Evan is (almost) 2

So since we'll be traveling over Evan's birthday next week, we had a little party for him last night. I wouldn't have done anything, seeing as he is only 2 and not really aware of birthdays yet, except that he is. Ever since the Big 3 had their birthdays in the summertime, he's been singing the birthday song and blowing out imaginary candles. If I light a candle somewhere in the house and he sees it, he starts singing Happy Birthday. We have a horribly tacky light fixture in the dining room that is supposed to look like candles and he sings the birthday song to it.

So we had to do something. When I asked him what kind of cake he wanted, he said, "Birthday!" "No. What kind of birthday cake?" "Blue!" he said. I was a little confused. "Like Blue's Clues? You want a Blue's Clues birthday cake?" "No! Blue cake!" So we had blue cake. A little gross, if you ask me, but he thought it was great. We sang Happy Birthday twice, with Evan leading us both times, and he blew out the candles twice. He had trouble opening the presents, but his friends and cousins and siblings were happy to help with that.

Here are some pictures, so you can better imagine the fun and craziness.

Shimmy Shoot

Evan loves his "shimmy shoot" and begs to wear it. All. The. Time.

Evan recently began showing an interest in the potty and when he goes successfully, how can I refuse his clothing demands? Who cares that it's cold outside and the rest of us are in long pants and jackets? He wants the shimmy shoot! I feel much better about it when we can layer. Like last night:

No School Today

We've had a fun-filled day at gymnastics (for Edie), the dentist (for Drew) and the yogurt shop (for all of 'em). Now we're home, just chillin.
Tomorrow is a mini day for the boys, and so is every day next week. Goodie.

I love our zoo...

...because it's close to our house and we can go whenever we want.
...because we have a routine when we go. We start at the wishing well and watch our coins spin down, then go to the lemurs, monkeys, chimps, etc. all the way around to the flamingos and lastly the reptile house.
...because the zoo docents regularly bring animals out to the lawn for the kids to touch and watch up-close.




...because it's small, we are done in an hour or two, but it still has all the animals you'd hope to see at a zoo, except elephants. I guess it can't be perfect.

Halloween 2008

Halloween this year was a little rainy, but we braved the elements and had fun anyway.

Evan's plans were to "Wear Halloween and Get CANDY!" He's a golfer.

Drew is a very scary vampire. I got him better teeth that he was supposed to be able to eat with and everything, but he had to glue them in with stuff that looked like denture paste, and he gagged on it, threw up, and decided the cheapie ones were better.

We had a problem with Dean's hat. He's Indiana Jones, but everyone kept thinking he was Huck Finn, or a pioneer, or something like that. It's what I get for refusing to buy the "authentic" Indy hat at the Halloween store.


Edie is a tiger, not Tigger. Apparently, Tigger is for babies. Tigers are wild and fierce and therefore much more appropriate for a cute four year old girl. Whatever.

Some photos of Trick-or-Treating before the rain washed us out.

Can't wait to do it all again in 364 days!