Alan's Fourth Birthday

Alan is four years old now! We had a party for him this weekend at the Little Gym, where we could do his favourite game, Smack the Cheese! After lots of fun in the gym, Alan shared ice cream and cupcakes with a great big 4 on them with his little friends.

On his birthday, Daddy was Watch DOG at school, which meant Alan got to have Daddy at breakfast and Circle Time, and Daddy got to see Alan's turn as the line leader. Since he had such a busy weekend, after school and a trip to the doctor Alan had a nice long nap. Then it was off to Perico's for dinner with Auntie Chelle, Auntie Karen and Meme Nancy.


Alan getting ready for his party at the Little Gym


Getting a boost up onto the bars


Monkey brothers...


Alan takes a big leap


Alan loves challenges


Under the parachute...


... is so much fun!


Cupcakes with buttercream and marzipan 4's


Birthday dinner at Perico's


Happy Birthday Dear Alan!


Alan and Auntie Karen check out the sombrero!


Happy Fourth Birthday Alan!

==================================
[slideshow - Smack the Cheese!]

11th Annual Trick or ReTreat

It's the 11th Annual Trick or ReTreat pizza picnic in the cul-de-sac. When we arrived, Sienna, one of Kevin's Kinder classmates, called out to him. We ended up eating dinner and Trick-or-Treating with her family as well as one of their other Kinder classmates. This year, we gave up on trying to get a group portrait of all the kids. There are too many of them and they just move around too much! Everyone ended up taking smaller group shots like the one below.

While Kevin was running around with his Kinder friends, Alan was enjoying the freedom to run around the cul-de-sac. Alan had a nap this afternoon after getting home from school and a trip to the doctor, but he tired himself out again before we started Trick-or-Treating. He stayed in the stroller gathering treats in his bucket while we kept up with Kevin and his friends. It was quite a workout keeping up with the kids!


Alan prepares for a long night with an afternoon nap


Pizza picnic with Sienna and Sebby


The boys with Auntie Karen


Kevin and Sienna prepare for Trick-or-Treat!


Let's go!

Kevin is six years old!

Kevin turned six on Memorial Day! We had a party at the Little Gym where Kevin has celebrated many of his little friends birthdays over the last year with great fun. Kevin and Alan had a great time running amok all over the gym, and then enjoying cupcakes and ice cream.


Taking a jump off the balance beam


And again!


Everyone loves bubbles!


Smack the cheese!


Bamn!


Getting ready to hop!


... squish!


Mmmm, ice cream!


Cupcakes!


Hurray for cake!

========
[video - Smack the Cheese!]



[slideshow]

Santa Starr

We will not be able to make it to Air Life Santa this year because of Alan's surgery. Mommy is a little sad because she has been taking Kevin and then Alan every year since 2005. However, Kevin's playgroup's mommies made sure that our own playgroup tradition of pictures with Santa Starr could take place during our break at home in San Antonio between the pre-op appointments and Alan's surgery.

The party is smaller as families have moved, but we know they were with us in spirit. With the kids starting kindergarten and rumors that Santa Starr will be retiring, this may be our last big Christmas party. It was so nice to have fun with friends before we head into the tough month ahead.


Santa Starr arrives at Miss Cookie's house


Kevin and Alan wait for their turn with Santa Starr


Kevin and Santa


The boys are wiggly!


Kevin gives Santa a hug


Alan and Santa


Alan loves the candy cane that Santa Starr handed out


Yummy treats!


Playgroup Mommies with Santa Starr

Morgan's Wonderland

Today Mommy and Daddy celebrated their 11th anniversary with a trip to the brand new ultra-accessible family fun park, Morgan's Wonderland. We went with Kevin's little friend Austin, his little sister Stefanie and their parents.

We started at their water play center -





then headed back towards the entrance to check out the beautiful sculpture "Taking Flight".



We then moved on to one of their covered playgrounds. We spent a LOT of time there with the kids exploring, climbing, and sliding.





After eating lunch in one of the covered pavilions overlooking the lake, we went to the wharf to shoot the giant water cannons and drive the RC pirate boats.





We then took a train ride around the park, where we got to see the many turtles sunning themselves on the rocks and swimming in the lake.



We finished up with a trip to the sensory village, where we played with the tadpole, butterfly and falling candy walls!



With all this fun, we still hadn't tried everything the park had to offer, like the merry-go-round, music village or the cars. And they haven't even had the Grand Opening yet! We will definitely be coming back soon to play some more!


------------------------

Pumpkin Patch with Mackenzie

This year, we went to the pumpkin patch in Cibolo with Mackenzie. It was a nice quiet little patch complete with hay bales, scarecrow, a wishing well and a little "barn".


A family portrait.


Alan enjoys roaming free.


Alan, Kevin and Mackenzie give us big smiles!


Alan makes a run for it. "Maybe the pumpkins will slow them down!"


Kevin and Mackenzie peek out of the barn.

Unfortunately, we came the day after the Cibolo Fall Festival, so there weren't any little pumpkins left. We left with lots of pictures but no pumpkin.