New Birthday Bikes

For the kids' birthdays, we decided to get them some bikes. They have been riding their trikes for awhile now and their legs were getting too long for them. plus, every time the next door neighbor gal came out to play with her bike, Brooke always wanted to ride it. We took them down to Toys R Us and tried out some bikes. We let them choose their own. They rode them around the store to test them out. I was surprised when they left and didn't ask to bring them with them. I thought they would put up more of a fight when I told them if they were good they could get them for their birthday.




We gave them their bikes on a Friday which was after Brooke's birthday and right before Kyle's birthday. We figured it would be horrible if Brooke got her bike on her birthday and Kyle had to wait 3 days for his. Steve and Pop Pop put them together while the kids were at school for the morning. It was their last day of school for the summer so we sent them to school so they could take cupcakes to school. Of course I had nothing else going on so I decided to make mini cupcakes for the kids to take to school with little birthday flags in them. Seems more personal when you bake it yourself instead of just buying store bought! Gotta love that about a private school. They trust you to bake yourself.

We gave the kids their bikes after nap time before Steve and my dad went to the Mariners game at Angel Stadium. Kyle of course got a green bike with a green helmet. Brooke got her pink, white and black bike along with a....wait for it...yup, you guessed it, a MONKEY helmet. We were walking through Target and I still hadn't found her a helmet and there it was. I think I was as excited as she was. She wanted to hold it the entire time we were in Target and even on the car ride home. Gotta love a great find!

We got their helmets on so they could take their new bikes for a spin in the neighborhood. They are a little bit big for them but we figure they can grown into them a bit so we don't have to buy new ones in 6 months.

Brooke's 1st Mani Pedi

I have been telling Brooke for awhile now that if she stopped sucking her thumb at night, I would take her to my nail lady, Miss Lily. Well, it finally sunk in and she stopped sucking her thumb. I told her for her 4th birthday, I would take her there and she could have her nails and toes done. Grammy was coming to town so I told Brooke that all 3 of us could go together and make it a girls day.

When we got to the nail place, Brooke asked me if she could have her fingernails done too. She asked me, "will my dad freak out?" I told her as long as she didn't get hooker red. I of course left off the hooker part. We chose 2 different shades of purple.

While Brooke was sitting in the pedicure chair with the bubbles on, she looked at me and told me that she really like it. And that folks is when the DIVA in training was really born! She did so well. I thought for sure she wouldn't sit still long enough for the lady to work on her but she did. She looked so grown up with her hand in the water bowl to soak while they worked on her other hand. My little "baby monkey" is growing up so fast. The 3 of us had a great day at the nail salon. They were super great with Brooke and she got the star treatment and got flowers on her fingers and toes along with little jewel beads in the center. Hopefully my rough and tumble girl won't have it all chipped off in day!

Kyle's 4th Birthday

Well, 3 days later, Kyle got the same treatment as Brooke did. He got the birthday cake in front of his door and he got the same birthday banners and balloons downstairs. Kyle's choice of dinner was to go to Denny's. Of all of the places he could choose, he chose Denny's. WHY? The kid LOVES the softball pancakes! I made sure to tell Grammy & Pop Pop that we were going there for dinner. Oh well! As long as Kyle was happy since it was his day! Gotta love breakfast for dinner. I remember it always being a treat when I was a kid.

For Kyle's cake I called the same lady. Kyle is still really into the Blue Angels. He has like airplanes for quite some time but once Pop Pop & Grammy took him to see the Blue Angles fly over Lake Washington for Seafair, the kid has been hooked. Now, every plane is a Blue Angel. So with this being the case, I asked for a Blue Angel cake. Kyle loved it and couldn't wait to dive in.
We have had so much cake in the past week! YIIKES!! Between my birthday and the kids' birthdays, we now have leftover ice cream cake, chocolate monkey cake and confetti white cake. No shortage here of sugar!! Not the ideal situation for watching the calories!

After our Denny's adventure...we came home for the cake and presents! Of course Kyle got a similar bag of loot as Brooke did. He bypassed all of the clothes and went straight for the Buzz Lightyear doll. I'll call it a doll for the lack of a better term but it's the exact same toy as in the movie! He absolutely loves it and we had a hard time keeping Brooke away from it. I just love to hear the gasp of air when they open a present with a smile on their face. That's when you know you've done a great job! Way to go Grammy!!

Brooke's 4th Birthday

When Brooke woke up this morning, she had the blow up birthday cake outside of her door waiting for her. I also decked out the house downstairs with birthday signs and banners and of course a monkey balloon! We really try to separate the kids' birthdays so they each have their own special day that is all about them.

No crazy birthday party this year. Just a quiet family event which was very nice. I started a tradition this year I hope to carry on for many more years. I told the kids I would make them whatever they wanted for dinner OR we could go out to dinner. Well, going out to dinner must be a very fun thing to do when you are 4 since they jumped at the chance. Either that or they don't like my cooking!!

When Brooke was asked this question, she quickly jumped on it and stated that she wanted to go to Red Robin. I told her we could do that. Grammy & Pop Pop were in town so they were able to come with us. What a treat!


Once we were seated at our table, we had a wonderful waitress who really catered to the kids. I made sure to tell her that it was Brooke's birthday. Brooke was really excited when they brought her an ice cream sundae and a balloon and sang to her. She was excited with the ice cream since it was her 2nd time that day! She asked if it was "her cake." I told her it was not and that I had a special one at home. Brooke is still really into monkeys so I got a tip from someone at work about a dessert place. I called and sent the lady a picture of a monkey. She made a monkey cake for Brooke. Brooke like it and that is all that matters. After singing happy birthday to our birthday girl, Grammy & Pop Pop had a "bag o' goodies" for lil miss Brooke. All sorts of stuff for the birthday girl! She loved the little Disney Princess player and passed right by the clothes! Just like a kid. It was hard to have Kyle sit there and watch. We have celebrated their birthdays on the same day for the past 3 years and they hace always opened presents together. They got to play with her new "loot" and then it was time for bed. Brooke was hopped up on so much sugar from ice cream and cake that I figured it would be impossible for her to go to bed. Luckily, it wasn't too hard.