Maddox turns 3!

So I know I have been absent for over a month, but I was enjoying my summer and my family, and well I have been lazy! This year Maddox is Cars crazy. Well when is not not something crazy? If it isn't Cars it is trains or Toy Story or zombies. Yes. Zombies!

I had a lot of fun decorating and preparing for this one. It was actually the first time I actually put effort into Maddox's Birthday. I have put a lot of effort into his cake and the food, but no decorating. Well in hindsight this year is the first year we actually ha beautiful, hot weather. As my mother can attest his first birthday was wet and cold and his second wasn't really that much warmer either.


I didn't really take pictures of decorations, but I had this banner hanging around the deck, down the fence, and across the yard. There were signs for the different stations.




We had Mater's Obstacle course, Fillmore's organic fuel (drink station), Flo's Diner, and Ramone's Body Paint Shop (which my friend Natasha and I painted various Cars characters and symbols). Obstacle course was a hit. I was worried the kids would think it was boring, but I timed them so they had fun doing it over and over trying to better each other. It was a nice hot day, perfect for swimming. Even some of the adults jumped in to cool off. The cake was another hit. I personally wish I would have been more patient with it because it ended up being really messy, but when you are putting it together until 3 o'clock in the morning you just want to get it done. Why was I doing it so late? Well the day before was a really busy day and I wanted to get it done so I wouldn't be stressed on Saturday.










He might not look happy, but he actually loved his cake in fact I caught him just staring at it for a long time before his party even started. This look on his face is actually because he is really worried that someone is going to take his cake or some of the cars on the cake. Not a false worry though because some kids really did want to take his cars from the cake and we all wanted to eat it.


For his actual birthday we went to the splash pad and then the park.




He had to bring his new cars with him. Not only that, but we were at the park and all he wanted to do was play with his cars so we went home.



After the cake I made him I settled for a store bought brownie for his actual birthday.

It was a good birthday so good in fact he continued to think it was his birthday weeks later. So happy birthday to my crazy, loud, entertaining, dramatic, monkey! I love you!

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New Year's Masquerade!

So this year I broke tradition which usually includes game night with friends and family bringing in the New Year with laughter and fun. This year I went out! I know for those who know me I really don't go out much. In fact, I rarely go out unless I am dragging one or more of my three children with me! So on that odd occasion when we get a girl's night together I have a blast! Here in Singapore with the readily available, wonderful family, it is easier to have some alone time or some couple time with my hubby which has been extremely nice.

Now back to New Year's. We have a friend who invited us to Stereolab for their Masquerade New Year's Eve Party. I have to say it has been awhile since I have been to such an event. I am normally quite happy staying home or going to see a movie. I know boring! Once in a while I like to go out and listen to loud music and dance the night away. I didn't have my own mask, but luckily I got a grab bag at the entrance and it provided me with one along with some noise makers. I know in theory fun, but hearing whistle sounds the whole night got irritating. I have to say I was a little envious of the gorgeous masks that I saw that night. compared to my cheap paper mask But I am being positive and was really grateful I had a mask at all. I am trying to be positive this year because another blogger friend of my sent out a challenge here.



Needless to say at 12:30 I think we were done with the loud music because our stomachs were calling out to us. What have I yet to eat here that I love? BBQ Stingray. Sooooo yummy.


Stingray number one not very nice, but still yummy!


Stingray number two. Much better. Sadly stall number 53 which has the best was sold out.



Then we continued with Hokkien Mee



Next, Oyster Omelet. Yummm...



To top up the 1 a.m. feeding was Bearded Man's Cheng Tng. (Which is a special one that was created by a friendly bearded man. Apparently you have to do the action of stroking a beard and then rounding your arms out to describe what kind of Cheng Tng you want.) So yummy minus all of the stuff that I don't like about regular ones.

I think this year I should start using my thesaurus more instead of using the same descriptive words over and over! I promise to do better in that area.



Another pic with my hubby because we are so cute. Don't deny it you know we are.



This is me 2011. I am 20 *wink* and I am showing you eleven.

All photos courtesy of my fabulous Singaporean host of the evening who graciously took all the pictures I asked. Oh another thing I wanted to get a pic of the famous hawker lady with the mile high hair, but sadly I chickened out along with my hubby who ignored me when I asked him to be paparazzi! I know the nerve!

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Wet Garden Party?

So Maddox's birthday has become a bit of a joke. Last year for his first birthday we had a pool party, but to my surprise end of June it was FREEZING!!!!


I was in shock, hubby was in shock, and my mother who was visiting found it crazy. She probably thinks that it never gets hot here in Canada. I keep reassuring her that yes we have really hot spells especially with the humidity, but not last summer. It was definitely a cold and wet summer. My tomatoes and cucumbers last year probably suffered the most. Cucumbers never produced and the tomatoes took FOREVER!!


Fast forward to this year. We have been having a beautiful summer. Almost every day by the pool sinking in all the goodness from the sun, but would we get sun for his birthday party? NOPE! It rained off and on all day long. It didn't keep us from the pool because well it was still hot and our best friends and my kids are just a little crazy. They still wanted to swim. I guess it was a good thing my little "monkey" kept giving my kisses and telling me he loves me and he was having fun in the "wa-terrr". So definitely worth it. I would have pics of the pool, but it was raining pretty hard and I was wet!

My best friend made the roasted vegetables which I LOVE,


My homemade mac and cheese got much praise,


and the chicken I got from here which is soooo yummy.



The dessert was my biggest problem. Seeing how Maddox doesn't like cake, cupcakes, pies, or anything of the sort, but he loves Rice Krispie treats. So I made him an "In the Night Garden" creation. If you don't know what that is go here. He is obsessed with this show. Which is a little annoying because they are kinda creepy, but None of my other kids to a liking to anything near as much as he has with this so I went with it.

Here you see he is naming them all for you just in case you don't know who they are.





Upsy Daisy



Makka Pakka




Iggle Piggle


Tombliboos

The best part? Eating the chocolate covered Rice Krispie Balls. What a mess!



Here he finally finished a candy stick. I think it was blue?



Or maybe the best part was getting to keep all of the little "In the Night Garden" guys!


On behalf of Maddox, "Thank you everyone for sharing my birthday with me!"
Hopefully next year we will have good weather!

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