Playdate for A / Practice Camp Out / Cedar Hill Park / The Start of A's Birthday Parties!

Wednesday, May 2nd - A friend from school named Jack came over to play with A. This was a special treat, but something we intend on doing much more. Melinda has gotten with Jack's mom and is planning on many play dates over the Summer. A had a great time!

Friday, May 4th - Unbeknownst to A or X, Jack (the foster dad, not little friend of A) did a "practice camp out" in the backyard. One of X's big birthday presents is a ""Rite of Passage" overnight camp out at Eisenhower  State Park (see May 18th). For the last two months Jack has been carefully researching and buying all the gear to make this the best birthday present ever. Things included sleeping bags, tent, lanterns, headlamps, Coleman gas stove, games, puzzles, henna (for temporary tattoos) and much, much more. The test was successful even through heavy rain and a very muggy night. He would have waited until a little closer to May 18th, but every weekend day was already booked up with fun activities for X and A.

Saturday, May 5th - Changing it up a bit... off to Cedar Hill State Park and Joe Pool Lake. This was a very hot day and the hike was over 2 1/2 miles of very little shade (unlike all the other hikes). Melinda and I dubbed this the "Death March" because the hike just would not end and we were getting annoyed by the weeds and grasses that were taller than A. This was not our favorite hike and we vowed not to do this one again. HOWEVER, the lake at Cedar Hill State Park is Joe Pool Lake and they have the best beach we visited in a state park. It was large and a very gradual slope, so X and A got to run around a lot more. It was actually quite packed that day with other families and kids, but X and A never minded (and, of course, played with everyone). Since the swim is always the last thing of the day, X and A decided it was a great day!

Friday, May 11th - The first of what would be MANY of X's birthday parties that even extended into June. This one was with his friends at school. They had cupcakes and sang "Happy Birthday" (cha-cha-cha) to him. x Since the 11th is X's actual birthday, he turned six and we also had a party at home and gave him his tent, headlamp, sleeping pad and more in anticipation for the camp out. He was very happy to be celebrated.

Saturday, May 12th - X's big swim party (birthday celebration number 3 already). He had several school friends and even some old friends show up. The water was a little cold due to recent rains, but the kids still played wildly. After getting out of the pool. all the kids played with Hexbug Nano robots on tracks for about an hour before opening presents and having a sheet big cake.

Sunday, May 13th - The family went on a short, local-trail hike. We had to cut it short due to a death in the family that required Melinda to travel down to Houston for a funeral.  Regardless, we all had fun on the local hike and will definitely do that again.

And this is only the FIRST half of the month!