April 13, 2009

• We had a picture-heavy 2 weekends, so this will be a long post! First things first ... HAPPY 5th BIRTHDAY to my Zachary!  We had a small birthday celebration this year with just a few friends his age and my sister Sophie (who drove up from the Bay Area and brought him a homemade octopus cake!) I reserved a table at Color Me Mine, ordered pizza, and brought in drinks and cupcakes.

  

  

  We started the party at noon with pizza... and after lunch, each child picked colors and painted a bowl. When the kids were done, I gave them workbooks to keep them entertained while the table was cleaned up for cake and present opening. Despite limiting our guest list, Zachary still made out like a bandit because everyone gave multiple gifts!

  

  That evening, I went to Kathy's for a delicious Chinese dinner and 3 desserts. (The fact that I fit into the size 14 bridesmaid dress Sophie brought did not deter me!) After dinner, I stayed to try Rockband ... since I can neither carry a tune nor keep a beat, it was quite disastrous and humorous. Between the plus size bridesmaid dress and the lack of musical talent ... well, what can I say? I do what I can to make my friends look good!

   

  

  The next day, we went out to Red Robin for lunch and opened a birthday present from my parents (a Wii Fit!) Zachary also decorated cupcakes to bring to daycare on Monday, his actual birthday. We argued about whether he was born on a Wednesday or Friday - I was right because he didn't take into account the 2 leap years between 2004 and 2009.

   

  This Thursday, I met up with Dana and Melissa for an Indian buffet lunch (thanks Dana for treating us) - what a nice break from the work day! And this weekend, we went to the city Easter Egg Hunt. There was a carnival and lots of vendors hosting craft projects. There was so much to do, we didn't even have time to see the magic show or jump in the bounce house. The actual egg hunt was quite an experience. As a 5-year-old, Zachary was in a more competitive age group. And unlike the private subdivision egg hunts we attended the last 2 years, the eggs went fast. According to a tearful Zachary, "The others kids were too fast." I didn't feel too bad for him though - he gathered 15 eggs, including 3 with coupons for free ice cream. 

  

  (For those who don't recall, the egg-on-a-spoon trick was one that my mom taught him when I was on maternity leave/at the hospital with Calie. Zachary was so good at it, that the girls hosting the game gave him *3* prizes!)

   

    

  After the egg hunt, we went to Sam and Melissa's house for tea sandwiches and a berry dessert. The kids had a great time playing and decorating hard boiled eggs.

  

   

  That afternoon, James' parents came to visit. They brought Zachary a birthday gift, a few sets of tracks. While Zachary isn't really interested in trains anymore, he does enjoy taking them out when Grandpa comes to play with him. (His favorite activities are now video games, board games, and a lot of pretend play ... boats, tents, and restaurants being common themes ... Calie is often a victim of his imagination, trapped on a chair-boat, unable to get down because there are sharks in the rug-water. I vaguely recall torturing my sisters with this same storyline ...) Anyway, I digress. In the evening, James and I went out for sushi while Grandma and Grandpa babysat - thank you!

     

  James hid eggs in the backyard (filled with goldfish crackers) for Zachary to find Easter morning. When I asked Zachary if the Easter Bunny was real, he responded confidently with "Most are NOT." I was pleased that he still believed in the Easter Bunny, but was smart enough to figure out the ones at the mall were just people in costumes ... until he continued."... most Easter Bunnies are chocolate."  After Easter lunch (ham, asparagus, mashed potatoes, and salad), James' parents went home. James, Zachary, Calie, and I spent the rest of the day just enjoying each other's company, which included a walk to a neighborhood park.

  As for the Calie Chronicles ... she has another bottom tooth (so 3 total), and she eats apricots and mango now. She has a "new" hot pink PBK chair I picked up on Craigslist for $40, and James took her to 2 free trial classes at a kid's gym during the week.

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