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!

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[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!

Playing in the Rain

Kevin and Alan had a blast playing in the puddles and rain in Auntie Karen's backyard. They got thoroughly soaked!


[video - Splashing in the Rain]

Going for a ride

We have an heirloom family toy, a Little Tikes tractor-trailer. The boys' cousins have all played with it and now it's their turn. It used to hold blocks, and now it's home to Mr. Potato Head and his brother. Kevin occasionally likes to take it for a ride and today, Alan decided that it looked fun. He hitched a ride on the back of the trailer while Kevin drove them around.

Kevin's first soccer game

Kevin has started soccer with the YMCA this week. Last night we had our first practice.



Alan had a great time running around between the fields while Kevin worked with Coach Marc, the boys' PT.



And then this morning we had the first game. Daddy gives Kevin some tips.



Coach Marc encourages Kevin to kick.



Go Kevin and go White Lightening!



A post-game celebration! Even though the team lost, as far as we're concerned, the score was fun to fun!



Once the game was over, Alan finally got a chance to get on the field.





Kevin and Alan enjoyed a hard-earned snack and then we went to lunch with Auntie Karen and Nana Nancy afterward to celebrate.

Alan's First Haircut

It's been a long time coming, but we finally had Alan's first haircut today. Mommy hadn't wanted to cut it yet, he looked so cute with the head full of hair. Daddy thought it was getting too long, and it was starting to get into his eyes. He was also starting to get some rather spectacular bed head.

Since Alan is so "spirited" we thought it was going to be quite a fight, even though Miss Susan is a pro at getting Kevin to sit still. But other than protesting being taken away from the train table, Alan was pretty cooperative. There was some wiggling when he felt ticklish or when he wasn't getting a good view of Cars, but otherwise he was such a good boy!


Before, at the train table


Getting ready


The first cut


Getting those bangs out of his eyes


It tickles!


And now the back, we're almost done!


And after! What a handsome boy!


Then it was back to the train table...


... while Kevin got his haircut.

The Twelth Annual Canada Day BBQ

This year was the twelfth year we've celebrated Canada Day together. With Alan in the middle of a chemotherapy treatment we kept the festivities quite small. Auntie Chelle and Auntie Mana joined us in Canadian colours!

The family wore t-shirts that Daddy got on a layover in Ottawa at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum. Mommy and Daddy had Avro Arrow t-shirts. Another great year celebrating with salmon and good friends!


Auntie Chelle and Auntie Mana with Alan


Canadian t-shirts!

Pure Fun!

Today, Alan and Mommy checked out a new indoor playground called Pure Fun Party. We had a special pass to their toddler room. Between the heat and Alan's crawling, our playground options have been limited.

Once we came into the toddler room, Alan made a bee-line to the slide. After doing several circuits, he checked out the red barn, the little house, and a yellow car. So much fun, with several breaks to snack and replenish. A couple of other kids would sometimes come in, and Alan would be interested in checking them out, but we pretty much had the place to ourselves.


Big slide!


Going up!


And down!


Mmmm, playing is hard work!


Taking a break to watch the windows being washed


Beep beep!

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[video - Sliding at Pure Fun]

Sprinkler blastoff

Kevin and Alan had a great time with their Buzz Lightyear Rocket sprinkler today!


Alan was figured out the "throttle" on the hose pretty quickly


Blast off!


Miss Renee takes Alan closer to the water


Kevin puts the rocket back on the water stream


No more water! Back on the launch pad...


Whoops! Alan gets Kevin soaked!


Kevin with the rocket


Alan at the controls