The Weekend

This past Wednesday Jack and Alex went to stay with G&G H, Auntie Sue, Johnathan and Danica. Amy took vacation and you could say so did the boys... to the big town of Neillsville!! Jack was so funny before they left, he kept saying that they were going to G&G's house for 100 days. Steve asked if he was going to miss us and Jack said no Dad you can join us too. Ah... I see the show Green Acres in that scenario.... :)

So while Mom and Dad were enjoying the quiet house and being lazy the boys had a blast with my family.

Steve and I arrived Friday and unfortunately I must have caught what Jack had because I wasn't feeling the greatest all weekend. Saturday we took Jack to Marshfield to go see his very first movie at a theater... Monsters vs Aliens. Then it was back to Nville to celebrate Jack's birthday (yes another party and thankfully the last... until next year!!!)

Jack got a Diego Wii game from G&G

and also a Fire Hose!!

Then it was time for more Candles!

Then he got a camera from Auntie Sue, Johnathan and Danica

Say Cheese

Sunday we had a lazy morning and then it was time to head back home. What Jack didn't know was that there was another surprise waiting for him......

He walked into his bedroom and saw this........

A Bunk bed!!!! He was so excited to finally get a bunk bed. Of course he immediately climbed the ladder to get to the top and Alex was inches behind him and I couldn't tell who loved it more... Jack or Alex!

Alex taking over the top bunk...

Jack was very happy with his last bday present (thanks Mom and Dad) and could not wait to go to sleep! The boys ended up playing on the top bunk for what seemed like hours reading books, pretending to go to sleep and just talking. Then bedtime finally arrived!

Here are pictures of Mr Man fast asleep in his new bed!

A great ending to celebrating Birthday Number 4!

Tuesday - Birthday Day!!!

Jack's birthday did not go as planned. He ended up being sick and stayed home with Mom instead of being with his friends. He was sad but we had a great day!

Dad came home for lunch and of course we had to have a candle to blow out.


Then we had to stand next to the birthday flag to continue the tradition. It was way too windy outside so we had to compromise inside.

After his nap we went to visit Uncle Chad at the Fire Station. We brought the Firefighters birthday brownies and looked at all the trucks and ambulance. This was the highlight of his day!

While at the Fire Station Jack got a special gift from Uncle Chad. His very own Firefighter shirt. He was so excited he put it on right there and then and didn't want to take it off all night.

After our visit we went to pick up Alex from Amy's house and came home to have a special bday dinner with Dad. Then it was present time and Jack got a Leapster 2 and two games from Alex, Dad and Mom.

Even though he wasn't feeling the greatest I think he had a great birthday.... or at least he tells me that!

Sunday

Sunday we went to church in the morning which is always a gamble with the kids. Some weeks they are perfect angels and others they or one of them can be... oh lets say a challenge. Well this week Alex was a challenge. :)

After the boys naps Steve's parents, sister and her kids and his grandma came over for dinner to celebrate Jack's birthday. The kids ran around like crazy people and had a good time. Then after dinner it was cake time.... well more so pumpkin pie and rice krispies (Jack's choice).

Jack and Nick planning something sassy.

Alex is figuring out how many more weeks until he gets to have all the parties.

I wonder what he wished for this time around?!

Alex enjoying his sweets

After dessert Jack opened his gifts from everyone.

Look Mom I am a fish!!!!!

Saturday

Saturday Jill came up to celebrate Jack's bday. She arrived around 10:30 and her and I worked out after my shift at the Y. Then we got home and had lunch and the boys went down for their nap.

Alex napping on Steve

Jack wanted to sleep in the Fire Truck bed. That made Steve and I wonder who is really going to sleep in this bed down the road.... :)

After nap all four of us went to Walmart so that Jack could buy himself (remember the coin jug) a new bike. He was so proud of himself picking it out, taking it to the cashier and handing her the money. He gave me the receipt and told me it was for his book (baby book).

After we got home and he rode it around for a while it was time for dinner and while at Walmart Jill thought it would be a great idea to have donuts for dessert (just Jack and Alex). So here is

Jack with his bday donut.

Before Jill left we decided to take a couple (okay more like a 100) photos.

Jill and Jack.... Jack is wearing his Firefighter Helmet that Jill bought him.

