Monsters and the 3rd Birthday Party

After several months with an affinity to monsters, it occurred to me that I could use this new found affinity to plan my son's all-too-convenient close-to-halloween birthday party, so we did just that:) We invited several little friends from "school," as well as a couple friends with dentist-wanna-be parents. It was a great turnout for a Friday afternoon, and a huge success for the 5 and under crowd. Let me introduce you to my favorite hobby/medical condition, and Ben's least favorite hobby/medical condition... O.P.O.E.overachieving. planner. of. events.

Ok, so not the greatest picture, but he tried:) The whole house was decorated like halloween with a few Monsters, not the scary kind, around here and there...

Monster cupcakes surrounded by frankenstein heads (lime jello with cherry eyes and oreo hair) I have a close up of these too, but *someone* has misplaced that memory card... I'll find it by Christmas!

Said cupcakes. You'll noticed only a couple were decorated. This was one of the activities... Choosing your monster and adding features. They turned out so cute! Oh, and according to Isaac, they were his favorite part of the party... I thought his favorite part was presents, but, who am I to argue?                             

Some of our guests even got in on making monster masks... a couple of friends were SO into it that they made SEVERAL monster masks! I love it when a project turns out to be a hit with the new generation!

Monster Masks in use... Yep, you can hardly tell who it is... Very monster-y!

One of the 4 times we have sung "Happy Birthday" to Ike this year! He is quite the candle blower-outer!

So, in recap, we had the following ultra fun Monster Mashing at the ever popular 3 year old party...

1. Monster Masks

2. Decorate your own monster cupcake

3. Monster Chasing Game (how could you resist after having a custom Monster Mask?)

4. Monster jello heads

5. Monster books for our contemplative guests... including Monster Finds a Costume, a few from Little Critter series, and My Monster Mama Loves Me So (our inspiration around here...)

6. We downloaded "The Monster Mash" kids bop version and let the kids have a real monster mash dance off- way cute!

7. Monster parting gifts including these awesome monster water squirters and monster stamps from Target Hot Spot- see- don't you wish you would've made the trip to AZ?

That was about it... Why did it take me so long to get everything ready then? Hmm. I must be slow. I do know for a fact that my O.P.O.E. is a problem for some people in my family and that each time an "event" comes along, that someone goes a little overboard and neglects other duties, but I really do have SO MUCH FUN creating, researching, and executing these fun events:) I hope I still have energy to do this for subsequent children or they're really going to be bitter:) Lets just say I don't think Chuck E. Cheese is in our near future:) More *actual birthday post* to follow...

Our first Arizona Visitors!

After the White Coat Ceremony in front of our house... Handsome group, huh! That's because Isaac wasn't sitting on THEIR laps (See below)...

The closest we could get to all smiles after "the incident." We sure are proud of that daddy! You would trust him with your mouth, wouldn't you? Ok, give it a couple of years...

Da Da Da- The White Coat has officially been placed upon his shoulders! Here we go...

Last weekend we were so lucky to welcome Grandma and Grandpa Pieper for a visit. They flew in to Phoenix on Wednesday night and were here until last Sunday. It seems like that should've been a long visit, but, as always, time flew by! It seems like they just got here and then it was already time to say goodbye... I guess we just have too much fun! Also, as always, when they are around, I seem to forget all about my picture taking responsibilities, and so we do not have too many pictures to show for it... Luckily, they have a few more, so we'll have to high-jack their photos next time we are in Idaho:) I wanted to make a list of the "fun" things we did (this will seem really silly to "non-Piepers" and totally normal to Piepers! You think I'm joking, but you'll see...) Anyway, we....

1. let Grandpa and Daddy become study buddies together. Ben's dad is currently working on his PhD, so they spent lots of hours on their mac laptops together tuning the rest of us out... like father, like son. seriously. I've never seen anyone tune out as much as they seem to be able to!

2. went to the gym and worked out. every day. I am becoming a gym extraordinare, though I don't think you can tell... hmm. Ben's mom and I have a need for exercise everyday, so we took advantage of my gym membership. It was so so fun to have workout buddies!

