Monday, February 28, 2011

The big 5

Today our precious firstborn turned FIVE years old! I had a few moments this morning with my cuddly little guy, just enjoying the few more hours of having a four-year-old before we set out for a day full of activities to celebrate Caleb's special day.

We started at the zoo, where we saw a brand new black bear exhibit. It was a perfect day for the zoo, except it was quite windy. The animals were out and about and we saw more active animals than usual.

(Mom, this is exactly where we were when you called to wish Caleb happy birthday! I was balancing my phone and camera and trying to keep the stroller from rolling away! Skype on my iPhone is the coolest thing!)

The mountain lion was exceptionally friendly today. He sat down right next to Caleb and stared right at Carly. She was appropriately freaked out.


Then we saw an ostrich wandering the African Savannah. We played hide and seek with it. Literally! It would look at me and then move it's head behind the wood post - "hiding" from me. We repeated that several times. It was hilarious!


By the way, ostriches are HUGE!


We got to see the cheetahs awake and close up. One of Caleb's favorites!


And the ever-fascinating macaws. Caleb perfected his bird call today. It was pretty accurate!






After the zoo Caleb wanted to go spend a Walmart gift card he got from Grandma and Grandpa. I was somehow able to convince him he didn't need another truck and steered him toward something new. He picked Sea Monkeys!



We've already started the process of growing the sea monkeys and I think I am more excited than he is!

After we spent his money we headed to McDonald's for lunch and both kids played in the play gym for quite a while, then we stopped by Barnes and Noble for a free cookie for the birthday boy. He got to pick from any cookie or cupcake in the case, and he picked a gigantic sugar cookie with red sprinkles.

This afternoon we took advantage of the gusty wind and flew some $1 kites in the field behind our house. Caleb loved the kites! (Carly, not so much.)


Pizza ad leftover cake for dinner was a nice end to Caleb's birthday. I had so much fun letting him choose the activities and chauffeuring him around town.

He is so stinkin' big!

I LOVE IT.

Dino-RAWR Party!

Caleb chose a dinosaur theme for his birthday party this year. It was so fun! In the days before the party, we enjoyed making some making some decorations together and I think Caleb had a blast with all of his friends at the party.

Pinata - always a "hit"!


The gift table pre-gifts


Some decorations


The cake table!










Dangling Dinos - hand made by the birthday boy and his mama


Intensely coloring a T-Rex


Food!


Yes, that is my child pretending to eat the corner of the cake while his friend Ava looks at him like he's crazy!


Happy Birthday to You!!


People eating cake


More people eating cake


Presents


This picture cracks me up! Caleb is surrounded by the ladies!


Caleb and Ruthie checking out the big cattle truck


Boy huddle - the girls were off in another area playing.. kids this age are so funny!


T-Rex eating a cow!


Pinata time!! Give it a whack --






love this.. Adam is 18 months and was totally into the pinata-whacking!


Post-Pinata chaos


One last present from mom and dad -- a new comforter "that doesn't have any holes in it!"


Caleb had a great time at his party. We are so blessed to have such supportive family and friends that love our kids so much!

(And with that, party season is officially over!)

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Fort Worth Zoo with MaMaw

My camera's memory card decided to take an extended vacation at Grandma's and I just got it back in the mail this week. It was full of pictures from our trip to the Fort Worth Zoo with MaMaw before she left for the Congo. It was such a beautiful, warm, sunny January day and perfect for checking out the animals at the zoo!

They had this moving dinosaur outside the entrance. Caleb's birthday party theme this year is dinosaurs, so this fits so well with us right now!


This is WAY too close to that tiger. Gotta love the zoom lens!


Handsome boy with some Zeebs


Miss Tagalong copying brother


Carly, MaMaw, and a really huge lizardthing.


My crazy children touching a snake. Ick.


Riding a turtle


Pinguinos! Les encantó!


"That's a really big wheel!"


Touching stuff in water. They had live starfish (actually, we learned they are called sea stars since they aren't technically fish) and some crabby guys that looked like rays.


Well, hello, Mr. Eagle. You are beautiful!


Icee! Yay Texas January!


Fluffy! Baby! Flamingo!


Checkin out the flamingo colony. Those guys had the longest necks ever! They all went through this crazy routine of honking/squawking, then pumping their necks up and down, then flicking their heads back and forth. Then repeating it over and over. It was funny!




After a long day at the zoo we caught a little train and took a ride around town. Fun times with Mamaw!




We miss you, MaMaw! Have a good time "at Africa" as Caleb says!