Monthly Archives: September 2015

Birthdays, Preschool, Video

Happy 5th Birthday Alan!!

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My favorite preschooler and little buddy turns 5 today!!

Alan had an action-packed weekend leading up to his big day today.  On Friday, the family got together for a birthday party at Great-Grandma’s apartment.  The living room looked great decked out in Paw Patrol-themed decorations!  Alan loved opening his gifts, blowing out candles, and running around and laughing with his cousin Brenton.  He was acting silly when I tried to take a picture of him with his Paw Patrol balloon (video).

On Saturday, Alan opened up gifts from Mommy and Daddy (and got a package from Luke!) after getting home from Chinese culture class.  We also hit baseballs at the Oakville park earlier in the day – a new favorite weekend activity for us.

On Sunday, Alan began the day at the Beachwood Municipal Service Center for the 16th annual “Hands-on Trucks” event, where Alan got to see many different transportation vehicles – and a traffic light – up close.  His favorite part was talking with rescue personnel while sitting inside an ambulance!

Then of course Sunday continued with an Indians game!  We met Aunt Jill at the ballpark and also saw Uncle Robbie and Uncle David after they walked over from the Browns’ home opening win.

All of it was an exciting lead-up to today, when I joined Alan at school for his class party.  I read his favorite books (Red Truck and Road Work) to the class while Alan sat next to me at the front of the class wearing his birthday crown and holding his toy red tow truck.  Afterwards the class sang happy birthday (video) to Alan!  Next we sang songs that Alan chose for the class – one of which involved signing all 26 letters of the alphabet (I learned that Alan really enjoys sign language!).  Finally, we passed out Paw Patrol gift bags, which the kids loved.

In the afternoon Alan received his birthday call from the Paw Patrol (a perk of the Nick Jr. Birthday Club).  And in the evening he attended a program at the Richmond Heights library with both Mommy & Daddy.  It was a perfect day. 🙂

Alan thanks everyone for the gifts and attention he received this week!!

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Baseball, Birthdays, Indians

Tribe Game No. 5 of 2015

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Alan celebrated his 5th birthday a day early at the ballpark today, as we watched the Tribe beat the White Sox 6-3!

As an MVP, he led the line again and was among the first to get out on the field following the game.  Alan runs the bases so well now that I think Francona might want to use him as a pinch runner with the expanded rosters in September.  Aunt Jill and I had to really motor around the bases just to keep up with him!

In addition to participating in our usual Kids Clubhouse activities, we also had baseball cards made of ourselves for the first time – one with both of us and one of just Alan. I love how they turned out!

Alan also enjoyed driving a new red truck in the clubhouse…and pretending to crash it into other red cars. 🙂

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Preschool

Alan’s Newsbook

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Preschool is off to a great start for Alan!  He enjoys his teacher and classmates and has gotten into a good routine after the first two weeks of the school year.

This year Alan has nightly homework.  He has to write an entry in his “Newsbook” every night after school, describing his activities, interests, or thoughts for the day.  Pictured above are Alan’s first six entries.

Alan's First, Funny

Things Alan Says

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Today Alan surprised me with the following exchange:

Alan:  Daddy, why don’t bears wear socks?

Me (confused):  Huh?

Alan:  Because they have bare feet!

Me:  LOL

Alan completely caught me off guard by telling me his first ever joke!  I asked him where he learned this, and he said he taught himself (his usual response to this question).  Too funny.