John's Birthday

Last Thursday (the 22nd) was John's 6th birthday.  He and Bella are now the same age again for the next three weeks.  That's always fun every year.  So we started the day off with with McDonald's for breakfast.  Corey's treat for him was letting him get a breakfast sandwich with egg on it.  We always get the ones without because they are cheaper and John was pretty excited about that egg.  And then he opened up a present.





Then we went to Toys R Us and he got his birthday balloon and bought a toy car with his birthday coupon they mailed him. And then headed off to the zoo.



After the zoo we went to lunch and he picked The Cheesecake Factory. This year they spelled his name right.





Then later that night we went to the carnival at the local elementary school. Where the kids got what I think was their first cotton candy. John, Bella and Hazel loved it. Phoebe did not.



Then John opened the rest of his presents. He got two Lego sets. In the past two weeks he has become a Lego pro and can build every set we have by himself. It's very impressive has fast he went from not being able to do any of it so all of it.



Also this weekend was the beginning of Frightmares, Lagoon's Halloween attractions.  The kids loved the decorations and we're planning to enjoy it as much as possible as there's only a month left until they close for the winter.  It will be sad to see it close, but we're looking forward to next year as John should be tall enough for more rides then and Hazel will be big enough to get her own pass and ride on the kiddie rides.











Oh and then last night we took John and Bella to the movies to see Dolphin Tale.  It was really cute and Bella loved it.

Playing

Hazel is now walking really well and can climb into our little toy cars outside.  She is loving her freedom, as are the rest of us.

















We called today and got her an evaluation with early intervention set up.  I don't think she'll be needing physical therapy but she's still not saying anything (no surprise there) and I've only put it off because they like them to be walking before starting speech therapy.  Now that she is it's time to get that evaluation.  Hopefully we can get Phoebe's old therapist because we loved her!

Also she's had 6 haircuts so far.  I haven't decided when I'll actually let her grow it out, I love this length because it keeps her looking like a baby.  I'm just not ready for her to look too grown up yet.

Field Trip

Today we took a field trip to the Kennecott Copper Mine .  It was really cool and we all learned quite a bit.  I think John's favorite part was the big trucks.  They are HUGE, and apparently get 1/3 of a mile per gallon.  Sure does make our van's gas mileage look a lot better.





This is a tire from the big trucks. 


Here's a picture of the kids running.  Or shall I say Bella running and John standing in the street pouting.  Bella loves to run and John hates it.  Exactly the same as last year.


And more books read.  Bella just zipped right through hers, I think she's finally mastered this level of books.




And this isn't exactly school but I'm throwing it in there anyway.  Recycling glass, it's the best!

Bikes

Today I let Phoebe ride her bike in the road for the first time.  All the other kids were out riding and she's always asking so this time I said yes.  She had so much fun.  There were at least 10 kids out riding and she just got out there on her teeny tiny bike and didn't let her size stop her. 

She's getting a lot more confident with her balance bike.  She still doesn't pick her feet up at all but when we first got it she could hardly walk with it without falling over.  Maybe next year we can get her riding a two wheeler, that is if she grows enough to actually fit on one.

More John Pictures

He Finished

John finished level one today!  We let him get a new Hotwheel car from the store to celebrate.



He also read this book yesterday



And Bella read this one



With the weather being so nice we've been doing school outside.  At least all the reading parts of it.  So we had to pull out the baby gate to keep Hazel under control. 

He's Fixing the Truck

He must have picked this up from Pappy because he certainly didn't get it from his daddy.  No offense to Corey of course but he's not a car fixing person, he's more of a computer fixer.





And this is what the kids were doing earlier today outside.  They said they were fishing!

John John