3 Year Old Astronaut:)

Yesterday afternoon the Thomas manor was transformed into NASA's very own Mission Control:) The selected guests entered through a door marked with a "Welcome to Mission Control" sign and were handed a personalized mission training pass "badge" to wear:) Some of them eagerly put them around their necks and others looked at me like I was crazy. And maybe I am....

Immediately all astronaut trainees were enthralled with the blue balloons scattered around the floor. Seriously, if you ever want to entertain a young child who is bored, blow up a few balloons, grab a magazine and relax on the couch b/c they will be entertained for hours! I had Z's little friends decorate their own rocketships (a.k.a. big cardboard boxes:) with some star stickers. I wasn't sure how it would go over but they really had a blast decorating the boxes and then taking turns riding in them! There were seriously stars ALL over the floor:)

My wonderful, amazing, generous friend, Danielle, came over to help me set up before the party, saving me many gray hairs! She helped put together another little project for the little ones: little spaceships made out of styrofoam plates and bowls. They got to decorate those with more stars and coloring. Some friends chose to decorate theirs, others threw theirs on the floor (hey, whatever floats your boat!), while still others preferred to color on the black posterboard laid out on the small table.

The menu? Moon pizzas (the infamous homemade Thomas pizza:), Veggies: fire sticks (carrots), glow sticks (celery), and mini planets (olives, Fruit: cut-up Asteroids (oranges), some jiggly Alien stars (green jello!) and for dessert rocketship cake and patriotic cupcakes!!

It was a happy party:)

Friends decorating the "rocketships"

Heather taking a ride! She's such a sweet girl!

Graham decided to tak a ride, too:)

The birthday boy and his sweet brother eating some food. They were such good boys!

The cupcakes: big ones for the adventurous and mini ones for the "younger" crowd:)
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1~ Blast off!!
The kids were seriously clamoring for some cake and cupcakes. They were like those seagulls on Finding Nemo who say "mine! mine! mine!" except they were like, "Cake, cake, cake, cake!!"

My sweet boy who desperately wants it to be his birthday now so he can have a party, too:)

Z working hard on some chocolate cake! There was nary a peep from him til he licked his plate clean!

Opening his presents from his sweet friends!

It was worth every tiring moment to make such a special memory for my three year old big boy! Thankfully I have 4 months to recover until Samuel's birthday.......

Sneak Preview

So pooped tonight after the past 2 days so I thought I'd leave you with a sneak preview of Zakkai's smashing Astronaut Party!

More to come!

Debut

Introducing Zakkai Nathaniel on guitar:

Some things to note:

*You get to see Zakkai's intermittent "shy side" come out. When he plays guitar, he tells me to go back in the kitchen and Ben to go to the bedroom to study:)

*That horrendous crackling noise in the backround is Samuel crinkling a cereal bag.

*I have no idea where that awful southern accent came from that slipped out of my mouth when I said, "This is Zakkai!" Then I had to roll with it and add some more so it wouldn't sound stupid! It didn't work...I'm usually much better with my southern accent. I blame it on my cold:)

All we need to do is get him singing and we've got the next Johnny Cash, right? I knew you'd think so!

Recipe Tuesday?

I've been wanting to share a few more recipes with you since I have found some good (and simple) ones recently! I might choose a day each week where I share a new one with you. Lucky you:) Like my wonderful friend "E" commented a few posts ago, over half the recipes I write down or save...okay, fine probably 70% are sweet and/or chocolatey but I will try to refrain myself from only sharing desserts and go for some healthy dinner stuff. Not quite as fun, but helpful nonetheless:) A ndI will also enlighten you with how I modified it and got the boys to eat it. No easy feat, I tell you!!



Tonight's meal:



Grilled Hawaiian Chicken and Pineapple Sandwiches

6 boneless skinless chicken breast halves, pounded to 1/4 " thick
1 cup Hawaiian style marinade
6 pineapple rings
6 slices provolone cheese
6 wheat sandwich rolls, sliced
6 tablespoons thousand island salad dressing
6 leaves romaine lettuce
6 slices tomato

Preparation:

1. Place chicken in resealable bag and pour in the marinade. Seal bag and marinate in refrigerator for 1 hour or up to overnight.

2. When ready to prepare, preheat oven to broil (or grill). Place sheet of foil over top oven rack. Place chicken pieces on foil and broil about 10 min, turning halfway through. About 5 min before chicken is done, put pineapple slices on rack and cook for 1-2 min each side.

3. Remove chicken from oven and place piece of cheese on top immediately to melt. Top with pineapple slice. Serve chicken on bun, toasted if desired, with lettuce and tomato. Spread dressing or ketchup on top bun and enjoy!

*This recipe called for onion rolls, I substituted wheat sandwich rolls

*The idea of Thousand Island freaked me out a bit so we substituted ketchup, which was really good!:)

*For the boys: I just cut up chicken instead of making it into a sandwich and served the pineapple slices, cheese, and tomato slices separately! Samuel ate a bun and Z (a.k.a. the bread-hater) had a tortilla. I served it with black beans as a side!

*Good meal; would make again!

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Other than eating food, we are back into routine again, continuing to heal physically and praying we don't catch anymore germs this week! I am getting ready for Z's post-poned Astronaut Party on Friday (will post pics!) which he is very excited about:) I get nervous planning parties, like I will be judged on how "cool" it is or something. Pretty silly to be worried about a 3 year old's party, isn't it? (Enter reassurement here).

I must say I am very thankful for my Mom Plan It Calendar (which I so lovingly get each Christmas from my MIL!!) during months like these.

This month is filled with appointments, parties, our 7th anniversary (Babysitting, anyone??) and our very first family vacation!! Woo hoo, March!

Reverse Psychology

We have a child with a strong-will. Stubborn. Tenacious. Assertive. Adorable. But that's beside the point. The point is: reverse psychology. Solves everything.

Mommy: "Zakkai, you need to eat some more of your dinner before you can have your orange."

Zakkai, who was happily eating only moments before, scowls and pushes away plate, "I don't want to eat my dinner!"

Mommy in moment of genius, "Zakkai, don't you dare eat anymore of that dinner! Don't you eat it! I mean it!"

Zakkai with feindish gleam on face, pulls dinner plate back and starts shoveling in food.

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Daddy: "Zakkai! Come here and show daddy your new toy!"

Zakkai runs in opposite direction with stubborn look on face. "I don't want to show you my toy!"

Mommy: "Zakkai, don't you dare show daddy that toy! He does not want to see your toy!"

Zakkai reverses direction and runs as fast as he can towards Ben, giggling and holds out his toy for inspection.

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Do you think reverse psychology will work when he's a teenager?

"Don't you dare come home early!"

or

"Make sure you do everything your friends are doing. I mean it!'

or

"Zakkai, you must grow your hair out in a long, shaggy fashion so you can't see out of one eye. I am serious! You may not cut your hair!"

Think it'll work?