Happy Birthday Jackson

Well, actually, his birthday was in April, but Kris and Anthony waited until the beginning of May to have his party, thinking that the weather would be nicer. Although, the way this year is going, it was probably nicer in April than it has been in May thus far...haha. Very grey and overcast, but luckily only a little drizzle. All in all, everyone had a blast. Especially this little guy:


Yes, the bouncy house was definitely a hit yesterday, with the kids and parents alike! We took a lot of pictures--so much so that our memory card ran out of space. But I thought I would at least post some of them (with some commentary of course) and then hope that Anthony or Kristin email us the pictures THEY took so we can post those too!

We headed down to Ledyard on Friday afternoon--it usually takes us about 4.5 hours to get there, and the kids slept for the first two hours. Our visits are always a lot of fun, but also very busy...there are always a hundred things we want to do with the Favrys, but there never seems to be time. Callum and Jackson are like total buddies, and it does our hearts so well to see him playing with his cousin (and then, of course, there is Maira, who is best friends with everyone....). Callum remarked, when I asked him if he was  having a blast with his cousin, "yes....but daddy it is such a shame we live so far away from him though!!!" It is.


Here is a shot of the "party" from yesterday, with the bouncy house at front and center...haha. Anthony, wearing his sombrero (it was cinco de mayo, after all) worked the gas grill, and I worked the charcoal grill (smoke in foreground). .Kids and parents were having a blast playing catch, riding things, throwing stuff at FriendlyHenry, etc etc....

All the grandparents got some quality time with the little Goldsmiths, as seen when Nannnie was pushing Maira around on the little tricycle. Maira spent her day the following way: 80% being held by my dad or barbara, as Maira duped them into giving her all the snacks she wanted...hehe....17% being held by Kim, and 3% riding bikes and/or cars with Nannie. Maira is a girl who knows how to work the crowd and get what she wants! She had a blast playing baseball with Nannie too, as seen in a few pics....

Jackson had a CARS (movie) party, complete with a Cars pinata! I realized pinatas have been missing from my life; I have never swung at nor partaken in anything pinataish. Just saying. And then there was my own little guy, at 3.75 years old, swinging at his first pinata. Kids today are so lucky....

Nannie showing Maira the rudiments of T-ball.....Maira really enjoyed putting the ball on TOP of the tee....that was her favorite part....

Both kids had a lot of fun seeing their papa and grammy goldsmith (I already mentioned how Maira worked them to be her snack sherpas!). Callum had fun too, although he still gets REALLY shy having his picture taken...we are trying to work on this. Callum does not like to a) Skype (except with Jay) b) pose for pics c)talk on the phone. I dont know. Weird little guy.

I hope Kristin can send me more pictures of Callum, Maira, and Jackson on this tractor--this is Jackson's battery powered John Deer tractor, and saying that Callum had the time of his life on this thing would be the understatement of the year! What was even funnier was how he would pick up his sister (as he is doing below) and put her in the "trailer" so he could pull her around the yard. It was a priceless situation to watch, and Maira only fell out of the trailer twice (and, like most things in her life, she was unaffected by it in any way negative whatsoever.....)

more to come!