The Bowling Ball

As we mentioned last week Owen & Gus would not let Amy and I bypass our birthdays without celebrating it just like the professionals do -- in other words, like a four year-old would celebrate it.

On Thursday night we took the kids out to eat and had the staff come out to serenade Amy with "Happy Birthday." They brought her ice cream, which was quickly devoured by Owen, Gus, and Tess. Then on the way home I stopped to get the birthday cake that I had ordered. So dessert #2 was held in our kitchen after which there were three children with sugar levels rivaling a female East German sprinter's testosterone level.

Rather than try to squelch the kids' energy by telling them that they shouldn't chase each other around the downstairs at full speed, Amy & I encouraged the kids to run faster to get all the energy out before we even contemplated baths & bedtime. All three children happily obliged, and even Tucker got in on the action of chasing each other around and making noise.

Unfortunately for Gus, Tucker moved over in front of him during a chase sequence sending Gus tumbling head first into the hard floor. I had always thought that lumps on the head were things of Popeye and Wile E. Coyote cartoons. But no, they are very real as a lump the size of a buckeye protruded from Gus's forehead for the next several hours. In true hardheaded fashion, Gus took the lump like a champ and considered it his badge of courage.

When we celebrated my birthday on Saturday, Amy took the boys out to the dollar store so they could buy some balloons and the boys could get Dad one present each. When they allowed me back in the house to see the decorations and open the presents, I was treated to a slingshot gun that propelled rubber space shuttles and a plastic toy gun that shot ping-pong balls -- in other words, exactly what a dad needs and purely a 100% coincidence that the boys might also enjoy them.

I didn't even get them out of the packages before the boys snatched them and ran off with their new acquisitions. It reminded me of this episode of The Simpsons from season 1.

Birthdays are great when celebrated with little ones that love to celebrate.

Cheers!

Feliz Cumpleaños a Mama

A big Happy Birthday to Amy today!

Owen and Gus were so excited for their mom's birthday -- much more excited than we parents get at the thought of notching another year on our belts. Tess was groggily watching her brothers bounce off the walls this morning, but she quickly picked up on the excitement.

The kids had made pictures for Amy -- including an apple tree under a sky of raining hot dogs and hamburgers (Owen & Tess), a sea of fish with a flying airplane truck overhead (Gus & Tess), and a fiery volcano (Owen & Gus) -- and then hid them under the TV table in their playroom.

Then, this morning when Amy got back from her run the boys played "hot" and "cold" to guide her to the hidden birthday treasures. When Amy didn't find it in about 3 seconds, Gus said, "No Mom, upstairs! Upstairs! Under the TV!"

When Amy sat in the floor the boys couldn't pull out their gifts fast enough, including a small package wrapped in birthday paper.

"Here Mom, here are your jelly bellies! Open them! Open them!"

We need to work on playing up the surprise a little bit. But hey, we'll take the botched surprises in exchange for the boundless energy the kids bring to birthdays any day.

Happy Birthday Amy B!

Birthday Boys

Owen & Gus turned 4 yesterday and we celebrated by taking an afternoon off to go over to their first baseball game, or as Owen called it "a really long basketball game."

The day started with a small celebration at the boys' preschool. Amy & I had sorted through 4 years of digital pictures on the computer to find 10 for each of them. I took my laptop to school, and Gus and Owen each presented pictures from their first 4 years -- from photos of them being connected to a dozen wires in an incubator after birth (which fascinated the other kids) to pictures of trips to the zoo, beach & aquarium. The boys took a lap around the sun candle for each of their four years while the students recited their little birthday poem. It was quite a little event that they do for each birthday.




Owen talks about pictures of him with his dog Tucker, brother and sister, and those chomping alligators at the zoo.


Next it was on to the DBAP, home of the Durham Bulls and Bull Durham. ("Anything hit that far should have a stewardess on it....")


The boys were so excited to see Wool E. Bull that they got stagefright the moment they actually got to meet him. Gus managed a high five but then ran for the sanctity of Mom & Dad while Owen would have no part. They both enjoyed Wool E's caper around the ballpark on a go-cart between innings.


The highlight of the day and the ball game by far was the junk food. Cotton candy, Cracker Jack, popcorn, hot dogs, you name it -- the boys ate it.


"I'm eating this stuff like there's no tomorrow. You only turn four once!"


Finally two tired brothers returned home to hang out with Mom, Dad, GJ, and Tess. Happy birthday dudes. Many happy returns.

Cheers!

Little Ladybug Turns One

So last weekend our little Tess celebrated her first birthday. One year old. I can't believe it. A year ago I rushed Amy to the hospital at 5:00 in the morning, and Tess decided she wasn't waiting any longer. She was hanging out with us by 8:00.

Tess's first year was hopefully a harbinger of what her personality will be. She is one mellow, happy little girl. She can be quite the charmer as what she lacks in willingness to walk around, she makes up for in being a ham.

Amy & I look forward to the days when she can join the mix with her two older brothers, but for now we are just happy that for the most part she doesn't venture too far off.

For the birthday celebration we were joined by Nana and Aunt Kay who flew to Raleigh to spend the week with us. What a good time we had. Although we didn't get to get out and show off the area too much, we made up for it by spending quality time together and decorating the house for the birthday party.

Nana and Kay were tremendous help to Amy & me with the kids, giving us a much-appreciated break from the grind. Amy & I even got out of the house for dinner together after all the partying was over on Saturday. The boys really responded well to their grandmother and great aunt, raring to wake them up every morning and winding down at night as they read bedtime stories together. A great time!

