Goodies from Grammie :)

If you remember from the birthday blog, Grammie was unable to attend the party because we got her sick. Her symptoms did not show up until the week of the party and she was so under the weather by that Saturday. It was very odd not having my Mom at the kids birthday party. We missed her very much!

It was a few weeks after the party that we finally could get together. One Saturday after nap, Grammie surprised the kids by showing up to play. Once they had calmed down from her arrival, she took them into our bedroom. She had placed all their birthday gifts outside the front door for me to bring in while she was hiding with them. Then we let them go...


These kids really are spoiled and they were so excited! It was like the birthday that just kept coming!


Grammie had to help open some of them. Ethan really wanted to know what was in this big box with the red sack and bows.


It was a box of cleaning supplies! A broom, mop, sponge, water bottle, rag, swiffer, mini dust pan and his very own cleaning caddy. Mom had even wrote "Ethan's Cleaning Tools" in stickers on the little caddy. He was beyond excited!!! He has been my obsessive cleaning child since day one. He loves to help dust, sweep, vacuum and pick up countless toys. He is always a teacher's favorite because of this trait. Ha!


Paige had already opened her pink, butterfly picnic basket, and I missed the picture. She was on to the adorable wooden food sets. Look at how cute those mini eggs are in their little egg carton. Just too cute for words. She got everything from milk to bologna in those sets. She will have the best tea parties around!


All he wanted to do was play with his cleaning stuff while Paige was opening the pizza set. I have never seen this set before. It has wooden pizza slices connected with Velcro for easy cutting. Then it has Velcro spots on the top of the pizza to add the little wooden pepperoni and other toppings.


Ethan also got a little boy "Dolly" set. Woo Hoo! Paige received a triplet magnetic doll set from Debbie at Christmas. Ethan has been playing with it since, and I kept saying I needed to get him a boy version. Now he can dress his doll as a cowboy, fire fighter, super hero and more.


And we are back to cleaning!


Paige got an adorable cupcake making set too. Wish she wasn't looking down at Ethan's doll in the picture. The cupcakes come apart and you can build them in different ways. I was really excited about the grocery cart. Grammie got Jake and Abby one at their birthday party and I told her I loved it. The cart looks and feels just like a real one only tiny. It even has hydraulics in case the kids climb in it. Amazing the toys they have now!


The last gift they opened was a wooden birthday cake. It was even cuter than the pizza! It had Velcro spots on the top of the cake to put on strawberries, jelly beans or candles. Ethan and Paige are so obsessed with birthday parties right now this really was the perfect gift for them. We have since then sang happy birthday a million times to any and everybody!


We played the night away...

Thank you so much Grammie for all the amazing gifts! As usual you have out done yourself. I really appreciate all the time, research and effort you put forth in finding the best possible toys for your grand kids. You are wonderful and we are so very blessed to have you!!!

We love to dress up

The kids are at the age of pretend play. They love to dress up and pretend they are in some of the craziest situations. I absolutely love this stage!!! I try my hardest to make time when the kids want me to join in one of their make believe journeys. I have to remind myself that those dishes will be there later and my kid's childhood won't be.

Aunt Wendy bought the kids their first official dress up outfits for their birthday. Paige's costume is a Rock Star, and Ethan's costume is a train conductor. They wear them all the time!!! Ethan has really become attached to his "Train Station" as he calls it. We sit on imaginary trains all the time. Paige says she is going to be a "Supa Star" which will be interesting since Daddy is set on her being a nun in England. Ha!


Aw look at my big kids!


Aunt Wendy you rock!


He blows that dang whistle all the time. Do you see my future 13 year old girl's attitude in this pic of Paige?

ALL ABOARD!! I still can't believe she will wear that wig.


This was the line up location to board the train. Oh my, look at Paigey's sweet face.


Ethan loves this outfit so much!


Dallas and I both had a major moment of panic with these last pictures. We both saw our little girl, flash forward to 16 years old. I think the earrings are what pushed it over the top. She is so beautiful, but I want her to stay this age for a while longer.

Thanks again to all the people that gave them dress up accessories. Miss Paige does not fit in a lot of the little girl outfits, but she can wear this one and a few of the tutus. Some one let me know if you happen to run across dress shoes that are larger. She got a combo of her Mom and Dad's huge feet. Ha!

Our new tables

Grand Daddy and Nana decided to make the kids tables for their birthday. Paige has a small table and two chairs in her room, but it was not big enough for company tea parties. I knew that they would end up making amazing furniture, but the end result was more than I could have ever imagined!

