Erin turns 7!

 Happy birthday, Erin!

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!

More photos from Robin's 3rd birthday

You'll see pictures from both Robin's birth*day* and her kid birthday party.

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

Robin is 3!

This Sunday, Robin officially turned 3!

She started the day by opening a few presents and playing.



She chose to go to a local burger place for lunch, and chose ice cream for after her meal. Of course, she ate the whole thing.



We did have a family party that afternoon and evening, however Brian took all the pictures. Hopefully he will share because it was a lot of Grandparent-and-Cousin fun.



If 1 and 2 were any indication, this year of 3 is going to be one filled with love, exploration and growth for our little bird. She loves investigating things, reading stories, making jokes. She shadows her big sister but is her equal in play. She loves exploring new foods, particularly the one on Mommy's plate. She is nurturing and gentle with her preschool friends and always is cracking up the teachers with her comments and observations.  She's all around a fun person.

Happy birthday, sweet Robin. We love watching your flag unfurl.

Sushi Party Tradition

Today was my birthday!  Woot.  We had many adventures during the day (stay tuned for that post) but tonight was the traditional "roll your own" sushi party.  We actually kept it pretty minimal and only did nigiri, with 3 types of fish. My folks came, and my wonderful Sister in law Dawn brought her two beautiful boys, C and K. 

Me slicing the tuna:

New this year, and going on regular rotation at Casa de McMiller was spring rolls.  You know, those yummy, fresh-tasting, tasty appetizer-ey things you get at Thai places?  We made peanut dipping sauce too.  These were (a) easy and (b) da bomb!  Really.  And very, very easy to make. OK, some are not so pretty but our mouths didn't notice. 

We got the cake at the bakery section of the Asian grocery store.  Chestnut.  Mmmmmm.  It was really light and tasty, sweet but not cloying. 

So, smart readers. How old am I?

Of course, the girls helped me blow out the candles. 

A great start to the new year, a great start to my new year. 

Erin's 5th birthday party photos

The birthday girl and her book exchange:

Adults taking a well-deserved break from the bouncy castle:

Let there be cake:



Milking the castle until the people come and take it away:

Goodie bags

Filled with chocolate coins, kaleidoscope, temporary tattoos, and mama/baby Manatee lollipops.

More 5th Birthday

Yesterday we had lots of little celebrations for the 5 year mark.  We brought cupcakes* to Erin's classroom.  

*muffins with 1/2 tsp frosting, sprinkled (poorly) with a heart design on top. 

Here is B and the girls passing out the cupcakes on the way to recess:

We got to witness what 5/6 year old girls do on the playground at recess. Mainly, talk. 

Then one of Erin's best friends, M, and mom took us out for frozen yogurt.  Why have we never done this before?  It was awesome!!!  So many flavors! So many toppings!  The mom, J, came prepared with a "5" candle, we sang "Happy Birthday" and Erin got a very fun game from M.  

No picts from my camera from this, but Erin chose dinner - Burger King.  It was a full, fun birthday! 

When you're 5 ....

 ... you get to make pancakes.

Writing practice

Erin has been so excited to actually be able to sound out words and write.  Well, at least sound out the first letter.  She wrote a birthday invitation.  To the sun.

OK, you probably need a translation.  Read from bottom line to top line.  

U (you) r (are) eviDeiD (invited) T (to) M (my)

then the top line

i (second part of my) BFD (birthday) PrP (party)

Below is the picture of the sun, above an ocean. 

5th B-day "Big People" party

This year for Erin's birthday both sets of grandparents will be in Europe. So, we celebrated with them a few weeks early by having an ice cream party!

I think Brian was on photography detail, as I got no pictures of the events.  But here she is one day later, wearing her new birthday dress and doing a birthday project - making a pot holder with a metal loom.

Remember that?  I loved that project as kid!  Actually, it took a lot of restraint not to "help" her a ton and make my own.  She was incredibly focused and even figured out a simpler way to get the cross-loops woven in using her fingers and not the metal hook.  She got about half way done, but we cut her off to start bed time procedures.

Fancy nails

A little while ago, we took Grandma to get a pedicure to celebrate her birthday.  Erin came and got a polish change. 

Selecting their colors:

Pink sparkles, of course! 

All done, now to read Brides magazine while it dries.

Fancy nails!  The lady actually painted a flower on each of Erin's big toes.  Oh, and only charged me $5!  Fun and happy belated birthday Grandma! 

Brian's Birthday Bash!

Another year, another birthday.  We celebrated over the whole weekend.  Somehow I only really got 3 mediocre pictures.

The celebration on Friday (the actual b-day):
* Presents and cards over morning oatmeal and coffee.
* 5 miler run together when the kids were at school. (don't tell Brian's work!)
* Pizza dinner out on the lawn.  Frozen pizza.  From Safeway.
* 24 oz Mickey's can to go with the pizza.

Saturday:
Lots of shopping to prepare.

Of course, we need chocolate doughnuts to assist during shopping. 

Sunday:
BBQ at the park!  A great turn out of family and a lot of friends, with ice cream cake too!

Of which the girls each had two pieces.

Robin's birthday party

Family from near and far converged on our little casa to celebrate Robin completing her second year.  It was such a special treat to see every Mc from a 200 mile radius.

Thanks for helping us celebrate!

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

Woo-hoo, Robin is 2!

 Opening a few presents first thing this morning:

Showing off her two ponytails and celebratory lei:

Happy birthday, sweet Robin!  We love your sparkle. 

Birthday Sushi!

The salmon was by far the tastiest.  In the demitasse?  Sake.  

Welcome, new Cousins!

There have been several additions to the extended McMiller family tree, and we will present them in inverse order.

Introducing:

Kai

and Graham and Evan

Cuties all of them!!

Erin is 4 part II

In between crazy trips to the doctor and ER, we did have a girl who turned 4.

4!

We celebrated with a bouncy-house, a trip to Disney on Ice (thanks Grandpa and Grandma), presents, cake, book exchange, and a new big-girl booster seat.



A 5-point-harness-up-to-80-lbs "booster" seat, just to be on the safe side.

Erin's 4th year was a busy one. Her sense of self really emerged, as did dancing, singing, language (lots of language), dexterity, fears, friendship, inquisitiveness, independence, fashion, empathy, courage, and love.



Happy (1 month late) 4th birthday, sweet one. Your sparkles make the whole world brighter.

4!

So behind on blogging. . . .


Erin turned 4. 4 people! There were many festivities, and will update when we sort through the pictures. But the most exciting thing this week has been this:

The rules here are if you can write your name you can have a library card. 

Sweeeeet.

Robin is 1 part deux

We had two celebrations from Robin's first birthday.  Here are some pictures and movies for you to enjoy!

First a video:

Robin's cupcake! from Ms. A on Vimeo.

Then some pictures. Not as many as we'd have liked, but they capture the mood:

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