Happy Birthday, Mommy

I feel quite spoiled, having enjoyed a birthday party in Colorado and a birthday date night already.  But my sweet family gave me a fun evening on my actual birthday, too!  We had gyoza and a yummy napa cabbage salad for dinner.  For dessert, Naomi and Johnathan decided I should have a "red violent" cake - That's red velvet, for those of you who don't speak Naomise.

 

But check this out...  Kevin rose to new heights of baking skill and learned how to make his own fondant to decorate my cake!

 Naomi decorated the pink heart - it was so pretty with the contrasting heart cut-outs, and Kevin fashioned the flower and leaves on the purple one.  Johnathan helped design his own blue person on the side (his has the yellow hair, of course).

Needless to say, I was highly impressed.  Especially when I discovered the fondant really tasted good, because it was made out of marshmallows.

Well, there you have it.  The big 3-4 is over, and I felt very well celebrated.  Thank you, everyone!!

Seven Months Old

Ezra is 7 months old now!  Over the past few weeks, he's perfected his sitting technique and cut 5 new teeth.  He loves chewing on things, especially paper, and he'll protest very loudly if you take his treasured item away from him.  In this picture he is taste-testing Johnathan's counters that we use for preschool work.

Coming soon... Ezra will likely be joining the "Boaz Kid Orthotics and Physical Therapy Club."  Check back in for more in a few weeks...

Our Surprise Package

Grandpa Stata promised Naomi and Johnathan that he would send a surprise back with me when Ezra and I return from our trip to Colorado.  When my parents dropped me off at the Colorado Springs airport... Surprise!  The package was Grandpa!  I'm just glad I didn't have to fit him into my carry-on!  We had a fun week with Grandpa.  He went with us to physical and occupational therapy with the boys, took Naomi a Happy Meal and had lunch with her in the school cafeteria, and we all went to Austin to visit the Children's Museum there.

 The museum was a great one, too... lots of science exhibits, storytime, a big fish tank...

 ...a construction zone,

 and cool mirrors that Ezra loved.

 Johnathan read Ezra a book while Naomi created a masterpiece with cardboard tubes and scraps of fabric.

 And the whole crew had fun playing in the band and wrapping pretend tamales.

It was wonderful to have a little extra time with Grandpa Stata.  What a great surprise!

Firehouse Field Trip

Pictures from a fun field trip to Fire Station 3 with the MOMS Club kids...

Goodbye, Snow!

The Peak was so beautiful the day we left Colorado, covered in snow - wish I had gotten a better shot of it than at the airport!  I appreciate it more now that I live in a place that doesn't have such magnificent views.

Meet the Cousins

On our trip to Colorado, Ezra got to meet one cousin for the first time and reunite with five others!  We were very excited to meet Max, who is three months younger than Ezra.  Ezra was thrilled to meet a little guy his size - he smiled, talked to him, and whacked him in the face whenever he got a chance.  Max didn't really appreciate that, though!

 

 Ezra and Prisca check each other out with new cousin Max 

 Cousin Rachel

 Cousin Max and Ezra snuggle

 Ezra became an honorary member of the Lujan boys club 'cause he had a matching hat!

Cousin Kayla

Love our cousins!!

Family Time

Whenever we get to visit our Colorado family, we snap lots of pictures. 

Here's part of Ezra's Tour de Family...

I Have a REALLY Sweet Husband

I have a really sweet husband, an assertion for which I could give many different pieces of evidence... but a big one this month was that he sent me on "vacation" for a few days as a birthday gift!  Ezra and I flew to Colorado Springs to meet our new nephew, relax, and visit friends and family.

 Nephew Max has been around for four months now, and we finally got to meet him! 

 It was fun to catch up with some friends I don't get to see too often anymore, including my friend and former teaching partner, Margaret.

I also got to have a birthday party, including my favorite carrot cake from Fargos!  It was a blessing to just relax, sleep a little extra, visit everyone, and take a break from my normal responsibilities.  Thank you, Kevin!  

Texas Boy Meets Snow

It was cold.  That was quite surprising!  Then they took it away when I tried to taste it.  That made me mad.  How am I supposed to figure out what it is?  Guess I'll never know...