Zoe's Birthday!

Wow! I can't believe she's already a year old. She still has a ridiculously cute sideways shuffle crawl that gets her where she want to go, but she's been known to take five or six steps first before saying "screw it. I can get to that dangerously sized rubber ball faster if I just crawl." Here she is competing with Ben for her own new presents. And of course she accepts Ben's help graciously in blowing out her birthday candle, which was threatening to burn up her little birthday brownie. And of course we WOULD have let that happen and would have had to say, "well maybe next time you'll learn to blow it out first." Good thing she has Ben.

Car Ride

Enjoying a nice quiet car ride. Which is HIGHLY unusual. Perhaps they knew we were driving them to the orphanage so they were on their best behavior. Intuitive kids. We changed course and went to Adventure Plex instead.

Adventure Plex

Maybe not good enough for Alice, but for Ben and Zoe Adventure Plex is THE place for good times. Plenty of hamster trails to get lost in, giant ladybugs, ball pits, plain old nothin' but fun. I even worked up a sweat running around with Ben and then tossing Zoe up too high, over and over... even though she was crying for me to stop.

Maniacs

Steve goes to a lot of trouble to make elaborate meals for Zoe to dump on the floor. As if to drive the point home, Zoe gears up for her next meal by wearing her 80's era headband which always makes me sing, "she's a maniac, a maniac on the floor, and she's dancin' like she's never danced beforeorororor." But it changes to "she's a maniac, a maniac in her high chair and she's throwin' like she's doesn't even care." Luckily Ben picks up the food from the filthy floor and shoves it in her mouth singing "eat it. Just eat it. Don't you tell me you're full." The 80's live in the hearts of all of us... even one and three year olds.

Grams and the beast

Poor Grams. Normally the sweetest baby in the world, Zoe's ongoing cold culminated in a full blown ear infection and her first painful tooth coming in (top right) during the very three days of Grams' visit. At least WE enjoyed Grams helping with Ben since I had to spend my time stroking the beast within Zoe.

Grams to the rescue!

We were sad that Grams couldn't make it for Ben's party festivities, but any time is a good time for Grams time. She's great with the kids, which means she's great for me. We enjoyed her stop-over visit immensely.

The Big Party

You would think Ben's party would have been anticlimactic after all his birthday celebrations... but it was the most awesome party ever in recorded history. Why? because it had snakes and giant lizards. ANY party with snakes and giant lizards is a winner. Wish we had had them at our wedding. Hindsight, hindsight.