Zootastic!

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!

I couldn't be more excited.

Oh, wait, yes I could.

IT'S ALSO MY BIRTHDAY PARTY!!!

And to make it extra special,

I wanted to have my party this year with my brother, Beckett.

All my idea.

Sweet, right?

The day started off with a present from my family--

a camera!

Like Jack's!

I can't wait to use it!

It was a touch cool this morning,

but that didn't stop any of my friends

from coming out to the zoo to party with me

This way, everyone!

Of course, 

there were cupcakes

(we added the animals--more on that in a minute)

Everyone settled in for some coloring

My "best friends" from preschool were there--

Sullivan, Harris, Cooper, and Tanner--

and my good friends Mika & Ethan

and cousins Coleman & Ian and Reid

Beckett was ok with the coloring

but wanted to know when the animals were coming

We kicked it off with a game--

animal charades.

Harris got into it

And Cooper

Coleman was a bit shy, but took off

Mika was REALLY shy

and grabbed her mom for some help

Beckett had a turn

But I think my lion made the show!

We had a group round for the parents to guess...

We're a pack of wolves--

did you get it?

Then it REALLY got good!

We met a sand boa

and got to pet her

Check out Beckett in the background

He was really excited to touch it

Then we met this really cute hedgehog named Indy

How cute is she?

She felt like a brillo pad

Time for some pictures

...and then cake!

A "2" for B

Finally, a "5" on my cake!

Make a wish!

Mine already came true

Then it got crazy.

The cake toppers were the hit of the party.

All our animals went for a swim in our ice cream

Ahh!

They got tar pitted!

Tastes better to eat the ice cream with a tiger

than a spoon

We opened some presents of course

And then we hit the zoo.

It was cool enough to keep away the crowds,

but not cool enough to keep away our fun!

The meerkat tower was my favorite

Turns out meerkats are Sullivan's and our teacher's

favorite animal too!

We played in the tree house

Even Dad joined in

Oh!

Check this out!

There's a tiger...

right THERE!

It was an awesome day

With awesome friends

The icing on the cake?

We got to ring the train's bell

Turning another year older

looks like it's going to be pretty great!

Happy birthday to me and Beck!!!

Westie's birthday dinner

Guess who is FINALLY turning 5???

It's me!

We went to Cheesecake Factory,

and guess what?

They come out and SING to you!

This is looking like a 

star-spangled year!

Family of 5 going on 6

Mom loves being pregnant.

She's one of those people.

She says it's amazing to have someone

growing inside you, 

kicking you, 

reminding you they are there.

She wanted some pictures of the last time.

They turned out beautiful:

Can't wait to meet you,

baby brother!

Big Trucks 2015

All our activities couldn't keep up from a trip to see

the BIG TRUCKS!

After all,

It's Beckett's first year to climb on them!

A quick pause for a picture

Then on to the trucks!

We climbed in the cab

around the blades

in the bucket

on the stairs

around the boom

pretty much anywhere we could get a foothold.

Beckett's choice--

not so much a digger,

but a pretty cool police motorcycle

Well worth the trip!

See you next year!

Dino-saurs!

Every big boy

deserves a Big Boy room.

Mom and Dad have outdone themselves again.

Dad painted a mural for each of us:

Jack had a train

Weston trucks

So what do I want?

Dino...saurs!

Pretty awesome, right?

A coat of paint on my name

 Some new pictures

and stickers

A "Beckett's Room" clock

We're all set!

I approve.

I DEFINITELY approve!

Babymoon

As a final date night before baby #4 arrives,

Mom and Dad did it up right.

They hit Argosy Spa and Casino--

pedicures, massages, dinner, craps and video poker,

a sleep-in morning and a couples breakfast.

We had Grandma Janice,

a mini-birthday party with Kurt and Mandy,

movies, pizza, games, silliness

It's hard to tell who had more fun!

Gettin' our kicks

Ladies and gentlemen,

It's that time of year again!!!

Grab your chairs...

It's soccer season!

Jack and the Ninjas 

have come along way

(the year round play has helped their skills a lot!)

As for Wes,

he's been counting down to this day

for months

He ATTACKS the ball

4 goals the first game!

The Ninja and Bombers have great seasons ahead!

Wrestling with Papa

Taking on 3 at once?

No problem for Papa!

But can he handle 4???

Loving every minute

I had no idea how much I'd love horseback riding lessons.

Mom and Dad usually have to 

ask me a dozen times to get ready for something

(school, soccer, Boy Scouts).

But riding lessons?

I'm in the car,

boots on,

belt buckled

before Mom can even fill up her water bottle.

I love my time with Cash!

I'm working on trotting, posting, and cantering.

Oh, yeah--

and bareback!

Mom, I think I'm going to need

another round of lessons!

Night riders

Check us out!

Mom and Dad got us bike lights for Christmas.

It's about time we got to use them!

Blue of course for me

Green of course for Jack

You should see our faces when we ride--

almost as lit up as our bikes!

Sorry Beck,

they don't make them for cars.

Maybe next Christmas...

Mandy's special day

Aunt Mandy turned 34 yesterday--

that calls for catfish and cake!

And perhaps some quality time

with the slingshots from Grandpa and some cotton balls.

Happy birthday, Mandy!

How to be the coolest house on the block

Get a hamster ball.

It brought out all our friends!

Dad took a turn--

he didn't quite fit 

and thought that using it like a

battering ram was more fun

Jack thought it was awesome

So did I!

Look out down the hill!