Batter Up! Harrison is SIX!

That 6-pound 12-ounce June baby boy of our just turned SIX!  He assures me that six is "grown up...it's first grade, Mama." 

 

Don't remind me. 

 

He had his heart set on a baseball themed birthday party, so I set out "pinning" all things baseball that I could.  And then Strep throat set in. 

 

For me. 

 

Mama got sick. 

 

Needless to say, the party was still fun, but a lot of those great pins got tossed to the wayside.  Bottom line -- Harrison didn't mind at all.  It was his day, his party. 

 

Can't have a June birthday without some water fun to beat the heat...the water slide was a huge hit!

 

Fisher and Harrison crash landing

 

Perhaps the biggest kid of all

 

 

Only Dad would put a $50 bill in a huge empty Frosted Flakes display box!

 

This critter was wore slap out (much like his mother) at the end of the day

M-I-C K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E...what's that spell??!

Mickey Mouse!!

Brig's big birthday surprise courtesy of Granddad and B was a trip to Walt Disney World!  Let me first point out that I've been to Disney literally dozens of times in my 28 years, and it never gets old.  But to see my kids experience the magic for the first time (or second or third...) is by far the most exciting! 

Harrison has been a few times, but this was Brig's very first trip.  AND we managed to keep the whole deal a surprise.  I drove to Mom's Sunday afternoon and we started our trek.  I knew for sure once we got into Orlando and all the Disney billboards and advertisements were up that Harrison would figure it out.  Nope.  Mile after mile, we kept asking him if he knew where we were going and he honestly didn't know.  Finally, we're on Disney property headed to our hotel and we pass under the Walt Disney World overpass and he says, "We're at Disney World???!"  The look on his face was priceless!  And at two years old, Brig is just along for the ride and he's happy to be wherever. 

We settled into our hotel for some rest so we'd be ready to hit the park extra early in the morning.  It was one l.o.n.g. day, but the boys had an absolute blast.  And I'm pretty sure Mama and B had fun too.  We had the most perfect weather and both boys were so well-behaved that we stayed all the way until the closing-time fireworks. 

I went back and forth on deciding whether or not to lug around my DSLR at the park, but I'm so glad I did.  Here's a (somewhat brief) rundown of our day...

Ok, that's a lie-- it's not brief at all

Rarin' and ready to go!  In matching shirts courtesy of Mama Couture

In line to meet Mickey Mouse -- Consider this the "before"

A little unsure about Mickey

And Minnie Mouse was the last straw!

Consider this the "after"

There was no holding Harrison back -- We love Mr. Mouse!

After I picked Brig up, he stopped crying, but the photo doesn't do justice to the death grip he has on me

In the front row on It's A Small World, and Brig loved it!  He thought he "drove" the boat.

Mickey's PhilharMagic 3D show -- Mama's favorite!

Even with his poor busted up face (from the fireplace hearth), I'm still in love with this picture

Gettin' crazy on the Mad Hatter's teacups!

Brig took a little cat nap in the stroller and while he was asleep (and so we wouldn't have a repeated meltdown like with Mickey and Minnie), Harrison got to meet Woody and Jessie.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad -- Harrison's face...ha!

Brig's very own set of Mickey ears

As the parade begins -- again with the face...I love it!

Mama's favorite Mouseketeers

Curious Brigdon is T.W.O!

We celebrated our littlest boy's birthday over the course of a few days full of fun and cake and surprises.  Hard to believe that teeny 6-pounder baby boy is already two.  And I've been fair warned about the "Terrible Two's," but to be quite honest, the Terrible Two's have been around for a few months!

We celebrated on Brigdon's actual birthday -- November 30 -- with cupcakes after supper just our little family.

He says, "Tayke!"  (Cake)

The following Saturday afternoon, we had a small friends-and-family Curious George themed birthday party...appropriately in honor of our very own monkey boy.

Monkey cupcakes -- thank you, Pinterest!

Party favors

The Birthday Boy and B -- Make a Wish!

And what's a party without presents?!

Devoured another cupcake between baths 1 and 2

New wheels courtesy of Meme and Papa & Mama and Daddy

There's one other big surprise from Granddad and B, but that's for another post. 

(Hint:  It involves the infamous Mickey Mouse!!)

Harrison Turns F.I.V.E.!

***yes, this is a catch-up post.***

We celebrated Harrison's 5th birthday on June 21 with a hunting-themed family birthday party at our house.  It was small and simple and so fun.  B and Grandad rented an enormous waterslide for the backyard as their gift to Harrison and was by far the hit of the party.  Heck, it was the hit of the entire day...even J and I played on it with the boys!

"Happy Birthday to You..."

Keeping true to tradition, a picture of our whole family.  Except that this one leaves a lot to be desired.  Daddy is shirtless and the laundry room door is wide open.  Nevertheless, this is my life and I love it.

What's a birthday without a coordinating shirt!

Gifts!

Waterslide Fun

The Cake -- Crafted by Mama



Little Betty Crocker(s)

My nephew Tyler -- a/k/a Harrison's "BFF" -- had his fourth birthday a few weeks back.  Knowing how much Harrison loves to help out in the kitchen, Aunt Sue had the brilliant idea of baking cupcakes with both boys in honor of Tyler's birthday.

They were such great sports and took turns measuring and stirring with the electric mixer.  I spooned the batter into cupcake liners and let them bake/cool.

Birthday Boy!

Don't lie...You know you lick the beaters too!

Yum!

Next up, the fun part...decorating!  I let the boys go hog wild here.  We had every container of sprinkles in my pantry out and nearly all of them were used up! 

After taste-testing a few, the remainder got wrapped up and sent home with Tyler.  Some folks may beg to differ, but you just can't go wrong with boxed cake mix and a jar of pre-made frosting!