HALLOWEEN 2010

Looks like our SWAT team officer is taking a donut break!

The ward Trunk-or-Treat party.

He scored some awesome candy that night.

Gavin got a big kick out of Cleopatra and her Mummy. I think he went back for seconds and maybe even thirds just to watch the Mummy 'rise up' and hand him a treat. Very cool.

Helping Dad hand out/eat our candy from our very unfestive and boring car. We really need to step it up next year I think....at least some cob webs or something.

This year Gavin scored not only one, but two awesome Halloween costumes because we could not agree on which one to buy. We decided that they would both make awesome dress-up clothes for him after the holiday was over and so we walked out of Costco with two costumes. You see, Gavin FELL IN LOVE with the SWAT outfit because it came with all these little trinkets (binoculars, flashlight, walkie-talkie, handcuffs, watch, whistle, club, sunglasses, and an official badge) but both Curtis and I FELL IN LOVE with the fireman outfit because it was SO REAL looking and was very good quality, plus it was just super cute......too good to pass up. So the lucky kid scored both.

Kaila the mermaid hosted a fun little Halloween party at her house and they all had so much fun running around together in their cute costumes. What a pair.

In fact, Gavin had worn his SWAT outfit to so many different parties and events (and just for dress-up around the house) that he finally wanted to wear the fireman costume (that Curtis and I loved so dearly) on Halloween night for trick-or-treating. You can't tell in this picture, but he also is wearing his real fireman t-shirt that he got at the Pacific Palisades Firehouse from a real fireman. He was legit!

And so the trick-or-treating began...

The Santa Monica/Pearl St. area is awesome for trick-or-treating and we had a great time. We hope you all had a great Halloween too!

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Still playing catch-up with all our pictures and posts. Stay tuned for more!

GAVIN TURNS FOUR!!!!

For Gavin's fourth birthday we surprised him with a new kitchen set that he's always wanted. Curtis and I stayed up late, really late, assembling it so that he would find it first thing in the morning when he woke up. Pictured above is my six course breakfast he made me that morning. Such a good little chef!

He was so thrilled with this gift. It still just melts my heart when he goes to his kitchen and cooks something for us and visitors.

Since Gavin's birthday fell on a weekday I got to go to his preschool and help prepare a special birthday snack for the whole class. The kids enjoyed fresh popped popcorn, watermelon and yummy popsicles. I also got to read a book or two for the class and join in their little dance party. It was so much fun and I could tell that Gavin loved having me there!

A bunch of party animals!

It is such a sight to see that many four year olds bouncing around.

Happy Birthday Mr. Gavin.

A BIRTHDAY PARTY IN THE PARK FOR A CERTAIN FOUR YEAR OLD!

Yes, Gavin's birthday is in October.

And yes, it is now February.

I blame it on the computer....it's been uncooperative lately.

We are slowly catching up around here. Stay tuned for more.

Anyways...

Gavin is now our big grown-up four year old and getting bigger every day. He'd never had an actual birthday party with friends before (usually just immediate family) so this year we invited lots of little friends and threw a big party at the park. It was simple, fun, and I think the kids all had a great time. Oh yeah, and it was really, really hot that day.

Like around 100 degrees!

We had pizza, fruit, veggies, caramel apples, and of course cupcakes! Yum!

I tried out some pumpkin cupcakes with brown sugar cream cheese frosting for the adults and they were awesome! I will definitely be making these again.

Pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey was a must for his first birthday party with friends. Four year olds love this game! Gavin actually did pretty well and almost pinned the tail on the donkey, but someone else beat him......

A two year old little girl (who was there with her big brother) pinned her tail smack dab on the target without any help...even blindfolded! Gavin was a close third I think, but not quite close enough.

The kids decorated their own party hats as they arrived and some of them really got into it. Others, like Gavin, spent most of the time just playing at the playground.

We were lucky to have so many of our wonderful friends from all over come to his party.

Like my good friend Sierra and her two boys Asher and...

Tennyson, sporting our goofy glasses.

Kanan, our old neighbor from Topanga.

And the lovely Natalie and Kimberly, who we know from work.

And of course lots of our new preschool friends came for the event.

Some of their moms here just hanging out.

All-in-all I'd say it was a successful birthday for a very special four year old. I hope we have one just like it every year!