Happy Birthday Nick!

July 28 is Nick's birthday.  Mommy, daddy and McKenzie gave Nick a cake and presents.  Nick had a big smile on his face when we sang the Happy Birthday song!

Nick got an Eiffel Tower lamp for his room.

Liza bought Nick a wooden castle that he can paint.

And grammy sent a card that played music when Nick opened it!

Then mommy and Nick took our walk through Long Beach and we got ice cream at the Sweet Retreat.  They told us we did not have to pay money for the ice cream in honor of Nick's birthday.

Then we walked home on the boardwalk, and Nick played in his pool for over an hour.  When it was time for bed, mommy said, "I hope you had a nice birthday.  You went to AHRC to play, and then after pizza dinner you had birthday cake and presents, your walk to Sweet Retreat, and then you played in your pool.  It really was a perfect Nicholas day!"

Summer Walk with Mommy

Every weekend, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, mommy or daddy takes Nick to the Sweet Retreat for ice cream.  Sometimes we take the car, but on Saturday night, mommy and Nick walked.  Before we left daddy took our picture, look how big Nick is standing next to mommy!

We walked through the streets to the West End of Long Beach.  We saw lots of people sitting outside enjoying the night.

Then we got to the Sweet Retreat ice cream shop.  Nick ordered Birthday Cake ice cream with rainbow sprinkles.  When we sat outside, Nick was happy and smiling as he ate his ice cream and watched all the people around us.

Then we started to walk home.  We heard loud music playing, and then we found, it, there was a block party!

We walked up to the boardwalk and then sat down on a bench so mommy could watch the sunset.  Nick did not want to watch the sunset, instead he watched his favorite buildings.

As we got close to home, we passed the old Temple.  Just as he did when he was little, Nick climbed up the stairs and looked around the neighborhood from the top of the stairs.

And then we got home and Nick went to play in his pool.  At night we looked at the pictures together on the computer.  Mommy said, "That was a very nice time we had.  You've outgrown lots of things, but I'm happy we can still enjoy our summer walks in Long Beach together."

Nick the Gardener

Ever since Nick was little he would help mommy in the garden.  Mommy showed Nick old pictures of us in summer, taking care of our garden.

First we would go to the garden center to buy flowers. 

 Nick always helps mommy pick flowers and carry them to the car.

Then we plant the flowers.

 After we plant the flowers we have to take care of them.

 And the plants need water.  Nick always helps water the plants.

This picture was taken today, Nick was wearing his American flag shirt and patriotic hat when he watered the garden.

Mommy said, "What a great job Nick!  You've been a great gardening buddy ever since you were little."

Yearbooks

Every year, Nick's teacher sends home a little yearbook.  There are pictures of all the kids in the classroom.  There are lots of pictures of the students in the classroom and on field trips.

Nick loves these books, he looks at them all the time.  Sometimes he looks at them when he is eating at the table, or sometimes when he is sitting in a chair, or something when he is lying in bed.

Mommy loves the books too, so mommy tried to keep them hidden in a safe place.  But Nick always found where they were hidden.  Mommy said, "I guess I should not keep them from you anymore, they are your yearbooks about your school life, and you do seem to love looking at them."