Joel is 4!

2nd-born kids have it easy for some things, tough for others.  2nd-born kids born close to Christmas have the handicap of parents that have run out of money after the school year has started, Gabriel's birthday, halloween, and early Christmas shopping.  Joel really doesn't have any friends his own age yet (except for Jaxon at school, and honestly I do NOT like his parents one bit - how selfish!)

So, when Joel's birthday rolls around, we struggle to think of something special to do for him without spending a boat load of money.  On his actual birthday we went to see "Frozen" at a Movie Grill place where we could eat and watch the movie.  Jojo thought that was pretty cool!  Instead of a party, we decided to take Joel, G, and cousins to Lego Land for an afternoon, then meet back up at our house with grandparents, aunts and uncles for pizza and cake.  One cool thing about Jav's sister getting married is that Joel and Gabriel now have two more cousins - Lizzie and Grace.  Lizzie just turned 12 and loves doing stuff with the boys.  Grace is a senior this year so we don't get to see as much of her.

The weekend we planned for was the 1st full weekend in December, since Thanksgiving fell so late in November this year.  Well, Mother Nature had other ideas.  The ice started falling, and falling, and falling, and the temps kept dropping, and dropping and dropping.  I had ordered the tickets ahead of time, and called in a panic to find out what their policy was in an ice storm.  I found out we had 14 days to use the tickets, thank God!  

So we moved the party out a week, and things started to fall apart again.  My brother was supposed to go to Lego land with us, but he was on call for work and had to be near a computer, so was out for the entire thing.  Cade was supposed to be with his mom the weekend of Ice Storm Zero, so was spending it with her - he was out too.  Then both grandmothers got sick, and at that point we decided to cancel the pizza and cake party afterwards.  We went to Lego Land with Macy and Aunt April, and met Aunt Sandy and Lizzie there.  Grapevine Mills Mall was an absolute zoo since no one had been able to get out to shop the weekend before, but we were prepared for that.  Lego Land was a blast!  Jojo was on sensory overload and just ran from place to place in wide-eyed wonder.  He even rode the bicycle ride, which I never thought he would do because he seemed afraid of heights.

We went home and Macy spent the night, and it was very special to have her with us for our much smaller pizza and cake party.  After he opened his presents, Jojo started a war with the party favors and we all had a silly, good time!  Even though I had felt really bad for him the way the plans fell apart, I have to say he didn't seem to notice.  It was a special day and he had a blast, which I'm very glad about.

Seeing "Frozen" and waiting for pizza.

The first ice cream cake.  

Lizzie and Macy racing the cars they built.  These two bonded at Lego Land!

Jojo and daddy on the bicycle ride!

Ice cream cake number two.   You can never have enough!!

Happy Birthday Jojo!  Wow - you're 4!!

Gabriel's 7th Birthday

I have really fallen behind on the blog posts.  I think my resolution this year (I don't usually make them) will be to post at least once a week.  

In September, we had a shindig at the house for Gabriel.  A Peanuts-themed party with a bouncy house in the backyard.  We had invited his whole class for the first time.  We had a little RSVP problem, and then it started raining an hour before the party.  And continued to rain until after everyone went home.  We at least took comfort in the fact that the kids would be dry in the bouncy house.  But it had a leak.  Party absolutely ruined, we thought.  But 4 kids showed up from his class, along with our old neighborhood friends and cousins, of course.  

And we forgot something.  Adults think getting wet is an icky problem.  Kids think getting wet is FUN.  At one point all the water that had pooled on top suddenly let loose inside and all the kids were dancing around in it.  It reminded me of one of those over-the-top nightclubs in Ibiza or somewhere where they would all of a sudden drop tons of water or foam on everyone dancing and they'd go nuts.  It was hilarious.  Gabriel had an absolute wet, soggy blast.  

I had so much food leftover we ate little appetizer-type food for dinner for a week.  

We're all crowded on the back porch trying to stay dry for cake.

Gabriel and his best friend, Kalilah.

Before and after of the poor pinata!  Cade took a few whacks after everyone else had some turns and did it in.

After all the guests went home, we were watching G open his gifts, and we heard a strange smacking sound.  Tucker was standing up on the table licking the icing border of what was left of the cake.  Yuck!