Pajama Party

L attended a trial run at an overnight Pajama Party tonight. The party was held by the mom of another Daisy member. L was decked out in her princess pj's and brought along her bear while wearing her slippers. She was a bit nervous because she couldn't remember our phone number so I wrote it on her bear and she felt better. She usually can recite the number without fail but not tonight. No matter - the bear was there if needed. They had ice cream sundaes and lots of squealing. She was happy to see me when I picked her up. As soon as I got her buckled in the van, she declared herself "SOOOOO TIRED!!!". She promptly fell asleep within 10 minutes of getting home : -)

L's Words

L told me tonight that she would bring my grandkids over for me to watch while she went to the movies then she gave me her killer smile and huge, warm hugs that she is so good at :-) Oh how that warmed my heart to my toes and back!!!

Funny Words

After tasting some spicy salsa and drinking a whole glass of water, with watery eyes S said "I am DEFINITELY NEVER eating that stuff again EVER!!" We tried to tell him it was spicy but he insisted on trying it.

Getting out of the bath after an hour long bike ride, L said "My legs hurt like DEATH!" Yes L - I would guess death would hurt.

Jokester

S actually tried to pull a joke over on me today. L had a sheet, from the dryer, so she was snug in this warm cloth and running around the house, being crazy. I guess her and her brother (that would be S) decided to have a little fun with Mama. She curled up in a ball in the living room while S came and got me (I was on the computer - shocking, I know!). He said he couldn't find L. I listed all the usual places to find her ending with "Maybe she's outside with Daddy". He said in the coy little voice "Maybe she is, I don't know" all the while knowing she was in the living room, hiding under this warm, snuggly sheet. I found her, tickled both of them and pronounced S a silly jokester for pulling a prank on me. He was laughing so hard. I couldn't believe how convincing he was that he didn't know where she was and all the while, they were playing a trick on me. What does the future hold for these 2 planning kids of mine???

Happy 5th Birthday, L!!

Today is L's actual birthday. 5 years ago at 8:33 AM I gave birth to the most wonderful little girl to grace the face of this planet (I might be a little biased!). She is amazing - very thoughtful and considerate. I don't treasure her nearly enough nor have I taken advantage of each moment to spend with her. I have taken her for granted more times than not. I am so lucky to be her mom. If I had one thing to change, it's to be more patient with her. Hopefully I can work on this and make this change to better her life (and mine, and S's and J's and Daddy's!!)

I woke her up this morning with a great big hug and a cheerful Happy Birthday. We had gotten her 5 balloons and Blow Pops while she was sleeping last night so she saw those first thing when she came out of her room this morning. Blow Pops were a big deal because the house rule around here is no bubble gum until you are five - well today was a monumental day for her.... she got bubble gum!!! She then noticed the doll house we got her that she really wanted so very badly. It was $130 at the store and we just couldn't swing that right now. She was warned that this would probably be a Christmas toy from Santa rather than a birthday gift. Our neighbors who garage sale for a living had one at their house. Daddy noticed when he went over to help them 2 days ago and got it for.... $10 yep 10 bucks. It looks brand new! We spent an hour last night wiping it down with Clorox wipes (best invention EVER!) so it was clean and shiny. She has played with that toy all day.

One comment to remember from the day: L was standing in the kitchen in her jammies just moments after getting up and said while stretching her good morning stretch"I think I am taller now that I am 5". Too cute!

After playing with her gifts (we also got her a Birthday Barbie and a new elevation track pack for GeoTrax), it was breakfast time. We always do special birthday pancakes and since happy birthday with candles. She put in a request for a pancake that looked like a Barbie. I tried my hardest:

She was pleased with her Barbie pancake : -) We enjoyed our breakfast together.

Next up was a birthday gathering with her homeschool group. We had the whole group over to play complete with pizza for lunch and ice cream sundaes (total party for 12 kids and 8 adults - less than $20 thanks to my coupon shopping!!) She enjoyed the company of everyone but having the neighbor girls over really made her day. She thrived with all the little girl giggling!! Our homeschool group has become so wonderful to us. I am thankful for the friendships I have made with these women. I do believe God has brought them into my life at this time for a special reason.

After everyone left, we settled down for nap time. I was able to get about a 30 minute catnap and was awoken by the birthday girl. I bargained with her for some snuggle time, which I just don't get enough from her. She laid down with me for about 10 minutes and we chatted about her party and about her being 5. I valued this time immensely!!!

Nap time quickly came to end (dang it!) and we were up getting a birthday cake baked. Before I could con any kids into helping, a show auto-tuned for the kids. Daddy Piper had timered Spy Kids 3 for the older 2. It was a special treat having a movie in the afternoon - this is usually a big no-no around here. L sat glued to the show while S lost interest after approx. 15 minutes.

