Liam is 5!

It is so exciting that Liam is now 5! I love watching him grow and explore.  He is a very sweet and loving boy, who adds joy to all our lives.

Over the weekend we had a My Gym party for him.  He was very excited to plan his party, this time not in the house. 

The kids played games. 

Liam loved being on the saucer and swing.

Liam's 5th Birthday from Arne Stokstad on Vimeo.

On his birthday he got Legos from us, along with a strainer - I love that he still enjoys kitchen tool gifts!

His birthday night, he got a lego man cake, plain vanilla with no frosting - his favorite and a special visit from his Auntie Amanda!

This week I also went on his school field trip to the Garden at AT&T Park. He was so happy to have me go along.  He spend the day with me and one of his best friends - Jonna.

He volunteered during the parts of a plant demonstration.  I am not sure he was excited to be the flower, and he was definitely droopy when he became the strawberry!

It has been a great birthday week and a great fifth birthday for our boy.

Getting Ready for the Holidays

At the start of December we had Breakfast with Santa, at a community center in Menlo Park.  It was a lovely breakfast, plus the kids had fun in a photobooth!

 

Elsa is still not the biggest fan of Santa, but she is at least willing to take a few pictures.

Later that weekend, we went to Millbrae, and the kids got to decorate the Christmas tree at my mom's house.

Rounding out the holiday fun, this week, Elsa had her Winter Concert.  The Noon Chorus group at her school did a concert at a local center and then an evening concert for family.  It is fun getting serenaded by her.

The final holiday event at school was the AKC Gingerbread House Party, where the kids got to make gingerbread houses with graham crackers and eat pizza.  It was fun to watch them create.

 Liam did not use any candy in his decorations.

Elsa used candy canes for the roof of her house!



They both had a wonderful time with friends and frosting.

Thanksgiving 2017

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with my entire extended family (16 people) over at my Mom's house.  For the kids the highlight was playing games inside and tag outside with my cousins.

Elsa lost her second top front tooth the day before Thanksgiving!

The food was once again excellent.

And it was nice to get to see Amanda's dog Zoey play outside.

It was great to gather together with family after a my big trip to India.  I loved returning to the Taj Mahal after 20 years, but had a lot of work to do, along with very bad air in Delhi.

2017

1997

Halloween Fun!

Another Halloween has come and gone. Candy has been collected and tonight after the kids are asleep it will disappear when the 'switch witch' comes and leaves presents. 

Elsa's second grade class in their costumes today. 

Walking in the neighborhood. Elsa's favorite treat was not candy. It was a Cup o' Noodles. I've never seen anyone give that out. She chose it over candy. 

Elsa told jokes in addition to saying "trick or treat". Why didn't the pumpkin play sports? Because everyone said boo.  

Elsa was "Super Elsa", not a robber. 

Elsa and Liam at the Cadence Halloween party last week.  

Big pumpkins.

Big smiles.