DEVON'S BIRTHDAY WEEK - 2010

Day 1 - We all headed out with the intention of playing a family game of kickball, one of Devon's favorite games. Couldn't find an empty baseball field, so we played pickle instead, then spent some time goofing off in a school playground.

The birthday boy and I goofing off on the field.

Day 2 - I take Devon to the bookstore at the library and chooses a couple new books for himself, a chapter book about King Arthur (he loves watching Sword in the Stone) and a random Mickey Mouse book.

Day 3 - The kids and I stopped by Starbucks for strawberries and creme frappucinos.

Devon has fun finishing off his drink.

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Day 4 - Each family member makes and presents a paper to Devon. Some are abstract drawings, others illustrate things the person enjoys doing with Devon, others list the qualities they appreciate about Devon.

Devon listens in as Tim presents his paper.

Devon loves to get kisses from his parents. Obvious, isn't it? Just for the record, Devon is cracking up, not crying.

Day 5 - Everyone jammies up and settles down for a movie that Devon got at the library.

Day 6 - We spend the morning at Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden. The rhodies are basically done for the year, but the park is a pretty place and we all had a great time walking around, watching the various birds, and soaking in the sunshine.

The 5 Ws striking a pose at the garden. Don't I look tall?!

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Day 7 - The day starts with a tradition we've had going for a few years, a "Doughnut Date With Daddy". Tim and Devon meet the rest of the family at church after their date. Since Devon's birthday falls on a church day, he asks to take snickerdoodles to share with his class. Granny comes over in the afternoon and joins us as Devon opens a few gifts. Then we all eat a dinner that Devon requested (a variation on this ham recipe and fruit salad, with plain yogurt and cinnamon in it, of course) Before heading off to bed, we do one more long-standing tradition. Each year, starting on their first birthdays, we take a picture of the kids wearing a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt that belonged to the same gender parent. They've obviously got a while before the clothes fit, but it's fun to watch them put the same outfit on each year.

Devon eating a doughnut with blue frosting and colored rice crispy cereal sprinkled on it. The doughnut of a child's dreams!

Stacks of snickerdoodles for his classmates and teachers.

Happy about a gift he just opened from his siblings.

The annual outfit.

Proof that it will be a while before the outfit actually fits.

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It was a fun week and we did it frugally. Our total cost for the entire week was about $15 and about $10 of that was for Starbucks.