Bergen Turns 3!

Friday, May 11th was Bergen's birthday. I had planned for an outdoor water party. See the invitation below I spent way too much time working on!

I also spent way too much time thinking over the details of the party. I did had a lot of fun shopping for supplies though (maybe a little too fun) and Bergen was just so excited to get things for his party, that it made it even more fun for me. Trying to keep it fun and exciting yet simple was a little tricky. I didn't want to become overwhelmed or stressed out over it. In the end I did a good job keeping it from crossing that line, but it was a good thing I had some grandparent helpers here to help me finish the last minute preparations.

We had buckets for the kids to carry their sponges balls, squirt guns, and bubbles in, and take home at the end. They also got to take home a crazy straw. In an attempt to not overwhelm myself I didn't make a fancy cake this year. In fact all we had was brownies in cupcake shape with whipped topping. The whipped topping was home made though so that should count for something :)

ready for the party

my pretty display...that no ones cares about but me, but I do it anyway :)

buckets to hold the goods 

 brownie treats

sponge balls made by us 

 colorful water balloons

the rest of the stuff

On Bergen's birthday we woke up to some clouds :( I was just hoping the rain would hold off until noon when the party was over. I got everything set up outside and started to take pictures of it just as it started to sprinkle. The first half of the party the kids played in the sprinkling rain. But with squirt guns, sponge balls, bubbles, and water balloons it worked out alright. They mostly had fun running around and jumping on the trampoline.

picking out their buckets

 water filling station

ready to go!

 squirt time

 "don't get me!"

having fun

 water balloon toss

 water balloons lasted about 2 seconds before the kids threw them all :)

his goggles crack me up!

We had to move inside for presents and food because it eventually started to pour. Bergen did a great job opening each present, showing interest in it, and saying thank yous. Bergen sang himself a very nice "happy birthday to you" (cracked me up!) and only requested to blow the candles out twice. The kids really liked the brownie cupcakes and fruit in waffle cone bowls. Overall the kids were much quieter and calmer than I expected. It wasn't the bright sunny party I was planning and hoping for, but Bergen had fun. I have to remind myself that was what mattered most :) 

 finally! he gets to open his presents :)

 I picked these up for him last minute. Needless to say they've been a big hit, both at the pool and in the bathtub!

Bergen's "wooooow"

singing to himself 

 blowing out the candles

yummy food

After the party we went to lunch at Chef Point Cafe (remember, the gas station). Bergen had a good nap that day :) In the evening Bergen opened the presents from us and grandparents. The big gift was a water/sand table. He spends lots of time at the sink playing in the water so I knew he would like the table. I was not wrong :) He's had a lot of fun playing with it, although he knew right away it was also supposed to have sand and didn't let us forget it for several days until we could get to the store to get some! I really have been impressed at how well he's played with and rotated through all the new things he's gotten.

"time for my presents!"

every inch of paper has to be torn off before getting excited about the contents 

he had some really cute and thoughtful expressions, "hmm." 

counting the cars...1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10. (constantly working on that 7 and 8) 

"what's it gonna be???" like he doesn't already know, sneak peeker! 

think he likes it!

"that's pretty cool" and "it's gonna be fu-un!"

A week after his birthday, out of the blue, he was standing by some of the toys he had gotten for his birthday and said to me, "Mommy, thank you for my party." Aww! You're welcome baby cakes! Such a sweetheart.

Grandma and Grandpa Linton Visit

Travis's parents came for a couple of days over Bergen's birthday. One of the days we went to a nearby aquarium.There really wasn't anything that held Bergen's attention for very long, but he did like the sunken pirate ship items in some of the tanks. The Linton divers recognized and pointed out lots of creatures they knew and had seen before. It was pretty cool, but for the price I don't think we need to go again anytime soon.

Bergen really enjoyed having grandma and grandpa here. For the most part Bergen really is a good kid, but even with all the birthday activities, the eating out, and the running around we did, I was impressed at how well behaved he was the entire time. I don't think there was even one fit! Pretty awesome, except now maybe grandma and grandpa think I make up stories about having an occasional rough day :)

For the special going out to eat birthday meal for Bergen and I, we went to lunch at the famous gas station restaurant here, Chef Point Cafe. Yes, it's in a gas station, but gourmet food! We've only been there a few times, and it's probably a good thing. I think they must use a stick of butter in all their dishes. Ok probably not but it all does taste very good. I had a pasta dish and Travis had a burger. Bergen devoured some of both of ours, and half way through we traded plates to experience a variety of the yumminess.

