"Daddytown"

We met our friends Janet, Derek, Maddox and baby Berkley at Gattitown, or as Maya calls it, "Daddytown" to play and eat dinner. Maya loved riding the Carousel and did so numerous times.

We discovered the mini bowling later in the evening and wished we would have spent more of our time and money there. Mason, Maya, and Maddox all had a really good time with it and they all got along very well all night.
Berkley was so sweet. We had not seen her since she was just a few days old and now she is already 8 months old! I have seen Janet since then, but we have not gotten the kids together in many months.

Before we left, we used the points they earned playing games to get some junky prizes. They all got these silly eyes that pop up in the air. Mason was making Maddox laugh as he put them over his eyes. (Maddox is about 3 weeks younger than Mason).

We had a great time seeing everyone!

Lauren's Sweet Sixteen

Lauren has had a "thing" for cupcakes for many years. I don't just mean actual cupcakes you eat, but cupcake things. So it was most appropriate for the theme of her SWEET 16 to be cupcake! She, with the help of Angi, handmade cupcake invitations which were adorable. She opened many very cute cupcake gifts.

I cannot believe Lauren is 16. I was 16 when Lauren was born. I remember being so upset leaving for Tech - she was just a toddler, I had been so close to her to that point and I hated to leave. I knew I would miss out on so much. But everytime I came back in town for a visit, I was her favorite. No one else could do anything for her. It was all about me. I loved it. Once when I was in the dorm, my Dad had to come to Lubbock for work and he brought Lauren along to see me. It was so much fun parading her around my dorm halls and around the campus. Those days seem not so long ago... and here she is ALL GROWN UP! Happy sweet 16 Lauren - I love you!

Lauren with her dad, Brian. He has 2 younger children, Amelia and Henry. Henry was sick, so Brian's wife, Hannah, Amelia, and Henry could not be there.
Gigi made a super cute cake -- a big cupcake cake!

Lauren and her friends gather around for cake.
Lauren and her friends hang out -- we laughed at one point when we looked over and more than half of them had their cell phones out and were texting people that were not at the party.

Maya with her Daddy. I failed to get a picture, but Carmen, Zoe, Maya, Paloma and I all had cupcake clothes on.

Kirsten's 3rd Birthday Party

I took M&M to a birthday party for Kirsten, a.k.a. "Kiki" at The Little Gym. We always have a good time at parties there.

Here is Amber with her son Jayden, Stephanie holding Meeghan's son Jacob, Meeghan empty handed, and Jennifer holding Christine's son Ryan! Lots of boys born in 2007.

Maya thought it was cute the way Jayden and Ryan crawled around, so she and Ryan crawled up face to face to greet each other.
Mason had fun running around and also hanging upside down.
Kirsten and Maya really seemed to have a good time together. They had coordinating outfits on! (not planned)
Maya impressed a few folks (herself included) with her coordination and balance as she walked the balance beam with no help over and over again.

An adorable cake to match Kirsten's adorable "3" shirt. Happy 3rd Birthday Kiki!!

Wildcats Double Header

Our busy Saturday started with Team pictures at 8:30 a.m., first game at 9:00 a.m., and the second game immediately after that at 10:00 a.m.

Mason had another good day, but by the second game, the kids were having a hard time staying focused.

Mason had several special spectators this week! Ms. Jeanne and Chuck came to see Mason. Nesha also came, but I didn't get a picture before my camera battery died on me. Of course the regulars -- Grandmother, Pops, Hidy, Gigi also were present. Very sweet of all to come. Mason is one loved boy!

Happy Birthday Lauren!

Lauren chose to go to a hibachi restaurant for her birthday dinner. The kids were fascinated with the cook and stayed entertained.

He did all sorts of tricks, "Japanese golf" he said as he hit the egg into a cup, and then "Japanese basketball" as he flipped up the egg shell into his chef hat. He also made the fire volcano and many other tricks. We really liked him.

Happy Birthday Lala!

First Wildcats BASKETBALL game

Mason has been interested in basketball since about the time he started walking. That equals nearly 4 years. This is the first time he has actually gotten to "play the game," but we have done a lot of our own basketball at home and at Hidy and Gigi's. We do more than just shoot the ball. We play defense and get in front of him and run side ways back and forth. So to say he has had all of this "game" bottled up inside of him for 4 years just waiting to bust out is an understatement.

It is kind of neat that 6 of the 9 Wildcats Soccer team joined together to be on this Basketball team, and so it was decided to keep the team name - "Wildcats!" Too bad our colors aren't black and red.

Side note: The other team's coach is Vernon Wells Jr., an outfielder for the Toronto Bluejays. You can see him in this picture.
Grandmother and Pops were asked to keep time and some other details, but NOT the score. YMCA does not keep "score." Their catch phrase is something like... "At the Y... If you had fun, you WON!" Aunt Angi thought I should point out that Mason was the unofficial game "All Star!" He scored 6 baskets -- 12 points!! (but I wasn't keeping score.
This was a breakaway when Mason ran down to the other end of the court and scored!
Although fuzzy, this picture shows the JOY and the AIR after scoring! Playing basketball is so much fun for my boy.
Mommy is so proud.

Mason had a special fan in the crowd -- Sissy, his Great Aunt.

Dora Castle

Hidy and Gigi gave Maya the Dora Castle for Christmas. Maya loves to play with it. (we all do)

Angi reminded me in her comment that when Maya opened this at Christmas she said: "I'm so lucky" and Zoe replied"It's for sharing!"

Your Majesty

Maya does this little bowing thing and says "ma ja Steve." Let me translate for you. On a Backyardigans epidode, Uniqua presents something to Tasha, who is the Queen and says "Your Majesty," and then takes a little bow. Her imitation is actually pretty hilarious.

Bethany and Lauren

This is my cousin (really 2nd cousin) Bethany who is about to be 18 and my niece, Lauren, who has a birthday coming up this month and will be 16.

The ages of these girls make me feel old. I was 16 when Lauren was born!

Anyway, I shot this as the girls rode up on a bike and scooter that are for much younger kids than they are. They are young(er) at heart!

Tech Football Helmet

Mason tried on a football helmet that Hidy has displayed. We don't think there is anyway this ever fit a college player -- it is pretty small, but still heavy for a 4 year old neck!