Officer Hadzima and FF Van Nuland to the rescue!

Yeah... not the best photo of me. YIKES... can you tell I have been up since 4am?!?!

I need to learn not to turn sideways in photos.

Too Cute!

Here come the silly photos

Can you see where Jack gets his crazy smile?!?

One BIG happy family!

Last Friday

Okay I am going to attempt to update everyone from this past weekend to today.

Friday was a normal day home for me and the boys except Steve, Jack and Alex got a bit goofy.

Steve took the pirate earrings and decided to have the boys where them... well take a look at the pictures.

Charming right?! They had a BLAST and where laughing for 20 minutes taking turns looking silly. Then Steve went to work and the rest of the day was for the boys and I.

After Steve got home from work we decided to empty Jack's coin jug that he has been collecting money in for the past four years and dump it into a rubber maid container so we could take it to the bank and see how much money he has been collecting.

Jack and his money

Alex of course had to do the same thing.

Well we didn't make it to the bank before they closed so we decided to bring the Fire Truck bed out of storage and put it into Alex's bedroom. We are doing the same thing we did with Jack which is... we put it in the bedroom so he can get use to the bed. Then he will start taking naps in it during the day and eventually sleep their full time. It is crazy to look back and realize that Jack was already sleeping in the Fire Truck bed at the age Alex is.... but then again I also needed the crib for Alex who was only eight weeks away from being born!

So proud of his new bed

My crazy boys!

Happy 4th Birthday Mr Man!!!!

Happy 4th Birthday to Jack!!!

I cannot believe how fast time flies.... I still can remember every detail of the day you were born!!

No Satisfaction

Alex got this.. lets call it a music box... from Gma V. It only plays two songs. Jumpin Jack Flash and Satisfaction. Alex goes into these spurts where all he wants to do is listen and sing the same song over and over and over.

How cute is he??!!!

Sexy in Green!

This is what happened to Jill after the "little green man" got her!

One word..... SEXY!

Jack's Friend Birthday Party

This weekend was a very busy weekend for the Van Nuland Family. First Thursday night Gpa H came up and ended up watching the boys Friday so I could go into work for a few hours. Then Saturday Jack got an early Birthday present from the Knutson's. Amy and Ally took Jack to Milwaukee to see Dora Live!

Jack had such a blast! Thank you again Amy for the wonderful gifts and creating a great memory for him!

While Jack was away Steve took Alex to the Y to go swimming so I could get a jump on cleaning the house and get the basement decorated for Jack's "friend" Birthday Party which was Sunday.


Here is the basement decorated.





I ended up covering up our shelves with paper and traced (thank you Jamie for the projector) a few Pirate themed pictures. Trying to set the mood... you can say.

X marks the spot

Pirate Flag

Pirate Ship

I made theses cookies for the kids goodie bag. When they arrived I handed them another goodie bag with the following... bandanna (black for the boys/pink for the girls), pirate eye patch, pirate earring and a skull ring. Needless to say no one wore them for more than a couple minutes if even at all.... so no pictures to show. :)

Here is Alex before the party showing off his bandanna and his "puppy".

Jack is scaring me with his devil smile. Poor Alex has no clue his brother looks a bit crazy!

Hanging out with his sippy.

So after the kids played for a while it was time to hit the pinata.

Jack showing his skills

Alex getting a lift.

Nathan

Noah

Helena

After every kid took three or four swings at the treasure chest Steve had to pull out the "Big Gun" (the razor blade) and made a few slits and finally after a couple more hits....

SUCCESS!

So after that it was time for dinner. Can't go wrong with ham/turkey sandwiches, pasta salad, dips, meatballs, veggie pizza and a ton more food. Too bad most of the kids didn't eat.... they were too busy running around playing. So after dinner came cake and ice cream. Boy that made the kids stop what they were doing and sit down.

Jack's Cake

The kids getting Crazy while I was lighting the cake

Singing the Happy Birthday Song

Then the kids decided to go NUTS. They were banging on the table chanting for cake. I even heard someone say "What is taking so long". Geez you would have thought they didn't have anything to eat all day. :)

Then after they inhaled the cake and ice cream it was time to open presents. Jack got a ton of great gifts from his friends.

I know Jack had a blast at his very First "Friend" Bday Party and will be talking about it for weeks to come.