3. went to a thrift shop. Wouldn't you know, next door to my gym is a Savers... what are the chances? Anyway, as always, we went in for "just one thing" and came out an hour or so later with many more things than one:) Oh, and for the record, we also "lost" grandpa to the used book section for the entire time. Whew, luckily, we were only there for an hour... that book section had the potential to swallow him up for good!

4. took showers and fed babies. yep. This seems to take WAY more time out of my day than anything else, and now I have witnesses. Though, being clean and well fed are two very important things!

5. splashed around at the splash pad. Even though it was *kinda* getting dark:) Had fun playing at the park too!

6. took a picnic lunch to the park and met Daddy. We found a new park very close to his school that seems to be a "secret" aka, not a million other people there. Yeah!

7. made really really tasty meals with not a lot of carbs. Another big plus to having Ben's mom around... we love to cook and eat together and since we both watch our carbs (she MUCH more than me- and for much better reason) we tend to go overboard and cook a ton and find new alternatives to tasty old favorites. On the menu this week were some new dishes from http://www.dlife.com/ (check it out, especially if you are looking for low carb) including zucchini pancakes with poached eggs and holandaise sauce (the very best breakfast I have EVER had!!), ribeyes with blue cheese butter and broiled asparagus, grilled mahi mahi, impossible berry pie (also from d life), crab stuffed portabellas (SOOO good!). Of course, lots and lots of salads and veggies mixed in there too, and of course, healthy doses of string cheese and nuts! Yep, we ate like low carb kings:)

8. made homemade salsa. This gets it's own point because (if you're a Pieper, you'll understand) as Ben puts it... "My dad can't walk through the produce section of a store without thinking, homemade salsa!" So, they came home from the store with all the fresh ingredients and made enough for the entire family, even though it was only the 4 of us, plus Ike and Zach! We still have salsa leftover a week later, but it was oh so good! We're so glad to have a salsa specialist in the family!

Now, where was I? Oh yes,

9. Went grocery shopping a few times... No Pieper time is complete without a few trips to the grocery store... That is definitely a favorite past time for some of us!

10. toured Ben's campus, met most of the faculty and attended Ben's White Coat Ceremony. A wonderful time! Ben LOVES school, LOVES his peers and faculty. This is definitely the place he was meant to go to school. He is really excelling here and feeling good about what he's learning. It couldn't have worked out better for him. The White Coat Ceremony was wonderful and really moving for all the students. *Some* members of our family, I won't mention any names, but if you are a Pieper, you can figure it out, slept through part of the ceremony... Ike and Zach both took naps too. It's great having Pieper children who can take a nap anywhere!

Unfortunately, the story doesn't end here... About 10 minutes before the end of the ceremony, Ike woke up from his nap on the floor, climbed onto my lap and was being really cuddly. I was soaking it all up! Anyway, we were sitting on the second row of families in a giant auditorium. Wouldn't you know, after a minute of him sitting there, I feel my lap getting really warm and look down to realize Ike is urinating on me! AHH! So, there we are in the middle of this beautiful ceremony, everyone heartwarmed and almost over, and my lap is SOPPING WET, as is Ikes! Yes, he has been fully potty trained for over a month, and yes, I did have a pullup on him, just in case... And yes, the pull up was on sideways... Oops! Ike and I rushed out as soon as it was over and stood outside to dry off in the hot hot sun. So, 10 minutes later, we were dry and smelling foul. I hope this isn't a symbol of the four years to come. really.?!?!

11. had our friend Jamie H. in town Friday night for steaks and a little impromptu birthday celebration for Ike. These guys all know the way to his heart... sugar! He received jelly belly beans and a really great dinosaur book from Jame and from his grandparents and aunts/uncles, A CASE of flavored milk (think juice boxes only milk...), which he happened to ask Grandpa for a month ago and will be enjoying for several months to come!! He also received an awesome preschool book of activities and educational things that he "studies" during daddy's study time, and a big package of cookies and fruit snacks- no low carb snacks for this 3 year old!

12. Swam in the very cold, Wyoming like pool. Now that it's not 100 EVERY day, the pool has dropped in temp (apparently, no one has thought to turn on the heater yet...) So, yep, it feels like swimming outside in the summer in Wyoming. Brrr. Oh man, we're wimpy already!

