Dentists...aka Zombie Assassins

 This year for Ezra's birthday we went to dinner at The Outback with the kids, and it was slightly miserable.  The kids were little monsters.  Greyson refused to sit in the high chair, kept trying to crawl on the table, play with knives, drop chunks of bread on the lovely guests in the booth behind us, among other exciting things...  We ate as fast as we possibly could and left.  I told Ez we had additional plans for the night, he thought I was taking him to see a movie with the kids. He said  he had had enough and just wanted to go home.  He was pleasantly surprised when we pulled up to Lasertron and dropped him off for his Super Secret Surprise Man Date!!!

Ez and dental school buddies "Preparing for the Zombie Apocalypse" ...whatever that means... 

 After an intense round of Laser tag, they played something called Cybersport.  It's like a cross between basketball and lacrosse played in bumper cars. 

All of this fun was followed by a DQ ice cream cake after party at our house.  It was the perfect birthday surprise, if I do say so myself!!

Girls Night

While Aunt Nicki was in town, we decided to have a GIRLS Night out!  The party started at the Cheap theatre where we saw Gnomeo & Juliet, with popcorn and a drink for only $6...man I'm going to miss that deal when we leave Buffalo!!  Then we took Ave to a fancy restaurant (The Melting Pot) for a special dessert.  She thought it was pretty cool, however she decided on a whim that she no longer likes chocolate in the melted form and won't even try it.  Kids?!? She did feast on all the dippables w/o dipping them of course.  That's ok, there was more for Nicki and I. 

Nicki's Visit

 Buffalo, Ny is Aunt Nicki's favorite vacation destination and we love it when she comes to visit!!  This time we had super special fun day at the roller skating rink.  The local skating rink has Toddler Tuesday, where kids can bring anything with wheels to ride on while they rock out to there favorite Justin Bieber jams.  The kids played while Nicki, Ez, and I laced up a pair of roller skates for the first time in 15 years.  Let's just say I remember looking a lot cooler when I was a kid.

Greyson's First Birthday

 On February 20th, Greyson celebrated his very FIRST birthday!  We had a small birthday party for him with some of his closest friends...ok some of our/Avery's closest friends. In usual birthday party fashion, I stressed over the food and decor all week...but I think it turned out really cute.  Greyson LOVED it...ok, he had no  clue there was a party going on, let alone that it was all for him.  ...but I loved it!

Milk Glasses

Oreo Truffles

Chocloate Fudge Cupcakes

Mom & Dad with the Birthday Boy

Making his very FIRST Wish

                                                             Some of the Party Folk

Our Playroom, the aftermath of a party with lots of Boys...I guess this is what I have to look forward to :)

St. Patty's Day

 The kiddos all decked out in their matching St. Patrick's Day shirts and matching shamrock tattoos. Thanks Grandma Janet!

 Greyson took the notion of "The Fighting Irish" a little to seriously and decided to have a dual with the dining room table. The Luck of the Irish wasn't with him today. 

 Ave with her class, in the midst of a Leprechaun hunt. 

 Avery O'Boekweg with her trusty "Leprechaun Looker", she informed me you need this special tool if you really want to spot a Leprechaun..."They're real sneaky Mom!"

We topped of St. Patty's day in true Irish fashion, with a Shamrock Shake from Mickey D's!

Thirty-One

 I had a great birthday this year.  Ezra's mom, Linda, came up for a visit and so kindly took Greyson off my hands for nearly the whole day!!  Avery and I had a girls day that started with two tickets to see Elmo Live and Buffalo's historic Shea's theatre.  Avery thought it was pretty special of Elmo to come all the way to Buffalo just for my birthday.  Elmo wasn't really at the top of my bday list, but I am glad we got to see a show at Shea's before we leave buffalo.  It was built in 1926, and been completely restored and is definitely a site to see.

 Ave and I near our balcony seats.

Then we had our own Elmo after party at Red Robin for lunch. Here is Ave thanking me for being on a sugar-free diet so she can devour my bday sundae. 

Linda watched the kids again (thank you!) so Ez and I could go out.  Like Elmo, Lady Gaga really wanted to hang out on my birthday this year.  We had tickets, and in because I am the worst gift receiver ever, I decided to try and sell them on craigslist.  Ez bought them for me as a Christmas gift since she was coming to town on the night of my bday, but I just couldn't stomach the price.  I am somewhat of a Gaga fan, but FOUR HUNDRED dollars for OK seats was just crazy to me.  Long story, short we sold them about an hour before the show to one excited teenage girl and her mom.  We still lived it up with dinner at the Cheesecake factory and a movie at the cheap theatre...that's a little more my style.

Cake Smash

Keeping with tradition, on Greyson's actual birthday, we picked up this awesome cake from Tops Supermarket who happens to provide all babies with a free cake on their first birthday.  Greyson opened some gifts from his grandparents,we sang to him, and he blew out the candles with a little help.  We then proceeded to let him dig in.  At first he hated the frosting between his fingers, and didn't quite understand why we were urging him to make a mess.  Avery didn't understand why we were just sitting there while he was ruining a perfectly good cake without giving her a piece first. 

Soon enough Greyson got into it and Avery got her cake...hence the square chunk missing from the front.

Valentine's Day

 Valentine's Day was super fun!! Ez came home early from school and took us out to lunch at the Cheesecake Factory (my FAVE!!).  Avery had tons of fun with her preschool class this year.  She stayed up late the night before working hard on these valentines we bought for her class.  It took her almost 2 hours off and on to print her name on 12 valentines, but she did it!! She still need a little help with lower case e's but she's doing great!

Ez and Ave also brought me home a Valentines gift from their last minute shopping trip to target. Avery was so excited for me to open it.  She got me a necklace and earring set...and she quickly informed me that the glass slipper diamond necklace was for her, and I could have the earrings if I wanted.  Awesome!!