Happy Birthday to the Family Man

It was Nick's birthday today and he was quite the sport. He went out to lunch with his friends at work and then came home to the usual chaos with the kids. He then blew out the candles--of which the kids were more excited about than him (we had to relight the candles 2-3 times because the kids were too excited and blew too early). He then opened presents--of which the kids were more excited about than him. And then I had planned to take the family to the Nicklecade in hopes of some good ol' fashioned fun. Where else would you take a guy named Nick on his birthday, but to the 'Nick'lecade.

Mabel enjoyed the train ride most of all.

Sam enjoyed Noah's Ark.

Daddy trying to show the kids how to throw the ball. They kept trying to climb up on the ball ramp to drop the ball in the hole instead of throwing it. They never did catch on--why do they always seem to throw the ball just fine around the house when I don't want them to?

I took the kids back to the train and Noah's Ark so Nick could enjoy a little time at the nicklecade by playing some skee ball and basketball hoops.

We got a lot of tickets and the kids each got a small animal blow-up, mini cars, and dum dums. They had a fun time, but it is very frustrating trying to do family things with the kids, when they just don't get it....with all three still under three, we're very limited in skills. By the end of the evening, Mabel had at least figured out how to put the nickle in the machine....Sam could use some improvement on this basic skill. Max mastered his skill of spitting up--he left a good six inch yellow drool down daddy's shirt.

Nick is a great sport sharing the excitement of his birthday with three little kids. Next year, if skills don't improve, we might find ourselves getting a babysitter and going out on an actual date!