13. Went downtown the the AZ Science Center. Yep, that's right. We took the Pieper men to a museum (or muz-zuh-zem, as Ikie says). They were actually pretty good about keeping a timeline, though I just love how enthralled they are with everything:) Oh, and we saw a 3D Shark IMAX movie... Isaac LOVED it!

14. Ate out at a World Buffet restaurant. Had LOTS of new food experiences like seaweed, Ike's second time eating sushi, lots of seafood, etc. It was so great! Can you believe I even at frog legs? They really did taste like chicken. Aren't you proud of me? Ok, so slight confession... I DID eat it, but Ben's mom pulled the meat off for me and just gave me a little hunk so I didn't have to deal with the visual... but I still ate it, so there!

15. Stayed up WAY TOO LATE every night. Hey, we had LOTS of catching up to do.

16. Found out a *certain* brother with very bad luck had another case of very bad luck whilst said parents were away and the siblings held down the fort- including digging potatoes and carrots in the snow back in Idaho- what a tough group!

17. Played any game and read every book Ike wanted to. all the time. Yep, this kiddo got his way A LOT and has Gramps wrapped around his little finger. Cute.

18. Realized just how much we miss our family and how grateful we are to have such wonderful parents.

What a fun week. I hope you made it through the list. Sorry for the length, but since this is currently my *only* journaling attempt, I thought I best be thorough. I have been thinking a lot lately about our families and why we are in the families we are. I know that when Ben and I got married, we married more than just each other. We really did marry our families too. Can I just say how LUCKY (or Blessed is probably more like it...) I am to have found the Piepers?!? I love each of you guys so much. I love each of our quirks (ok, some of you are perfect...) and I know that I was meant to be a part of you, whether you like it or not... and I just feel so privileged each day and thank you for taking me in as your own. Thanks Richard and LaJean for coming down and sharing this special experience with us. We loved our time with you more than you'll ever know... In fact, Ike keeps asking us if we can fly to Idaho today and see Gwamma and Gwampa today! We couldn't be more blessed and I'm so glad to be raising children in such fine families.

Sunday Sunday

Sundays at our house have really changed since our move to Phoenix. We don't have any family to visit for dinner, and it's too hot to take a walk before dark, so most of the time we are finding ways to spend it together cooking, bonding and having FHE. We do have friends over, or go to dinner at other's houses once in awhile, but it's also nice to have one day alone where Ben is not studying at all and where we have nothing better to do than to be together! I thought I would catch a few pics of my boys after church today... Ike really wanted to show off his new shoes that look "esackly like gwampa Jim's." He's right, they are pretty close to the same!

Brothers... Zachy has really started loving Ike as much as Ike loves him! They are really cute to watch. Usually I have to catch myself from saying "Isaac don't bother him" Because it turns out, Zach really likes it! Ike can make him smile and laugh easily. Though, he makes him a little nervous sometimes too! Also, notice in this picture, Zachary is attempting to suck his thumb. I am COMMITTED to making sure this does not happen... We'll see who wins:) Fortunately, he does love his binky. Hopefully, we can keep it that way!

Many faces of Zachary James! Our baby boy turned 4 months this week. Boy is he growing and changing! His hair never did fall out (just like Ike) and instead is turning much lighter and longer... He'll be ready for his first haircut soon. Notice his SOAKED shirt front. He loves to suck and drool all over his shirt all the time! Hope he grows out of that before kindergarten:)

This little boy giggles now! He is especially ticklish under his chin and around his neck. We sure have fun with him:)

I think he looks a lot like Ike... no doubt they are brothers! What do you think? I thought I would comment a bit on his 4 month attributes...

1. Zach loves to be awake and he is so happy being awake! Much like Ike was at this age, he is awake most of the day and not sleeping as well at nights, but is still eating and gaining weight... I just have babies that like awake time, I guess!

2. He also LOVES to kick his legs as much as he can all the time! He is constantly active talking and kicking, which in turn, scoots him around the floor!

