Isaac Turns 3 - Part 2

Isaac's party cake

A blue-ribbon birthday cake, if I do say so myself! (And don't forget, I have a 3 month old!)

Isaac had a birthday party at home this year with a choo-choo train theme, because he is all about Thomas and all things train. We invited 4 friends, but with siblings included the kid count was 10! So, I decided to create a one-of-a-kind choo-choo train cake with a grand engine and 10 individual cars (one for each child). It was really fun to make, and the kids were really delighted.

The engine is made of one cake made from a loaf pan, one from a mini-loaf pan, and 3 regular cupcakes. I used 3 mini-Twix bars for the coal, peppermint patties for the weals and icing for the rest of the decorations.



I used a mini-loaf pan to make 10 individual train cars and decorated them with mini vanilla wafers for wheels and various treats for "cargo," like Oreos, chocolate chip cookies, red licorice and candy valentine hearts. Surprisingly, there were no fights over who got which car with what cargo.



The birthday boy loved his cake, and it was hard to keep his hands off of it until the party began. I think he looked at it as more of a toy than something to eat. He seemed to really want to play with it, the way he plays with his other trains.

Isaac and his friends enjoyed pizza, veggies and pretzels before indulging in cake. Here they all are at the party table. They are, clockwise, starting in front with the boy in the orange: Aiden, Joey, Maia, Sascha, Maura, Isaac, Calem, and Nathan. And no 3rd birthday party is complete without a pinata. Scott found a Thomas pinata, and you can see how they all waited in rapt anticipation while Scott hung it up. I would say Isaac had a very fun 3rd birthday, and is really lucky to have so many friends. We love you, Isaac-Man! Happy Birthday, and please--can we skip the "terrible three's"?

Isaac Turns 3 - Part 1

Happy 3rd Birthday, Isaac!

It's hard to believe Isaac is 3 years old already! Where has the time gone? My sweet, sensitive little Isaac isn't so little anymore. He is quickly catching up to his big brother and actually outweighs him by a pound, though still a couple inches shorter. He has become quite a character and has about a million expressions that make everyone he meets laugh. He is so expressive and charming, and it's hard to hold a grudge. Isaac's favorite things include cars, trucks, trains and anything he gets to play with his older brother. Isaac loves to read stories and play pretend and snuggle up. I love chatting with Isaac because he is a thinker and he is very creative. He always has a good story to tell. It's crazy that he is 3 already. It seems like just yesterday we were wondering what his little voice would sound like, and how it would be when he and Calem could play together. He is growing up so fast and will even be going to preschool in the fall. Isaac is so easy to have around, and is wonderful company. Happy Birthday sweet boy, I love you very, very much!

Welcome to Our Family!

On November 23 at 10:13pm my long and cumbersome pregnancy finally came to a blissful end, and we joyfully welcomed our third baby boy into our family!!!! At 7lb. 9oz. he cried heartily and sported a full head of dark hair. Big and pink and healthy, we couldn't be happier, but he needed a name! Once again, we had been unable to commit to a boy's name prior to the birth.

But by the next afternoon, we had decided on Grant Martin Justice Nagy. It seems to fit him, and will be a good strong name as he grows into a man.

It's still surreal to believe that I am a mother to three boys. I am outnumbered in this family, for sure, but I will certainly take three boys over three girls any day!!! What mom wouldn't want three strapping young men to take care of her in her old age?

Welcome, baby Grant! You are a blessing and we love you so, so much already. We can't wait to watch you grow and learn and develop your special and unique personality. My only word of advice for you is to learn to be tough quick, because your big brothers aren't likely to go easy on you!

Happy 2nd Birthday, "Baby Isaac!"

Is that the most handsome 2 year old you've ever seen, or what??? Okay, so I may be a smidge biased, but truly that smile can light up a room and turn the hardest of hearts soft.

It's hard to believe this little guy, still lovingly referred to in our social circle as "Baby Isaac," is now a 2 year old on the verge of big boy status.

At 2 years of age, Isaac is a wonderfully independent child. He attacks life with exuberance and takes play VERY seriously. So seriously you can often spy on him talking to his toys and playing with such purpose and so intensely there is a furrow in his brow. Unlike his big brother, Isaac can play for more than an hour without ever checking to make sure he hasn't been abandoned. This is wonderful at home, but scary when we're out in public. The kid has little to no fear, and can disappear in a split second. I definitely have to keep an eye on him.

