Liam turns 9!!! Can You Believe It?

Liam had a unique birthday experience this year in that we celebrated it in bits over a couple of weeks. It's funny how it just seemed to work out perfectly for where he is right now in his life. Two weekends ago the kidlets spent the weekend with Nana and Fred and they made a birthday trip to Target (you will note that Target is one of Liam's favorite links over there on the right side of your screen). Then this last Friday we celebrated with his class. He ordered the specific cupcakes he wanted and passed them out to all of his friends and then hit the hallways passing them out to every teacher he could find (a little sweets to the teachers never hurts.) Then I took him out of school early and surprised him with a trip down to ACL for his first concert. There was music everywhere...people everywhere...and so much fun to be had. We hit the Austin Kiddie Limits tent where he got rock star hair and a dragon 'tattoo'.



After music, body art, many prizes and lots of sweet tea we headed for a rendezvous with papa and Fi at Macaroni Grill, which was Liam's request for his birthday dinner. He stuffed himself silly...and THEN they came out with the sinful birthday cake and ice cream...and THEN he was given the birthday treatment of having "Happy Birthday" belted at him in Italian by their token opera singing waiter. Liam seemed thrilled, if only because the sooner the song stopped the sooner he could dig into his cake. : )



Saturday the kids went to this cool place for kids...where he played video games all evening (definitely something special) Then on Sunday M and I went to ACL sans kiddoes and they spent the day with Lita. He received a camera for his b-day and has been snapping pics ever since. Look for his pics on here soon....or who knows maybe he will have his own website. He has already made himself a business card...calling himself "The Freaky Photographer" His tagline (which he came up with on his own mind you) is "We can put mostly every thing on film"

Many thanks to all of you that sent cards and gifts to Liam for his birthday. He is still working on his thank you cards, but look for them in the near future. We are capping off his birthday in the next week or so with a trip to Blazertag for him and his good buddy from school. It's just good all around...and I'm sure Liam would tell you...it's SO good to be 9!

A Quick Visit from Auntie

In her transit from one adventure to another, we were graced with the presence of the lovely 'Auntie'. Remarkably, we had more than 2 days with her...and it was so wonderful to have her home with us for a while.
For those of you who don't know, she is now in Costa Rica for her semester abroad...but we have been promised a visit over winter break. She checks in now and again via email and IM...so if you are looking for her, you can find her that way.
A couple of days before she left she came out to our house so that M and I could go on a real live date. This also allowed her and the kidlets to have some alone time. The schedule went something like this:

1.) Trampoline
2.) Make special dinner

3.) Make even special-er dessert (Brownies with frosting)

4.) Dance Party (complete with costumes)

We miss you Auntie and relive that crazy night over and over again. This usually involves turning up the music REALLY loud while the children hurl themselves in circles on the floor...
they are practicing their 'breakdancing' for when you come back to Tejas to hang out and teach them some moves.

By the way, the reason Liam is curiously missing from most of these pictures (except ninja dance mania picture on the left) is because he was the photog for the others. I am always impressed at the spontanaity of the pictures that he takes. Nevermind that he wasn't supposed to have my camera (sigh)...he's a great photographer anyway...and I wanted to share his shots.

That's it for now...stayed tuned for the next installment from the Monkeyhouse. Until then, much love to ya'll. -J