Eli's Actual Birthday Day

We had a very busy day on Eli's actual birthday, April 30th.  Johnny started the tradition of boy's birthday McDonald's breakfast with him a couple of years ago.  So he started his day with his daddy.

Next, I took the kids to the Dallas World Aquarium for the afternoon.  It was a nice day aside from the TEN school buses in the parking lot.   I wasn't even thinking about TAKS being over and teachers wanting to get out of the classroom for the day for a nice break.  I guess my mind is no longer on school time, YIPPPPEEE!!  Anyway, we had a membership at one time because Eli loves it so much.  His favorite part is the shark tunnel you walk through.  I wasn't able to get too many pictures because of the herds and herds of school kids everywhere you turned.  He still had a great time despite the massive number of people that were there =)

On our way out of downtown, I was talking to Johnny on the phone and took a wrong turn.  I was on an unfamiliar street and trying to make my way back to the highway when I saw a waterfall and giant sculpture of a heard of longhorns crossing a river.  We parked and walked around it for a few minutes.

To end Eli's birthday celebration, we took him out on a catamaran on the lake and to dinner at Gloria's.  He has seen the sailboat out several times and asked about going on it.  The cruise was about an hour and a half long and we got to see the sunset.  There was a group on board for some sort of fundraiser and when they found out it was Eli's birthday, they had everyone on board sing him Happy Birthday.  He also got to steer the boat.  We had a great time.

 

By the time we made it to Gloria's and got a table, it was close to 9:30.  After ordering, Eli asked Johnny if he could sit in his lap until his food came.  I think he was awake for 3 minutes after that.  Johnny ate his dinner with Eli sound asleep in his lap.  We had told the waiter that it was his birthday, so he brought him a slice of tres leches cake in a to-go box.  Johnny carried him to the car and he didn't wake up until we got home.  Then he was hungry, so he ate his entire pupusa and 2 bites of cake.  It was a long, but fun day.  I still cannot believe that my baby is 4 years old!

Eli's 4th Birthday Party

We celebrated Eli's birthday a week early with family and friends.  He had his party at ASI Gymnastics.  My parents, Nan and Pop Pop, came in around lunchtime on Friday and most of Johnny's family came in later that afternoon.  He got to play with his cousins and we all went to dinner together at Cayote Rojo.  There was a Mariache band playing and Eli got up and danced with them a couple of times.  He was quite a hit and had a great time.  

His party was Saturday afternoon.  He couldn't decide between robots and pirates, so we just went with both.  I had to order the robot plates and napkins online because  I couldn't find any in any of the stores that I went to.  The cake was half white and half chocolate and every single piece got eaten.  There were 20 kids in all that came.  They all had a great time with the games and activities that were planned.  Zoe loved being able to just crawl around and climb on the mats.  She eventually wore herself out and fell asleep.

 

After the party we went to the harbor and ate lunch at Gloria's.  After lunch we walked down to the water and the kids all ran around and played and climbed on Grandpa.

Parks & Pizza

Johnny spent the morning helping put a new coat of wood finish on one of the city parks with the Rotary Club. The kids and I hung out at home. After lunch and naps, we went to the park to play. I have taken Eli to several parks around town so he doesn't get bored with the same ones. One of our favorites that we have found is at an elementary school not too far from our house. It has several things that he can climb on and get around on pretty easily. We got Zoe out and let her climb around a little too. She also loves to swing, she wasn't too sure the first time, but now she just smiles and coos. This particular park has a special needs swing that she can sit in with a latch that comes down between her legs to hold her in. I didn't get a picture before I had to change her dirty diaper =)After the park, we were headed to Big Daddy's BBQ, when Eli said he'd rather have pizza. So, pizza it would be! During dinner, Zoe kept grabbing Eli's shirt and pulling him to her. She has started to close her eyes when the red light comes on my camera. It stays red while the lens focuses. She is such a ham, just like her big brother. She ate crackers and some small pieces of sausage.

Resurrection Eggs

Last Easter, we bought this story/activity thing called Resurrection Eggs. It is 12 plastic eggs in a hard plastic egg carton. There is a booklet that comes with it and it tells the story of Easter in 12 pages. Each page has a corresponding egg that has an item that goes with the story. It is a way to tell the story to children and keeps them engaged with the hands on items. I read it to Eli last night at bedtime. As I was reading, I would stop and explain with a little more detail and ask him questions to see if he was understanding. He really did seem to get it. He has asked me several times before if I knew that Jesus died so we would be saved. We talked about praying and talking to God, which he has started to do a little on his own at random times. I explained about putting his hands together, closing his eyes and bowing his head as a sign of respect. So, tonight he prayed and thanked God for all the people in Rockwall. Then we did bedtime prayers and he asked God to make Zoe's fever go away and never let her be sick again. (She has had a fever all day and started antibiotics tonight.) It makes me so proud to see him praying and understanding the importance of it. I love my sweet boy :)

Easter Weekend

Johnny was out of town Thursday and Friday night visiting friends in the valley. The kids and I went to see the Easter Bunny at Walgreens on Saturday morning . Eli was so excited. I wasn't sure if there would be a line or not, so we went a few minutes early and did a little shopping while we waited. He was walking around the store calling out for him. When he finally came out, he started jumping up and down and immediately held his hand and walked with him over to the area they had set up for pictures. Then he turned to me and said, "Mommy, I know that's not the real Easter Bunny, it's a man in a costume. I can see his hair." The face part had a zipper in the back of his head and was way too small for the guy. It did not damper his enthusiasm though.

On Sunday morning, the kids found what the Easter Bunny had left them. They were both happy with their loot :)


Johnny made "special" waffles for Eli. This consists of waffles with white chocolate chips and syrup. Then while Johnny went back to bed for a little nap, the kids and I hung out and got ready for church. They both looked so precious in their new outfits. We got to church really early, expecting a huge crowd. Turns out most people just came on time. So, Eli got to play on the indoor slide system before Sunday School. The service was beautiful. The stage was full of flowers and the message was very moving. After church, we had a nice lunch at Saltgrass then went home. The kids took a nap and Johnny and I relaxed on the couch watching a little TV. It's been a wonderful weekend.