Lately: Getting Out and About

Last weekend started with a bang, literally, as Henry ran into a playground pole (again) at recess on Friday. I got a call from the school nurse just as I was heading out the door to meet a friend, and instead of visiting the MFAH with my friend, Henry and I visited the ER! Fortunately, the cut was just below his eyebrow and they were able to use Dermabond glue instead of stitches. This sweet boy and I were starving after all of that, so we popped into the Corner Bakery for lunch afterwards.

And then, because I wasn't taking Henry back to school, we decided not to waste our free afternoon together and headed to the zoo in the drizzling rain! It was perfect because the rain sent most folks home and we just stuck to mostly indoor exhibits (plus the meerkats and sea lions, who didn't seem to mind the rain!). 

Fruit bats.

Even though having to visit the ER is no fun at all, Henry and I turned what could have been a miserable day into a really fun afternoon.

By Friday evening, the rain had cleared up just in time for us to head to the science museum for a members' event.

We enjoyed Chinese food and visited the new exhibit, China's Lost Civilization: The Mystery of Sanxingdui. The exhibit was fascinating and afterwards we all made masks like those found at the archaeological site.

Despite a very rainy week, the boys and I have been getting out on our bikes as much as possible. We bike around the neighborhood and usually end up at one of the nearby parks. One of our favorites these days is the "Treehouse Park" because it's not crowded and the kids have plenty of space to run and play their games (which somehow involve me being a blue crab!?!).   

The boys enjoy biking so much that we even biked to Math and Science Night at school on Tuesday!

We're hoping the rain lets up a bit this weekend so we can squeeze in a few more biking adventures!

Lately: More Celebrations

Backtracking a couple of weeks, we all celebrated Will's Name That Book team with a party at Judson Park. It was the perfect day -- sunny but not too hot. The park wasn't crowded and the kids just ran and played and ate and had fun.

The parents gave me tulips and a gift card to Barnes and Noble as a thank you for helping coach the team. Will got so used to me reading the same books that he read that he keeps bringing me books to read (Fablehaven is on my nightstand now!).  

Will is always reading! He picked up the Five Little Pepper series that I read as a kid.

Henry had a final birthday celebration when Katy and Jaime came over for dinner one night. They brought homemade vanilla ice cream decorated just for the birthday boy!

And a few last presents from Heather arrived in the mail. Henry got a new puzzle and two ninja Cubebots! Thumbs up all the way around.

Nana and Pop delivered Portuguese sweet bread just before Easter. Delicious!

 

We spent Easter weekend surrounded by friends and family and board games!

Easter morning: we woke the boys up before dawn to get ready for early Mass. They were tired but we avoided the crowds! And they were excited to see what the Easter bunny brought them (CDs, books, chocolate and new games).

We spent most of Easter day with Nana and Pop. It was rainy and dreary, so the Easter egg hunt was inside this year.

The boys worked together to find eggs and then carefully counted them up and divided them equally.

Our spring celebrations have been a lot of fun!

Henry's Ninja Birthday Party

We celebrated Henry's seventh birthday with a kickin' ninja party! I found this invitation on Etsy and it was exactly what Henry wanted.

It wouldn't be a party at our house without costumes! Here are my two favorite ninjas.

Ninja Henry!

Before his party guests arrived, Henry helped me set up the decor. It was fairly simple this year.

Door sign (from Etsy).

Birthday banner.

Ninja pinata.

Black lanterns over the food table.

We served ninja swords (pretzel rods), edamame, oranges, PB&J "sushi," and cupcakes.

Henry requested cupcakes with his favorite ganache icing. Mmmm!

Once the guests arrived, we got started on some activities. The first was to find your ninja name. Henry's was "Rikutoshifu" and Will's was "Meikitata." They all made name tags. 

The next activity was making origami ninja stars. Once they were made, they kids had to knock balls off paper tubes.    

Then it was on to ninja training.

Obstacle course.

The ninjas-in-training had to stealthily steal a cup from Nana. They were so good that she never caught them in the act!

We threw rubber ninja stars at this target.

 The final activity was defeating the red ninja (pinata).

After all their hard work, the ninjas celebrated the completion of their ninja training with lots of food and some sweet cupcakes!

What a fun ninja party for Henry!