Meet, Greet & Celebrate Birthdays

Sunday, August 14, we had a small gathering (about 20 people) to help celebrate the boy's birthdays.  Since they have never celebrated a birthday before (as far as we know), we didn't want to make a big deal this year.  They also don't seem to fully understand the concept of a birthday party, so we weren't really sure how they would react to a party at home. 

We had a cake, invited family and a few friends and hoped for a good time.  I think everyone enjoyed it.  I know that the kids had a great time!  The boys seemed to enjoy spending time playing with their cousins and the cousins enjoyed helping them open the gifts that they brought (as most kids do!)

All in all, we really appreciated the family that was able to attend and spend time with us.

Here are some pictures from the party:

The boy's birthday cake

Opening the gifts that Ari, Audrey & Remi brought

Rachael's cousin Tara and her husband Alex

Michael, George, Charlie & David having fun playing with the new toys

Checking out more gifts

Rachael's Uncle Jim is helping Michael with one of the gifts

David in front of the new trike that Grandma Lela & Grandpa Dave got him

Michael on the new trike that Grandma Lela & Grandpa Dave got him

Daddy playing with Charlie & George with the new light sabers

Gotta take turns....

David on his new trike; doing really well pedaling on his own!

Michael is getting a little help from Mama

Michael's 3rd Birthday

We celebrated his birthday in a very casual way: breakfast at home then off to Toys R Us to pick out a birthday gift for the birthday boy and had cake after lunch.  It was interesting to try and explain what a birthday is to both boys, especially since Michael got to pick out a gift and David didn't get anything.  We have had to go over it all quite a few times (both on his birthday and for several days since).  We will celebrate David's in much the same way this year. 

Here are some pictures we thought you'd like:

The birthday cake daddy picked out

The Birthday Boy got a crown and balloon for his birthday from Toys-R-Us

Opening the motorcycles he picked out for his birthday

Really cool motorcycles!

Enjoying cake after lunch

Grandpa Mel and Grandma Bambi sent him some money for his birthday and he picked out Optimus Prime as his gift from them.  Neither one of the boys know anything about the Transformers; he just likes the cool robot and the sounds it makes!

Frost Family Reunion

This year the Frost Family (descendants of Harold & Beth Frost {Rachael's dad's parents} and their families) got together for a short reunion.  We are already planning for next year's reunion and hope to make it an annual event! 

Short family history: Harold & Beth had 3 boys: George, Donald & Charles (R's dad).  George married Cecie and have a daughter: Tara who is married to Alex and they have 3 kids: George (6), Sammie (3) & Michelle (1).  Donald married Cathy and had 3 kids: Rob (living with his wife & daughter in the NE part of the country), Ray who is married to Carley and they have 3 kids: Cathlyn (10), Allison (9) and Pierce (7) & Kay (who has passed away).  Charles married Jeanne and had 2 kids: Elizabeth who is married to Robert and they have 1 kid: Charlie (6) and Rachael who married Chris and has 2 kids: David (4) and Michael (3).

Out of those listed above, the following attended the reunion: Charles; Cecie; Tara, Alex & kids; Ray, Carley & kids; Elizabeth, Robert & kid; Rachael, Chris & kids.

We all had a good time and enjoyed getting to know one another (some had never met and for others it had been a while).  We met at the Thunderbird Resort in Burnet (on Lake Buchanan) for the weekend (July 29-31).  We are all within hours of there (Burnet, San Antonio, Houston-area), so it was a pretty central location for all of us.  Unfortunately the lake was extremely low, but we were still able to go out on Alex & Tara's boat (at least some of us were able to) for a bit on Saturday. 

Here are some pictures from the weekend (there are too many to post all of them!)

Our 'home' for the weekend

All Our Children.....

All the adults
(minus Chris who is taking the picture & Cecie's boyfriend Ted who is also taking pictures)

Redneck Recliner

A herd of deer showed up for dinner at the feeder close to the pool Friday night

David hitching a ride on Daddy....

Friday night pool party!

Trying to take a picture of the kids, but they weren't all co-operating

Charlie, David & Michael on the boat

Michael driving the boat with Alex

David driving the boat with Alex

Grandpa helping his great-niece Michelle on the slide

Sunday morning breakfast: scrambled eggs, biscuits, pancakes, fruit

Carley & Rachael working on Sunday morning breakfast

Gotta have some coffee!!!!

Lots of people and a small kitchen!