Birthdays

There are a lot of birthdays this time of year!  A few weekends ago, Hazel and I went to Waco for Isaac's 6th birthday party.  Hazel had a blast at the jump place.  Mom, Nat, and I had a good time trying to make Isaac's cake look like legos.  I wasn't very helpful in that department, but I did make the chocolate cupcakes.  Nat made the cousins matching lego shirts with bows, of course!

Then the next weekend, we went to Hannah's 8th birthday party at the American Girl store in Dallas.  Yea for us that it was close!  Hazel had a blast being at the party table with all the other girls and dolls.  It was the cutest little lunch ever!  They even had dolls you could borrow for the girls who didn't bring one.  I have to say that Hazel's favorite thing was probably the pink lemonade (see below). 

The next night we went to Jaxon's and Graham's 1st birthday party (they're cousins).  It was a "Little Man" theme with mustaches and a photo booth -- so cute.  Hazel really loved the bounce house outside.  

Last but not least, we had a late bday celebration at Benihana for Barbara and James since we got our bday coupons in the mail!  I love watching the chefs cook and eating the yummy fried rice.  So does Hazel, apparently.  I should have ordered her her own big bowl of rice! 

Farewell & Welcome Home

Last weekend we said goodbye (hopefully for only a few years) to our friend Donny, who is going to the University of Denver for a masters degree in religious studies.  We also welcomed back Clark, who is going to finish school here and hopefully start coaching at a nearby school!  The boys had to get in a good game of pool ball and some good tacos at Torchy's for the bittersweet celebration.
Here's my nerdy collage I made while playing around with a new app. 

Summer Haze-Olympics

Hazel qualified for 3 events in gymnastics.  

The floor routine:



The trampoline:



The vault (my favorite):



Side note:  I put Hazel down for a nap the other day, and she was playing for quite some time.  I heard a jump, jump, fall (as seen in 2nd video), and then I hear, "Okaaay!"  haha  She answers my, "Are you okay?" question now without me even asking it!  She cracks me up.

James 28

A few months ago, I was James's old woman wifey, but now he caught up to me!  We had a great birthday weekend celebrating his 28th.  Fuh-vuh (Grandma) and Papa came over to watch Hazel while James and I went to iPic - the best place to watch a movie.  We went to see the new Batman movie, which was really good, and we had some pretty delicious food and popcorn during it as well.  The chairs there are amazingly soft AND you can recline.  Ahh.  James said it was the best birthday ever.  Did I mention I made chocolate chip cookies and stuffed some in my purse for an after dinner snack?  That must be what put it over the top for him.  He's so easy to please.  I got him a pillow and a DVD player, and I think that went over well because the guy looves pillows and every boy loves a new toy.  Hazel got him a shirt from his closet with a few additions on the back.  I drew a map with common places he goes and streets connecting them.  Now Hazel can play cars on his back and Daddy can have a back massage at the same time.  Whoever thought of that was genius!  A few days later, the boys got together for pool ball as usual, and then we went to a Brazilian steakhouse for another friend's birthday.  Pretty great birthday week!  

  Manly men?  James started with his towel like that as a joke, and then this happened for the pic:

Indoor Safari Park

My friend Kailynn and I bought groupons to the Indoor Safari Park, so we finally found a day that worked for both of us and went!  I didn't know how Hazel would feel about the loud, robotic animals, but she ended up liking it.  Hazel and Addison had a blast in the soft play areas and on the train as well.  If I see another groupon for $5, I'm taking it!  Cheap, indoor fun in the summer.

Yep, those are the infamous scary, plastic balls at the bottom of the slide.  I can't believe I allowed my child to fall into those, but what do you do... she insisted on going down the slide!

Favorite Things

I went to a Favorite Things party last Christmas, and Shayla and I decided we wanted to do one with our church friends.  I love this kind of party because you don't have to do much to prepare and host, and you leave with a lot of fun gifts and ideas!  What happens is everyone brings 5 of the same favorite thing (around $5 each).  Each person draws 5 names when they're at the party, and you give those people one of your items.  Everyone ends up with 5 new favorite things!  Some of the items brought were potted herbs, chapstick, lotion, soap, air tight snack container, earrings, dry shampoo and head scratcher (mine), fleur de sel and a favorite sponge, Bar Keepers Friend, nail polish, etc.  I didn't get pictures of all the girls unfortunately, but I snapped one of the treat table (Jamie posed for me since she happened to be right there).  =) 

Hide and Seek

Hazel's new thing is to hide.  She even keeps quiet!  After I get her out of the bath, I can hardly dry her off before she sprints off.  This is her new favorite hiding place-

I spy a Hazel!