Birthday Football Outing

For his birthday this year, Alex took a few friends to the Chicago Maroons football game. The kids had fun, Dave and I survived (barely), and his birthday week came to a good close.

Three boys ready for the game

Alex's neighbor buddies were able to join us after soccer,
so we had a bench full of kids

Free seats on the 50 yard line -- hooray for Division III football

Group shot outside of the stadium

This goofy picture is a more accurate depiction of the day

Alex picked an Oreo ice cream cake this year
Easiest cake ever! No ordering in advance,
just pick up at Target

Cracking each other up over the cake

Alex's Eighth Birthday

Alex turned eight this week. He was showered with love and gifts from friends and family (thanks all!!), had a celebration with his class that included poetry and Skittles, and overall had a terrific day.

We let him open a few gifts the night before to spread out the fun

Action shot of the super cool soccer kicking gear
from his Aunt, Uncle, and Cousins

So excited to finally have a Weatherman shirt

Laughing at a funny joke in the card Rafa made him

Alex chose to read a poem to his class to celebrate his birthday
It's called The Kite Flying Iguana and Dave wrote it

Legos are always a hit

Sue always finds the best shirts
On the back is a flow chart of the scientific method

Alex meets Calvin and his friend Hobbes

The First Week of Second Grade

This has been a busy week! Alex started second grade, had his first soccer practice, and went to a Back to School roller skating party. 

Second grade is going great so far. He's liking his class and has both new and old friends with him. Second graders can check out two books at a time from the school library, and his class also has a library where he can check out books. He has been taking full advantage of both.

We are trying his first organzied team sport with AYSO soccer this year. Unfortunately, the kick off celebration was cancelled because of rain, but he had fun at the first practice. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate this weekend, and he'll have his first game.

He had so much fun at the roller skating party. He was one of the last people to leave the floor. It was 80s themed, so I put him in a couple of pastel shirts and popped his collars. I had fun too, but quickly discovered that skating is not for me any more. One time around the rink, one big fall, and I was done. It was so much easier in my memories of roller skating as a kid.

Backyard Campout

In one of Alex's most highly anticiapted events of the summer, friends of ours had us over for a cookout, a movie in the backyard, and a sleepover in a tent (Dave and I skipped that part). It was as fun as expected, although I wonder how much sleep the kids actually got.

Getting things set up pre-sunset.

You have to have s'mores at a cookout!

Movie time!

Headlamp on and ready for the tent

Settling in for the night