Another Year, Another Camera

I turned 33 this past weekend. I love birthdays. I love getting older. I love having the day be all about me. :) It also happened to be Halloween, so we had lots going on.

It did start out a little rough, though. Saturday morning, the kids decide play around and take pictures. Benjamin takes a few and passes the camera to Bella. Bella doesn't seem too comfortable with it and I get nervous about how she's handling it so I tell her that I think she's too little for the camera and attempt to take it away. She will have none of that and whips it out of my reach. Out of her reach too. She whips it with such force that it flies out of her hand and onto the ground with the lens still extended. Good bye 4th camera in 2 years. The day before Halloween. Two hours before the Halloween party. The previous three cameras met their demise being dropped in a fountain (by me), being dropped on the floor (that time by Benjamin), and being sat on (by Kelly) We're hard on cameras! Big thanks to Tara for lending me her camera so I at least got a few pictures of my kids in costume this year.

The day improved after that. We attended my gym's Halloween party in lieu of the one at church because the church doesn't understand that sugaring up tiny children at the time when they're normally already in bed is a bad idea. Luckily my gym had their party at 11am, so we had options. I thought my kids looked so cute in their costumes.


And that party rocked. Blow up jump houses (and a blow up dragon!),


lots of games,


pumpkin patch, crafts, rock climbing, stick-on tattoos, food, music, and a trunk-or-treat.


And what Halloween party is complete without a petting zoo?? That was weird, but the kids liked it.



In the evening Kelly and I went out to dinner by ourselves! Yay! That was very nice. And on Sunday morning Kelly got up early and decorated the kitchen, baked a cake, made breakfast, wrapped my presents, and got the kids to make me cards. I got to sleep in a bit and woke up to find the place decked out. So fun. Again, center of attention, very nice. :) No pictures of that day, obviously, but probably for the best since short hair lends itself to some major bed-head! And Kelly got me a toilet for my birthday! Just what I always wanted. No, he's not that lousy of a husband, but he did install a new one this weekend. So exciting for the kids that it might just be the secret to potty training success with Bella! She sat on it twice today - first time in a long time. Maybe that's the secret-she didn't not like toilets, she just didn't like the old one! ;)

In any case, my birthday was a success, and many friends and family sent cards, emails, and gifts, which was wonderful. I am really very blessed. 33 and mother of 3. Amazing. Now I wait patiently for my new camera.

These pics were sitting on my camera and I hadn't posted them. Benjamin is in gymnastics and last week was "family day" when the sibs and parents were allowed to come play too. The place is really cool - the best part being the pit. Benjamin was determined to find the bottom and ended up getting himself and a classmate buried.



It never ceases to amaze me, though, to see how athletic he is. He jumped, climbed, and ran non-stop for an hour. And he's really getting good in his swim class too. So fun to see him excel and to see him so happy.