Happy 5th Birthday Spencer!

Spencer's Bug Birthday! 

 Spencer had a wonderful 5th birthday.  This is him and Landon in their new tent from Grandma and Grandpa.  Just in time for Father and Son's Camp out!

 I love my 5 year old!

 The bug PARTY!  These are the butterfly grapes we served...

 The ladybug crackers, which I thought were adorable, but the kids didn't seem to love!

 Worms in dirt (AKA pudding and Oreo's - yum) 

 Bug catchers...

 Bug Juice - Boys are so funny.... The juice had plastic bug floating in it which was totally fascinating to them, but at the same time kind of weird-ed them out.  I had to remove the bugs, prove to them they were not real and then keep them out so they would drink the punch - HA! 

 Caterpillars - creepy but cool looking!

 As part of the party we had plastic bugs hidden all around the yard for the boys to find and put in their bug jars.  I think they would have had fun doing this the entire time!

 Spencer trying to get the spot on the Ladybug...

 Friends doing the fly toss...

 Talon playing bug Bingo... They were so particular about inspecting each little bug.

 Butterfly cupcakes... in a cone (no mess - that's my style) 

 And the finale!  We released hundreds of live Ladybugs for the kids to catch and take home.  (Thanks Aunt Maren for all your great ideas!)  This part was hilarious.  The kids would catch a bunch of ladybugs... get them in their containers...and then look around them for the lid.  As soon as they turned to put the lid on they'd notice all the ladybugs had crawled out of the jars.  We all worked like crazy so each kid could take home a few bugs.  You'd think the odd of catching a whole bunch would have been more in their favor :o) 

  

 Nick, caring Landon, and running beside Spence on his new bike to make sure he could balance okay.

 One handsome and happy 5 year old! 

 Uncle Nathan spinning Spencer and Landon at the same time.

Spencer doing great on this new bike!

Grandma and Cooper.  Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Steph and Uncle Nate worked behind the scenes to make sure everything ran smoothly.  Thanks - We love birthday guests! 

Fishing at Warm River

 We went fishing at Warm River with Jen's family while we were in town.

 The boys.  Most of the fish we caught were guppies from the bank...

 Grandpa on the other hand caught a ton of fish - pretty much every time he dropped his line in he got a bite. Some guys have all the luck!

 The boys watching Grandpa release the fish.

 Spencer!

 Jen, Landon, & Spencer - Spencer loves to find me flowers!

 Nick trying out fly fishing for the first time.

 Grandma and Cooper

 Nick looking Official!

 Landon

 Check out Landon and Steph - What a great face you two!

Stephanie caught a frog for the boys.  They sure thought that was awesome!

Enjoying the Air Show

 We took the boys to the Air Show and like we thought - They Loved it!

 Landon enjoying all the cool airplanes!

 Hat's off for that performance...

 This is us sitting in the only strip of shade we could find.  Funny, but worth it to be out of the heat!

 Spencer thumbs up!

 Sweet tricks...

Spencer and Landon sitting on the wing of the airplane.  Gotta love it!

Butterfly Extremism

 

Today we had a goal to have the ultimate butterfly experience at the zoo.  For those of you that know me all to well this adventure may, unfortunately, not surprise you at all.  Let me back up and give you the preface.  Last year I went with a friend and her kiddos to the butterfly exhibit at our zoo.  These butterflies were beautiful and it was fascinating to watch them fly around - then they started landing on us... even better!  I had no idea butterflies would actually land on people and neither did my kids.  My friend was wearing a light colored shirt that day and they were all over her.  To be honest, we couldn't get them off of her in the end.  The lady working there told us that the butterflies seem to be most attracted to light colors.  (Now they tell me) Both of my boys were in dark blue shirts and shorts.  Spencer was very disappointed by the end - he had one butterfly land on him for nearly 3 seconds and  then fly off.  He really wanted one to land on him so I could get a photo, but we left with disenchanted.   Later that week I had another friend tell me at the Fair they gave the kids Q-tips dipped in sugar water and the butterflies would land right on them as they walked around.  Putting two and two together I decided this year I would give my kids the ultimate butterfly experience and turn them into giant Q-tips!  YES... I actually had them dress in white shirts and light shorts - then I sprayed them down with sugar water!!  I knew the butterflies would be swarming towards my kiddos as we entered the pavilion.  Oh the excitement!  (Below) Just how I envisioned it would be... 

 Landon and Spencer covered in butterflies!  In case the workers were shocked I decided to tell them "I have the sweetest kids in the world!" I thought it might look suspicious and all....a 5 year old and 2 year old covered in butterflies.  Watch me get kicked out... nice try.  You want the bitter truth!?  It didn't work.... (the photo above only has one real butterfly) 

 Here is Spencer begging a butterfly to step onto his hand.  We stood there in the heat of the day, Cooper crying (hungry & teething), me carrying my purse, child and camera for an action shot, both boys standing incredibly still waiting for the moment a butterfly would swoop down and fasten itself to their shirt and mom would proudly capture the moment.  It was long, hot and tiring! 

 Fortunately we did have a few landings... these are the actual butterflies landing on Spencer.   

 On his side...

On his shoulder!  Luckily we captured a few proud moments before Cooper melted down and Landon begged to leave. (Basically I decided I need a new strategy.  No I am not giving up I'm just in the process of re-planning our next visit.  I am up for tried and true techniques! Now I'm a little obsessed with the idea...)