Isaac has grown into a funny and light-hearted little boy. He loves to laugh and to make other people, especially his big brother, laugh. He has developed quite the little sense of humor, and unfortunately likes to do his stand up routine at the dinner table. Despite the ever-more-frequent tantrums, Isaac is a generally mild-mannered child and perpetually happy.

Isaac loves choo-choos, cars, trucks, cars, cookies, cars, Calem--and cars. So, understandably, we had a car-themed birthday party for Isaac with just a few friends. The kids enjoyed racing cars down a plywood ramp and eating a chocolate race-car cake.

The race ramp was a huge hit, and I have plans to paint it and make it look like a real drag-race track at some point.

These are Isaac's closest friends. He's so lucky to have been fully welcomed into the "big-boy" crowd. It's funny, because some of Calem's friends actually prefer to play with Isaac at times! Ah, the benefits of having a brother so close in age.Happy Birthday, Isaac. Mommy loves you so, so much! But you need to stop growing up so fast.

Happy Birthday, Calem!

Dear Calem,

I can't believe you are 3 years old already! Today is a beautiful fall day, exactly like the one we brought you home on three years ago. The sun is shining bright, the sky is the perfect shade of blue with little puffy clouds and there is a nippy, crisp breeze in the air. I can vividly remember holding your tiny little body in my arms--all wrapped up in a tiny blanket that would barely cover you to your knees now.

You were a cute baby the moment you arrived, but at 3 the cuteness has reached a whole new level. Just shy of three feet tall, you are my pocket-sized bundle of energy, mirth and mischief. It is an amazing and wonderful thing to watch you grow and change and learn. I love so many things about you--you are very funny, you are creative and imaginative, you are curious and love to learn things. I love how you talk. ...And talk and talk and talk... that you converse with us like a miniature adult, and that you are able to capture the heart of every stranger we meet when they hear you talk. You say funny things. You say sweet things. You say smart things. You say things that make no sense at all. But your voice is endearing and I look forward to talking to you every single morning.

From three months to three years, the time has flown by. It wouldn't be truthful to say I've savored EVERY moment, because there have been more than a handful of trying ones. However, I'm enjoying who you are and who you are becoming. You are a joy. Happy birthday, my first-born son! Mommy loves you!

A Playgroup Birthday Party

Today was our third annual playgroup birthday celebration, and boy was it crazy!!! Of course, it started off like any other playgroup day while the kids got excited greeting each other as each new face arrived. They spent some time playing, running around and acting generally nuts. Then they realized there was food (which is not a usual playgroup provision, unless it's lunch packed by mom). Like vultures, the kids began to swarm. Cries of "I want chips!" "Where's my juicebox?" "I see cupcakes!" "Crackers and cheese, please!" soon drowned out any conversations moms may have been having. So, lunch of a sort was served.

After lunch we started the birthday festivities where one of our moms (who is a fourth-grade teacher) managed to successfully gather all 9 of our nearly-3-year-olds (as well as 2 18-month-olds, one 1-year-old and 4 baby siblings--Yes, that's a total of 16 children!) for a group story, which was thoroughly enjoyed by all. After the story, each kid got to pick a present, which of course brought many smiles and cheers. We all brought a wrapped book and that way it didn't matter who chose which gift--they'd all be getting the same thing.

Finally it was time for the big event: CUPCAKES!!!!

You want to know how to get 9 nearly-3-year-olds to stay in one spot? Put a cupcake in front of them and tell them they have to stay in that place to eat it, or it will be taken away. Works like a charm and provides ample time for photo opportunities. It's amazing what a year can do for cupcake eating skills. Last year we laughed and laughed at the hands, faces and general messes our kids made with the cupcakes--but this year they were pros. Licking icing with delicacy and consuming the tasty treats with grace. Can you believe they even asked nicely for napkins--without any prompting! What big boys and girls we have now--and how tremendously quickly these last 3 years have gone. We're so thankful to still have these friends from birth--literally. (we all met just days after our babies were born at the hospital's breastfeeding support group)

Disclaimer: Lest you feel injustice was done to younger siblings, please be assured that those old enough to eat solids were also given cupcakes. The proof is in Isaac's frosting mustache. Please, no emails regarding cruelty to siblings.