The big "4"!

LT had his birthday on Saturday. It's hard to believe how grown up he is already ... sniff, sniff. He had a big party - 11 kids came - and they all had fun going down the water slide, playing water balloon toss, water squirters, bubbles, coloring and sidewalk chalk. The weather could not have been better for a water party - mid 80's! It was a success!

The favors - towels with initial appliques and goggles (the goggles were LT's request!):

Water squirter targets on the left and the water balloon toss on the right - LT drew the whale shark on the right. I was pretty impressed! I did the painting, though. ;)

The water slide!

Action shots - the kids really enjoyed squirting the targets and especially liked tossing the water balloons into the mouths. I should have done even more balloons! I think we had about 75-80. The kids were good about not doing them all at once and letting others get a chance.


Cupcake time! I ordered these from a woman who bakes out of her home and I think they came out awesome. I love how the letters stand up on the cupcakes! They were delicious.

Enjoying the cupcakes at the coloring table!


It was a lot of fun. Thanks to Gma and Great Auntie J for helping out - watching DT and actings as "lifeguards" by the climbing wall to the slide. It was getting a bit crazy at times.

It was a big hit. On Sunday LT asked when his next birthday was. I told him it was in 364 days and he said, well, this is the 1st day. Yeah!

First Food

Not only did Damon try his first swing this weekend, he has his first solid food! He tried a little bit of banana smashed up with milk (mommymilk).



It seems like he really liked it! We were trying it because he hasn't been drinking much from a bottle while Mommy is at work. It seems like this week he's "turned the corner" and is now drinking about 10oz over the day, so we'll probably wait longer to really start solids. 6 months is the current recommended age.

Tuesday Virtual Vacation

Inspired by dogsburger.

I decided to join in on the escape!

First Swing

DT had his first swing today! He liked it!


LT wanted to get in the swing, too. He really had a great time, even though he looked a little big. He was saying, "No daddy, don't push me too high! Mommy you look small from high up." Funny guy.



They even went on the teeter totter.


From 3 years and 7 months ago...

ZooZooZoo

We went to the zoo, zoo, zoo, how about you, you, you?

Grandma and her favorite animal! No, not LT!



DT likes it, too!


Peacock? (They had these up for all different animals, so fun!)


Riding the Grizzly!


In case anyone was interested, the new barriers were all up for the tigers/lions since the tiger, um, incident from Christmas. Also new barriers at the polar bears.

Strawberries!

Some commenters were wondering where all the strawberries went... we ate them! All of them! Some were used in recipes. Most were just eaten straight.

Here is one recipe we followed:


And the most delicious result!


One other recipe we made:


Rather decadent, but oh so delicious!

Strawberry Pickin'

Well I've gone back to work. That will explain the lack of posts.

We did have some lovely visitors last week - Grandma & Grandpa! Grandma is still here giving DT & LT lots of love and attention.

We did manage to get in one fun day outing while Grandpa was here. We went strawberry picking down by Santa Cruz along Highway 1, overlooking the ocean. It was beautiful!

Running to get started


TT shows off a perfect specimen


Grandpa proves to be an excellent picker


Tasting the goods (this was allowed)


DT & I pose with the fruits of TT's labor


This berry farm also sold tea, coffee, lemonade, pastries, a most delicious loganberry truffle, and lots more in their farm store. They have a famous "honor til" where you just pay yourself for what you bought. It was very nice. I see return trips in our future! Kiwi U-Pick starts in Decemeber!