We celebrated your birthday on a Sunday, the 20th, so that the family could celebrate with us. Grandy, PopPop, Nana, Grampie, Meg, Greg, Liv and Dave came over. You were completely excited all morning. You continually asked, "When are they going to be here?" Soon enough Auntie Meg and her crew arrived just before noon, followed by everyone else.
You were SO anxious to open your gifts, but all in all, you did a good job being patient, I mean it was your birthday!
Liv so enjoys seeing you and the two of you went off to play in the playroom when she arrived. It was raining out that day, so you guys couldn't go outside to play. Ad, you were sleeping for much of the party. You so love your sleep, wonder where you get that....Mom?JD, you got some great gifts. Nana and Grampie got you a basketball hoop and it is AWESOME!
It has a see through back board and its adjustable from 7 to 10 feet! Grandy and Pop got you cars from the movie, "Cars", and Auntie Meg got you a baseball card album with cards inside. You got lots of other gifts too, but those were some highlights. Ad, still not awake.Mom, and PopPop made a very yummy Baked Zita, Meatballs, and Sausage meal, and after that we had a cake, your favorite. You requested a, "Big Papi" (David Ortiz) cake with vanilla frosting.
Mom spelled out "Big Papi" on the cake and you and I picked out a "Papi" picture from the Internet and slapped it on the top. It was pretty cool!Finally Ad woke up, just in time for cake...go figure! Ad, you had a good time with Grandy and Grampie B.
You and Grampie were raising your hands above your head's and yelling, "Hoooooo!" Eventually Livy, JD, and even Dave joined in! It was quite the scene!Jd, you had a great day, and were completely tuckered out at the end. We watched, "Funniest Home Video's", a weekly tradition in our house and you were off to bed. During bed time you told me what a good time you had, and you even said thank you for your party. After we were done talking, you were off to sleep.
The next day was your real birthday, May 21! You had school in the morning and soccer in the afternoon. I have been able to take my lunches at the soccer field on Monday's when you play, which I have really enjoyed.
It was a cold day, so you wore jeans to soccer, and Mom even let you where your new Papi shirt rather than the standard "South Berwick" shirt and shorts or wind pants! You did a drill where you need to dribble the ball in between cones, I thought you did a great job. You moved fast up and back.Ad, you especially like watching JD play soccer, and I use the term watching very loosely! You like to walk out there with the kids and kick around the ball. Mom and I always let you go until they are doing an active drill, then we grab you so you won't get hurt. You like to be part of the crew.
This day you just wanted to walk and walk and walk and walk. I accompanied you all over the field (and its a big field). We played with the soccer nets across the way, we walked toward the planters on one side of the field, and you discovered a creek on the other. You like this creek so much that when I turned my back for just a second, you were sitting in it! Did I mention that it was cold that day? You also learned how to throw rocks in the creek. 
Its a very, very small stream/creek made larger by the rain. I showed you how to throw the rock and make a plop. You loved it and proceeded to continue this for about 15 minutes until I grabbed you up. This brought back memories of JD and I throwing rocks in Norfolk for the first time. He loved it just as much. It was actually quite cool to see the similarities between you guys with this.I left work early this day so that we could celebrate your birthday as a family before you and I left for T-Ball.
We opened gifts on the deck as the day was gorgeous. You got a planetarium for your room that works so well, some shirts, and some BIG League Chew. Honestly, I think you liked the gum the most!!Its now Wednesday. Last night Mom and I decided to tackle putting your hoop together. We started at about 8:00 pm after another one of your T-Ball games when both you and Ad were in bed. We finished just before midnight! It was fun. Mom and I have always worked well together even though neither of us are very technically savvy. We were outside in the dark raising it up, and we even played for about 15 minutes. Mom hit her first shot....I did not!
This is the first hoop I have ever owned. Basketball is my favorite sport and it always will be. Its the best game created and you have to be athletic to hold your own on the court. I love the fact that we have our own hoop outside.
I love that it can be adjusted, small for you and tall for me. I played so much basketball throughout my teen years, sometimes I think it got me through some times. I played in the rain, in the heat, with snow on the ground, and I absolutely had some of my best times with my friends on the court. We would run games all day long on Sunday's in the summer, all day long..
I have to say JD, you impressed me again tonight with your athletic ability. For a while I was conscious of the fact that maybe I was talking myself into the fact that you seem to have natural talent at a young age, but I don't think so. If not, and sports aren't your thing...no problem, but I have to say, its so fun to watch you. How did you get good at this game too, we barely even play? You are hitting quite a few shots on the 7.5 ft height. You love being out there too. You would have played all night if I would have let you.
Ad, you couldn't be outdone! We brought you're little hoop over too, and you would NOT use the little ball.
You used the other regulation size ball to shoot in your little hoop. You like to do what your brother does. When he runs, you run, when he jumps, you try your best to jump and when he cheers for you, you get a big smile on your face. Each time you made a bucket, you would clap your hands... and so did I.
