The Riquino Family

Kai's Birthday Party

We had a family birthday party for Kai's second birthday. It was great to be able to spend time with family members.

Kai loves balloons! They have been bopping them around the house non-stop since we brought them home.

We had wanted to have a pirate themed party because Kai is always going "Argh" at people. They just don't make little boy pirate things. So, we went with another passion of his...trains. Here Kai is going "Ooh Ooh, all aboard."

Uncle Michael was nice and helped Kai open his presents.

Kai opened these puzzles and then decided he didn't want them. He was trying to rewrap them in this picture. Gabi has been playing with the puzzle for hours each day since the party!

Auntie Rachel and baby Brayden....who isn't going to be a baby for long. He turns 1 in just a month!

Kai got a remote control car. He was not happy that it would not do what he wanted it to do. There was a point during the party that he screamed and cried for probably 30 minutes. Very embarrassing when you have everyone over at your house! He finally calmed down in time to have cake.

Kai's Thomas the Train cake.

Thomas balloon.

Pirate balloon. We always get our kids balloons for their birthday.

Gabi got a new drawing board that she can practice writing her letters. She has gotten very good. She can write pretty much anything you tell her to. You just need to tell her how to spell it and she can form the letters herself. She will be very ready for kindergarten in another year and a half!

Uncle Jason and Brayden.

After singing Happy Birthday Kai started grabbing things off the cake.

Brayden showing off the conductor party hats.

Kai loves his Uncle Michael, will always go right to him....which is rare for Kai. He is very particular about the people he likes. Michael is so good to play with him! Funny thing is, Kai looks A LOT like Michael at his age.

Uncle Jeb and Kai being pirates. Kai almost looks more like a Cyclops. :)

The morning after the party we let Kai explore his new toys again. He loves his Little People's car track.

Nathan made everyone fajitas for dinner. This is just a picture of the aftermath. I think we dirtied every pot and pan in the house. It took three loads in the dishwasher to clean up! We loves his fajitas, so it is worth it! I will clean up anytime he wants to make them!

Kai "Choo Choo-ing" the following morning.

Kai was so overwhelmed the night of the party that he didn't pay attention to the small things, like the cards, clothes, etc. The following morning he discovered the card that his Papa picked out for him. It is of little kittens meowing Happy Birthday. He listened to it over and over for a LONG TIME! Check out the video below to see how excited he was. He just stood there opening and closing it over and over. Papa picks out the best song cards!

Birthday Videos

Singing Happy Birthday and Kai blowing out his candle.

This is Kai enjoying the card that his Papa gave him.

Kai turns 2!

Kai turned 2 this week. We can't believe that our little boy is growing up so fast! Nathan had the day off of work for Kai's birthday, so in the afternoon we went to the local aquarium. It is VERY tiny and low-key, but great for the kids. We have passes. You can get through the whole thing in 20 minutes. Here are a few pictures.

Gabi on the boat.

Kai likes looking at the murky water over the side of the dock.

I'm not sure what kindof fish this is. It was just sitting perched up on the rock. It is in the same tank as the jumbo stingrays, and sharks.

A shark swimming by.

Kai looking at little fish in the display tank.

Christmas 2008

Getting Ready for Christmas

This year we got a new pre-lit Christmas tree....one that you can't see through! Gabi helped spread out the branches.

We have a tradition of making Gingerbread houses for Christmas and Halloween. This year we thought we would mix it up and do a gingerbread tree.

Kai didn't want to help decorate, but he was very interested in checking out the finished product.

After checking it out, he had to try some out to make sure it was good. He liked the little candies that made the ornaments.

Christmas Snow-In

We woke up Christmas morning to this! This was the view after I opened my garage. About 2 feet of snow down the driveway!

The wreath on my front door. The snow was blowing sideways, thus why my wreath got hit.

We still had to make it up to Nathan's parents house, so about 2ish he braved the cold and started to snowblow. This is from the door on the side of the garage. Remember that Nathan is 6'5'' and the snow is coming up past his knees at this point. This was a LOT of snow! Funny thing is, his parents just 20 minutes away didn't get any snow.

Our back yard. You can see that the snow is half way up the fence in the back.

Christmas morning was very relaxed. The kids did not wake up until about 9:00. WOW! Then we gave them baths, got dressed, ate breakfast, and then did Christmas. That wasn't until about 11:00. It was a nice easy going morning!

The tree on Christmas morning before the kids woke up.

Kai was too excited to eat breakfast, so he just had his juice.

Gabi had a yummy chocolate donut!

The kids opening their stockings. We got new stockings this year. Even the new baby has one. (it is the one up in the top right hand corner. His is the only one without a name.)

Kai got a candy tube and a little doggy on top that makes noise and walks around.

Daddy helping Kai open the rest of his stocking.

Gabi got some new hair pretties.

Now moving onto the tree presents. Kai got dress up clothes from grandmom. These are the accessories for the firefighter costume. Maybe we can get him away from his sister's dress up clothes now!

Gabi got a Barbie movie.

Kai is into anything cars, trucks, etc. right now. This is his new race track.

Gabi is growing up. She is now getting interested in Barbies. This is her new Barbie Mariposa.

Kai's first remote control vehicle. This is a Mickey Mouse train that I picked up for him at Disney World when Gabi and I went at the beginning of December.