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Growing Up Is Hard (for mommy)

Peyton, Brandon, Ryan, Kathy & Kristine and I all took Peyton to White Water Bay to celebrate his 3rd birthday.  We all had a great time!  Brandon and Ryan rode as many rides as they could and Kathy and Kristine and I joined them on a few rides but mostly hung out with Peyton in the pools and lazy river.  We could see two of the slides from the lazy river so we watched and told the boys who made the bigger splash.  (Yes, the 'boys' I'm talking about are almost 30 and will be paying for some cannonballs gone awry with back pain today but I think it was worth it.) 

The highlight of the day was when Peyton (and his daddy) proved to me that he was officially a 'big boy'.  Brandon insisted that Peyton ride a slide.  I had NO problem with Peyton riding a kiddie slide but this slide was with the regular slides.  It was big and green and had a lot of stairs to get to the top.  Peyton would have to go down all by himself on his own tube and it was a windy slide so I could only see him at the top and bottom.  After A LOT of parental debate and serious nausea on my part, Peyton rode the slide like the big boy he is!  I went down the slide beside his (I didnt know the green slide was only for very little kids) and waited for him at the bottom.  All kinds of horrific (and probably impossible) scenarios ran through my head as I waited on him.  After several agonizing seconds, he popped out the bottom safely on his tube!  I went to get him and begin to repair the trauma that had surely been done when we let him get pushed down a rushing tube of water.  Instead, he looked up at me and said "Fun!  Again!"  With two words, Peyton was no longer a baby and his daddy could not have been more proud (for several reasons)!  I have to say, the day got a lot more fun after we found out Peyton could, in fact, ride some rides!  We all left the park completely exhausted and I was sure Peyton would sleep through his entire birthday evening but it was worth it.  And Peyton did NOT sleep through his birthday. 

See below... 

Peyton remembers why he loves birthdays!

GiGi (Grandma Burgess) gave Peyton a train whistle. 

After he figured out how to use it he thought it was pretty cool!

Brandon loves Peyton's birthday as much as Peyton, I think!

Nana (Kathy) gave Peyton several toys. 

This is a workbench where Peyton can use a hammer, screwdriver, wrench & laces. 

He really loves it!

Gamy (Allison's grandma) gave Peyton practice golf balls. 

(It's like she knew what else he was getting!)  ;)

Mom & Daddy gave Peyton a real putter and driver in his size.

Now Peyton and Daddy can golf together sometimes. 

Peyton didn't really understand why we gave him a toy he couldn't use immediately

but luckily he had LOTS of other toys to play with. 

Gamy also gave Peyton a felt Lightning McQueen poster to color. 

Mai Mai and Paw Paw gave Peyton a Sing Along DVD that Peyton was pretty excited about. 

I think he was naming one of the animals on the front. 

Mai Mai and Paw Paw also gave him a very cool Bible with a handle and clasp. 

Nana also gave Peyton a keyboard.  It hasn't made it to our house yet...

Peyton Turns Three!

Aunt Kristine made a very cool  Toy Story 3 cake.

Peyton was SO excited about it!!  But he had to wait until after we had pizza.   

It was hard to wait! 

I told him he had to wait until after we ate pizza and sang Happy Birthday.  So he sang Happy Birthday himself! It was very cute.  But it didn't work.  He still had to wait. 

Finally everyone started to sing Happy Birthday. 

Peyton blew out the candles and was ready for his cake!!!  Apparently so was I because I didn't take one picture of him enjoying his cake!  (Sorry Kristine!!)  It was very good!

The Sooner We Eat, The Sooner We Can Play

OK I have to share a recipe with you.  Its just too good and too fast not to share.  Seriously.  I started cooking at 5:30 this evening and it was on the table by 6.  Maybe 6:05.  But anyway, I know my efficient working mom friends are always looking for really good, fast recipes (yes, I'm talking to you Mom and April!) so here it is: 

Shrimp & Bacon Pasta (or Chicken & Bacon Pasta)

12 oz rotini pasta
Salt
4 slices bacon, cut crosswise into 1/2 in strips
1/4 C lemon juice
1 lb shelled and deveined shrimp or diced chicken
1/2 C loosely packed fresh parsley or cilantro

Boil pasta.  Meanwhile: Cook the bacon and set bits aside when crispy.  Cook shrimp or chicken in bacon grease.  (Healthier: spoon out all except 1 tbsp bacon grease and stir in 1/4 cup pasta water.)  When shrimp or chicken is cooked through, add lemon juice and parsley (or cilantro) and bacon bits.  Bring liquid to a boil and pour mixture over cooked pasta. 

Thats it! 

Crest had a 'Mammoth' produce sale (they weren't kidding!) so I added some bacon to some fresh green beans and sauteed some fresh squash with a shallot and garlic clove, opened the tupperware box of fresh cantaloupe and called it a meal.  Yum!!

(Even healthier option: leave out the bacon and switch to olive oil - the bacon is delish, though!!)

And... We're Done!!

Peyton officially graduated from speech therapy yesterday and I couldn't be happier!!  I'm happy that he is ready to graduate, I'm happy that I don't have to speed-clean my house before our Thursday afternoon sessions, I'm happy we don't have to transition to the public schools and I'm happy to continue to take select afternoons off to have Peyton-and-Mommy afternoons.  Just thought I'd share!