Bergen was sad to take grandma and grandpa to the airport. He wanted to go with them. Good thing we could tell him we could go to grandma and grandpa's house in a few months, because that kept him from insisting on getting on the plane with them :)

The Zoo and My Birthday

Bergen is getting so good at riding his bike! He can pretty much keep his balance with his feet up for a long as he wants to before putting his feet down to speed myself back up. He likes to go "really fast!" He 's even comfortable taking corners now without missing a beat. He did have his first wipe out. He was coming down this hill, got going too fast, the front wheel started wobbling and he toppled over before he could gain control again. He scrapped his chin and thumb a tiny bit, cried for about 7 seconds, then went back to the top of the hill to try it again. A little bit slower though :)

(phone picture = not great quality)

**********

Bergen and I got to go to the zoo with some friends this week. I took the wagon for Bergen to ride in. I figured it was easy for hopping in and out to see animals. It was too, except he basically walked the entire time. I pulled my friend's 5 year old more than I pulled Bergen :) We had fun though. He was an excellent trooper and behaved very well that day. Later I asked what was his favorite animal was. He said the giraffes and car. Finally figured out he was referring to riding in the friend's car that has a dvd player. Silly kid!

**********

Friday we had our first swim of the season. I was trying to finish a logo on the computer and Bergen was chomping at the bit to go. I asked if he could go get his swim shorts, trying to buy some time. He said yeah and was gone for a while. He came back and had actually found them, despite not really seeing them buried in his drawers all winter. He also insisted on having a swim diaper. I tried to explain he didn't need one because he used the toilet now, but to him that is just part of swim attire. Once I finished I went to his room for the swim shirt he was requesting. And to my surprise I found his dresser almost completely empty! Well, I must give him credit for successfully finding the shorts and getting them on himself, but holy moly, I was not expecting that mess! 

(another phone picture = more not great quality)

**********

My birthday was Saturday. We are pretty low key around here so there's wasn't too much wild celebrating. In the morning we went to another friend's soccer game (Mom and Kel called then and sang a version of Happy Birthday that I think they are taking on the road). Bergen loves being out at the parks and kicking the ball around on the side. This is the second time we have gone and this time he cried that he wasn't on the team and couldn't play on the field. He kept saying, "I on the team" and responded with "I am older now" when I told him he wasn't old enough to be on the team. These days he says he likes soccer the best.

Travis got me a new set of scriptures. Mine have been about a foot and a half big since they got wet from being on the floor in our closet when we were moving into the house and the piles backed up. Serves me right for putting them on the floor, right? :) I also got a hand mixer and water pitcher. We had some ups and down with Bergen that day so eating out at a restaurant just didn't seem like a good plan. Instead we got drinks at Sonic and sandwiches at Potbelly's, and took them to a park. We had the whole park all to ourselves and it was perfect weather. When we were done eating I surprised Bergen with his bike in the back of the car, and we watched him ride around all the open space. Probably doesn't sound very exciting, but eating and playing at the park was probably the best couple of hours all week. So I would say overall it was a good birthday :) 

New Bike & Yard Work

Bergen got a bike. We decided a while ago we wanted to get him a no pedal balance bike. He just pushes off with his feet, as he gets more comfortable with his balance he can start to pick up his feet and glide. We ordered it online and it came 3 days later, and then I had to wait another two days for Travis to get home to open it. I really wanted to open it immediately, but I knew if I was gone I would want them to wait until I was there. So I waited, but it was really hard :)

 On the way home from the airport yesterday we told Bergen we had a surprise for him. By the time we got home he was very excited for his "sa-prise". He was trying to sit on it before we even had it put together. He loves it! For two days now he's ridden it all around the house, up and down the sidewalk outside, around the entire block with mommy and daddy last night, and all around the house again today. Would you be surprised if I said he had to sleep with it next to his bed? Well don't be because he did :) It's only 6.5 lbs., so he can carry and maneuver it really easily. He's already taken it over dirt piles, the curb, Travis's legs, oh and the coffee table. Thankfully not riding it on the coffee table, but lifting the bike up onto it. We put a stop to that one. Silly kid! The pictures are of him riding it yesterday. It was pretty warm outside and his hair got super sweaty under that helmet, but he was a good sport to keep it on. He also had a water bottle he kept near by so he could take drinks to stay cool. I'm so glad Bergen likes it as much as we thought he might (especially since it was kind of expensive, no garage sale deal on this one).