Ethan's table is a square table with four chairs that slide in under the table to make a big cube. It is about the coolest table I have ever seen! Everyone that sees it wants a big one for themselves. They painted it Cowboy blue and silver to match his Dallas Cowboy room. Look at how awesome this table turned out!!!



They brought in Ethan's table first and set it up in his room. He was so excited! He really did not know what to think. He has never had a table and chairs in his room especially not a cool one. He immediately screamed, "Wow! Thank You So Much Grand Daddy & Nana!!!"


Look at that happy face.


All of the chair seats come off to store treasures in them. Not only do the kids love them, but also us parents love how easy the storage chairs makes cleaning up. :)


Ethan kept going to Paige's room and getting play food to put on his table. We had to show him that he can use his table for anything he wants like building stuff.

I thought it was very touching to see Paige be excited for Ethan. She was not jealous or upset. She was thrilled for him and kept telling him how cool his table was. All the time she had no idea that they had made her one too.

The vision for Paige's table was to make her a dining room table that could hold all the guests at her tea parties. Grand Daddy and Nana had a little help with a pattern on Ethan's table, but Paige's table was a original Mayfield creation. It is so dang cute! I just can't explain how shocked I was with the end result. It looks just like a real kitchen table with fold out leaves and matching chairs with storage.


I mean seriously look at the little flower art work on the back of each chair.

Once the Ethan had had time to absorb his new table, we were ready to go get Paige's table. Ethan decided he needed to help Nana carry that big thing. Ha!


Paige was so excited! She immediately had to sit down and check it out.


Ethan decided to roll his chair in to see her table. We had to stop him from bringing all his chairs in her room. He wanted to see her table but still wanted his as well. She was already putting food and dishes in her chairs.


Then it was time for a tea party! She even got her picnic table cloth and put it on the table first. So cute!! I guess I am going to have to get her a table cloth now too. I can not tell you how many tea parties, dinners and birthday parties we have had at that table.

There are no words to thank you enough, Michael and Linda!!! The tables and chairs are amazing and so are you two! How do we thank you for the countless hours of very hard work. Our kids are so incredibly blessed to have you as grand parents! It just amazes me!

My Babies Turn 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have been working on this blog forever! I am tired of reading it so please excuse any gramaticaly and/or formatting errors. :)

Ethan and Paige's 3rd birthday was almost a month ago already, and I still can't believe my babies are 3 years old!! It just amazes me how quickly time really does fly when you have kids. We planned the party at Abbey’s Playtown this year. We have loved that place since we found it a year ago and knew it would be the perfect place to host the birthday celebration. I really love the owners, it is extremely clean and the kids absolutely love it!I reserved our party date and time months ahead of time so I could rest easy. The only thing I did not plan for was sickness. Why does it always happen that way? Ethan came home from daycare sick on April 13^th with a fever and cough. By the time we put him in bed he was having a Febrile seizure. He was sick for about a week with croup and then he gave the virus to his sister. Paige was sick for weeks as usual. The infection highly irritated her asthma and gave her an ear infection on top of the cold. She did not get croup but the virus affects each child differently. By the week before the party I was sick as a dog too. Really!!! I had to go to the doc in the box several times that week before I could finally get well enough to have the party. Thank goodness for very powerful medications! Grammie ended up getting the virus also right before the party. She was too sick to come by Saturday, and we missed her very much.

I was even more thankful that I had chosen to have their party at Abbey’s when I was so exhausted and worn down by that week. If the party would have been at my house, it would have had to be cancelled. All I had to do for the party was pick up the cake, bring some bottled water and make the goodie bags. I figured I could definitely handle those few things, but kids hair cuts were moved to the bottom of the to do list. Therefore my kids look like little rag muffins, oh well.

We decided not to remind the kids that their birthday party was after nap. I was afraid they would get too excited and not be able to nap. That was all I needed, two cranky birthday kids! They both got up early that Saturday morning and went right to nap. We were running a little behind, but they were still in bed at a decent time. While they slept Dallas and I ran crazy trying to get ourselves ready. My Dad and Betty were driving into town for the party and had arrived a little early. They called to ask if we needed anything so I ask them to pick up the cake and a few other things up for me. They really saved us! I would not have had time to go all the way to the bakery and get everything done on time. Thanks again!

We arrived right on time and headed into Abbey’s. I went to the party room and set up the few things I had while the kids and Dallas hit the play floor…

I ordered their Little Einstein, Number 3 birthday t-shirts months in advance and did not want them to be too small by the end of April. Apparently they should have been a size smaller for both of them. Oh well at least they were comfortable. The big roller coaster is always a favorite for all the kids!

Kai was having a good time. Paige and Ethan just learned to climb the mountain recently and they love it.

It did not take Abby long to get to the top. Rylie has grown up so much.

