Playing Catch Up

I was going to post a little about thoughts on moving and a few pictures of the New Jersey house and area, but I realized I had some other photos I'd been wanting to put up for a while but never got around to. So I'll talk about the house later.


This is Grace and Ms. Cortes, her 1st grade teacher this year. We have been so lucky with all the teachers the kids have had, even back into preschool. I hate that we are leaving this one - she really likes Grace (who wouldn't?), and I hope we get one just as nice in New Jersey.


A favorite picture of mine taken on the playground earlier this school year. The remaining three of last year's four musketeers. I thought this one looked like a good album-cover shot.


Grace was once again chosen as "Super Stallion" for the first six weeks this year. Every six weeks each teacher selects two students from class to get the Super Stallion award. Usually given not just for academic achievement, but also for just being a well-rounded student. I actually teared up when we got the letter about it, because I was hoping Grace would be one of the first selected so she could get it again one more time before we moved.


This is why we refer year-round to the house on the corner across from the school as the "Frankenstein House." Alex especially loves it, and is always happy when we can get to school early enough for pick up that we can actually park in front of it (which doesn't happen very often).


And lastly I got to make my final pilgrimage to the State Fair of Texas. Mom and I went sans kids one morning. It was perfect - perfect weather, perfect food (corny dog, funnel cake and ice cream on a stick), perfect activities (Creative Arts building and Food & Fiber building are the best), perfect company.


Instead of the card stacking guy, this year they had a domino guy. He sets them up every day in a different pattern, and at 530pm knocks them down. Wish we could have stuck around to see that - I'm sure it sounded really cool.


The Hall of State building. I just love all the old Art Deco buildings out at Fair Park.


The butter sculpture this year celebrated the big King Tut exhibit in Dallas right now.


And my incredibly talented sister got another ribbon this year after creating the stocking that Joey actually designed when he got disappointed that he couldn't find any available stockings in patterns he liked.

Happy birthday, my little man

Whew - 4 years old! He's such a big boy now.

We are having a nice, low-key birthday day with the family. Some presents this morning, a trip to Target to get him a Spiderman toy, and a trip to Tom Thumb because he suddenly decided that he wanted an actual birthday cake today versus the brownies he originally wanted. And since he is the birthday boy, he gets to decide where we are going for dinner. Wanna guess? McDonalds, of course.

The boy

Since we're getting close to his upcoming birthday, I thought I'd post a few pics about what almost-4-year old boys are like (at least mine).

Upon getting his first Build-A-Bear animal, the two outfits he picks out are the Batman costume and the Spiderman costume for it (complete with fake muscles). The big dog has the little puppy in it's mouth in this shot.


He likes to draw scary faces on his new pumpkin (and make a scary face for the picture).


And show off the spooky things on the other side (ghosts, bat, spider) that Mama had to finish drawing when the Sharpie didn't cooperate on the pumpkin ridges (and make a "boo" face without actually saying "boo" for the picture).


He will still sweetly run across the Arboretum when he spots me.


He will zap the dog when he decides it's a day to dress up like Buzz Lightyear. Or web her when it is a Spiderman day.


"I want to make donuts when I grow up!"



And a sweet picture of Gracie just so she won't be slighted with so many Alex pictures posted.

Early Birthday Party

Since we weren't exactly sure when we would be moving to New Jersey, we decided to have Alex's birthday party early. Much more fun to have a birthday party with friends than with just your family in attendance!


Grace's requisite birthday sign on the door. I like how she added the "(in here)" in case the five people we invited weren't sure where to go.


What was awaiting Alex when he got home from school on Friday.


Alex's reaction to it.


Gracie being happy, despite the fact that Mama kept reminding her all day that "you and your friends can't tease your brother on his birthday party day."


Alex's new friend Jackson, younger brother of Grace's school friend. You have to find someone to be friends with when you are stuck waiting for your sister after school every day.


This is some game that evolved involving keeping the opposite sex out of the bounce house. Alex gets a pretty good grip on Elizabeth here.


Alex and Mike take a break from bouncing to pick up sticks in the back yard and put them in the wagon.


Kate joins in on the stick-gathering. Grandad realized he has a new game for the kids to play next time they spend the night, and he'll end up with a clean back yard to boot.


Donovan picking out his color sticker for the game. Alex was very happy Donovan came to the party. He no longer goes to school with Alex, but along with Kate and Mike has been his very best friend since they were 2 years old.


Grace was happy that Elizabeth could come along with Jackson, so she had an ally against all the 4 year olds.


Alex about to blow out the candles on his Power Ranger cake, just after he instructed everyone to clasp their hands together. I think he was equating singing "Happy Birthday" with singing "God Our Father."


The boy blowing out the candles. He did a good job getting them out all by himself this year, though it took at least one blow per candle to do the job.

I've told him that when his actual birthday hits that he gets to pick where we go for dinner, trying to steer him toward Cafe Madrid since he loves the calamari and flan, but of course I think McDonalds is going to win out.