No kids helped bake the cake but L helped frost it. Her and I had the most glorious time together complete with much laughter and tons of sugar. The frosting was running off the plate quicker than L could lick it up. We alternated giggling with shrieking laughter at the mess we were making - fun times!!!!Dinner was leftover pizza and that yummy, messy cake we made earlier. I had leftover Taco Soup with cilantro fresh from the garden - delish!!

L's birthday was everything she hoped for - she told me at bedtime tonight. She was so happy to hang out with the neighbor girls, enjoyed getting a doll house special from her Daddy and LOVED getting to have gum.

Some things to remember about L being 5:

• She can read like no one's business. I mean everything she gets her hands on - reminds of her Mama!
• She's very smart. She gets upset if we skip regular workbook time. She will ask to do schoolwork periodically throughout the day - even if it's already been completed for the day.
  
• She is very, very thoughtful.
• She loves to color and do craft time, regularly.
• She is enjoys playing soccer. She may not be the best but she has fun and tried her hardest.
• She lights up when she talks about dancing.
  
• She makes friends easily.
• She is starting to comb her own hair now.
• She is mindful of her brothers. Example: I took J to the garden with me today while she was watching a movie. She ran out 5 minutes later and screaming she couldn't find J, not realizing I had him. I calmed her down and showed her he was with me.
  
• She is a swimmer. She loves to dunk her head under water and float around.
• She can now chew bubble gum : -)
  

Happy Birthday L! We love you more with each day. I am so happy to be your mommy. I hope to have my actions reflect that more each day.

Recital Rehearsal

Tonight was the dress rehearsal for L's recital tomorrow. It will be her first dance recital ever, but not her last if she has a say : -) This has been a big deal in our home for days and days. She is beyond excited. Today while getting ready, I was treated to the most fun time with her. I got to blow-dry her hair and wrap it up in curlers and then do her make-up. I wish I had taken a picture of our bathroom during this - it was littered and cluttered with makeup, hair curlers, combs, perfume and the like. I did get a picture of her during the dressing process. I enjoyed the "girly" dressing as much if not more than I enjoyed the rehearsal tonight! Both boys hung out with us while getting L ready. S had as much as I did watching L get ready. J just wanted me to hold him. He still doesn't feel so well : -(

I did lose my patience once though during the dressing time. I yelled at her when she cried while I was doing her hair. I hate when I do that - why do I have to lose my patience at the worst times?? I apologized immediately - hope that helped in her eyes. I am a crappy mom sometimes but do realize it and apologize when I am wrong, like yelling at her when she started to cry because I didn't want her to ruin her makeup.

Back to the dance stuff. The rehearsal went well. L really enjoyed being with all the other dancers. She is really hoping to take dance again next fall but we'll have to see. She wants to do dance and soccer but that would be 3 nights a week we would be gone and I just don't want to miss that many family dinners every week. Right when we got there, so many of the other little girls had sparkly dust stuff all over them and I hadn't thought about it so L didn't have any. A lady let us borrow some and I promised to get L her own for the recital tomorrow. At least we were able to borrow some tonight so she glittered for her pics :- ) L danced so cute on stage. Tomorrow should go well. The plan was for me to drop her off at 5:15 with a stage mom and come back at 6 and watch the recital but she didn't want me to leave her (which made me so happy to hear!!) so now I'll go with her and Daddy will come later with the boys.

Daddy stayed home with S and I brought J with me to the dress rehearsal. S has really enjoyed having so much time with Daddy lately. And Daddy had work today (THANK YOU GOD!!) so having some one on one time tonight was great for him. They were playing T-Ball when we got home.

S called Daddy earlier today - by himself. I heard talking in the living room while I was showering L and I walked out here to hear S talking with Daddy. Guess S knows how to use my phone. He called to tell Daddy monster trucks were on the TV : -)

The garden is growing good. I had to replace a couple plants today. Thankfully Home Depot replaced them for free, although that isn't their policy technically I guess. So now we have a new cilantro and cucumber. The watermelon plant is growing like crazy and our first tomato is turning red. The other stuff is still just sprouting and growing. Hopefully in the next month or so we'll be enjoying the fruits (or veggies) of our labor. I did try our peach jam that we made a week or so ago for the first time tonight. Heaven in a jar. I tried it on my first loaf of homemade bread (recipe from the Artisan Bread in 5 minutes).

