December 10, 2011-Happy Birthday Anderson

Birthday Party Time!

Highlights from today: (Click here for pictures)

• Keaton woke up around 6 this morning and Graham was the next one to wake up.  Campbell seems to enjoy sleeping back in the closet and is sleeping longer.  When you ask her if she slept in the closet she will just grin.  
• Robby worked in the yard a bit this morning and before we knew it, we were scrambling around trying to get ready in a hurry.  The kids all had baths and Reagan even had two baths.  I was downstairs with the boys and the girls upstairs decided they were finished and climbed out of the bathtub.  They were even putting on their clothes when I came back up.  But Reagan desperately needed her hair washed so she had to get back in the tub.  I hate to squelch anyone's independence but had to wash that hair.  Poor Campbell needed her hair washed but it wasn't worth that battle-I just combed the toothpaste and everything else out of her hair.
• My van was loaded up and we swung by to pick up Grannymom and Grandpa and then met Robby at the Clinton Library for our pictures with Santa.  The kids were very excited to see Santa and Reagan has been debating for days about what to ask Santa for.  Reagan, Anderson and Graham all set in his lap and talked to him.  Next up was Campbell and she wasn't too happy about being in his lap but she didn't fuss.  When he asked what she wanted I reminded her to say "toy" and she did.  Reagan asked for an American Girl giftcard, Anderson asked for a monster truck that goes upside down and Graham asked for a train that makes it's own train tracks.  Since I hear Santa only has 1 out of 3 of those presents, I reviewed that Santa will get a present that he knows they will love and enjoy.
• So after we had our pictures made with Santa, we went in the area to wait on the pictures.  When we walked in, each of the kids picked up a cookie.  They were all coloring their pictures and Grannymom was feeding Keaton, so I decided that I would also like to eat a cookie.  I went up and got one of the table and the lady asked how many kids I had and was going to help me gather their cookies.  I told her they had already had one and I just wanted one-then she told me the cookies were just for the kids.  Ooops, I already had the cookie in my hand and offered to put it back  but she politely told me eat it quick.
• Anderson and Campbell finished their cookies and saw the cookies on the table and walked up and got more.  Reagan then decided that she wanted another one and went to the table.  The lady asked if she had eaten a cookie and she said yes.  So she was told that she could only have one.  Poor thing-seriously, I think the Clinton Library should ask Santa for some cookies!!
• From there, we all headed back to Grannymom's house for a quick photo shoot of the kids in their dressy clothes. Robby and Anderson then hurried off to go to Brody's birthday party at Larry's pizza.  Anderson was so excited and wanted to make sure that Robby had some money in his pocket.  I left Reagan, Graham and Campbell at Grannymom's house and Keaton and I headed home.
• When we made it home, I worked for a bit and then Keaton had to eat.  By the time Robby and Anderson arrived pretty much everything inside was ready.  Anderson helped Robby hang the pinata and blow up the fire truck.  Later when I looked out to check on their progress, I saw Pops climbing out of the fire truck.  He came early and Anderson enjoyed hanging out with Pops.  They sat and looked at the monorail for a long time.  And then when Anderson was showing Pops his cupcakes, Anderson again said "this is going to be the best birthday party ever."
• Soon the guests started arriving Noah and his 3 brothers, Jacob, Ethan, Kennedy, Camryn, Laynie, Lilly, Cash, Harrison, Brody and his brother, Anna Claire and Collier and his brother.  Those 17 plus our 5 made 22 kids at the party.  Keaton slept through the entire party-in the swing in the middle of the kitchen.  Seriously, she was sound asleep-if 21 other kids and plenty of adults talking, eating and singing didn't wake her up.  
• The kids played in the firetruck outside and then came in to eat.  After we ate, Anderson opened up his presents and we have now cancelled Christmas (no one boy needs all of this stuff-though Graham was just as happy as he could be because he realized that he gets to keep and play with all of those presents too.  Reagan even found her a present that she enjoyed as well).  An airplane, firetruck, motorcycles, Buzz Operation, play doh, a helicopter, feetie pajamas, art supplies, lots and lots of trucks and tractors and a movie.  The boy could not have been any happier.
• Next up was cupcakes and singing Happy Birthday to him.  I seriously can not believe that he is 5.  It didn't take too long for them to gobble down their cupcakes when they heard the pinata was next.  Everyone had a turn at the pinata and Todd did the final honors and busted it for everyone.  They all dove into the loot.  I had filled it with candy and little firemen.  And those stinking kids just got the candy and left all of the firemen on the ground (a few were picked up) but most of them were just left for me to pick up.  
• We finished the party with everyone playing on the firetruck until it was time to leave.  Anderson was ever so polite and said his thank yous and thank you for coming to my parties but he came back inside the house after the pinata.  He was busy trying to open up as many new toys as he could.  
• After everyone left, Reagan, Graham, Cash (who is spending the night-this birthday just couldn't get any better for Anderson) and Anderson opened up most of the rest of the toys.  They played and played in the living room while Robby and I ran around trying to straighten and then get everyone ready for the next party.
• Our final event of the day was a Christmas party at the Hawkin's new house.  We arrived just in time to eat.  The kids all followed me and filled their plates and then everyone sat on the wall and ate.  Very well behaved-Robby and I were even able to eat a few plates worth of food.  After eating, they all went upstairs to play.  It got pretty rowdy upstairs one time and Graham got scared and Erin and Reagan were bringing him down to me as I was going up there.  So Graham and Campbell went to another room to play with Pheobe who was quietly playing.  
• Before too long it was time for a hay ride and we all piled on the trailer.  Reagan sat by Kennedy, my boys and Cash sat together (Graham sat by me and held on to my scarf), Campbell sat in my lap and we sat by Will.  We looped their street twice and then all went inside to decorate cookies.  Everyone took their time making the cookies and Campbell stayed at the table longer than any of the other kids-she even pulled up a chair and was trying to eat the leftover cookies and sprinkles.  
• Next up was s'mores (I tell you, the Hawkins know how to throw a party).  Robby brought his cooking sticks and the kids made s'mores (they had these flat marshmallows-what will they think of next?)  Then more playing inside and soon all of the kids came running down the stairs on their way to a second hay ride.  I distracted Campbell and Robby put the others on the hay ride and waved goodbye.  When they came back from the hayride, I made them keep their jackets on since we were about to leave-30 minutes later we did leave.  They started playing and we started talking but when I called them downstairs, they still had their coats on.  
• Campbell fell asleep on the way home and never woke up when we changed her clothes.  Before Robby and I could even get the cars unloaded, Anderson had stripped down and was wearing his new feetie pajamas.  Graham, the little sweetie, told Cash that he could borrow his feetie pajamas when he found out that the pjs Cash brought were not feeties.  After they played for a bit more, Cash took him up on the offer-the 3 boys all of on feetie pajamas and not to be outdone, Reagan is wearing Anderson's last years Christmas pajamas with a purple skirt.  
• It has been a crazy busy week and a super crazy day but the kids had a great time and we really did too.  The floors need to be swept, the laundry and dishes need to be done and a zillion presents need to find a home but it was been a wonderful, wonderful day.