Pirate Party time!!

We have done it! We have survived another kid birthday party! Woot! Woot!
The theme for Christopher's 5th birthday party was pirates. Not because he is into pirates, but because he saw the pirate swords at Target and wanted them and I figured it would be easier than trying to do an Angry Birds party, which is what he is in to. So pirates it was!

I was a bit stressed since I was out of town last weekend, and crazy busy all week with other things. We were scrambling today to get the activities together. We did it!


The first activity was the bean bag toss. The boys took turns tossing the bean bags in to the pirate chest.


The next activity was the jello hunt. This was an activity I did for Vinnie's lego party this year, where the boys used chop sticks to pick lego pieces out of the jello. This time I used blue jello and we told the boys that a treasure chest fell into the sea, spilling it's contents. They used their chopsticks to pull out treasure (toy rings) and fish (swedish fish). It was a bit tough for the younger boys to manipulate the chopsticks, but they did it.


Next up was the obstacle course. Pete has done this for both Vinnie and Joey's birthday parties and it is always a big hit. It wasn't pirate related, so Pete suggested we have the boys rape and pillage at the end of the obstacle course. Funny guy.


We came back in the house for pin the pirate on the map. Eh. Not too exciting.


We then took a break for pizza.

The next game was a surprise hit. It was a back up game that we were only going to use if we needed to kill more time (which we did). It was essentially musical chairs, but we used treasure maps. The kids refused to walk in a circle, and instead went crazy running all over the place and plowing into each other. Boys! Much to our surprise we did not have to stitch anyone up at the end! They played this over and over (and over). I find I can never predict what the huge hit of the party is going to be.


Cake time! Of course I made a pirate cake.

Make a wish!




The final event was the treasure hunt. Every pirate party has to have a treasure hunt, right? We had no idea how to do a treasure hunt for 5 year olds who can't even read. Pictures? Rhymes? An hour before the party we were still trying to figure out what to do. I decided to keep the clues real simple, with either Pete or Vinnie reading the clues. Examples were "this is where Christopher's brothers play basketball" and "this is where the mailman puts the mail". At each location was a paper bag with the next clue and some pieces of candy for their bag. The final clue led them to the big treasure chest which had their take home goody bags in it. It went smoothly and the kids had a blast!
The goody bags had pirate stickers and tattoos, an eye patch, chocolate coins, a candy necklace and a few other little trinkets. I find it hard not to get carried away on the goody bags!

Aye matey!!

Happy 5th birthday Christopher!!

Hard to believe, but my baby is turning 5 today!

As the youngest of 4 boys, Christopher is not your typical 5 year old. In fact, he thinks he is about 10! He is saavy and tough and has no problem holding his own when surrounded by older kids. In fact, he still can't understand why he wasn't allowed to have a sleepover party for his 4th birthday!

Christopher is also our family clown. Here are 5 funny things Christopher has said or done recently:

1. A couple of weeks ago we were having a family meeting about the kids' recent poor behavior around here. We were going around the table asking each one what they can do to make this house more pleasant (ie. stop fighting with my brother, do what I am told, etc...). We came to Christopher last. He looked around and said " I will stop fake farting. Also, I will stop pulling my pants down and showing Vinnie my butt."

2. Last year I asked him who wipes his butt if he poops in preschool. His answer? "We don't poop in school. We only pee. That is why it is called pee-school".

3. When looking for our lost snake last week (who we still haven't found) he pulled his penis out of his pants, started waving it around and said "here he is!"


4. We went down to SoCal this summer to visit family, including my cousin's 3 month old baby. He is a cute little boy with big open eyes. Christopher was staring at him and leaned over and whispered to me "That baby is freaking me out. Look at those eyes!"

5. In his preschool this year there is a little girl with adorable big curly hair. He said to her mom the other day "Is that your little girl? Because she has crazy hair!"



Happy birthday little man!! You make us laugh and keep us on our toes! We love you!

I guess we better start checking our shoes before putting them on...

Notice anything missing? Yep, Buster Posey (our pet snake) is gone for good this time. I am still not entirely sure what happened. I know I saw him in there on Saturday morning, but when the boys went to take him out Saturday night to play, he was gone. They insist they never left the top off and I believe them because I would have seen it off. There has been a tiny hole in the mesh top for a couple of months, but I didn't think he could get up to it or slither out it. Guess I was wrong. Crazy thing is, a month ago the boys did leave the top off for a few hours and he didn't leave then (despite me thinking he did).

We looked everywhere. I had the kids looking in every shoe, nook and cranny in the downstairs. At one point Christopher yelled out "I found him!" I ran around the corner to see him with his penis pulled out of his pants , wiggling it around. Sigh. When I told Peter what Christopher did he said "I was going to do the same thing!" I think Pete was actually disappointed his 5 year old son beat him to the joke. Double sigh. Clearly the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

I have a nephew who lost a snake and found him 6 months later. My cousin found her lost snake a year later, his tail dangling from behind a wall hanging. (I have no idea what they were eating that entire time!!). I suppose that means there is a still a chance we will find Buster, but who knows. I don't know if those are unusual stories or if that frequently happens. I am afraid he went down a vent and is stuck. What will happen when we turn the heat on?! I don't want him to suffer. I actually left some of his food (yes, by food I mean a dead pinky mouse!) sitting out by the vent, hoping the smell will lure him out so he can at least eat. (It is starting to get a bit soft and gross though, so i will have to toss it!)

The kids are bummed too, but I think I am the most upset. WAAAAHH!!! If I am this broken up about a snake, I can only imagine how I would act if I had a warm blooded pet that was lost!

BUSTER, PLEASE COME HOME!!

Finally!

Christopher is finally playing in his first real, gets-to wear-a-real-uniform-and-have-a-snack-after sport!!


Christopher was less than 72 hours old when he went to his first sporting event- it was Zachary's soccer game. He has spent most Saturdays since then at various soccer, baseball, and football fields watching his brothers play. Finally he is old enough!!

My favorite picture! Nobody can catch him!

Technically he should be in the under 5 division, but his best friend is in the under 6 division so we petitioned to have him play up. Pete offered to coach so the league agreed.

He is the youngest and by far the smallest on the field, but look at him go! The joy on his face says it all. Despite his age and size, he is one of the better ones on the team. He is not intimidated at all by the bigger boys (why would he be? he is used to his brothers!). What he lacks in size, he makes up for in speed!

Of course, nothing is as exciting as the snack after! Above he is with his best friend Aaron (who is only 6 months older!)

Team Contini strikes again!

Happy Birthday Pete!

Happy birthday to my husband, the man who wears many hats!

Pete has so many things going on at any given moment, I don't know how he does it.

1. The big thing of course, is that he is a full time pediatrician.

2. He is on our neighborhood board as the communications director. He is in charge of the newsletter, among other things.

3. Currently he is coaching Vinnie's fall ball team.

4. He is also coaching Christopher's soccer team (or as we like to refer to it- "herding cats")

5. He is on the ER committee at the hospital.

6. He writes our office article in the "95120" magazine

7. He is working on a new business venture (which is all I can say here) (also, I am not too thrilled with this one).

8. He is also working with a company as a pediatric adviser to their product.

9. Last but not least, he is a pretty great Dad and husband!

Happy birthday Pete! We love you!

edited to add- I almost forgot! He is also "team doctor" at all the Leland high school football games and is starting work on some pediatric podcasts (Lord knows he loves to hear himself talk!)