A's 6th & E's 4th birthday

A’s birthday luckily fell on a Saturday.  So she got a whole day of playing.  Even better, it was a whole day of playing with daddy and cousins.  He arrived home late the night before from his Alaska trip.  So on Saturday morning I had to go to the gym while Daddy and L made breakfast in bed for A.  We gave her a new outfit to wear that day (and a new nightgown for that night).  We played and watched cartoons until lunchtime.  Then we met my brother in law and his family for lunch at Café Zupa (A’s request as she loves their soup and the chocolate covered strawberries).  After that we ran a few errands, including taking A to get her ears pierced!  We had to wait awhile for the technician to finish with someone else first but when it was her turn, she picked out some adorable rainbow colored crystal daisy earrings and then clung to the store’s special birthday bear as she braved the experience.  She got to pick out a few more pairs of earring to take home with her when she was done.  (They look SO cute on her!)  Then we went shopping and she picked out a new pair of much-needed sandals.  After a bit more shopping, we went home and started on our evening feast.  We grilled the fish, fresh from Alaska that Daddy had caught, along with half dozen favorite side dishes and a special Reese’s chocolate cake that A helped decorate.  The girls played with their cousins through the evening and then finished the night off with a movie and sleepover with cousins.  

E’s birthday fell on a Wednesday so it had more of our usual commitments but luckily, she’s so easy to make happy.  She also got a special breakfast and a new outfit to wear.  While husband was at work and sisters were at school, we went to the grocery store to get stuff for the birthday party and ran a few errands.  We had a special picnic lunch and went to the park.  In the evening, husband had a work dinner so we had special girls night with a new movie and lots of treats.

The official celebration happened that Saturday.  We spent Friday night decorating cupcakes, purple frosting and pink sparkles for Twlight Sparkle and blue frosting with rainbows for Rainbow Dash.  On Saturday, we played through the morning, were joined by Papa and Grammy as we ran a few errands and fixed a quick lunch.  L had a dance rehearsal and a team meeting.  And then we headed out for the party.  When we arrived, barely on time, at the pool, they weren’t ready for us yet.  So there was a little bit of a shuffle to ready the party room.  The girls helped design the menu and even fashion little placards for the food (Pinky Pie pizzas, Apple Jack’s apples, Fluttershy’s bunny snacks, Rarity’s sparking punch plus Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle cupcakes.  We all ate as their guests arrived and then sang to the two birthday girls.  As everyone finished up their dinner and cupcakes, the two girls opened their presents with plenty of squealing and cheering.  They particularly loved the Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle stuffed animal/backpacks Grammy had found, the art kits that A’s friend gave them, a new lego kit from another friend, the new outfits from Grammy and the Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle piggy banks that L gave them.

Once all the gifts were open, we turned the kids loose in the pool.  They had such a blast as they scattered in nearly every direction.  L and A repeatedly dove off the diving board while E ran laps around the play area.  All the kids took turns riding the water slide and sneaking into the hot tub.  But best of all, they got to bounce around with friends and cousins and had a fantastic time.

first day of school 2015

All three girls started school on a different day (not ideal for me but we tried to make it their own “special week”).  We did pictures just before we left, including the “when I grow up…” picture.  L said she wants to be a policewoman.  A said she wants to be a doctor and E said a teacher.

L came bounding off the bus, so happy and near giddy, proclaiming that second grade was way better than first grade and her whole day was awesome!  She has several good friends from last year in her class which has been a good confidence boost compared to last year.  At her six week parent teacher conference, all of her test scores are well above the target, mostly at the top of the scoring range.

A was more than ready with not a hint of nervousness.  L and A walked to the bus stop together and boarded with no hesitation or even a glance back at me.  She also reported having had a great day.  We had a brief hiccup when they sent her home of the wrong bus route but it was easily resolved.  So far she loves school—riding the bus, spending a few minutes with L in the library before the bell, playing with friends on the playground, learning Spanish, etc.  Her biggest struggle is containing her excitement and behavior (not talking when the teacher is talking and staying focused).

I got to go with E for the first hour of her first day.  Mostly she was very concerned that her best friend from the previous year was not there yet.  She saved him the seat next to her and announced every two minutes that he would come.  (fortunately he did and she was ecstatic.)  She showed no shyness and jumped right in to playing games and singing along.  Her only moment of hesitation is when she told me she was worried that she didn’t know how to read yet and that the teacher would ask her to read.  Similarly, on her first day of dance class, she was very worried the teacher would ask them to do “flippies” but she doesn’t know how yet.  She was easily comforted both times and is loving every minute.

Labor Day weekend

We left super early on Saturday morning, sneaking the pajama clad girls from their beds and into their carseats.  Husband was out of town but Grammy and Papa arrived late the night before and spent the night.  So we left early, hoping the kids would go right back to sleep.

They didn’t.  But the trip was eventful anyway.  They rested, we played and talked and read books and ate snacks.  And eventually we arrived at the cabin mid morning.  The girls were thrilled to see their friend (my cousin’s daughter), grandma-great, my auntie and especially grandma-great’s dogs.  We stayed until Monday afternoon.  The girls played imagination games, played with the crafts and activities my auntie brought, did puzzles, played board games, painted pictures and sun catchers, blew bubbles, put on talent shows, walked the dogs multiple times a day, watched movies, played with playdough and more.  We ate tons of BLTs (family favorite) and had a fantastic dutch oven dinner.  Papa chased them around playing “zombie” and they slept soundly each night, waking up with the sun each morning, eager to play again.

The quote of the weekend came from E, “Look mom, a deer! So pretty! I will shoot it! And eat it.”

highlights from today's Primary Program

1.  driving to church, we encouraged the girls to each recite their parts.  L and A were flawless, E started (with the usual sneaky looking grin) and A tried to prompt her.  E got mad, yelled at her sister, sister yelled back and we ended the brief rehearsal.
2.  Papa and Grammy surprised us! They were waiting at the chapel, having come to hear the program.  The kids scrambled onto their laps for cuddles and kisses through the first portion on the meeting.  Grammy whispered to E that she was so excited about the program and had a special surprise for the girls if they sang so Grammy could hear.  E immediately launched into "You Are My Sunshine", despite the quiet reverence throughout the chapel.  It took repeated attempts to shush her and curb her eagerness.
3.  Husband sat on the front row with his class of 3-4 year olds.  Mostly he refereed an ongoing wrestling match between two of the kids (including E), most of which took place on his lap.  When it was E's turn, she spoke her part so adorably and clearly, asking one of the teachers to prompt her.  Immediately after the program, she repeatedly recited her part with no prompting.  I knew she could, I think she only asked for help because all the other kids did.
4. I sat with my class of 5-6 year olds, including A.  They are one of the better behaved classes (if I do say so myself) and it was mostly uneventful.  A recited her line perfectly and I was most proud of one of my super shy kids who struggles with severe anxiety.  Not only did he come to sit with me on the stand, he sang along intermittently and even agreed to do his speaking part, surprising not only me and the presidency but even his parents.
5.  L sat with her class and was a perfect angel.  (She might be nervous or shy or possibly showing off for the boy next to her whom I think she has a crush on.  I caught her holding hands with him during our Primary practice as an extended "sharing the arm rest".)