Reese loves to dress up! I think she had on everything in the place. :)

Addi was flying fast and furious and loving it.


Grand Daddy was pushing Ethan in the swing and pretending he was running into him. Ethan laughed and laughed.


Time for a ride everyone.


Landon flying down the roller coaster and Addi the cheer leading witch. :)


Allison taking in the groceries while Ethan, Daddy & Grandaddy knock down the big wall they built. Boys!


Abby and Jake flying the plane. Everyone hold on Grandma BB is flying! Ha!


Grandma BB is always so much fun. Sweet Lily pie swinging.

Time to open presents...

Ethan and Paige were so thrilled that they actually got to open the presents at this party. Ethan does not do well while other people open gifts. It kills him! He wants to go help so badly.


They looked so cute sitting side by side ripping into the paper and bags.


I will never understand why opening presents is such a hectic ordeal. I was sweating and running crazy through a sea of flying paper and bags.


The card with stickers was a winner for Paige. She snuck off during presents to stick her finger in the cake. I found it funny that both grandparents that witnessed her doing this had to take a picture BEFORE they stopped her. Ha! I would have probably done the same thing.


Ethan loves his Diego boat and Paige and Reese were mesmerized by the dress up clothes.


Too bad only one soccer ball was neon yellow and the other white. They fight over those balls all the time! Jake was so funny. All the poor boy wanted was cake and Aunt Lisa made him wait through presents and pizza.


My kinda girlie girl. Now it was Ethan's turn to start trying to stick his fingers in the cake.


He had to tell Grandpa John who all the characters were. We love our Little Einsteins!


We also love party hats!!!


It was time for pizza and juice.


Yummy...


Babies like pizza too :)


Paige loves her pizza. It is her favorite food!


We love this family, The Fusilers. It was finally time for the birthday cake. Cooper St. Bakery did an AMAZING job!!!


We sang to Ethan first, and he was so excited! I love that they are equally excited to sing to each other. So sweet!


He is getting ready to make his wish and blow out the candles.


Ethan was literally shaking with excitement then it was Paige's turn.


Ethan sang so loudly for his sis and she was excited and embarrased.


Happy Birthday My Big Kids!!! Then it was time to lick off the candles.


All the kids wanted to lick a character so I let them all pick one.


The cake was very tasty. All the kids loved it.


Dad and I looking at a great moment he had captured. The kids all headed back out to play.


Cowboy Addi and Paige flying on the swing.


Bouncing, bouncing and more bouncing.


Go Abby! I love this picture of my older brother with his youngest, Lily. Look at her looking at her Daddy. Aw!


Paige and Grandaddy were flying in the plane for quite a while. She finally got bored and left him sitting by himself.


Addi decided she would fly him the rest of the way until Paige came back and threw a fit.


Since it was her birthday, Addi let her back in the driver's seat. I was in the back, cleaning up cake, or this would have had a very different outcome. Your birthday or not, you don't take things just cause you want them. Oh well, lesson missed on that one.


Those Thornell kids are just natural climbers. :)


Ethan playing with Phillip. Ethan was so happy he knew how to climb the mountain.


I know these pictures are almost all the same, but I could not resist.
She is just so stinking cute!!! Paige the witch or whatever she was.


Ethan was throwing out each dress up item so he could use the basket for a better purpose.

All the kids always love the big roller coaster and have a difficult time sharing it. It looks fun!

I did not expect the one year old little girl, Ryan, to be one of them! She loved that thing and would ride it over and over. No fear!


Paige always plays in the baby area. Ryan cooking up a storm.


Lily practicing that walk. Paige already practicing hanging up laundry. Ha! I may put her to work soon.


Silly birthday kids having fun in the inflatable train.

Sadly our birthday time at Abbey's Playtown was drawing to an end...

All the kids loved the goodie bags especially the birthday kiddos. We have to always have goodie bags at their parties. They think it is not a party without goodie bags.


Nana and Grandaddy brought over some of their gifts after the party. Ethan loved his Step 2 tool shop and the three generations of Mayfields built many things together.
Paige and Nana played tea party with her real dishes they bought her. Real surramic dishes but minature. They were just adorable!


Tiffany missed the party so she brought a big bag of gifts over after the party too. They attemped to play but the kids were going bananas at this point. It was very sweet for her to drive all the way over from Granbury. After everyone left this is what I found in the living room... two really tired 3 year olds!

I could not have ask for anything else for Ethan and Paige's 3rd birthday! They are so blessed to have such amazing family and friends!! We missed a few people, but other than that it was just a wonderful time. Thank you everyone for coming and a big Thank You to Abbey's Playtown for all your hard work!!!!