California Dreamin' Part V

As I mentioned in my first California post, Allison chose a visit to California over a birthday party this year. She was so excited to spend her 7th birthday with her cousin Samara, Aunt Bonnie and Uncle Michael. When I asked her what she wanted to do the actual day of her birthday, her requests were simple:

"I'd like to have a picnic lunch and hold Samara and to eat on the picnic I want strawberries and I don't know anything else that I really want, it depends on where we're eating the picnic. I want it on a flat grass with a blanket."

Ask and you shall receive....so Bonnie picked a great park with a train, merry-go-round, playgrounds and lots of "flat grass". The weather was picture perfect for the special occasion.
Here we are all set up for our picnic:

After lunch, Allison opened a few presents from Aunt Bonnie and Uncle Michael and Jeff and I. Aunt Bonnie gave her this super cute dress:

Before we left for California I also happened to mention to Bonnie that Allison had been asking for a camera. Bonnie just happened to have an old one lying around that she didn't use anymore so she wrapped it and gave it to Allison (who was more than excited to receive it!). Then Daniel and Jeff took a ride on the merry-go-round while Allison and I took pictures:

The kids also had a great time on the playground:

They also found an airplane to play on:

And Daniel insisted on standing on the wing and proclaiming "I'm king of the world!"

Then he jumped to daddy:

Then we headed back to Aunt Bonnie and Uncle Michael and Samara who had awoken from her nap:

The kids also had lots of fun playing with a soccer ball in the soft grass. That's one thing I miss about living in Maryland - we don't have this kind of grass in Florida!

Check out the 7 year old!! (holy cow I have a 7 year old!!)

My favorite part of the day...sno cones!!

After the park, we went back to Bonnie and Michael's and celebrated some more with 7 cupcakes for the 7 year old!

In case we hadn't ingested enough sugar yet we ended the day by making smores!

There may not have been a big party but I think this is a birthday Allison will remember for many years to come! Up next...our last two days in California.