After we picked Robbie up from school we drove down to St. Pete to celebrate with family. We got to my parents' house with some time to play before eating dinner. The boys would have made time to play after spending so much time in the car.
Saturday we got up and got ready for Catie's party. It was a gorgeous, though slightly chilly, day, but perfect for partying at the playground. Matthew grilled up hamburgers, hot dogs and chicken - delicious as always. The boys loved playing with their cousins while Catie had a rotation of people pushing her in the swing. :) Luckily she was ready to get out and eat when lunch was ready or she may have just be left in the swing while everyone ate. We gave her another smash cake, but, just like the cake at her photo session, she wanted nothing to do with it. The cousins were happy, though, because we let them dig in. We did learn that it's not the actual cake part that she's opposed to, it's the icing. I really just don't understand because it was the yummy Publix butter cream icing.
The windblown picnic tables:
Happy birthday sign:
Catie's smash cake:
And cake for everyone else:
All of our 1 year pictures:
Matthew manning the grill:
My dad and Mia:
Alex swinging all by himself!:
Catie on the swing:
Getting ready for her smash cake!
Waiting while we sing:
What is this?
Mia and Catie (and Robbie sneaking a taste):
"What's that over there not by the cake?":
All the cousins helping Catie:
After the party we went back to my parents' house for naps and then my brother and his family came over for dinner. The boys loved having Mia and Nathan over, though they were sad that they didn't get to go to their house and see their chickens. Well, chicken and one rooster that disguised himself as a hen, but his crowing gave him away. Oops!
Sunday we went to Matt's mom's so Catie could open her presents. Then we headed to the Clearwater Aquarium, but it was packed! I had never been and it's where Winter, the dolphin from "Winter's Tail," lives and I was excited to see him, but we decided it would be too crowded to enjoy it. Instead we drove to the Florida Aquarium in Tampa. The boys love it there! I think we could go every time we visited and they would be ok with it.
Checking out the lemurs:
It was the aquarium's birthday, so Alex and Robbie made birthday hats:
One happy girl!
Robbie checking out one of the tanks:
Alex and the Goliath grouper:
Robbie and Catie playing in one of the shells:
The kids could not get enough of the turtle!
Robbie's shirt had the design on the back, so Alex had to wear his shirt backward so his design would be on his back, too!:
And this is how Alex said he wanted to ride home:
We spent the night at Matt's dad's house and went to the Lowry Park Zoo with Jim and Jean Monday. It was a gorgeous day to be walking around outside. I don't think I ever went there growing up and it's a great zoo. The zoo was set up for the Chinese lantern festival. I'm sure it's beautiful at night when everything is lit up, but we still enjoyed seeing the displays. I love that the rides at Lowry Park are free with admission (unlike our zoo). The boys rode the train first. Alex had a hard time because he wanted to ride in the front with Robbie, but the sign said that you had to be 4 to sit without a parent. Luckily there wasn't anyone waiting to ride after we were done, so they let Alex sit up front and ring the bell (though not while the train was moving). Then they rode a car coaster. They loved that, too! I wasn't sure if they would like it or not, but I think they would have spent the rest of the day getting on and off. And, of course, we all did the carousel. I'm sad that my phone battery died and I didn't get more pictures. I think that means we have to go back again. :) After a pretty packed weekend the boys didn't have the stamina they normally would have, but I think we still made it all the way through the zoo. The kids took a great nap in the car and it was an easy drive home.
Catie watched Robbie and Alex open her present. But you can tell she's super excited about it! And, yes, her band aids from getting shots are still on because I'm a wimp about taking them off and I'd rather they just fall off than hurt the kids trying to rip them off.
The kids having fun playing together before getting the car packed up:
Alex feeding the giraffe. Robbie did it, too, but he said it was scary:
Conductor Alex:
We are always so thankful for the friends and family that love us and our kids and are willing to take time out of their weekends to be with us.
