Kyler's Party

What a group! 8 of the 10 kids Kyler invited were able to come to his party! (plus some siblings) I think we counted like 17 kids. They all came dressed in their halloween costumes!  This was the best picture I was able to grab of him with his buddies.  

 We played pin the nose on the pumpkin.  Some did better than others. :)  I think they all had fun though.

Then we headed outside for the spider pinata!  

 I am in LOVE with this picture!

 Candy candy candy!

He got some AMAZING gifts!  He's pretty spoiled.

And earlier he even helped me decorate his Halloween birthday cake.

 He said it was his best birthday EVER.  So I guess he had a great time.  Look at how happy he is!  My big 5 year old!

 Now to try and help him understand that Kindergarten isn't now...he has to wait practically a whole year to be able to do that one! :( But boy will he be ready!

Soccer picture day

Right after getting back from Marathon Kids we ate lunch and Kyler and I rushed to Soccer Team Pictures. Here he is with his buddies in the ward, Josh and Cameron.  Gosh Kyler is so handsome!

Here's the team photo with the 2 assistants coach always has at practice.

Hopefully the picture we bought will have Kyler smiling a bit more.  But it's still a really cute group photo!

Kyler and I rushed home to get all ready for his birthday party. (Next post) Right after the party, Christian rushed Jaden to HIS team pictures.  This is what Christian was able to snap on the side.  Can't wait to see what the "real ones" turn out like.

The boys sure look forward to practice every Tuesday and their games every Saturday!  Their teams have been a great way to have them feeling welcome in Texas.  I feel like they've been able to adjust to a new place easier because of their teams.  Hooray for their new soccer friends!

Marathon Kids

Saturday morning we headed to the University of Houston's Track to take part in the big kick off for Marathon Kids!  The idea is that the kids should run or walk a quarter mile at a time, and "run a marathon" throughout the school year! (Side note: I've been putting my pedometer in Jaden's pocket when he gets home form school...let's just say I think he runs a marathon every month! :))

Here they are watching the first group run with the flag and listening to the national anthem played by a saxophone

And they're off!  They tried to stress to the kids that it wasn't a race! (There were SO many kids I'm sure they wanted to make sure no one got trampled) Not like that would keep my kids from wanted to run and get to the front! :) They are so funny!

They had us run a lap and a half and then exit so that each group had a chance to be out there.  See the balloons ahead?  That's the "finish line" for today!

Not very many kids from Jadens' school.  We'll have to do some recruiting next year.

We found the Blue cross and Blue Shield bear too!

Kyler is such a crack up!  He was sitting there saying "take the picture mom...like I'm drinking."  I think they had a good time!

Gotta rush home!  Off to Soccer pictures!

Kyler's 5th Birthday

The night before Kyler's birthday I spent a LONG time blowing up a ton of Halloween-colored balloons to surprise Kyler in the morning.  I ended up needing to take a break a bit of the way through because I thought I was going to pass out. (It was worth it!  In the morning he LOVED them!)

He was so excited to open his gifts EARLY the next morning.

He was so confused by this HUGE box from the grandparents that said little card, big smile on it. (Amazon)

He was SO excited it was a pogo stick!(he calls it a GOGO stick) He wanted to try and use it right away.

He was even sweet enough to let Beckam get on it quickly.  Beckam just wants to be included.

For a first timer, he did a great job!

Another new favorite was this angry birds game.

Can you see his lips making the sound effects?! :)

And then back to give the GoGo stick another try!

He LOVES it!

(And just more fun with the iPhone photoshop tool!)

Guess what he wanted to do first thing after school?...

Glad grandparents got him a helmet too!

After playing outside for a bit and waiting for Christian to get home we finally got to head to CiCi's pizza for Kyler's birthday dinner.  A pizza buffet couldn't have been any better for the birthday boy.  He loved it all...macaroni pizza, cinnamon rolls, brownies, and macaroni and cheese.  I think he couldn't have asked for a better 5th birthday! Thank you Oma and grampa, and grandma and grandpa for all your gifts in making it a fantastic day.  He's so excited to have a new robot grabber that works, and has already used his screwdriver to open some stuff for me.  Yay for birthdays!  Kyler is now 3 ft 9 and weighs 50 lbs!  Which means he's grown 3 inches and gained 8 lbs since he was 4! Don't grow too fast baby!

Story Time at Discovery Green

My newest favorite thing Beckam and I get to go to on Tuesday's is Storytime downtown at Discovery Green.  Right now they are doing books learning about traveling all over the world.  And each time you go, you get a stamp in your passport.  They also do an activity that goes along with the book in some way as well.  The first Tuesday we went we were a bit late (since I've never been downtown, let alone had to find parking) but Beckam's friend Finn saved us some stuff!

Each kid got a beach ball and a foam (like stress ball material) airplane.  Of course, Beckam loved the ball!

He got his first press on tattoo and I tried to have him get in the big pool of foam, but he wanted nothing to do with it!

See those tiny bubbles on his feet!? That's all he got!  He HATED it!

So we headed over to play in the fountains and wash off that awful bubble stuff! :)

Beckam was pretty content to hang out near by and hold his new ball.  Finn loved having his mom throw his airplane through the water, then he would go get it and bring it back...again and again and again! :)

I didn't think Beckam would ever do anything other than hold that new ball!

Eventually, like when we were about to leave, he decided it would be fun to play a little.

I just love that this all takes place in the heart of downtown!  Check out those huge buildings!  We are loving Houston!

We even made a little fall hand-print memory.

The 2nd week we went, we made it on time!  The book was about Madeline in Paris.  They had pony rides for the kids.  Beckam was saying horse, and was so excited to see them!

He kept saying horse, and pointing to go inside!

But once on the horse, he was NOT very happy.  I took a quick photo and the guy thought I'd lift him off.  But I held him tight and told the man I'd still like him to go for a ride.  I'm sure he thought I was the meanest mom around.  But after only a couple of steps Beckam stopped crying.  As long as I was hugging him tightly, he was just fine.  Not feeling like we're having much luck though.  That's 0 for 2 on liking the activity!

But then they called my name!  I won the drawing and got to keep the book they had read!  Lucky us!

We headed over to the park and played for a bit.  Beckam loved jumping on this like a trampoline!

He's still such a smiley, happy kid!

He's starting to look so grown up!

Last week, the 3rd week, the book was about Olivia in Venice.  So of course, the kids got kayak rides?!?  Here is Beckam with his friends Claire, Jeff, and Caleb. (We're recruiting!:) )

 I am in LOVE with this new worried look he does!

 He didn't seem to like it very much, but was a trooper about the life jacket and all.  It was so much fun rowing out there with him.

 Here's his friend Jeff with his mom Aubrey.

 And his friends Claire and Caleb with their mom Jill.

And both boats coming in.

 On top of the boat rides we got pictures with Olivia the pig. (The one the book was about) Again, Beckam seemed a bit worried.  I seriously love that face though.  I LOVE Discovery Green!

Did I ever mention all of this is FREE?! Yeah, love it even more!