote "Stop" in front of our neighbours' garage because he wanted Mac to "Stop".    So let the record show, his first written word was to tell someone else what to do.

Some events unfold just the way you expect them to.

Doggone Easter Egg Hunt

Saturday we partook in the annual Doggie Easter Egg Hunt in Reservoir park.  Declan dressed as a chef and Phoebe as a cheeseburger. 

Homicidal Easter Bunny choking Phoebe

At the starting line, ready to hunt. 

Declan told me on the way to the hunt "Mommy, I am probably going to try one of the doggie treats while we are there"  True to his word, he ate a rather largish dog biscuit in its entirety.

Declan was keen on collecting eggs for Phoebe but she did not need any help.  She was able to ferret them out on her own, pop them open in her mouth and eat the dog treat inside.

Phoebe won a prize in the talent contest:  3rd place in the Fastest Tail Wagger.  She seemed quite pleased with herself.

Look at how that Hamburger stacks up.

A Rise in Soccer Hooliganism

A recent haircut + a hot and sweaty soccer practice = one budding 3 year old hooligan-in-the-making

What you lookin at mate??

Head butt coming your way!