We started the day with chocolate chip pancakes and bacon (Sam's chair was decorated with balloons). H had her first meltdown over one of our family traditions... on each person's birthday, they don't have to do any chores for that one day, and everyone else pitches in to pick up the slack. That just unglued H. We're learning she's big on "fair". Evidently October is just too far away to fathom this working out well for her, too!
Shortly after breakfast we rushed to get ready to go to the theatre for a summer showing of "The Tale of Despereaux." This was our first venture out to the Free Summer Movies at Regal Cinemas. It was no small feat to find a row with 7 seats, but we found one... then only used 4 or 5. All of the girls ended up on laps! The girls of course had to use the restroom partway through the movie - there was super-powered hand dryer in the restroom that could make all the skin on your hands and arms wiggle, the blower was so strong! They thought that was hilarious. Everyone enjoyed the movie, then Daddy took them to McDonalds for lunch, while I took the baby home for her nap, and started to work on Sam's cake - special request this year, a Pokemon cake and homemade strawberry ice cream.
H bought Sam a new matchbox car - a blue SUV - for his birthday, which he really liked. Hallie gave him a little "Winggull" (Pokemon) stuffed animal. Natalie (R) gave him a train for his train set (ok... I helped). T got him Pokemon cards, then showed him how to play. Those boys are awesome pals when they get on a subject they both enjoy. And video games (and all things related) are definitely up there on the list! One of Sam's gifts from us was a Nerf gun, so the boys have had a blast with those over the last 24 hours, too! It seems like we have Nerf darts stuck to every window in the house!
After lunch we filled the pool and they spent a good three hours splashing and playing and having a grand time before dinner (Sam's choice - pizza.) After dinner we had a few relatives over for cake and ice cream, like I mentioned. They seemed to enjoy the new children and accepted them easily into our family.
Today started with a very early morning appointment for Sam with the surgeon that is taking out his tonsils and adenoids and putting tubes in his ears in just over a week. (Incidentally, the same surgeon that did my tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy about 6 years ago.) I tried to explain the surgery to H, but it's going to take more than one attempt. I told her I'd had mine out, and since then have had my appendix, gall bladder and wisdom teeth removed as well, trying to put her at ease about Sam's surgery... but in the end, I think she was just concerned that I'm missing so many parts!!!
When we got home from the appointment, I had the children straighten up their rooms to prepare for a visit from both our social worker and theirs (both at once!). It went well, and they seem to agree that the children are settling quite nicely. As soon as they left (later than I expected) we rushed out the door for a picnic lunch at a local park for a birthday gathering for friends. We were very late for the party, but were lucky enough to meet up with them anyway. I'm so glad we caught them. Everett lives just 2 blocks away and has been dying to meet T since he first heard about him. We've been introducing them to friends and family in stages, so as not to overwhelm. The park has a sprinkler/spray park area, too, so before we knew it, several hours had passed.
H got a haircut on the way home (her bangs had been bothering her in her eyes, so she was glad for the trim... and for the lollipop when it was over!) T keeps pulling at his (VERY short) hair and saying it's time for a haircut... because it's long enough now for someone to pull. Poor kid.
They wrapped up the afternoon with more playtime in the pool, then dinner, playing with some of Sam's new Legos, and it was bedtime again! The days go so quickly!
What a busy day!
Posted by: Alexandra | 07/18/2009 at 10:13 PM