**********

 This week we did a lot of yard work. Woohoo right?! Well Travis is woohooing that the fence is fixed and he can finally cross that no fun job off his list. First it was one, then two, and finally three posts rotted and the fence was REALLY leaning. And probably the only reason it hadn't fallen over was because it's been tied to the trampoline since last summer. In several places :) Travis had to take the fence apart, dig holes, cement new posts into the ground, then put the fence back together. I helped a little, mostly with the cementing part, otherwise I was on Bergen duty. 

We also worked in the front yard and planted 31 new plants. We had no idea we had gotten than many until we started planting and it was taking a while, a long while. Our neighbors asked if we were trying for yard of the month. Travis said no, just trying to keep from getting nasty letters from the HOA. (We may have been known to get mow your lawn letters every once and a while, but I hear we aren't the only ones so I don't feel too bad, AND almost every time we've gotten one it had already been done by then anyway. Seriously HOA people, take it easy, and save your stamps.) Our little pots that we planted in the fall are looking good. The mums survived the winter and are blooming again. I can't wait to see what the landscaping looks like in a few weeks after the new plants have grown a little.

**********
 I bought Bergen a few summer shirts and a couple pairs of shorts this week. The 18 month shorts were looking a little short, even though there was plenty of room in the waist. At the store he pointed to and picked out a pair of green mesh shorts. The next day he wanted to wear them. As soon as he got them on he said, "let's go running!" Of course! Daddy has mesh shorts that he wears running so it only made sense that Bergen have running shorts too. He wore them two days in a row and again today after church. I think they are his new favorite! Not to mention they are great for hiking, as in hiking up :)

Secret Capabilities

This week Bergen has surprised me with his secret capabilities. Like many his age he wants to do things himself. Things like pour the chocolate mix into his milk, but things like taking clothes off and on is more in the "mommy do it" category. One day I heard him open a drawer in the kitchen then silence. I called for him but got no answer. So I went looking. He was in our bathroom, pants on the floor, going potty all by himself. Now I knows he CAN go potty all by himself :) Wow Bergen, that's great! "No that's my great!" Anyway...oh yes, his secret capabilities. I also discovered he can help himself to an Oreo from the pantry while I'm in the shower. All he needs is a chair and reeeeeach. At least he usually gets one out for me too. And speaking of showers, Thursday morning some of Bergen's first words to me were, "Watch tbee, mommy? You take a shower. You dirdy!" Haha! So he's figured out he gets to watch tv when I shower. Or was it the Oreo he was ultimately going for? :)

This is Bergen helping Travis and I scrub the bathroom. I love when he says something is "really hard work!" Yes it is and you are going a great job. "No that's my great!" :) Every time! I really need another go to phrase. 

This week Travis and I took lunch and Bergen to the park. There were a couple of 4/5 year old girls that repeatedly told Bergen they were not playing with him! Despite his efforts to join in their fun, they refused to have it. He finally hunched over, walked back to me with the saddest face, and said, "it's not working." Just about broke my heart. After a hug and a little consoling he said, "I'll try again." Then ran to the playground to find friends to play with. Got to admire his persistence. 

So the next day I invited a friend Bergen's age over to play :) They had fun and were loud and crazy together, but had a good time. We went back to the park another day after school and played with another friend who is in kindergarten. He told his mom Bergen is his second best friend. Awwww, that's so cute. On Saturday we rode in their truck (this familiy's truck is a BIG deal to Bergen!) to the friend's soccer game. Bergen watched some, but soon had fun running and kicking soccer balls behind the line of parent chairs. When his friend wasn't in the game he played behind us with Bergen too. From the looks of it his friend had more fun with Bergen than he did in his game, but I could be biased. Bergen got dirtier than his friend that day, and Bergen wasn't even in the game :) This is later that day. He was so tired he barley cared to eat. We both had nice naps that day. Hooray for naps!