Fun times...

We've done a lot of fun things lately.  Zev went to a birthday party the day before his where he got to try rock climbing. He really liked it at first.

On his first trip up, he got really high. 

He actually got more nervous as the morning went on, but I think he may have actually been getting tired. 

He just got a little worried too.  His friend Alex, whose birthday it was, actually climbed all the way to the top several times. 

Later that day, he got to work with dad on "invention center" like at school.  Here they are taking apart a hair dryer. 

We haven't started yet, but his next project will be to take apart a radio and cassette player from Ari's office. 

He's been very into practicing his magic tricks from his magic set. He even took a few to show the doctor at his five year old check up. This is what he wore for his appointment. 

At his check up he was 43.5 inches tall (50th%) and about 43 pounds (around the 50th%).  She said he was just an average growing kid. Our doctor was impressed with his drawing he made for her, how he is beginning to understand phonics, and how well he talked with her.  

Here he is making the "tallest marble run."

Last week the guys invented a game where the jumped over these bricks. 

Here is Zev hopping around to set them back up with a balloon between his legs. 

After a while they made the stack taller and pretended they were super heroes busting through walls. 

Here is one of Tahl in action. 

One day Emily texted me to ask if I knew it was $0.50 corn dog day at Sonic, (and of course I did.) Tahl happened to be eating a Sonic corny dog at that very moment, so I took this picture and sent it back to her.  For the record, I asked him to smile, not make this face.

Over the weekend, Ari and I went out of town to New Orleans for a little time away before the baby comes.  We ATE and then we ATE some more.  This is a picture (the only one we took) of us out at a really delicious dinner. We also got to take a nap and sleep in the next morning.

My mom watched the boys while we were gone, and we can't thank her enough! The boys had a fantastic time.  She took them to the movies, for a donut breakfast at the park, and to a birthday party.  They had a fantastic time with her, and I'm sure they wish we would leave town again.  Each boy got to have a special donut with a ring it, and they each got to pick their own.  Zev, of course, picked Darth Vader, and Tahl, of course, picked princesses.  I love it. We love these boys, and how they know exactly who they are. 

Thanks again Mimi! We love you! 

Zev's birthday

Yesterday we celebrated sweet Zev's birthday.  We ran out of crepe paper (and realized it the night before at 9...), so we changed it up this year.  He sad to have less hallway decorations, but he was excited for a present hunt. This present contained a book and the first clue to the game.  

Good morning birthday boy! 

He kept the balloons up all day to run back and forth through them. 

He found his second present in Tahl's closet. 

He has been begging for this movie for a while, so he was excited. 

The next clue he had to read lead him to dad's "office." 

He got some Star Wars figures from Pops and Gram! 

Next up on the hunt he went to "where we keep Tahl's shoes." 

He got a magician's hat with a rabbit in it from my Grandma and Grandpa.  It is a very popular new item around here with both boys. 

Last, but not least, here he is on his way out to "find dad's tools" for his last present. 

He got a magic set like he has been hoping for!  He has already learned two tricks, three if you count the hat. We are going to have lots more fun with this over the next few weeks. 

Even Tahl got to try the hat on. 

Zev requested a "bubble bath with a mountain of bubbles" for his birthday. He was not disappointed. 

We spent the next part of our morning at the park with Mimi and Kade. 

We went to a really neat new park that the boys really like. 

Here are all three boys in their "hideout."  

These are some really silly boys. They have lots of fun together. 

My mom is already trying to convince me that I have to have a fourth baby because poor Isaac will be left out all the time like Tahl is when Zev and Kade get together. 

They all three played together on the merry go round though. 

Then Z got a turn with his dad on the see saw. 

Even Mimi and Tahl got in on it. 

I convinced Ari to get over his fear of heights enough to give this guy a boost into a tree.  He sure does love to climb them. 

This was Kade's first time to ever climb a tree! 

We went home for lunch and to get ready for Zev's party. His party this year was at the Perot Science museum.  He had a "color mixing/art" type party though.  We decided to serve rainbow goldfish, rainbow veggie straws, and an assortment of rainbow fruits and veggies. 

Also, he had a cake that was rainbow on the inside when you cut into it. It didn't taste so bad either. 

Ari got the fruits separated by color, at least for the first person or two to serve themselves. 

All of Zev's friends had fun making art. 

Tahl had dad help him with all the projects. 

I didn't get the best angle on Mr. Zev blowing out his candles.  

Right before Zev got ready to blow, another little boy blew out the candle.  As I am sure you can guess, that did not go over well, but Zev recovered quickly and let us sing again. He cheered up right away, but that is why it looks like he has been crying in the photos of him blowing out his candles. 

After the party he got to go play at the water table and in the sandbox with his friends. 

He loved it. 

Here he is with his best friend, Evan. They are a little too crazy together, but they really love each other. 

Zev asked for chicken nuggets and macaroni for dinner. (We did go out to the Mexican restaurant where they give you ice cream in honor of his birthday the day before.) 

He was pretty tired from his busy day.

But, he did manage to make this mess opening presents (which I forgot to take pictures of...) He chose five to keep and five to give away from his party. He was a really good sport about it. It also made it easier that he got so many other fun things from his relatives including a marble run from Oren that is already a really big hit. He told me he was going to wake up early to play with his new toys the next morning and skip his bath.

Zev has changed and grown a lot over the year.  He is more mature and we think he is almost ready for kindergarten. He is definitely ready to be a big brother (x2) and very excited. Zev is sweet, smart, and loving. We love all his interests including science, robots, minions, and taking stuff apart. He has brought Ari and I some challenges and helped us to grow a lot in his short five years, but he also brings so much fun and light into our lives every single day. We feel extremely lucky to be this guy's parents.  

We love you Zev!