Happy 6th Birthday to Trey!

Trey's sixth birthday was on a Monday this year, so we had two celebrations - one on his actual birthday and then his party on the following weekend.  On the night before Trey's birthday, which happened to be Father's Day, Curt and Ana came over for a backyard campout.  They set up their tents in the yard, and then we went over to Kris and John's for a Father's Day BBQ.

On Monday morning, we opened presents and got ready to head to the coast.  We decided to get Trey one big present rather than several little presents.  Somehow I was the one who needed to convince Randy to get a video game system, when I always thought it would be the other way around.  I'm excited that we can now stream videos and even get Netflix.

Trey opening his gift from us.

Trey's new scooter and cool helmet from Uncle Bob, Aunt Lisa, and the cousins

Randy and I are really excited about this gift, but we can't get Trey to give it a chance.  Boo.  

When we asked Trey if he wanted to go to the beach for his birthday, he was really excited about the idea, and he got even more excited when we told him Curt and Ana would join us.   Since Curt and Ana camped in our backyard on Sunday night, we were able to head out pretty early.  

Our first stop was Manzanita, and while the beach there is beautiful, it is also really windy.  We didn't stay on the sand for long, and I think when we left we all had sand in our ears.   We stopped for lunch on the way out and then headed up the highway for a little calmer beach.

Trey and Ana are good buddies, and they play so well together. They both love imaginative play with their stuffed animals and now Pokemon.  They love to set up little towns in their rooms and make up stories.  I think one day this summer they played for nine hours straight with a short break in the middle.

Our second stop was Hug Point which was a much better, and less windy, beach to play on.

Trey's birthday was also the first day of summer term, 

so I did a little multitasking while the kids played on the beach.  

Dads playing with their kids...

And burying them...

Birthday cupcake selfie! 

Being six rocks! 

It's a tight squeeze, but we all fit! 

Trey playing his new Minecraft video game after getting home from the beach

The weekend after Trey's birthday was his party.  He really wanted to have it at our house again, but I wasn't up for the work.  I told him if he had it at our house, he could only invite a few people, but if he had it at Pump It Up Jr., he could invite as many people as he wanted (I wasn't born yesterday).  While doing the parties at places like these is a little spendy, it is worth every penny to be able to do minimal prep and leave all of the cleaning up behind me as I walk out the door.  

Trey is lucky in friendship, as am I, and he had friends from preschool, kindergarten, and our social circle with him to celebrate.   I tried to get a group picture of everyone, but it didn't go very well. 

This is about as good as the group photo got...

The kids enjoyed their pizza and snacks before cake and ice cream.

Ryder, Trey, and Owen

Owen was so excited about the candle that he blew it out himself!  

Trey didn't seem to mind (or notice?)...

Jennifer, Jocelyn, Brent, John, and Kristina

Heidi, Kim, and me

Me and Mindy

Owen, Trey, Ryder, Zack, and Jaxon

Opening gifts = madness

Words cannot really express how much I love my six-year-old boy.  I am being honest when I say there are not many people I enjoy being with more than Trey.  I love his imagination (even though his constant stories do wear me out a little) and I love his cleverness.  I love watching him learn new things and put things together in his mind.  I love the questions he asks, and I love the connections he makes.  I love how much he enjoys reading, and one of my favorite times is cuddling up with him and reading a good book.  I love how he is a social creature and always wants to be around people, but he also likes his down time at home and relaxing.  I love how much he loves his friends.  I love his kind and gentle spirit, and I love how he shows compassion and empathy for others.  I am such a lucky mom, and I would not change one thing about my awesome and amazing son.  Trey, thank you for bringing such joy into my life!  I love you!