Cowboy Evan

I hate Halloween costumes.

Evan was a cowboy this year because we already had a sherif badge and a cowboy hat. Costume done. It was an especially convenient costume since he had to wear it for 3 different events: UCSF NICU reunion, trunk-or-treat, and Halloween night. 

Every year UCSF has their NICU reunion in October. There's only one nurse who really remembers us but I like going anyway just to reminisce. We've moved on and grown a ton, but San Francisco will always hold a tender place in my heart. I love that the reunion is in October which is when Evan was born and when we were discharged. It's also the most beautiful time of year in San Francisco. We got to the event right on time which means Evan had all the games and the bounce house to himself. I don't think he would've participated otherwise, so that was a nice bonus. Delicious food, pumpkin decorating, costumes, face painting (Evan got a lizard). My favorite part was that Evan got to walk around the streets of San Francisco for the first time ever. That was pretty special.

Even with all the events we only got one picture of his whole ensemble--with the iPad as a distraction. Most of the time the hat came off, and somehow on Halloween night we forgot the bandana. 

This picture cracks me up every time I look at it

This is how we trick-or-treat

Pumpkin Patch 2014

We had a family date night one Friday in October and tried out a new pumpkin patch in town--Bobby Dazzlers. Mostly I wanted to take Evan to the petting zoo part of it, but we also picked up a few unique pumpkins and took some lovely photographs and made some happy memories. Evan mostly threw hay and dirt.

These two love each other so much.

Evan Turns Two!

Once upon a time, Evan turned two!!

This guy loves trucks so his birthday just had to be truck themed. We kept things VERY simple, but still had fun. I loved making his cake this year. SO easy. It was made of two cakes so we could eat part with the family on Thursday and save part for his friend party on Friday.

On Evan's actual birthday, which was on a Thursday this year, we went to therapy, had a family dinner, opened presents, blew out candles, and ate cake. Following tradition, he got his one mylar balloon (no latex for this kiddo) and he got to choose his favorite meal for dinner (homemade lasagna). Isaiah's childhood birthday tradition also included getting to ride in the front seat of the car, but I opted out of that one for my little guy.

This is a pretty accurate depiction of his feelings towards the candles, but he did eventually blow them out, with a little help from mama.

On Friday Evan had two friends (and Maya) over for a "party." I hesitate to call it a party because it was basically just two friends coming over to play with trucks. I thought Evan would like it that way, seeing how he's not the most social kid ever. There were cars coloring pages, toy diggers in beans in the sensory table, and lots of toy trucks. And the handsomest little two year old in the whole world.

Good luck getting all four to look at the same time

The last part of Evan's birthday celebration was a family trip to the Spookamotive train in Sacramento on Saturday. It was Halloween/superhero-themed so we were joined by Superman and Wonder Woman as well as the skeleton crew that was fun, not scary. The scariest part of the day was the train whistle which surprised Evan and brought a few tears. After the train we ate dinner at Red Robin. The second scariest part of the day was when our waitress brought ice cream and sang Happy Birthday to Evan. He held in the tears this time but definitely did not hide the fact that he was nervous and uncomfortable. I can relate.

And while we're talking about birthdays, let's add a few pictures of the cake Maya and I made for Yolanda's birthday on October 3. She requested white cake with strawberry filling. Naturally we had to spice it up a little bit and make it strawberry-shaped.

Filling in the middle--sliced strawberries mixed with strawberry glaze