Zev at school

I realized I have quite a few weeks of pictures from Zev's teachers at school. 

Here he is having indoor play time when it was raining. 

This is the same good friend who was at his birthday party. 

Ari was the mystery reader a few weeks ago, and Zev was so happy about it. 

Zev's school raised chicks this year.  Here he is checking them out in the incubator. 

Once they hatched. 

Zev made the most beautiful butterfly in class. 

He also had the best surprised happy face about it.   I love this kid. 

Here he is painting outside. 

He's not getting very creative with the colors though... 

 Tahl and I were at school for Israeli Independence day.  We got to march with Zev and eat popsicles. 

Tahl wasn't quite in the circle. 

He did  like waving his flag. 

Zev just loves having Tahl and I be with him at school. 

Here is Z tracing a frog. 

 He has gotten really good at cutting. 

He painted this one with lots of colors. 

 Zev drew this amazing self portrait! He has a head, arms, legs, and facial features! He's really starting to do thing that look like something. 

We had a conference with Zev's teachers this week, and they didn't have enough great things to say about how much he has changed, grown, and matured. They said he is playing with friends a little more, but the biggest improvement is in paying attention to them and participating in music, gym, etc. just as much as anyone else. They are really happy with how much more flexible he is and how many less fits he has been throwing.  They think his speech and OT are really helping, and we are so excited for Zev.  We knew we were happy with the changes we've been seeing in him, but we weren't sure if they were transferring everywhere. 

We scanned in a few of his school pictures too. 

This one was our favorite.  He is really trying to smile and look at the camera. 

Here is Zev's whole class.  He loves his teachers and he has had a great year.  I can't believe it is almost over! I can't believe he has no school for a month before camp starts! 

The boys' birthday party!

This year the boys shared their birthday party again, and it was a BUG party at the park.  It was a bit of a hassle getting everything to the park, but in the the end, it was really fun.

We had an area set up for the kids to make their own party favor bag. They could decorate it with bug stickers and color on it. 

We had lots of yummy bug food.  Zev's favorite was the grape caterpillars. 

There were "snail" wraps, butterfly pbjs, and worm cupcakes. 

Here is a close up of the cupcakes.  Ari made these, from baking to frosting, and he decorated with Oreos and worms. 

 There was also butterfly pasta salad, fruit, and the sand in that bucket was edible! It was a pudding with crushed vanilla wafers on top, and it was a big hit. 

 Here is Zev making his party favor bag. 

Tahl went right to play in the sand box.

Tahl had the best time running free at the park.  Here he is making his favor bag. 

Next digging in the dirt with friends and his cousin Kade. 

I don't know if anyone reading this remembers, but about a month before Zev's "dog" party when he turned two, he decided he was afraid of dogs. I already had the whole thing planned so we just went ahead.  We have had the same thing happen with Tahl.  He decided he is afraid of bugs, but the party could continue if all the bugs were just pretend.  He did not, however, enjoy digging for bugs in the dirt. 

Here he is telling me, "take it out mommy!"

Zev was busy drawing with side walk chalk. 

I promised we were going to get a family picture this year at the party.  First I got one of the guys. 

Then I finally got one of all four of us! 

Zev really wanted me to take his picture when he climbed all the way up to the top. 

 Zev had a great time playing with his best friend from school who came to the party. 

Zev had been ready for cupcakes since the party started.  Here is Ari lighting them up. 

Listening to the birthday song. 

 Tahl blew his out first. 

Zev was next.

Then, of course, there was a mad dash for cupcakes. 

 The guys ate with dad. 

All of the boys' friends liked their cake too. 

Lucy

Here is Tahl getting a hug from Christopher. 

Zev gave me a hug, and I gave him the rest of my cupcake. I'm a sucker for a sweet guy. 

The weather was supposed to be 81, but in the shade it really wasn't so bad. 

 Zev finally decided to dig right before the party was over. 

I also got a cute picture of Z with his cousin Kade. 

 No day with stickers is complete without decorating yourself. 

Tahl did his favorite park activity, swinging. 

I tired to get Tahl to take a picture hugging Kade like Zev did, but he didn't understand he was supposed to look at the camera.  Oh well. 

My mom got this video before we left of the two guys stomping in the ice that we poured out of the cooler.  Who doesn't need to get a little muddy at their birthday party?

We got home late from the party, so the guys opened their gifts this morning. 

They loved all their presents. 

Tahl kept yelling, "Hey guys! It's a book!" 

Zev was excited to get this water hose attachment.  We can't wait for it to get really hot. 

When we had opened up all of Zev's gifts, he said, "Oh. I didn't get "Hook's Many Hooks" from my birthday list."  Luckily, Emily, Matt, Grey, and Holden saved the day. I forgot they had sent it! Zev has been asking for this for his birthday for months. He was excited. 

Tahl was excited about the Team Umizoomi books, toy, and stickers from my friend Heather.

 Last, the best dad in the world made each boy (and me) this happy breakfast of mini bagels and strawberries while we were opening the presents.  These are two lucky kids.

Tonight Zev asked me if he could please just have his birthday party again?  I think it was a hit.