JT's 5th Birthday

  This week we celebrated our youngest Apedaile turning 5! One whole hand!!! Five feels so big, yet it is still so small in the grand scheme of things.

 

JT woke up to a house decorated just for him.

 

Daddy decided to photo bomb the mini photo shoot I was trying to get in before heading to VBS.

 

JT had a fun day at church at VBS. He also loved wearing his Birthday Boy button and all of the "Happy Birthday's" that came as result.

 

The birthday boy chose McDonDon's as he calls it for his special dinner. The happy meal made for a happy boy.

 

 

After dinner we came home for an evening swim. We wanted to wait for Sarah to get home from her day of work from nursing to open presents. Lots of "5" photos were taken.

 



Birthday balloons



 

 



Sarah arrived home and it was PRESENT TIME!!!!

 



Working 12 hour shifts for 5 days in a row made for little shopping and wrapping, so Sarah went with the close your eyes and be surprised approach.

 



Diving rings! Yes, this is something JT is already using! I can't wait to share with you just how quickly he has taken to the water just by having the easy access of a personal pool. I'm quite amazed at his progress.

 



Courtney's present.

 



Angry Birds treats!

 



Water squirt toys- how fun!

 



First part of Lindsay's present- it confused JT a bit.

 



JT knew right away what this gift was.

 



"Are you serious?!?" - what JT asked Lindsay.

 



She gifted JT with her Kindle. Since she now has her i"stuff" she doesn't really use the Kindle much so she loaded it up with some fun games and educational things for JT to use.

 

JT is one lucky brother to have such caring and generous sisters.

 



Time for Nanny and Aunt Cathy's gift!

 



Love the special card and wrapping.

 



It's his own personal alligator!!!

 



JT has already been wrangling his gator in the pool and I'll be posting about that soon. He loves it and even his sisters have been riding it.

 



Mommy and Daddy started off with a colorful pinwheel. JT really loves these beautiful spinning things.

 



A large garbage bag topped with a silver bow- JT approved.

 



However, what the bag was hiding was much better!

 



JT's first pedal bike!

 



Since he has mastered and outgrown his Strider balance bike, it's time for the big leagues! Looking forward to seeing how he does on this. I'm thinking he won't be using the training wheels very long- just enough to master the pedals- something balance bikes don't have.

 



JT chose this awesome Star Wars mini cake surrounded by cupcakes. I know Aunt Cathy would approve of this cake, yes.

 



Ready to listen to his family sing their hearts out to him.

 

The wish...

 

the blowout...

 



may all of your wishes come true, JT.

 



It's fun to be 5!

 



How cute is this boy?

 



 Love him to pieces!

 

A photo collage I made for Instagram of JT on each of his birthday's. Started with the day he was born. Happy 5th Birthday JT!!!

 

 

 

 

The Big 4-0

     Coming to the realization I was about to turn 40 was a bit difficult for me to wrap my head around. I physically feel really good, I feel young at heart, no major maladies to report of. It's just a number that sounds a bit BIG. Hello middle age, so nice to meet you.

     I started out my first day in my 40's much like I do most every day of the week- I woke up and got my morning workout in. Currently completing T25,by the way, and loving it. Need to stay healthy inside and out. After getting my sweat on, a quick shower, I just sported a hat and went to the store with John to get a few errands done. Our family had some plans for later in the day.

 Little did I know that my awesome crew of 4 would be working on a little surprise for me when we were gone. I was greeted at the back door with the kids yelling Happy Birthday and Sarah capturing my surprised face on the camera.

 

 I was totally taken by surprise by all of the lovely decorations that hung from every corner downstairs. Balloons, streamers, signs, and a few Mylar balloons gave the house a very festive look and feel.

 

 

JT approved the decorations.

 

The kids even surprised me with a special birthday hat/crown.

 

All of this festiveness brought to you by these 4 amazing kids!

 

We then headed downtown to Maggiano's. Here is where that morning workout pays off!


Our table was in the front of the building in a semi sunroom with lovely views of West End.

 This girl came hungry! Trying her first fried zucchini dipped in aioli sauce. Yum!!!
 

The 3 sisters- sorry Lindsay for posting this, it's the only one I took!

 

 Luckily, Sarah took a more flattering photo of Lindsay with me.

 

JT started out with a pepperoni pizza, but after a few bites, he decided he wasn't a big fan of the flatbread version of pizza.

 

Our waiter quickly converted it to mac and cheese. It was basically an alfredo sauce over a ziti like pasta. JT LOVED it!

I was even given a special plate of lemon cookies with a little candle.

 

Birthday wish number one. Looks like JT was trying to help me blow out the candle.

 

Once we got home, it was present time.

 

JT, in true fashion, wrapped up something to give his Momma.

 

One of his favorite trucks! I love this photo. Usually for every birthday JT will select and wrap up one of his toys to give. I love that it demonstrates that it's about the spirit of giving not what you get.

 

Then I opened a few gifts from the girls. I was SO excited for this gift!

 

A butter dish!!! We've been without one and I've been searching for one. Clearly the girls have been paying attention to what I say.

 

I was also gifted with a beautiful scarf and a huge measuring cup! I've never had one this large, excited to use it to whip up my latest Pinterest creation.

 

A special gift from my Mom and Aunt Cathy.

 

Aww.. how beautiful!

 

Look at this beautiful engraved box!

 

What was held inside was a beautiful necklace. It's a tree, much like an old oak tree, that is sparkly with little gems. There is a silver medallion behind the tree that is engraved on one side with John and my names along with our wedding date and on the other side all of the kids names are engraved. It is simply one of the most thoughtful and precious things I have been given. I love it.

 

John decided to give me two gifts that were revealed in these envelopes.

 

Reading what one of my gifts are...

 

Disbelief...

 

Shock...

 

Seriously??? I won't reveal what my gifts are as of yet as they are in progress. I'll be sure to post an update when I get them though!

 

I also took a moment to talk to the woman who I need to thank for bringing me into the world, my Mom. I came into the world in quick fashion, 2.5 hour labor and I'm sure I've been keeping her on her toes ever since then. Thanks Mom for being my source of love, support, and friendship these past 40 years.

 

Cake time! I made myself a yummy vanilla coconut cake. John was kind and only made a "40" with my candles and didn't literally place forty candles on my cake.

 

Still quite a few on the cake to illuminate my face in darkness.

 

Oh my am I really 40?

 

Wishing for another fantastic 40 years on this earth to share with my beautiful family.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wall of A's

     As we are getting settled in our new home, I have been looking through my Pinterest boards for some ideas to decorate. I found a fun idea for our entry wall and shared it with John. We made it happen recently and I'm excited to share it with you.

 One day John surprised me by bringing home a bag full of A's! All shapes and sizes- so perfect for our wall!

 

 One evening I went to work on painting our collection of A's.

 

 JT helped me out on a few letters selecting his own colors.

 

 We started with placing our first large A on the wall.

 

 Most of the letters are held on the wall with sticky putty, but John helped me out by hanging a few of the heavier pieces.

 

 I loved the variety of A's John was able to find!

 

JT helped to place a few A's on the wall.

 

Lindsay chose a pink A to hang. Courtney was at volleyball practice, so she was surprised when she got home.

 

 In progress.

 

 Adding a few more...

 

 A squared!

 

 The finished project!


I had a fun time with this first project at our new home. It's a fun and unique way to be welcomed into the Apedaile6 home.