3. He does not like tummy time much... about 5 minutes. is max for him...

4. Since we started ichat with Ben's parents (w/ the webcam) Zach now looks for a tv screen/computer monitor all the time and glues his eyes to it! He's never even noticed before.

5. Zach loves his brother and will follow him with his eyes all over the room. He loves to sit in Ike's room and watch him play (more likely, Ike parks cars all the way around Zach and shows him the "cool cars" - Corvettes, etc.)

6. Zach just started crying when we walk away. Our friend was holding him the other night and Ben and I both walked away for a split second, he realized this and immediately started crying. The moment we turned around, he shut off the crying. Amazing. Really, at 4 months, really?!

7. I don't have his exact measurements yet, but I know he is tall and skinny (like his brother at this age)

8. Zach loves to be wrapped up and really warm. He sleeps best really warm, which works out nicely since most days it is still over 100 outside!

9. Zach has recently decided he really does like the pool and the bath, especially with big brother right there splashing him!

10. Zachary has been the greatest addition of joy to our family! He truly has never been fussy or even sick (knock on wood)! We really love him to pieces and already cannot even remember what life was like without him!

Typical Sunday afternoon- what a handsome bunch!

Oh, and this is the Arizona Science Center- we went downtown yesterday with some friends to a new robot exhibit. Ike was SOO excited! He has been carrying around the postcard announcing the new exhibit (which came in the mail a couple of weeks ago). He had to tell the ticket taker, the parking garage lady, and a random man at the crosswalk with us that he was going to see the robots like on his postcard! I'm not sure it was as amazing as he had anticipated, but he really loved our day out together and this robot guy! We have found now more than ever that little outings like this are so important to keep us all happy, bonded and sane! Ben studies a lot and has been doing very well in school, but I think BALANCE has definitely been a factor. Hopefully we can all keep it up:)

Dating...

I saw one of our friends who just moved to a new city with a post like this a few months ago and it brought back oh so many memories and now, trueisms:) Thanks for the idea! As you know, I use this blog as much for my personal history and journaling as I do for blogstalker enjoyment! With our move to a new area has come this "dating experience." Let me explain...
Just as when we were single and went on dates to find people we had things in common with or chose NOT to pursue certain individuals (eh hem.), we once again "date" or "consider dating" couples and families that we might have common ground, or a good time with. And just like dating, it s a little tango... Is it too soon to call? I don't want to seem too eager... Do you think they just said let's get together sometime to be nice, or did they really mean it? She smiled at me, would she like to be my new friend? Or, do I have my skirt tucked into my nylons? (that happened to me when I was little...) Should I start up a conversation with the random mom at the library/park/market or would they think I was "desperate?" Oh, they like (fill in the blank), so do we... is that enough in common to "make it work?" Funny huh!
Ok, maybe a bit of an exageration with a pinch of truth. And the answer is, yes, to all of the above... seem desperate! Maybe they'll take pity on me:) and of course, we are a little desperate! Making friends has gone very well, it's just been SO LONG since I "started from scratch" in a new town with not many "leads." Its different this time b/c we have kids and I have a hubby who can't devote much time to the effort, but I'll sell us all and get some friends real. quick. really. Just like in dating, patience little one. patience. I love that word.

And Finally... Mi Casa

Garage! No One has appreciated having a garage the way we do! We actually can fit both of our cars in, though a little tight- it's just a good thing we aren't any bigger than we are:) Our laundry is also out here, along with lots of storage shelving and our deep freeze- we love it!

This is our little entry way between the garage and the front door. It's called an "Arizona Room" with a huge wall of windows. It makes a great sunroom. We hope to grow tomatoes, etc. in here this winter:)

Living Room- lots of room and great big tile flooring (which we LOVE)! My favorite part of the house is this wall with the pictures and the high vaulted ceilings and recessed lighting. It feels like a really big room and I love how open it is. You can see the dining room and kitchen in the back with our room off to the left and the study through the glass doors in the back. Ike and Zach's room is behind the camera to the left and the front door is directly behind the camera. There is a huge wall of windows to the right.

