Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Happy Lunar New Year!

Quin has been learning all about Lunar New Year this year at preschool. Teacher Patty's husband is Chinese, so she has a wealth of knowledge and props to share. You can see more about that at the preschool blog.Today, since Q was so eager, he and I went down to the International District to celebrate the upcoming year of the tiger.
It was a little like taking a trip abroad: eating different foods, hearing different languages, stopping in the many stores to do the scavenger hunt game and seeing all those interesting new items, and watching the loud and exciting lion dance, drummers and dancers.
We'll surely have to go back on a more mellow day, and I know Q would love to participate in the excitement in years to come. Tonight we shared our food treasures with H and Papa, and had a tasty dinner with fortune cookies too!
Our fortunes were pretty funny:
Mama: All the troubles you have will pass quickly. (Ah, phew!)
Papa: You will hear pleasant news.
Quin: You will go far, but be sure to come back. (Hmmm...some days lately I only wish)
Hazel: You will be rewarded for your good ideas. (Woah I wonder what she's trying to tell us!)
Baby Cal (Q's doll just had to have one as well I guess): You will hear good news today. (Wow, so similar to Papa's!)
We also found out our zodiac traits according to our birth years. We are a wood rabbit (Papa, yin), earth horse (Mama, yang), fire dog (Quin,yang), earth rat (Hazel, yang). Interesting that Todd is the only yin in our family. There is so much one can interpret from astrological and zodiac charts...
Now, we can get ready for another fun holiday tomorrow!

Playgroup Birthday Party!

With the whole crew here, it was a celebration indeed for all 5! of our February birthdays (ok, so it's 4, but Emily's late Jan is counted ;)). We had up our cowboy decor + birthday + Valentine decor, so it was surely festive around these parts.

Cheesy placecards by Mama and Q:Making playdough Valentine cookies:
Thea and the S boys playing with the farmI didn't great birthday group photos, so perhaps part of the Mamarattzi will share? We did gather all the kiddos at one table (that's a lot of booster seats!)
and of course sang a big ole' happy birthday to the buckaroos.
My little birthday boy was a wild stallion indeed (a case of "Too Much Birthday"? oops), and so that was a bit tiring for this Mama. Otherwise, it was as fun as ever to celebrate with all the gang under one roof!
Maybe next year we'll rent out a bouncy house place!

Q's Birthday Day

We spent Q's birthday day this year quite busy indeed. It began with a special breakfast in bed,
followed by a few gift openings,
and we were out the door to drop off H, and head to preschool. There we had a festive day indeed. He crafted Valentine's projects,
played with his pals as always, we sang him happy bday and ate cupcakes,
and finally traded Valentine's!
Then we headed to the Roberts' where we rested, played, and then went out for ice cream at Baskin Robbins.
We also stopped at the beach for a quick post ice cream energy release.
It was a grey and rainy day, so we didn't stay long.
Later, we went out to dinner and Q didn't even fall asleep eating it like he did last year. ;) It was certainly a packed and fun day! My little guy is now officially 4!

four

Quin turns 4 today! Really, I know how very cliche it is, but where did my baby go? Four seems very significant to me. It's the last year of him being a true preschooler, he's really a boy now. He's grown and changed so much this past year, which never ceases to amaze me. Even when I have rough weeks, like the current one I'll admit, I still never ever regret spending each and every day with this little man. There have been only a very few days and a small handful of nights I haven't spent with him in these last 4 years, and I can't imagine what it would have been like to not have that gift of time. He is such a curious, creative, imaginative, energetic, and full of spunk little guy. I have been shaped by him as person more than I ever could have expected. I have learned more about myself, and who I dream he'll become so frequently. Oh, and what a year I'm sure it will be. Ok, I'm going to wipe my eyes now, and get these cupcakes
(umm...chocolate zucchini muffins, likely the last year I'll be able to pull that off...;)) frosted!
Quin's 4th Year:

Just Order Some Sun

When having a particularly grouchy day (likely caused by a particularly grouchy, poorly sleeping, teething, super short napping toddler yeaterday) one ought to be able to order up a sunny day. Phew, my order went through! It was the sort of afternoon meant for breaking out the ice cream, going for wagon rides, and doing some front yard swinging and exploring.Quin even said, "Hey it's summer! We should get out the sprinkler!" Well, it wasn't THAT warm, but it was lovely enough for me.

Driving Miss Hazel

H had SO much fun at the play gym last week while Q was at preschool.

Her new little friend Mallory pushing her around:Snack break!
What FUN!

Happy Birthday Cowboy Quin!

We celebrated Quin's 4th Birthday today, cowboy style! The party was over on Vashon, and it couldn't have been better weather for the occasion. Some of Quin's dearest and oldest friends came (I finally implemented the you can have as many friends as your age rule!), and it was fun to have them visit Vashon for the first time for this celebration.

Most of the kiddos with Nami and Tommy
The day started our here at home with Quin getting a present from Gigi right away! Thanks Gigi for another awesome toy.
Then we had a nice energy expending ferry ride on this clear and mild day.
Arriving at Nami and Danpa's "Ranch", we added a little more to Nami's already impressive displays all over the house, and prepped a little more food. Then later, after Q had had a nice trail walk and H had a great nap, our friends arrived and the party began! The kids had Tommy rides, played on the cowboy obstacle course at the arena and with Nami's antique rusty trucks, read Cowboy Small, had snacks, drinks (even some "cactus juice"), and birthday cake, read more cowboy books and played with the toy barn and new presents, broke the pinata, and then headed back to the ferry! We stayed a bit longer and the kids played one more game of finding all the toy horsies in the hay, and afterward Q informed me that 4 year olds share with their sisters. Ahh, I'm looking forward to this 4th year already!
These 4 year olds (and tag along cute sisters) sure know how to have fun, yeehaw!
*Danpa made a special birthday video of Cowboy Quin and friends riding Tommy! *