Happy Birthday Elijah!

The Birthday boy and all his presents

Ok so we are jumping forward a bit, past all the Feb and Mar activities, including Lucas' birthday, which we will get back to tomorrow- I PROMISE.  But I thought we come up to one of the more important, recent events, of Elijah's 5th birthday!  As Gram said in her card It is hard to believe he is 5 already! and truely, I can hardly believe it.
I feel like my 5th birthday was at Chuck E. Cheese - which is where Elijah's brithday party was. He had been adamant for months that it was going to be a batman party at Chuck E. Cheese.  Let me tell you, that was one of the easiest, most cost efficient birthday parties I've ever hosted.  Kid you can go back there anytime!

Lucas playing with one of Elijah's gifts from Grandma

So we threw the boy a family party on his actual birthday and let him open all his gifts then. He was so excited. So much so, that the gifts that had been sent prior, were hidden, some for weeks, because I felt like he would not be able to keep his selfcontrol. LOL.
I have to say before we get to the pictures and video clips, the boy LOVED Everything. You all did such a wonderful job picking gifts, as always.  The bowling set from Gram was a hit for both kids. They love playing it.  The tennis set from mom is in use, and the tatoos and stickers from vicki can be seen on the kids at any given time. Elijah has his minions pillow case on his bed, and was so excited. I asked him if he wanted to change it the other day so that we could wash it and I got a decided NO! lol.  Anyway, all the gifts were loved, and are being used. OH! and the airplane from aunt lynn is a point of contention in the bath! LOL and the Waiting for  Ducklings book was wonderful!!!! I have never read the book, and it was wonderful!!!!!!!!!
Ok now enjoy the pictures and video clips.

The BIG one from GIGI!!!

thinking about it....

It's a Bowling set!!!

The contentious plane!

Batman lego jr. set from mom and dad! Lucas loved the lego guys! LOL

The boys are ready for the Batman Party in their new shirts!

The party table! we only had 7 kids, but it was still fun!

Elijah and the game he was really looking forward to playing with his BFF Matthew

Dad and Katie - such good sports

The party!

The cake from Raleys that cost me $15!!!! So awesome!

The boys with Chuck

Liz and Chuck

Elijah and Matthew with Chuck

Birthday Wish

Virtual rollercoaster ride

Hilarious

One last birthday wish.

Elijah was so excited to get in the ticket booth, until he realized that a lot of people were going to watch him.  He got stage fright and had a little breakdown.  So Lucas and Elizabeth stepped in for Elijah and they had a blast!!!

Cal Academy on Presidents Day

This past President's day weekend, we decided to go to Cal Academy of Science. We have heard about it for years now, since it reopened and we finally had the perfect opportunity, and may I say, the perfect day to go.  Erin called just as I was getting out of the shower to find out what we were doing and so they tagged along.  It couldn't have been a better day if we went by ourselves. We were so happy to share it with Erin and her family. 

One of my new all time favorite pictures of Lucas is the second picture below. He looks so grown up and handsome. I just had to add that in there.

I am serious when I say that the day was perfect, the temps were in the upper 70's and it was clear in SF. That is a rarity, and we were so lucky.  The museum wasn't packed and we got there early enough to do everything without too much of a line, except for the earth quake experience - that we saved for the next time. 

Aaron and Nate too Elijah to the planetarium show, as the other two were too little for it. ELIJAH LOVED IT! It's all he talked about for the rest of the day.

I think the adults favorite part was two-fold. 1. was that there was BOGO drinks in the wine garden at the end of the day so we all had a glass of wine and watched the kids run around the area care-free. 2. Was that we found a soft-serve ice cream truck not a two minute walk from the museum. We are talking fancy shmancy soft-serve: dipped in chocolate and topped with sea salt. MMM it was awesome!!!!!!!

We saw some neat animals, and the kids had a really great time.  I think it may be a bit before we go back, but it was a great experience.

Lucas, Elijah, McKenna and Erin checking things out

My new fave picture of Lucas

Best group picture of the day - in the walk through aquarium.

Me and Eli

Hands-on tide pools

Love this pic of Luke

This shows just how encapsulated they were- LOVE this picture!

The Albino Crocodile

Fun after ice cream

McKenna and Luke playing in the fountain

Dizzy Frisbee

We met Aaron out at one of his frisbee pick up games one warm weekend in February.  They even had a park just across from the field, so when the boys got bored of watching dad, I took them over there. 

They had some neat structures, one in particular Elijah loved.  Sometimes I just don't get this kid, he's afraid of some things and other things you think he would hate, he loves. Case in point this spinny thing. He must have done this a dozen times.  I couldn't believe he didn't get sick.  KATIE caution! you may get sick watching this. LOL

We also worked on pumping our legs when we swing.  He's getting there, but doesn't quite have it down yet.

Then we practiced frisbee with dad!

Then Aaron's friend had some fun with the kids.

Lucas is one smart boy. LOL 

What a fun and beautiful day we had in between major rain storms.  Its wonderful when mother nature gives us a little break.  Gosh I love California!

Sweet Singing

Ok to start off this string of posts, here are some sweet songs, from some sweeter boys.  I think I love documenting their singing most, but in the coming days you may see random videos of them talking. I realized a little while back that I can't remember what Elijah sounded like before he really started enunciating well, so I wanted to capture some of their language  and speech as it is right now, so I can go back and listen in a year and swoon over how little they were.

The Procrastinator is Back!

Ok, by now you have learned that I am not, by any means, regular in my posting. Two kids, full time job, long commute, and Aaron in school = little time, and what little time I have = laziness, pure and simple.

So heres the deal. Currently Lucas is sitting on my hands, on my lap. Im looking over his shoulder attempting to type. If you could only see a picture.

SNeak attack of two boys

lucas on my lap right this second

So to say it is a challenge, is an understatement.  We are 15 minutes away from bed time, and Elijah is now in tears so I will make this quick. 

We have done A TON of things in the last two months. We have been dragged out of the house by Erin and Nate who have made us all better parents on the weekends. We are grateful to them and you should be too, becuase it generates more pictures for you, though they may be VERY delayed in getting to you. If only someone could do something to encourage me to blog more.

So here is a little snap shot or two and then get ready for a post every other day....lets see if we can drag this thing out....and if I can actually stay on top of it a little bit.

Frisbee on a hot Febraury day!

Ok there is more but I have to upload some videos, so stay tuned, I will get anothe post up tomorrow with some videos.