The Birthday Party and the Zoo

There's the birthday cake in the background, all set up for the kids to come to Dexter's party. That's Dexter's head at the bottom of the picture. He's inspecting the snacks all set up.

Usually, I get very theme-happy for parties and go crazy with keeping to the theme, but it was pretty low-key this year for Dexter's birthday party.

The theme was 'transportation' I guess you'd say.

I would say that the licorice and popcorn twists were the most popular part of this party.
L-R
Dexter, Rya, Madisyn

I moved the table out of the way in the living room to break the 'no toys in the living room rule' and laid out AJ's wooden Thomas track.

I set up some colouring at both little tables in the living room.

Did I mention that the kids all really liked the licorice and the popcorn twists?

In AJ's room, I set up the hot wheels loop-the-loops and on of the buckets of hot wheels.

And the Criss-Cross-Crash and Wolf Mountain up on the train table.

And of course, as always, Dexter's take-along-Thomas track was set up under his bed where the kids love to use those trains and the Disney Pixar Cars that fit perfectly on there.
L-R
Jack, Josiah, AJ

I did cake-time pretty early, within the first half hour so that it, hopefully, wouldn't ruin dinner, since the party was from 3pm-5pm.
It just looks like the regular summer-crew of kids, but inside instead of outside!
Clockwise, starting with Dexter...
Dexter, Alton, Josiah, Madisyn, Makenna, Jack, Rya, Jaxon, Emerson

Dexter's getting ready to blow out the candles.

Okay.. so...
I gave them spoons/forks for eating the cake, but told them they didn't have to use them if they didn't want to (I thought that would be tricky for the younger ones). I did give each of them paper towel AND a wet cloth for cleaning up along the way.
Here's Emerson enjoying the blue icing free-for-all.


As usual, Alton was the last one at the table, and that's with Emerson having seconds!

Oh ya, and did I mention that all the kids really liked the licorice and the popcorn twists?

Train time!

And some of them eventually ventured downstairs to the playroom. I have some of this mess and chaos on tape.

Every so often, I sat down with my coffee. It's waiting here for me, so patiently.

At about 4:30pm, in an effort to get everyone calm before they got picked up by their mommies and daddies, I called them all up to watch a bit of "Cars", have some apples/oranges/carrots, and to have some VERY watered down juice.

L-R
Madisyn, Alton, Rya, Josiah, Emerson

L-R
Emerson, Dexter, Jaxon, Makenna, Jack

And four of them remained to watch some more movie while the others went back to playing.


THANK YOU to everyone (from last week's get together and this weekend's 'friend party') for giving Dexter birthday money. I took him to Walmart tonight to pick out his own toys. He didn't get it at first. He just kept saying, "Wow, look at this, Mom! Look at this Transformer! Look at this Bakugan!" I had to explain that if he wanted something, he could bring it home today!
His choices?
Batman and Superman underwear.
Iron Man umbrella (he's wanted an umbrella like AJ's for a LONG time).
Imaginext airplane with a hook and line for 'saving' people. Oh ya, and it shoots discs.
Playskool Police Heroes type thing that folds up into a backpack.
Barricade Transformer.
Three Bakugans. (He loves these. They are like miniature Transformers to he and AJ.)

It was like Christmas all over again. Geesh!

It was really hard to get those two to bed tonight because they were so wrapped up in 'saving people' with all the new toys.

Thanks again, everyone!

Thanks to Richard too who did the last minute shopping before the party!




The Zoo

On Friday, it was raining, but I wanted to get the kids some fresh air. I decided to do boots and raincoats and head to the zoo.

It didn't take much to convince Erica that this was a good idea.

She was smarter though.. she remembered snow pants for extra water-protection.

It was a torrential downpour on the way to the zoo (and the way home), but it didn't rain for long once we were there.
Dexter, Rya, Jack, AJ






Artic Wolf



These are sad faces. AJ and the others are disappointed that the snack-shack was closed and they couldn't get ice cream (not that we were going to buy any). This was a potty-stop!




Love this one. Look how deep it is!


Well, I thought that I had pictures from last week's skating lessons and Grand-Dan's visit to see Dexter for his birthday, but I guess I didn't take any.

Last week, my dad came out to see Dexter for his birthday (he brought Light Sabers!) and to watch skating lessons. Dexter did a little better this week. We got there a bit early and fit in some fun skating before the lessons this time instead of after.

Grand-Dan took us for dinner at Milestone's after... yum! Thanks, Dad. The boys enjoyed their curly fries and virgin strawberry daquiris (or slurpees, as AJ calls them).

Another big thanks to Grand-Dan who is making it possible for Dexy to start preschool in February! Thanks again, Dad. Can't thank you enough.