Ramsey's Birthday Party

Thankfully, the weather was semi-OK for everyone to make it to Ramsey's 6th Birthday Bash on Saturday.  It was foggy coming from the North, with a bit of precip.   Everyone made it, so Ramsey was a super happy camper!  (He'd been talking about this party for days, stating "almost everyone I love is going to be at the party!")

 The custom die-cut Star Wars cake topper (featuring Darth Vader fighting Luke Skywalker) did not make it in time to add to his dark and silvery galaxy cake with edible stars (ok, so it didn't get the full "galaxy treatment" - whoops!).  Later, Ramsey placed two toy figurines on top instead!

We had time to visit with the family and hang out for a bit.

 Bridger and Ramsey played light sabers for a while.

 Connor showed Sadie and Isaac the new Oculus the boys got for Christmas and played Beat Saber.

Checking devices was also a necessity.  ;-)

We got a lot of nice photo ops of the fam!

Then, lunch time!

Notable: That morning at 4:30 AM, Eric got called out on a serious police matter in town.  He made it to the party, but not until right after everyone had just finished eating lunch.

And then, it was a matter of CAKE TIME!

I wonder what a six-year-old wishes for...?!

Ramsey thought he was funny with his oversized pieces of cake.

I tried to do a galaxy-style cake (with vanilla/Oreo frosting in between layers - per Ramsey's request), with blue (vanilla), dark purple (vanilla), and dark chocolate cake.  I didn't go as far as adding round "planets" or anything else into the batter. I didn't have (er, "make") that kind of time. ha!

PRESENT TIME!

Thanks again to Auntie Sarah for taking some super pictures!  I really need a new camera.  Oye!

Ramsey got lots of great books, games, two cool Star Wars backpacks, workbooks, sticker books, UNO, blaster guns, Star Wars PJs, a Star Wars Mandalorian Dark Saber, an Amazon gift card, and two diamond art pictures that Nana Vicki made.  Aaaand, he got money.... which will go directly into his college savings account! 

Since Connor's birthday is one week after Ramsey's, he got to open some early birthday presents from Nana and Bumpa and Uncle Corey.

 He got tennis balls, a diamond art Vikings print from Nana (frame coming soon) and a $50 Amazon gift card from Uncle Cory!

Before everyone left, we had to pictures of the kids (they just don't stop growing!). 

Connor's other little brother Bridger is now an "honorary cousin".  :-)

 And... had to get a picture with the [attending] grandparents.

As the weather was getting cruddy up north, the party was cut a little bit short.  No sledding this year - next year though! *wink*   We were so very happy to have this great bunch at home with us!!! 

Happy 6th Birthday, Ramsey!

Happy 6th Birthday to our sweet little Doodlebug, Ramsey!

As I woke him up for school, I sang "Happy Birthday".  He was so excited the minute he woke up (this is usually not quite the case)!
When he left for school, I said a few prayers for his teachers!! ha!

Well, for this Momma, another birthday for Ramsey is simply bittersweet.   Where did my little baby go?!?!  He grew up into a spunky, energetic, clever, amazingly loving, kind little boy - who is also a Star Wars-loving, Chronicles of Narnia-reading, total math nerd with an incredible vocabulary and zest for life!

Like one of Ramsey's and my favorite nighttime story books ("Love You Forever") says, "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always.  As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be."

RAMSEY'S STATS:

Birth date: January 24th

Height: 3' 6.5"

Weight: 41 lbs (on a full belly)

FAVORITES:
Color: Red and blue
Food: Tomato soup & grilled cheese sandwich, cake
Games/activities:  Oculus Quest Virtual Realty - "First Steps" or "Beat Saber",  Thomas & Friends game on Kindle, playing with Star Wars guys
Toys: Light sabers
Music/Song: "Old Town Road" by Lil' Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus
Subject in School:  "Centers" or Reading
Bedtime Story: "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe"
Restaurant: Old McDonald's
Flavor of Ice Cream: OREO!
Outdoor Activity: Fighting/training with sticks (with Bridger)
Animal: Mr. Kitty and Riggsy
Best Friends: Tage, Cameron, Sawyer, Bridger
Girlfriend: Tage
Favorite Thing to Do with Connor: Light saber fighting
Favorite Thing to Do with Daddy: Light saber fighting
Favorite Thing to Do with Mommy: "Kiss and hug you!"

Love you, Doodlebug!!

Birthday Baking: Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes

Ramsey's birthday fell on a Friday this year.  He was so excited to be able to bring treats to school and have a little mini party with his friends!

He asked for red cupcakes with baked-in Oreo cookies, like he had last year.  I had remembered a super fun cupcake I had when I was a child and gently persuaded him in that direction (it wasn't difficult!).   This year, we opted for ice cream cone cupcakes with jimmies and red candy "cherries" on top.    He did get his red velvet cake, but it was merely vanilla buttercream vs. Oreo.

While Momma mixed, he happily licked beaters, ate pinches of jimmy sprinkles,  and kept me company.  He did also help add sprinkles to the cupcakes, though I think he had more fun snarfing them.

 I made 27 cupcakes.  He ate one, so we sent 26 to school. 
When they left I hoped for two things:
     1) The cupcakes would NOT tip or get smashed on the way to school and
     2) I made enough cupcakes for everyone in his class, plus his two teachers (his class tends to fluctuate in the number of students).

Family Movie Day: Harry Potter

For Christmas, one of Ramsey's presents was the full set of Harry Potter movies.  This may shock a few people, but none of us had seen ANY of them.

We obviously started with the first movie, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone".   I was loving it... Eric... probably not so much.  Ramsey... yes, he seemed to like it.   After about 20 minutes into the movie, Ramsey went to get a few props he needed to properly watch the new movie.

Yup, his stuffed owl and his broomstick.

Snow-Tubing - Fun Way to Start the New Year

Ramsey had been chomping at the bit for our New Year's Day soiree; Connor was coming - AND he was bringing Bridger to stay overnight!
Not long after Connor and Bridger arrived, they all got bundled up for sledding.

Connor showed everyone "how it's done" and made some pathways to start the day.

Sidenote: You wouldn't catch me going down that hill face-first!!!

Then it was Bridger's turn!

Super Big Brubby Connor set everything up for Ramsey to have a turn, buddy-style.

Ramsey had decided his one turn was enough!  Scary crazy stuff!

Connor trying out the orange plastic saucer...

 And then, just play time!

 And snow-throwing.  I got the heck out of the way, but the boys were laughing their butts off.

 The snow was SO DEEP, I had sank into snow up to my butt.  That's where I stayed for quite some time!

 Ramsey joined me.  He thought it would be fun to smash snow into his face.... and then into mine!  Stinker!

 And then, I decided, I needed to to try out this new snow tube for myself.

I am prefacing the video stating that the hill is MUCH STEEPER than it looks!  It was invigorating, but crazy!  (When I got to the bottom, I caught a face-full of snow and had lost my sunglasses. Whoops.)

After about an hour, Connor decided he'd had enough and went inside.  I had the same thoughts.

 The littler boys stayed outside about a half hour longer.  Connor let Riggsy out (Eric said he was inside crying the whole time the boys were playing without him).  The boys were seemingly done tubing and just wanted to dig and throw snow.

Riggs was happy to join in.

 After the two tired littler guys headed in, we had snacks of hot chocolate with marshmallows and fresh chocolate chip cookies!

 And later for supper, it was heart-shaped pancakes, scrambled eggs, and fruit.  

Bedtime wasn't an issue at all; everyone was so pooped out, it was a welcome retreat.  :-)

But, then they did it all over again the next day!!