Zack's Birthday Take 1!!

So as I said before, we had a family BBQ to celebrate Zack's birthday yesterday (Sunday). It was HOT, but I say thank goodness for A/C!!! Here are some pictures of the party.

The birthday boy, just reading a magazine before the big party!

The little bro, just sucking his thumb before the big party

The big sis, just being cute.

Auntie Alyssa and her new baby, Maya

Sadie and Uncle Derek

Papa Paul and Uncle Nik

Ahhh, Legos, the best gift a 5 year old boy could receive!

The new bike. He seems to like it...

The COOLEST Indiana Jones cake EVER!!!

Happy Birthday, Big Boy!

Papa and Grandma from Washington

Zack is turning 5 tomorrow, can you believe it? I can't. This year, we are doing two parties for him. I know, it sounds like a lot, but we have so much family from out of town, it is actually easier to do two. If we have kids come when the family does, then the family doesn't get time with our kids. So anyway, we had all the family and a couple good friends come over for a BBQ yesterday. My parents and brother, who live in Federal Way, WA, came down on Saturday. My mom, Sadie and I went to tea at the Stratford House in Hillsboro. We forgot our cameras, so unfortunately we don't have any pictures. But it was super fun and really yummy!

Later, we went to dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory. That was yummy, too, and they sang Happy Birthday to Zack, which was pretty cute.

Grandma Betsey and Sadie

Uncle Tim and Papa Tom

Daddy and Zack

Mmm, yummy juice!

"Happy Birthday to you..."

When the boys were in bed, Tony got out Zack's present from us... a bike! Zack doesn't seem to have much interest in pedaling and such things, but we figured it was high time he had a bike. So Tony and Sadie put it together and it turned out pretty cool!

The finished bike, ready for Zack to ride.

At the Pool

Sadie and Zack have been taking swim lessons at our neighborhood pool since last week. The weather has been beautiful, and they are having a blast in the water!

This is the kid that, on the first day, I had to force him into the water! Looks like he has gotten over his fear.

My little fish. Sadie has always loved the water!

Hmmm, how does this work? Sweet! Now I can get the lid off of anything!

Push Up Painting

We had our next door neighbors over for dinner the other night. Their son, William and our kids had some Push Ups (sherbet in a tube) for dessert. Um, yes, we do like dessert! Drew quickly got bored of eating the Push Up and decided to paint himself with it. Nice.

I Scream, You Scream, We ALL Scream for ICE CREAM!

We went to Chevy's for dinner the other night and the kids got ice cream cones for dessert. It's too bad they didn't like it...

Garage Sale Treasures

I am not, by nature, a garage sale lover. But as the kids get older and more expenses add up, it is seeming more and more like a good place to start when we need or want something. The neighborhood next to ours is having their annual garage sale starting today, so my neighbor, Lynn, and I went! Although I did NOT find a little bike for Drew as I was hoping, we did find some other great treasures!

Kids picnic table in great shape for $10!!

Sadie's treasure - Littlest Pet Shop house and 4 animals - $5!

Zack's treasure - Big castle complete with knights and cannon balls for $3!

Ibach Park

Some friends from church have set up a "Summer Park Tour". Every Thursday, there is a new park to visit and play at! Today was Ibach Park in Tualatin. It is 30 minutes from here, so not a park to visit every day, but it was really neat! The weather was beautiful and the kids had a blast!

Swingin'

Slidin'

And havin' a good ole time!

My camera is HOME!

Yay! Someone found my camera! I made signs and put them up at the pool yesterday when we got there for lessons. Another mom overheard me talking about it to someone and then saw my sign. She had found it on Tuesday and gave it to the swim teachers, but they didn't know whose it was. It was in the HOA office, so I had to wait until the afternoon to get it, but there it was, safe and sound! Yay for kind, honest people!

Bummed

I think I have lost my camera. I rarely lose things, especially big and expensive things! It disappeared yesterday somewhere between the pool (where the kids just started swim lessons) and our house. I didn't realize it wasn't in my purse until yesterday evening, so I have no idea what happened. I am SO bummed. So there will be no pictures while I try to find the darn thing! I do have a backup, our old camera that we gave Sadie, but still. Wah.

NASCAR

We are fans of NASCAR. Yup, I said it! We Bastinellis love NASCAR! Tony says never in a million years did he think he would enjoy watching cars drive around and around in circles 500 times. But here we are. Funny how your kids change your life... I can't quite remember how Zack got into NASCAR. I think it started with Disney's Cars movie and then one time Tony happened to catch a race on t.v. and Zack was hooked. It was right at the beginning of last year's season and Zack picked Jimmie Johnson (Number 48, driver of the Lowe's car) as his favorite. Jimmie ended up winning the entire 2007 Nextel Cup Series (pretty much the whole year of races combined, kind of complicated, can't really explain)!
So on to today. Thanks to a heads up from Papa David, Al's Nursery in Sherwood was going to have a viewing of an actual NASCAR!! It was Carl Edwards' backup car, sponsored by Miracle Grow (thus the reason it was at a nursery, in case you were wondering). We told Zack that we were just going to a place to look at flowers and plants! He fell asleep on the way there, but as soon as we got there, the trailer holding the NASCAR pulled up. Zack woke up RIGHT away and was SO excited! We got to watch them roll the car out with the wench and then listen as they fired up the engine to back it into its spot. It was LOUD!



This car was a NO TOUCH car, but we got lots of pictures with it and the kids got really close. They were able to see the whole inside, including all the roll bars (there were lots), instrument panel and the tiny little space the drivers have to sit in. It was awesome to be so close to one of the cars we watch race! Zack was delighted, how fun to see his face.

The kids got a little poster "signed" by Carl Edwards

I think Scotts should pay ME for all this advertising!

The view in through the passenger window. Whoa, kinda scary!

Checkin' it out!

They really ARE stickers! (See Disney's "Cars")

A happy, happy boy

OH MY GOSH, I HAVE A SECOND GRADER!!!

My very special firstborn baby girl is now a second grader! Today was the last day of first grade, I just cannot believe it! Sadie has learned so much this year and has grown incredibly, both in height and as a young lady. She is a wonderful helper, big sister and the most amazing daughter I could have ever been given. Thank you, Lord, for beautiful Sadie.

Sadie and her teacher, Mrs. Buck, who she will also have for second grade!

The first day of school in September. (Left)

And Sadie today, on the last day. (Right)


We had NO idea she was wearing the same outfit until we looked at the pictures from September! Isn't that too funny? It is obviously her favorite! I can't believe how much she has changed!

Sadie and her very proud brothers