Lordy, lordy, Brian is 40!

Birthday time!!  Brian turned 40 today.  We started out with tons of friends and a BBQ at a nearby park yesterday.  Here is the rainbow unicorn cake (unicorn was not yet put in place) that was partially smashed by Robin reaching into the back seat to grab the unicorn:

We got the sports package from parks and rec.  All the kids - and many adults - had fun!

Our friend, Patrick, helped indoctrinate B to his 5th decade with some prune juice…. to keep things "running smooth."  Sage advice. 

Of course there was BBQ!

Then today celebrated with multiple soccer games and a dinner at B's parent's house. 

And one challenging game of "Sorry":

Nothing says "40" like a delicious homemade super chocolate cake:

And because his lungs are, well, 40 years old, he had help blowing out the candles. 

Happy 40th Brian*!!!!

* and David!

WW: Wiiiiiiiii-eeeeeee!

Kids get into the Cube

Last time Brian returned from PDX the girls got a Rubik's cube as their surprise. 

Erin loved it and immediately set to work solving the puzzles Brian set for her.

 Robin loved it too but didn't quite get it.  She loved laughing at Erin's still antics.  

However, Brian got a little too ambitious just one little time, and one of the cubes ended up thus: 

That's more how I like to solve them.

Go Fish

Nice way to start a morning. Watch out though: Erin is a total shark.

Because throwing stuff is fun.

Let's talk gender stereotypes here. I've watched boys grown men throw things for fun. I mean, stand in a line and throw rocks into a pond, rocks at cans, whatever.  But is it a boy thing?

I learned tonight that everyone thinks throwing things is fun.  This game lasted well over 15 minutes, an eternity in the world of Erin.  It might have lasted longer, but it was time for bath and bed.

Playtime: glow sticks

2 glow sticks + 2 girls + 1 bath = super fun 

Got this idea here.   Awesome blog.  Go check it out.  Now.  Even if you don't have children.  You will find something there you want to try.

McMiller Puzzle Sunday

The girls love jigsaw puzzles.  Erin will happily do and redo and redo the same one over and over.  She can do up to 100 pieces.  The cutest thing is how she now helps Robin do puzzles, offering her the correct next piece, suggesting tips to get the piece to fit, encouraging her to look at the colors and designs on the pieces ... she's a patient teacher. And Robin loves the Big Sister attention.

The A's Game

So behind on blogging.  It's been a busy summer.

Brian and Erin went to Erin's first baseball game last weekend. They had a blast.  They had just missed getting free jerseys, but the amount of kid-friendly stuff made it a super memorable event.




 Erin was engaged, got to carefully select a treat from the vendors (ice cream, of course), played in the play area, colored pictures, and, by far the coolest, got to run around the bases on the field after the game was over.




Oh, and did I mention Brian got the tickets for free from someone outside the stadium?

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

Baby gates are fun.

Photo Tag

BigDutchBaby tagged me. Here are the rules: go to the fourth folder in your photos and pick the fourth photo in that album and post it.  Gotta love these Ninternet Memes.  

Who to tag.. who to tag.... Piglet K, Fishgirl, and Amago Mundi. 

(Sorry  MissMVK... looks like you're getting tagged alot these days!

Wordless Wednesday: African Violet

Advanced peek-a-boo

Erin made up her own game yesterday.

Mom needs how to learn to edit video. 

Toys!

This illustrates a favorite game of Erin's.  Here's how it's played: 

1. Investigate container of toys.  

2. Remove toys individually.

3. Play with individual toy for 10"-5'.

4. Drop toy on lap and ignore.

5. Repeat 1-4 until (a) box is empty or (b) toys remaining in box are no longer within reach of infant-sized arms.