How to hold a birthday. Step one: the kid party. Head to your local outlet of the Birthday Industrial Complex. Unleash the children on the games.
Step 2: Win lots of tickets. Daddio managed to shoot the jellyfish in the spearfishing game and scored 500 tickets for Chloe in one shot!
Step 3: Pizza!
Step 4: Cake!
Candles!
Step 5: Post kid party, some quiet family time at the paint-your-own pottery place. Here’s Chloe covering a cat figurine with “meme” graphics. What will it look like once it’s fired? Tune in next week and find out!
Step 6: A few weeks ago Chloe had been asking about having a grilled steak sometime. Well, why not on her birthday? Why not indeed? So Dad grilled up two big t-bones and we snacked down! Be forewarned, now Chloe knows she likes steak.
What a great party day! How are we going to top this next year?!?!?
Catching up with a sample of the art Chloe’s been working on the last few months…
We are working on some neat “STEM” (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) kits provided from the library. This one is a light-up bug that uses a battery and an LED as a learning experience about electricity.
…and I’ve taught Chloe how to play Punce! She’s pretty good. Better watch your back Cousin Robin….
So, when we go out for tacos I pull out Chloe’s sketchbook and she gets to work. On the right is her rendition of one of the wall hangings at Tacos La Estrella. On the right is… a stuffy she carried along (yeah, it’s hard to see that one).
During a recent sleepover Chloe and friend played “Angels and Devils” which is a cooperative drawing and story game. I forget the whole story, but it started with a pig with terrible allergies, which the chickens insulted him over, but the bear came along and told him it would be all OK.
During the same sleepover Chloe and friend created this Grumpy Cat out of popsicle sticks.
But here is the popsicle stick masterpiece… Yes, it’s a huge fish with legs presented with Chloe Funny Face. This started out with the library STEM kit, was intended to be a model of a bridge. Took a different turn.
Yep, this is Shady Cat, really enjoying that bunny hat.
Here’s another sample of Chloe’s work in her sketchbook.
In honor of Cousin Keiran’s graduation from High School, Chloe drew a llama playing guitar in his card!
Hey, guess what? This year for my birthday I took Chloe to Wings and Waves, the big water park just outside of McMinnville. Outside of swim class in high school, I don’t think I’ve ever been in the water in January before.
Here we are above the wave pool.
In addition to the wave pool and other water-y stuff this place has five really fun big long water slides, which we did a whole bunch of!
Chloe made a chocolate bunny!
Chloe is sad in this photo because she thinks she burned her burger. (it was fine)
Chloe made a bunch of things for her school’s winter market fundraiser. This reminded me of how I made “frustration pencils” for sale when I was in 5th grade. So I bought the parts and we made some for Chloe’s school. Here’s a few examples.
Chloe made dinner for us!
Making chocolate crepes.
Chloe is mastering the “flip”.
We also made a rubber band rocket from a STEM maker kit we picked up from the library.
…and with the leftover bits Chloe made a kitty ornament.
From Chloe’s sketchbook…
Meanwhile, Dad raked some leaves.
…and around the corner from my place. The FINAL display…
