Birthday Letter to my Four Year Old "Baby"

Every year I write birthday letters to each of my boys on their birthdays.  It is my way of capturing the little details that I don't want to forget when they are older.  Today, my "baby" boy turns four, and here is why he is so special to me...

To my sweet baby boy,

I can hardly believe you are turning four and this is our last year at home together before you start school.  The years are passing so quickly, but I am enjoying every minute of being your mommy.  Here are a few of the little things that make you the special little boy that you are:

• You love to cuddle, and you always ask Daddy or I to sing you a "soft song" at bedtime.
• When you grow up you want to be a race car driver and an "X-men" hockey player.
• You are really funny, and you are always making Daddy and I (and your "brudders") laugh.
• Your favorite color is green, and your favorite show is "Jack and the Neverland Pirates".
• You love music, and always request "The Beatles" when we are driving in the van.  (You like to pretend that you are George.)
• You finished your first year of Preschool this year... and although you were scared in the beginning, you learned to love it and made lots of friends.
• Your brothers are your best friends, and you love to play hockey, have dinky car races, pretend to be Star Wars characters, have pirate adventures, and run around the yard together.
• You started swimming lessons this year, and you love the water.
• This is your first summer playing soccer, and you are super-proud to have a real jersey... like your brothers.
• You love having stories read to you, and you think Wacky Wednesday (by Dr. Seuss) is hilarious.
• You are hungry all the time, but you are usually just looking for crackers (although you are getting much better at trying new foods).
• You love to play with my hair (especially when you are sleepy).
• Every night you cuddle up with "big blanket" and your monkeys before you go to sleep.

I love you all the way to the moon and back... plus a little more with every year that passes.

Love, 

Mommy

xoxo

No-Sew Jake Costume

My boys love pirates, and yesterday my son asked if I could help him put together a "Jake" {from Jake and the Neverland Pirates} costume.  Given that I don't know how to work my sewing machine, here is what we came up with:

Pretty cute, right?

Here's how we did it:

To make the headband - I cut a strip of felt 36 inches long and 2 inches wide.  I fit it to my son's head and secured it with a clear elastic.

To make the sword - I drew a sword (like Jake's) on a piece of cardboard and cut it out.  I used the top of a pizza box, but any thick cardboard would work.  You can download a free printable template of the sword I designed here.

To make the shirt - I took an old white shirt, cut a couple of slits in the sleeves, and had my son draw an "X" on the collar.

To make the vest - I bought a plain blue t-shirt for $4.  I cut off the sleeves, and I cut a straight line all the way up the middle of the shirt.  Then, I sewed on four gold buttons.  (I figured I could manage a couple of buttons, but if you really don't want to do any sewing, you can skip this step.)

I hope you enjoy making this simple Jake costume with your little pirates.

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Disclosure: I'm part of the Disney Junior Mom program, and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group.  The opinions on this blog are my own.

Personal-sized Pizzas on the Grill

In my house, we don't all agree on what toppings make the best pizza, so a couple of weeks ago I thought it would be fun to make some personal-sized pizzas.... on the BBQ.  This recipe is easy, tasty, and makes the perfect {easy} summer supper.

Here is how I made each of my boys their very own {delicious} grilled pizza:

1)  I started out with a simple crust, which had the perfect consistency for grilling.  You can find the recipe here.  When the dough was ready, I divided it up into small balls (about the size of a baseball), and rolled each one out to slightly less than 1/4" thick.  (Note: If you are stacking the rolled out dough, make sure to put parchment paper in between each layer to prevent sticking.)

2)  While I was rolling out the dough and getting the toppings ready, my husband oiled the grill and heated it to medium.  Then, I placed the crusts on the grill and cooked them for about two minutes (until they started to bubble).  My husband used tongs to flip them over, and cooked them for another two minutes.

3)  We quickly added our toppings, closed the lid, and let the pizzas cook for another 3 minutes.  (Note:  It is very important to have the toppings "ready to go" beside the grill because they need to be placed on the pizzas quickly after the crusts are cooked.)

What is your favorite pizza topping?  Would these "mini" pizzas be a hit in your house?  

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Quick Tip Tuesday #7 - Pinwheels in the Garden

The boys and I planted a little garden in the spring, and last week the birds pecked at all my ripe strawberries.  I asked some of my readers for suggestions, and the simplest answer came from a lovely lady named Kristin.  {Thanks, Kristin!}

I put some silver and red pinwheels in my garden, and it seems to be working!  It really is keeping the birds away from my delicious ripe strawberries.  

I have my fingers crossed that it will continue to work.  Do you have a foolproof way to keep pesky birds out of your garden?

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Elf on the Shelf {Summer Postcard}

How cute is this summer postcard we just received in the mail from our "Elf on the Shelf"?

I think it is totally adorable!  Don't you?

If you think your little ones would like it too, you can download a copy {for free} here.  (Feel free to share and pin the link to this post with your friends, but please do not link directly to the download.  Thank you!)

My boys were so glad to hear from "Elfie".  They really miss him, and December is still several months away.  {wink}

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Easy Homemade Cards

Today's tip is all about getting children involved in gift giving by having them make their own cards.

I always have a bunch of blank cards and envelopes around, so when there is an occasion to do so, I have the kids make their own birthday and thank you cards.

It is a simple exercise, but I think it is important for children to learn about giving and gratitude, and this is a simple way for them to do it.  Just give them a blank card, some stickers, and some crayons, and watch them create meaningful cards for teachers, family, and friends.

Don't you think a handmade card is more special than one that comes from a store?

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Last Day of School 2013 {Family Traditions}

Tuesday was the last day of preschool for my three year old, and today my two older boys went to pick up their report cards.  We have two special traditions for the last day of school.  First, I pick the boys up at school and take them for ice cream.

Then, the boys get to run through their "finish lines".  {This was the first year my three year old was able to run through a finish line, so he was super-excited!}

Do you have any special end of year traditions?  I just love hearing about the fun things other families do! 

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)