Serafina's half birthday

Half birthdays aren't a thing with this family.  We don't celebrate them (okay, once we did).  But other people do; they even make 1/2 candles.   Our friends Aida and her kids celebrate and I think that's what got the idea firmly in Serafina's head that we should acknowledge her half birthday today.  It was the first thing she told me when she woke up this morning.  I decided to be a good sport and made a batch of brownies.  Then Aida's kids showed up with ice cream from the best ice cream place ever and it was definitely a celebratory dessert.

Guess we'll have to do something for Leo's half birthday next month.  Maybe I'll convince him to go out to dinner.  

Baby Jax

My kids didn't get to see my cousin or baby Jaxton when they were in town last month, but they came back into town and we gave them a ride from the airport.  

We spent a little time at the park and the kids were very charmed by adorable Jax.  

Leo the Destroyer

Sunny's Sixth Birthday

Today our friend Sunny celebrated her sixth birthday at Pump-It-Up.  It's a huge play space with bounce houses and a room for eating pizza and cupcakes.  Serafina and Sunny attended a classmate's party there last weekend.  

Here's Serafina and her friend Gianna.  There was a brief period last year when they were the same size.  

 All the kids with the birthday girl in the middle looking pouty.

 Again, the birthday girl doesn't look too thrilled.

 Leo got some hand-me-down roller blades.  He just about killed us both trying them out.  But he was able to stand still in them.

Stopping Swim

My kids have been receiving swim instruction for a long time.  Leo started when he was just a baby and Serafina was waterphobic but we got her in lessons too.  Because we have a pool in the backyard, getting the kids water safe was a priority.  They passed water safe into strong swimmers a while ago and both swim pre-competitive.  Unfortunately, neither one of them really likes it.  In fact, sometimes it's a downright battle to get them to the pool.  I've been proud of their endurance and hard work during the hour-long practices three times a week, but I finally had to accept that everyone was miserable.  It's too much work and money to keep it up when they don't actually like it.  Serafina just wants to dance and Leo is gearing up for a demanding baseball schedule (twice a week, 90 minute practices plus one - two games a week).  So we decided to pull the plug on swimming.  They'll still be able to swim with club through the month of March, though because of baseball we'll only go once a week.  If one of them changes their mind and wants to continue swimming, we can address that but I doubt it.  

Here they are at Friday's practice.  

 Here's Leo on Saturday practicing a little baseball with me at the school.  We have our first team meeting and practice on Monday.

Happy Birthday, Nana!

Now that Nana is local, we were able to celebrate her birthday together.  Most years we have had to just wish her happy birthday from afar, like last year.  In fact, the last time we were together to celebrate her birthday was six years ago.  

After spending the afternoon together, we went to dinner.  

 The restaurant provided wikki stix to keep the kids entertained.

 After dinner we went back to Nana's to enjoy the Nothing Bundt Cake Tom had picked up after work.  I'm not always a fan a bakeries, especially chains, but this one is darn good.

Night out

Serafina got invited to see Disney's Frozen on Ice tonight.  She dressed up in her light-up Elsa dress and sparkly shoes for the night.  

She joined my friend Kristi's girls for the show.  

 Serafina told me it was "amazing".

Since Serafina was having a special night, Tom and I took Leo to see Kung Fu Panda 3.  We all enjoyed it.