Happy Birthday little ladybug!


Aunt Kay and Nana have a feel for decorating.
Owen has a feel for chips before the eastern North Carolina barbecue feast.
Amy spent 3 days on a ladybug cake. I have to admit -- even after all the grief I gave her for not buying a cake at the store, this one turned out incredibly cute. A job well done!

When it was time to party, we had a little girl who delayed things as she crashed for a siesta before the fiesta.


Our other incredible helpers Ms. Ann and Ms. Jeanne from Covenant came by to help us celebrate the big day.

After all the cake decorating, mantle decorating, balloons, morning nap, and build-up, Tess wouldn't eat her cupcake. She didn't like the sticky icing on her fingers and eventually cried until we took it away. Amy was a bit deflated, but the next day Tess properly dove in to the make-up cupcake head first.


"All this for me? Ok."


Cheers!

To Debate or Not to Debate

What an odd, bizarre day for a birthday...

Congress is trying to hammer out a $700 billion buyout for Wall Street. Democrats back President Bush for the first time in years. The stock market tumbled 150 points in the first 5 minutes from the opening bell. There is a Presidential debate tonight that may or may not happen. And rather than preparing for the potential debate in Mississippi the two candidates are in D.C. (posturing?) trying to help hammer out the deal for the buyout.

On the bright side, Amy & I celebrated our birthdays with a rare night out last night. The kids were well taken care of by our friends Ann and Jeanne from our church. So we went into Raleigh to our favorite restaurant and enjoyed a couple hours away. We intentionally scheduled our night out for Thursday instead of tonight knowing that we would want to watch the debate. So it better happen! :-)

Cheers!

Update: McCain just announced he is attending the debate so the show will go on. Phew!

Happy Jelly Belly Birthday

This week is birthday week at the Rutledge household. The boys' excitement has given an added jolt of energy to the celebration of their parents' birthdays. Normally Amy & I pass through this week with limited hurrah. But the boys would have none of it. A birthday to a three year-old is like a car to a sixteen year-old. So when they found out that their mom's and dad's birthdays were coming, every day they wanted to know about the cake, the presents, and the party.

Last night the boys and I made a birthday cake card for Amy as she was out with Tess. Then we hid it with her present -- two bags of her favorite candy in the world, Jelly Bellies -- in the boys' closet. When Amy came back to the house, the boys were just bursting to tell her what they had done for her. Luckily I held them off and convinced them that waiting until today when it would be a surprise was the way to go.

Owen and Gus were up before 7:00 this morning, ready to serenade their mom with "Happy Birthday." When they gathered up their card & their Jelly Belly gift, the boys barely let Amy out of the shower before they shrieked and shouted birthday wishes to her. (After the celebration, Owen, an avowed sugar fiend, was mostly concerned with whether Amy was going to share her Jelly Bellies.) Kids definitely know how to bring the energy & excitement.

Happy Birthday Amy B!

Birthday Boys

My how time flies. Owen and Gus are three years old today. Some days it seems like yesterday when Amy was grounded on the couch for months of bed rest at the old house. Other days it seems eons ago. Amy & I celebrated the boys' birthday over the weekend by throwing them and several of their friends a Diego-inspired birthday party at our house. We stayed up late Friday night planning an animal rescue adventure, icing cupcakes, stuffing a piñata, and enjoying ourselves more than you would think two tired parents would enjoy the whole process.

In the end, the rain held off just long enough to make the party a really fun time for the kiddos. Amy & I were longing for sleep by weekend's end, but by next year we'll be geared up for another one I'm sure.

Happy birthday dudes. Cheers!

The animal rescue started with rescue heroes Logan and Gus locating the spotting scope in the rescue center....


....then on to the fishing station to save a fish with a hurt fin....


...before proceeding up, up, up Jaguar Mountain with the help of the rip cord rope.



Finally, the kids rescued one of several beanie babies in a trapped cat carrier, a pile of sticks, or a tree -- such as this ferocious land shark.


After last year's struggle for two-year olds to bust open the piñata, we hoped a year's worth of strength and conditioning would enable them as three year-olds to take care of business. Alas, Michael's dad Mark had to step in and assist to knock it open. The young animal rescuers very much appreciated the help so they could get to the candy. Hit the weights children for next year.


Gus & Owen show their impeccable eating manners at cake time.


Benjamin gets some help digging into cake from his dad Rob while Michael clings to the crane that he rescued from a massive wood pile.


Gracen, Jack, Emma, and Gabe discuss having birthdays every week over a sugar high from cake & ice cream.

Happy Birthday

Owen and Gus celebrated their 2nd birthday with a few of their buddies and a sugary version of that little red monster, Elmo. It was a very rainy Sunday, but the kids didn't let the weather get in their way of celebrating the fun. The boys were running around saying Happy Birthday to themselves all day. You can never go wrong with cake, kids, & pinatas. They are already ready for their next birthday.


We kidded Amy that paper mache is a better ingredient for candy pinatas than concrete, but either way it was no match for Abby's swing of the bat.

Sugar and Elmo -- tremendous ingredients for a fun birthday party for two year-olds.

Young Jack takes a break from trucks & balloons for a cupcake.

Owen gives Gracen his beads. In 20 years you may see these two at Mardi Gras.

Gus swipes a bite while Owen is enamoured with the party favors.