This is the study (appropriately named, huh!) We just bought this extra card table for Ben to keep all his study stuff on. Notice the awesome shelving unit in the back. Provides lots and lots of good storage for our food storage and office. Kitchen/Dining is directly behind the camera. There is a back door off to the right.

Ike and Zach's bathroom and accessories (I had to take pics of these b/c they were soo cute)! I picked up all the accessories at Ross for under $10 for everything:) So excited to have 2 bathrooms!

Oops, I took a pic of myself in the mirror:)





Cute little Ike in the bathtub (how else do you think I kept the house even this clean for the pics?)

Ike and Zach's room- lots of closet storage and the bigger bedroom.

Zach taking advantage of Ike being in the bath- Ike loves his new "daybed"

full length mirrors are Ike's favorite- he's such a ham- always dancing and making faces into the mirrors:)

Kitchen and Dining- notice the permanent set up for painting at the table... not a day goes by:)

My room- and bathroom- not yet decorated, but soon to come:) Gotta save some projects for another day!

Hope you enjoyed the tour. As you can see, I still need lots fo help decorating and probably organizing too, but we're getting there. I so love this place. Not sure the photos do it justice:) I'll have to post some pics of the yard soon too!

Me Llamo Isaac

First Day of Preschool- his booty from school in hand. What a proud boy!

This is outside our house with said booty. He loves playing out here with all the rocks, dirt and cool foliage. We wait til late afternoon when it's in the shade and then spend sometime digging and making "hot bean casserole soup" Not sure where he got that one, but it seems to be his favorite. Oh, and green bean juice is the new juice of choice. He'd probably welcome them both!

So, reason for the espanol title- my kid needs to learn to be bilingual. No, we do not *know* anyone who speaks spanish yet, but, well, let me explain...

As you may have guessed, there are a lot of Spanish speakers around. We often will hear it spoken when we are out shopping, etc. One day, not long after the move, we hear Isaac speaking total jibberish- I- Innocently- ask him what he is saying, to which he replies-"I'm a speakin' a Spanish!" Oh. Dear. So, fast forward a few days. We are at the mall escaping the 120 degree heat. ouch! As mommy is looking at some REALLY cute clothes, Ike happens to be PRIVY to a conversation in REAL SPANISH between two ladies. Well, he gets up close to them, looks them in the eyes and JIBBERJABBERS with a straight face as if he knew exactly what they said and they would know what he was saying! AHH! It came off like he was making fun of Spanish speakers (good thing he is young)! And we hurried away POORLY PRETENDING that we didn't know what our kid had just done! Oh. My. Thus, we are teaching him REAL SPANISH. Of course, now he is arguing with us... "No momma, casa doens't mean house, hochubala means house!" Crazy kid!

Funny pic- Zachary is clearly Ben and my offspring inheriting a LOVE, a NEED for cookies! Do you see him eyeing that cookie? Just waiting for his chance to take a big ol' chunk out of it? MMM! I'm with you Zachary- look out Ike- a few more months and you'll have to eat your cookies MUCH faster or someone is going to take care of them for you!! Also, notice Zach's collar is full of DROOL! I know, how can you not drool at that cookie?

Today marked Isaac's first day of school (not real school, Joy School- a little mommy coop). Anyway, it's only once a week and we switch between five of our houses, so in a few weeks in will be my turn to host and teach. It was harder than I thought it

would be to let him go! I kept thinking, what am I going to do for TWO HOURS without Isaac? So, I went home sullen, while he was SUPER EXCITED! I worked on my talk for Sunday. He painted, made a cool picture frame and chilled with four really cute other kiddos. It's going to be great for him. He already LOVES it! Mom's going to have to get used to it! I think I'll start planning some shopping- much easier to lug around just Zachy.

Finally getting some good pics of Zach giggling- for some reason I cannot seem to download videos on blogger so, you'll have to use your imaginations!

Cooking with Momma This afternoon... Whoops, notice the knife I left next to my toddler... good thing he's not mischievious at all!

