Jasper's Turns 3. Ka-Chow!

Jasper's big day started off with a surprise visit from Ralph, Jasper's "elf on the shelf", who came all the way from the North Pole to do a mid-year check-in and drop off some birthday gifts. These included a new placemat and a Happy Birthday Thomas book.



We had a Cars 2 movie-themed playdate with a small group of Jasper's friends mostly from school. It was just an opportunity for them to play around, but we did organize a hot potato type game.



Blake, Waylon, Jasper and Jacob lunched on homemade mac and cheese with veggies/dip and fruit. They sat at their own "big boy table".



Since going to a birthday party last fall where they had a pinata, Jasper now thinks that ALL birthdays have pinatas. And naturally he wanted Lightning McQueen! (If you don't know who that is check out Pixar's Cars, or ask any boy under the age of 5.)

So Christy custom built a Lightning McQueen pinata.



Yes, Rick really did hold the pinata on a pole while the kids swung at it with a bat.
No, he was not trying to get on America's Funniest Videos.



And the "south paw" from Renton is up at bat.



In keeping with our Cars theme, Grandmother made a fabulous and delicious Ramone cake.


Digging into cake and ice cream.



You can try and try, but I don't think that will fit in your mouth...even if it is your birthday.



The boys had an awesome time playing with their gift bag goodies of balloons, cars and squirt guns (without water).



Rick posing with Jasper's BIG gift: a new bike with pedals!



Lots of cars, lots of Lightning McQueen. It was a good birthday.

Happy 11th Birthday, Maverick!

One year ago I never thought we'd be singing another "Happy Birthday" to our dear, sweet Maverick who had been going through several health issues. But on beautiful and sunny May 24th we celebrated his 11th year!

He is doing great and lives every day with gusto and enthusiasm...shouldn't we all?



Eating sardine cake. Yummmm.

Let's Go Fly A Kite

Rick took a sunny Friday off from work so we could spend a family day downtown. After eating yummy breakfast at "The Diner" in Pioneer Square, we drove to Gas Works park which is right on Lake Union and has an iconic view of the Seattle skyline.




A blue-sky view of the Aurora Bridge.



Jasper was Daddy's little helper with the kite. He couldn't wait to get it up in the air.



Due to the lack of wind, they moved to the top of the sundial hill hoping to catch a better breeze. The old gas works in the background.



Finally, after a few tries...success!






After kite-flying we went to Theo Chocolates in Fremont to sample chocolate, of course! With all you can eat flavors like fig and fennel, coconut curry, and chai tea, it's one of Christy's favorite places in town.



How perfect. All this chocolate at eye-level.



Chocolate kisses.



"You lookin' at me?"



As if the day wasn't full of enough sweets, we stopped for homemade gelato. Surprisingly, Jasper liked the pink Strawberry Jalapeno best.

Egg Hunt

Jasper was old enough this year to join in the Normandy Park Community Club easter egg hunt. It was a beautiful Saturday morning with blue skies and waram weather.

He was so excited the Easter Bunny was coming.






Frankly, I think giant Easter Bunny costumes are ridiculous but Jasper loved every moment of meeting the one and only EB.



Grandmother and Opa came to watch the festivities.



Daddy and Jasper were discussing their pre-hunt strategy.



And they're off! Filling baskets with as much candy as their little 3-yr old hands can hold.






Checking out his loot.









"Thanks for bringing me here, Daddy."

Popcorn, Peanuts and Crackerjack

Jasper's first baseball game was seeing the Seattle Mariners play the Oakland A's. He was so excited to bring his mitt and truly thought he'd catch a ball.

Unfortunately, we got his mitt before we knew he was a little "south paw", so he wears his mitt on his left hand and tries to throw a ball with it as well.



Great seats!!



After a few innings we took Jasper over to the Kid Zone play area inside the stadium.






We also had a chance to meet the Mariner Moose.

Egg Coloring Eggstravaganza!

Jasper really got into coloring eggs this year. He and Daddy spent a weekday evening brewing up a batch of these colored gems.













Thumbs up for a job well done.

Just A Trim

Rick decided that Jasper's "at-home, done-by-Mommy (with love)" hair cuts were no longer good enough and insisted that Jasper go to someone with real training for a real haircut. We agreed that he would just get a trim because we still liked the little boy look of his longer hair.

Jasper had a great time sitting in the chair and watching his hair being snipped away. And snipped, and...



...snipped, and snipped.



After seeing how short Jasper's hair was cut and how grown up he looked, Rick changed his opinion. I got an apology that my "done-by-Mommy (with love)" haircuts weren't so bad and I am once again free to trim Jasper's hair however and whenever I see fit. Sounds good to me.