Life is good. No life is GREAT. I am thankful Daddy has work; thankful for my children (even with the current lack of sleep due to #3); thankful that I have the opportunity to stay home and nurture and grow our children and take care of our home. Many things to be thankful today!!!

Airplane to Mexico

Tonight while tending to the garden with L (doesn't that so cool!), we were having some fun conversations. One of them went like this:

L: "Mom if I were an airplane, you could ride me all over"
Mom: "Where would we go?"
L: "We could go to Mexico [somewhere she has never been]"
Mom: "Sounds fun - let's go! What would we do there?"
L: "Drink Beer"
Mom: (acting quite stunned - we are not beer drinkers on a regular basis) "Oh yea - why would we do that?"
L: answering quite seriously "Because you can't drink the water in the Mexico!!"

Now where did she come up with that???

Hodge Pdoge

I was downloading pics from our fun day (more on that a minute) and remembered these pics from a couple days ago. Both boys were just up from naps and were snuggling in Daddy's chair. I grabbed the camera and snapped a few pics. From the playroom I heard this "Mom - what are you doing?" I replied with "Taking some pictures of the boys, L". She came back with "Well I am out here, why are you taking pictures without me???". I told her to come join in the fun but she was mad by this point because I was taking pictures of the boys and had not included her. I did explain that I was only taking pictures of them because they were impromptu hanging out in the chair together. It didn't appease her one bit. Here are those cute pics though : -)

Fresh from nap and not at all happy I dragged the camera out.Okay now they are warming up to the idea.

Baby J still a bit sleepy from naptime.

Oh what a smile my baby has and look at those teeth (he has 4 now)!!

Now the smiles are abundant but not at the same time ;-)

Yesterday we went to a local museum (where I talked about the coincidence or what is it?). The museum was so much fun as always. I have some pics from there too (I know surprise, surprise!!)

Baby J in the baby crawlers area.S popping out of one of the bubble type of chairs in the reading area.

L & S in the dark room area with a black light on. They loved how their clothes glowed.

More modeling of the cute hats in the black light room.

Baby J watching the puppet show put on by L & S.

Puppet show from 2 of my favorite monsters!!

Today was a trip to the Zoo! I'll post about it later though because laundry is calling my name (and loudly too!!)

Chickens

In an effort to be more self-sufficient around here, the talk has come up more than once to get some chickens for egg purposes. I am completely and adamantly against such an act yet a chicken from next door has decided to make Daddy Piper's tire pile a nest and lay her eggs there. L and Daddy found this out yesterday. I found out today. L took me over to show me the chicken and her eggs. She followed that up by suggesting I get the camera and take a picture for our blog : -) Sadly we didn't make it out there before sundown (Dancing With The Stars was on - give me a break!) but hope to get out there first thing and get that picture!

In other news - our seeds are sprouting!! Corn and squash have sprouted. I hope some of the other stuff comes up soon as well. I don't want to spend the summer eating corn and squash only - some carrots and tomatoes would be nice as well.

Off to do laundry - my boy has no more undies!

L's Words

Kids say the funniest things.

Today at soccer it was blasted hot outside, L was running her little heart out, playing with all those boys (don't girls play soccer anymore?!) and she ran to me during the water break and said "It's so hot, you can crack an egg on my back!!" - what she meant was "It's so hot you can COOK an egg on my back". I was cracking up laughing so hard. It's the cutest thing when they get the phrase wrong and to hear it in their little voices. I wished that I had my video camera to capture the moment. Blogging about it will have to suffice!

Things Kids Say

We were planning an outing tomorrow since Daddy's work was canceled and we settled upon an trip to the Zoo. L said "Daddy can take us." I said "I want to come with too." She then informed me that I can stay home, feed Baby J and do the dishes - isn't she thoughtful! What a stinker she is : -)

Too Big

L bumped her head on the playset this evening. She got really upset and was crying, not because she was hurt but because if she bumped her head now, at age 4 then that must mean when she's 5, she'll be too big for it [the playset]! (words directly from her mouth!!)

L funny story

On Thanksgiving, L was running by and sneaking licks off my mother's coconut cake. By the time dessert was served, there was a long line off one side. I laughingly told her if she was going to sneak frosting off a cake to turn it when she was done so no one would notice. Tonight after dinner, we were eating cupcakes that we baked this morning and I stole some frosting off one and she said "Be sure to turn it Mom!". It was super funny! It also reinforced the idea that kids really do listen to every word we say :- )

"Do you understand me?"

So these words came out of my beautiful daughter's mouth tonight and they didn't sound so nice. I say this often to make sure she is "getting" what I am saying but hearing them come from her, they don't sound so great. Guess I need to find a new phrase and a better way to say it.