Also in June

Lucky for me, it seems like June was relatively non-photogenic.  I was probably letting the camera have a moment/month to prepare itself for what was to come (which would be Jonathan and Mom and the ENTIRE month of July).

Around the house:

                         

          
The mustaches were goofy gifts from Logan’s birthday.  Regarding the umbrella, no, it wasn’t raining.

Things we made:
(We seem to have been craftier than usual this month.)

This has been expanded and refreshed a couple times but it’s STILL here. 
                         
The bears were made (by me!) from clay dug out of the yard; the boat was made by Logan (and Dad) from a kit which was another birthday present.
                          
The castle was created right after Logan’s birthday party and only recently came down.  The painting was hung for the 4th of July because I thought it looked roughly like fireworks over a large lawn.

Pretend City (is still awesome):

                           
They added a gym near the fire station.
                       
Uncle Drew, the fire station was the very first place both of them ran to.  
                           
                             
Farm to table, right?
They put on a show and the crowd went Wilde!

 
                        
                                                   

Next up: July!

5 Years!

I’m pretty sure you already knew this but yes, Logan did have a birthday back in June.  He’d been talking about his birthday this year since December (not exaggerating) so that, coupled with the fact that five is something of a milestone birthday, meant that we went a little bigger this year than we typically do for birthday parties.

              
Since his party wasn’t until more than a week after his actual birthday though, he got a mini-celebration on the official day.  He requested another train cake, so Mommy went cheap and easy but I still think it turned out looking alright.

                            
Logan seemed happy about it anyway.


Logan’s birthday party was a joint party with a neighbor-friend whose birthday was later in the month.  She turned four, Logan turned five and we decided on a knights and princesses theme to accommodate everybody.  So here you have
Sir Logan, the Birthday King.

                         
Lady Naomi, second in command and belle of the ball.

Both the birthday kids: Logan and Gioia.  Gioia’s mom and I got such a laugh out of this picture—doesn’t it look like it ought to be in their wedding slide show someday?

                             
Planning a party with Tina (Gioia’s mom) turned out to be fabulous.  We really had the same vision for the whole thing and neither one of us had to go too crazy to pull it all together.  For example, we both were excited about collecting canned goods in lieu of gifts—that’s Naomi peeking her head in the donation box—and the cake was all Tina’s doing!  After the party I took Logan and Gioia on a special outing to drop the food they collected off at a local ministry!

                          
We had a dress-up area with every manner of sword, cape, dress and jewel, and a craft area for decorating your own crown/tiara.

A great big castle, of course!

           
            
Everybody got into it and I don’t think there was a single item we brought out that didn’t get used to its fullest potential.

Phew!  I need to take a quick break before the next round.

                    
Here it comes!  Logan was SOOOO excited about the dragon pinata; we even had a sword (a wooden one Jake made years ago just for fun) for the full slaying-the-dragon effect.  It could not have been more perfect; it even popped open on cue for the last kid in line!

           
Singing “Happy Birthday” to my great big five year old boy!

I think it’s going to be a good year for him.