This is 11 (and Everything Else Houston)

As expected, we packed up the car with lots of clothes, babies, and challah dough and drove to Houston to celebrate Mira's birthday. What's unexpected is that Daddy joined us this time! As expected, we started celebrating with fro yo!


After fro yo, my children were restlessly ready for the next activity while others were not, so we went next door to explore the pet store. Inside was a customer with the world's tiniest and cutest puppy!

On Saturday morning, we wake up with happy, playful cousins. I love how much the cousins love spending time together and being with each other, and I will continue making these trips a priority for this reason.

Boys' time and girls' time:

crazies under Aunt Sandi's bed

baking rainbow cupcakes for the party

On Saturday afternoon, Gabi, Jacob, Jon, and Nana went to a 'Touch-a-Truck' event and tried to enjoy the opportunity despite the hot hot hot weather.



Fun times kept coming when Gabi and I treated the birthday girl to Duck Donuts, Mira's new favorite sweet spot where you get to select your own toppings and icings on your unique donut.

special girls' time

At long last, it was time for THE (cousins) birthday party at a splash park. Happy Birthday, 11-year-old Mira!!! (Apparently, there was an unspoken orange memo that got passed around to the boys.)



Daddy had a little too much fun with the 'slo mo' feature on his phone camera:

The whole young Texan gang:

7/9 ain't bad! (missing Boston!)

What got ALL those cuties smiling all at the same time, you ask? A bribe for cupcakes of course...

Aunt Sandi scored some Astros tickets for the game that night, and Aunt Debbie and Uncle Craig were selected as the honored adults to accompany Mira and Jacob!

After we got some well-needed rest, the crowd wakes up to one last morning together.

#blueclock

#yellowclock

#blueclock

#yellowclock

Mira prepared a special Mother's Day ice cream sundae bar. Joey was told to find a good spot to eat his ice cream. So he did. And others followed suit.

All (awake) cousins were quarantined to Jacob's room to avoid the broken glass in the living room. So this happened:

Baby time!

Despite months of modeling and guided practice, Nana gets credit for successfully getting Spencer to sign "more" for the very first time.

special Nana-baby time

I don't think babies are supposed to be this interested in each other.

They may be the same size, but Spencer still has some tricks (and months) on Shayna.

(gotta love the "portrait" setting on Aunt Sandi's new phone)

This is 11. So glad we came to celebrate with you, Mira. Happy birthday, big girl!

when a lens of the sunglasses falls off and you still don't care