The Staycation

Our Labor Day Weekend was spent right here in Phoenix (I stole the word staycation from another blog... please forgive me)! We took the opportunity to *study* LOTS, well Ben took that opportunity, which I'm sure is paying off. However, he did take some breaks with us to provide a little time out in the desert. We were lucky to have a "monsoon" on Friday and Saturday that really provided moisture (not sure how much) and cloud cover on Saturday. So, I received free passes (how can you argue with free?) to the Desert Botanical Gardens (reg. price $15/adult!) and we took advantage Sat. afternoon. It was strange to be outside without the SUN beating down on us the entire time. In fact, Saturday was the first day since we have been here that the high was below 100! WE soaked. it. up! The Botanical Gardens actually turned out to be awesome and we would HIGHLY recommend going- *next* time we go, I think we'll go after dark when all the cool desert flowers are in bloom- they have lots of cool lighting set up. THAT would be an experience:)

(L) Jamie, Ike and baby checking out some huge Organ Pipe Cacti- Notice- Ike wore his rainboots so he could stop any potential puddle- gotta give him that opportunity whenever it comes around- which is exactly twice a year:)

(R) A "jumping Cholla" jumped right onto Ike's hat- no one was injured, but it was a close call! Ike got a little too close and they sense movement and drop their ends at the slightest movement-LUCKILY- right on Ikie's hat and not his head! Needless to say, he became more careful after that!

Cool butterfly pic Ben captured on some desert plant- any botanist wanna help me with that one?

Ike and Daddy in front of some more crazy Cacti fields- don't wanna go stomping through those too badly...

In other news, as you can see, Ike has perfected his FAVORITE sleeping position. He likes to be "Cold," as he puts it which means he wants his pillows cold, etc. So, we often find him with limbs hanging out of the bed in an effort to keep them their COLDEST:) Funny little boy. He will not accept a pillowcase that is anything but cotton and would never sleep with a fleece blanket- too warm.

Ben and I both received callings last week as well. We feel like our ward will be a great place for us to learn and grow. It is huge! We have over 200 sisters in Relief Society (not all there every Sunday, of course), but that gives you an idea. Ben is an 11 year old Scout leader (he moved up a year from Laramie)! He is excited to be working in boy scouts and to help them through this "critical" scouting time (apparently 11 years old is a fundamental foundational year to help them earn some stuff they need to achieve their biggie goals like Eagle Scout (I can hear Ben cringing in his sleep as I, of all people, try to explain the scouting program- not my forte) Sorry.

I was, coincidentally, called as the 11 year old primary teacher (again, cringing from lack of terminology). They have two classes of 11 year olds and both are only boys- there are no girls this age! So, I teach a group of about 6 kiddos. Should be fun. They are a fun bunch of boys. I am a little stressed about not having any primary experience, other than mine growing up. Let me tell you, growing up in a small branch with maybe 10 kids tops, is a lot different than having Junior/Sr. Primary both packed full of kiddos! It will take some getting used to, but like I said, I am happy to have the experience;) I trust that this is where the Lord needs us to be!

Ike loves going to church and to nursery especially. He is in the older nursery class (only a few months left untils Sunbeams) and in his class, there are no toys or playtime besides books and puzzles. I think this is great! Their lessons are longer and they are learning more songs too. Cute times. He has a great teacher and there are a few more boys than girls, so he's in HEAVEN! I think he's going through major withdrawls from all his girl cousins and friends that are girls back in Wyoming! He hasn't seen a GIRL TOY in a month!

This is a funny pic we took the other night. I decided to put Zach in Ikie's bed while Ike was still in the bath. I teased him and told him Zachy was going to sleep with him that night. Anyway, he went along with it and was SO EXCITED for a bunkmate! They laid together for quite awhile smiling and Ike was singing to him while we made faces at them and chatted. Ike BEGGED to let him stay- "I won't squish him!" "He won't fall out!" Empty little promises:) Someday he'll be begging for his own room, but not today!

Also, as you can see, Ike has finally graduated to a toddler bed! He could climb out of his crib, but never did, so we left it a crib until the big move. He LOVES being in a big boy bed and is still so good about staying in it, though he sometimes decides just to sleep on the floor (coldness factor). He also loves coming in when he wakes up to "surprise" me every morning. Luckily, he is going to bed around 9 now and waking at 7:30 or 8. What a great kiddo!