Birthday celebrations with the family

For my birthday I did something special with each person over the weekend.

 Andrew and I met nine other kids at the zoo, above they are in a polar bear transport container.  A few days later he and I took a field trip to an apple orchard.  He was not as impressed because "There were only fruits and vegetables and no animals."

 Elizabeth and I went to see The Lion King, it was an amazing show.  She loves dressing up and since we were dropped at the theater due to Steelers traffic she even wore her high heels.

From the minute it started we were mesmerized.  I am so impressed with the magnitude of this traveling off-Broadway.  James is taking Michael next weekend. 

Family dinner with our friends who both have 9/9 birthdays too.  Nothing says happy birthday like sparklers and a disco ball.  Fun time at the hibachi restaurant. 

James and I went to a swanky downtown restaurant one night.  Then another night I took Michael, the gourmand.  Here he is feasting on swordfish, mussels, calamari, gnocchi,  and capers.  The wait staff kept coming over to see what all he was eating.  He told our valet to try the lamb.  

Andrew started preschool this week.

He starts playing right away, then looks back and asks why I am still there.

There are a lot more children than his two year old class, but he was already raising his hand in circle.  Before the parents left they were playing with yarn.  The teacher asked the class to make a circle.  After Andrew did it he said, "Actually it is also an "O" and a zero."  

Living Treasures Animal Park

 Labor Day weekend we spent a day in Laurel Highlands

The kids love getting to feed the wild animals.

Andrew preferred giving carrots to the animals.  With the feed the animals would have to lick or nibble it out of your open hand. 

 I always say they look like little Arab boys.

Tossing carrots to the zebras

 They had so many bears this year.  Two cubs were born on Andrew's birthday.

A camel and a zebra fighting for Elizabeth's attention.

When a lot of animals would crowd the fence Michael would toss a handful of feed into the pen, rather than feed the more aggressive animals.  He would tell them to stop being bullies.

 Feeding an alpaca, she was tickled when I told her the animal's fur made my favorite socks and hat.

 

To feed the monkeys and lemurs the kids put carrots into a bucket and the clever monkeys would pull the rope over to them.

 Staring match with an emu.

Pony rides!

The reptile caretaker kept bringing snakes for me to hold.  Maybe he thought I was an Indian snake charmer.

The real alligators were for display and not feeding, Elizabeth was bummed.  

Andrew kept running back to see the pot belly pigs.  I made Thai and packed it for lunch.  Afterwards, he runs over and tells the animals that we just ate porky pig.

 There were a lot of baby animals to pet.

Of course we could not pet the six month old lion cubs.

We even brought a snake home with us.

A rainy Labor Day we decided to see a movie.  It was the first time all three children went.  It was entertaining for Elizabeth and I, Michael liked the snacks and Andrew fell asleep.  As you can see he had no interest in having a picture taken.

First Day of School!

Starting off the day with their favorite breakfast: smoked salmon roll-ups and watermelon.

 My second grader has been waiting all month for school to start.

I hope he always loves school.

Elizabeth is thrilled to be starting at the elementary school.

Walking to the bus stop, laden with school supplies

Waiting for the bus in their favorite perch

Sadly watching my babies get on the bus for another school year.

 I'm busy snapping pictures, meanwhile Andrew is watching his sissy get on the bus.  He starts screaming and crying, then takes off running after the bus.  The first few days he walked home pouting, then lay on the sofa asking why Elizabeth had to go to school all day.  Poor guy.

 

Seven and a half hours later, Elizabeth was exhausted when she got home.

At kindergarten orientation, in front of her locker.

The eve of the first day of school we had a huge party -> 25 children!







There were a few babies in attendance so I filled this tiny pool.  The big kids decided it was the hot tub.



 Don't these cuties look like Bond girls?



The favorite treat was the sand pudding.  Pictured above is the individually layered bowl.  And below is the bucket I filled for the party.  The children were tickled that they were eating sand.

First night at the beach there was a full rainbow visible over the ocean.  

 

Elizabeth ready to search for shells

 Michael was much better at body surfing this year.

Trying to fly a kite

Andrew likes the beach but had more fun at the pool where he made a lot of friends.

 

Everyday we had to dig a big hole.

 

Elizabeth would scoop up the jelly fish and toss them back in the morning.

 

She and I loved to cover each other in sand.

Another fun trip to the beach!