Happy Birthday Austin-boy!

We celebrated Austin's birthday in style this year.  The day before his birthday we went to Hogle Zoo.  It has been over four years since we have taken our kids to the zoo - back when we got to go to the Bronx Zoo for free with Devon's work.  Austin was so funny to watch.  The first animals we saw were the monkeys and Austin was squealing and screaming at them.  He loved it! 

The new tiger exhibit is awesome, because you can really see the tigers up close.  I think this one was like ten feet away from us.  We heard him chuffing and making all sorts of sounds.
 

After going through the hot and humid reptile house we were all ready for some ice cream.  I think this had to have been one of the highlights.  That ice cream tasted soooo good.

I had the great foresight to take off Austin's shirt.  Devon didn't think we needed to, but I decided we should anyway, and I am so glad I did!  By the time we were done he was covered.   This picture is only a few bites in, and he was enjoying it!

Lauren was happy and so easy.  She is a sweetheart.

My kids were having fun playing on this statue outside the gorilla house.  It was getting near time to leave, and I think Ethan had had it.  If you look closely, that's him in the stroller crying.  I'm not even sure what he was crying about, or why he was in the stroller at the moment.  I do remember when we were trying to walk to the next thing he was refusing to walk with us and crying up a storm.  Its one of those great parenting moments where your kid is screaming and everyone is looking at you, and you're trying to decide what to do.  You try walking, and seeing if they will follow, but they don't.  Fun stuff! I can't remember how I got him to finally come along with us, but somehow I did, and we did alright the rest of the trip.  Whew!

After the zoo we stopped at Grandma and Grandpa Kirk's house for a mini party with them.  They treated us to some pizza and little cupcakes. 

Austin had the right idea of how to blow the candle out, but I love how his mouth is as he tries to blow.  Ethan finally helped him a little.  Grandma and Grandpa gave him a little fire truck and a snake, both of which he has loved and played with lots.  The snake has been added to list of bedtime requirements.  When its bedtime he gathers his snake, blanket, and Eeyore to take to bed with him.  Funny little boy!

On his birthday we had another little party.   Grandma Gibson came to join us.  Grandpa was busy with meetings for General Conference, so we missed him, but he was where he needed to be.

I made an ice cream cake - nothing fancy, but it did the job.

Austin was so fun to watch as he opened presents.  Grandma gave him a Winnie the Pooh book and stuffed animal.  He loves to bring it to me to put piglet back in his arms.

I found this guitar of Dylan's that has been put away in the closet for a few years.  Dylan used to love this, and I thought he would enjoy giving it to Austin.  Austin thinks it is awesome!

Austin had lots of help opening his presents.  I'm not totally sure that he did the majority of the opening.  He didn't mind, and his brothers had fun, so I guess that's what's important.

A great way to end the day... enjoying cake.  (Just not the mess on his fingers)

Oops

Ethan had a preschool Halloween party yesterday.  His teacher sent home notes to be there at 11:15 for the parade.  I was watching the clock so I could make sure to be there.  I looked at it a million times.  Then, suddenly it was 11:14, and Austin and Lauren were both alseep in their beds.  I had a quick debate in my head of how quick I could get shoes and jackets on everyone and get them buckled in the car.  The preschool is on my block, so I decided to just run real quick and let the babies sleep.  I pulled up at probably 11:16, jumped out of the car, got my camera out because I could see all the kids lined up for a picture and all the moms taking pictures.  Then the teacher says something to the effect of "alright kids, thank you, see you later," and the kids dispersed.  Drat!  I totally missed it.  And this is the the only picture I snapped in that half second that I was kind of there. 

Can't you see Ethan?  He's there, I promise. He's the batman.  Still can't see him?  He's there, right behind the cheerleader.  Nice, huh?  Oops, I really messed up this one.  On the way home I was asking Ethan about what they did for their parade, and he said they walked around, but that I wasn't there.  Oh, that made me feel so sad! 

This is what happens when Daddy is gone.

Okay, so sometimes it happens even when he's not gone.  Dinner for breakfast, I mean, breakfast for dinner.  Life just gets a little crazy and a little cereal just seems to fix it all.  Here's to Cap'n Crunch and Apple Jacks!

And if you're wondering about Lauren on the table - that's my saving grace when she is grumpy and I just need to cook or eat. I stick her close by on the table or counter, and she will let me get things done.  I've done this with all my kids and had the same kind of luck - they all love the view I think.

Fall Sports

Its that time of the year... fall sets in, the air gets cooler, the leaves start to turn, General Conference... and fall sports.  Of course, Jayden is playing soccer.  The sport he lives and breathes everyday.  Those months in between the fall and spring seasons can't go fast enough for him.  Then finally - its time!  He has a fun team this year with a bunch of kids from our neighborhood. Most of them are the buddies he plays with regularly, so that has been a lot of fun.  Here are a few pictures of his moves:

 Here are the fans: 

I try to have everyone come to all the games for everybody, although there are those exceptions of scheduling conflicts or tired toddlers needing nap desperately.  I have a picture of Dylan and Austin similar to the picture below, so when Dylan was holding Austin in the picture above, I had to snap a quick picture of them.  Dylan loves his siblings!

Dylan has been playing flag football and has loved it.  He is so fun to talk to as he tells you about playing football.  He tells us all about catches, and touchdowns,  and interceptions that happen at recess (still trying to decide how much is tall tales, but its still fun to listen).  He is such a good team player in the sense that if the team wins, he wins and loves the feeling of being a part of that.  He cheers everyone on, and is happy to see the good things the team is doing together.  He ended up on a team where the coach only played a few players in the main positions (namely his sons and close neighbors - don't get me started...), but Dylan had a lot of fun blocking and playing a little defense.  The few times he was given an opportunity to run the ball, he did great.  One of the runs it was a first down, and he was able to get to the next first down (since they don't really go by yards, I'm not sure how far he actually went).  I got this series of pictures of one of his runs:

Lauren at 5 Months

This sweet girl loves her toes!