Racing into Summer...

It's finally here! Yeah for Summer! Time to break out those shorts, sprinklers, and cold dripping ice-cream.

Fletcher Place toddler birthday party. The birthday girl will cry if she wants to..

Squirmy

Specimen

 There are new friends at the Indy Zoo! Seven, no eight, orangutans! We got a special afternoon to see them up close.

Knobe on the computer

Splash at the zoo!

Don't forget ice-cream 

 Our back alley is now paved. Oh how we will ride and ride all summer long!

We caught the 500 parade for the first time this year. Definitely will make it a family tradition.

Two boys and their balloons 

Runner in training

Mama catching some rays

Sleeping with saurpods…all tuckered out.

This is Five!

We still can't believe how time flies when you are having fun! It feels like just yesterday we started these tales as our little monkey was growing in mama's belly. Now he's five! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, five. 

The Annual Birthday Interview--
What is your name: Elias
How old are you: Five
Favorite Color: Golden (yellow)
Favorite Toy: "This Lego", referring to a new Star Wars Lego from Opa
Favorite Fruit: Oranges and apples (no change here)
Favorite TV show: Octonauts
Favorite thing to eat at lunch at school: Watermelon
Favorite thing to wear: My jersey (For the new Indy Eleven Soccer team and wearing it proudly today)
Favorite Game: Dinosaur checkers
Favorite Snack: donuts
Favorite Animal: tigers
Favorite song: "Everything is Awesome!!!" from the Lego Movie. We sing the soundtrack to Frozen almost daily as well. He like to sing the male parts.
Favorite Book: Lego Movie
Best Friend: Tatum (actually this is is "wife" and he was married to her in some secret wedding before she left for NJ.)
Favorite Cereal: "Buzz Bee" (aka Honey Nut Cheerios)
Favorite thing to do outside: Play baseball with my dad and friends
Favorite Drink: "yogart drink" (blueberry kefir, but cherry and peach are favs too)
Favorite thing to eat for breakfast: Buzz Bee cereal
What do you want to eat for dinner tonight: carrots and peppers (raw of course)
What do you want to be when you grow up: a soccer player (for the Indy Eleven of course!)

Stats:
Height: 44 1/2 inches (75th percentile)
Weight: 40 lbs (50th percentile)
Personality: Independent, Smart, and Creative!

So just how did we spend his special day?

We picked up a special set of new wheels yesterday an rode them home. He has been so excited about his new bike!

Of course there's always bubbles on your birthday. Time to break out the champagne, non-alcholic Trader Joe's style of course….

bubbles and bricks

Elias shared a picture and poem he composed today. Growing up too fast and quite the author. (Side note, the great poet Maya Angelou passed onto heaven today. Perhaps she was channeling her energy towards our little man.)

And we spent the evening watching our Indy Eleven win their first game! Go boys in blue (red….)!!!!

Don't forget a family birthday dinner…..(on the next night)

Happy Birthday to our Big Monkey! Five will be such an adventure!!!

Stay tuned for scenes from the big safari party…..

When Life Gives You Lemons...

Elias, Adelirim, Emmett and Baby J make lemonade! 

Check out our little entreprenuers participating in Indianapolis' Great Lemonade Day!

Freshly Squeezed!

Morning of: "So I tell you, we are selling some hot stuff out there today…"

Their stand

Pink or Blue? What Will You Choose? There's neutral too!

Enjoying some lemonade

The cash money is rolling in!

Great Day on the Trail

Counting their bounty

In the end, these kiddos made $66 dollars! We divided the earnings between the three kids and each kid pledged to donate half of their earnings to a charity of their choice. We were able to support the efforts of causes near and dear to each child - March of Dimes, Riley Hospital for Children, and the Hemophilia Walk. A little earned and a little given away, but in the end a whole lot gained! Happy Lemonade Day!