Ali's Hawaiian Hula Birthday

My special little "Squeeker Bug" turned 5 years old today!! And is she excited about it!! It must be hard to be the youngest in the group - and I'm sure it doesn't help that she's a good 2 inches shorter than most her friends. When I came home from work this morning, Ali met me at the door and said, "Someone in this house has a birthday today. Know who it is?" When we went to the grocery store to pick up her cake (she ordered her own cake at the bakery- chocolate with chocolate fudge filling) she sang "It's my birthday! Today I'm 5! I'm 5! I'm 5! I'll never be 4 no more!" Up and down the aisles this went on until we reached the checkout and the cashier asked Ali if she happened to have a birthday today? Her Hula party that 4 friends from soccer and 1.5 cousins attended was the perfect ending.
Now at the end of the day I'm looking at the mess in our living room and wondering where the time went. I can't believe I have a 5 year old! Tomarrow we're going to the mall to have her picture taken so when I'm bewildered by my daughter turning 15 I can look back....

Big, Exciting News!

We are extending our family by two feet.

Addition to be completed March, 2009.

A Bike With Two Wheels

Yesterday Ali attempted to ride her bike with training wheels during our evening walk. She leans so heavily on the left training wheel that it will no longer turn. It was very frustrating for her and for Daddy who had to walk the little bike home. So last night she decided she was done with training wheels. Daddy took them off. I think that 'almost 5' is too young for a two-wheeler, but Daddy disagrees. He claims he was wearing a dirt track around his house on his bike by the time he was 5. I bet he was one of those little boys that was all activity, all the time. God bless his mother. Anyway, Ali was ready to strap on her helmet and have a go at it by 8am this morning. After Joe was off work and it was starting to cool off, we finally agreed to take her. You have to understand my hesitation - the kid still has stitches in her face and we're going to teach her how to crash a bike??

I can't believe how well she did on her first try!! Joe was such a great instructor! The first few blocks were about the basics of falling - always aim for the grass (as opposed to the street!) After she figured out how to pedal fast and steer at the same time - she rode a straight line for about a block with Daddy running faithfully beside her! Joe is so proud of her! And I am so proud of them both!!

Bummer!

What a day!! We went to the library this morning only to find out we were 2 hours early and the library was closed. So we decided to hang out at the park next to the library. It was a nice cool day (only 90) and we had nothing else going on. Within 10 minutes, Mia had an accident. A very wet one. And I didn't have any back up pants. So we made do with a diaper I had in the trunk and carried on. 10 minutes later, Ali falls off the monkey bars and smacks her chin on a piece of wood. I didn't see it happen, this is her account. It's an old fashioned wooden play structure, so I think it was on the way down that she hit her face. Anyway, she was screaming and bleeding all over and when I pulled her hand away, the wound was gaping in such a way I knew I couldn't fix it with a band-aide. She continued to scream all the way to the car (not because it hurt, but because she did not WANT to leave and she did not WANT to go to the Dr.). Then Mia starts crying because "Ali bonked! Ali owie! Ohhhh, Ali! No, no Ali!"

So here she is 4 stitches and 1 Happy Meal later. No more crying. She did okay through the procedure - screamed murder when they injected the lidocaine to numb it. When she calmed down and started talking to the Dr. about her birthday party, I started crying.... Oh, the drama. I'm sure they're used to it at Urgent Care. The worst part of the whole thing is that we can't go swimming for 7 days. Bummer.

Showered with Love

So, last night was the baby shower for my sister Leslie and Baby Pierce. My mom and I took great pride in doing the shower ourselves - from the invitations to the diaper cake - it was all us!

We kind of waited till the last minute to have the party - Baby is due in 37 days and the family consensus is that he will be here before that!

Several of Leslie's "Favorite Aunties" sent gifts and warm wishes from Washington and her best friend Allison drove down from Nebraska to be here. It all made her feel very special!

Natalie was invited to spend the evening with the ladies by Auntie Leslie. She was given plenty of opportunity to do fun stuff with Daddy and Mia, but she chose to come to the shower. And she was fabulous! She had helped with the diaper cake and gift wrapping and felt like a part of the activity. She drank sprite and pomegranite juice and ate tarts. Very sophisticated. And polite. And helpfull. I was very proud of her maturity. Ali said, "Well, I'm almost a big girl 'ya know. 5 year olds like baby showers."

Dining Out

We took the girls to a Japanese Steakhouse and I didn't think to bring my camera... They had the best time! We sat around the Hibachi Grill and watched our chef cook our dinner. They ate fried rice with chop sticks! It was so cute! Here they are eating their leftovers with their chop sticks.

Girlie Toes

This and That

Ali's latest accomplishment is holding her breath under water. She has enviously observed the other kids at the pool and finally took the plunge. She looks so cute in her goggles! And she is so proud! I'm trying to get her to jump in with her water wings on now that she can hold her breath, but she puts me off and says, "Well, maybe when I am 6." Mia is speaking in sentences. I'm going to miss her "Mia-Speak" which is a combination of words and charades. Tattling on Ali used to consist of: "Ali (hits self on head) me". She's attempting 3 syllable words now. This morning she followed me around the kitchen holding a packet of strawberries and cream instant oatmeal - "Eat me (oatmeal). Pink eat me. Me eat? Breakfast?" It's so hard to keep a straight face. Even Ali chuckled at that one.

Isn't it good to have a best friend?

Boys Don't Grow Up

Their toys just get more expensive...

Joe has been asking me to post some pictures of his new dream car. It's a 2002 Lexus IS 300. He is forever tinkering with it in the garage. Or washing it. Or tearing around the neighborhood in it. Both our girls start asking for "revs" as soon as they are buckled into it. I don't really get it, but then - he doesn't get my thing for Baby Gap either. =)

Volunteering

Miss. Natalie has become the youngest volunteer at a "living history" museum. She and I give our time once or twice a month to represent a family of 10 that lived in a little 15X16 ft. cabin back in the 1850's. We tie on our work aprons and do our chores. Ali is great! The kids that come through are captivated by a little person their own age telling them what life was like over a hundred years ago. She is so enthusiastic - the kids really relate to her. We've become rather popular at the museum...

Ali is learning valuable lessons about history and the importance of volunteering and participating in her community. I am amazed at her level of retention - she remembers how the butter churn works, how to grind the coffee, gather the eggs, and facts about our historical family after not having been there in weeks. And we really have a lot of fun!

Ali grinds buckets of coffee. It's her favorite chore. When I asked her what her favorite chore is at home, she said she doesn't have one. Go figure!

This is the other chore Ali really likes. My favorite chore is sitting in the old rocker and supervising the kiddos... If you were hoping to see a picture of me in my pioneer dress, you'll have to be disappointed. I know why pioneer women always look so serious and unhappy in photographs - they knew how unflattering their dresses were. I choose to maintain some dignity.