Party Day!

Today was Goosie's birthday party. Her first with friends. She invited 10 girls to join her and Peanut at their gymnastics center and everyone had a great time! They did an obstacle course of the tumble trampoline,

the balance beam,

somersaults and pit-jumping.

The girls also played the parachute game called Sharks and Minnows, or Sharks and Lifeguards as one girl called it. This was hysterical. The girls sat with their legs out straight under the parachute. There was one shark who was under the parachute and would grab the legs of the other girls trying to recruit them as sharks to pull more under. The lifeguard would try to rescue the girls before they were pulled under. It was so funny to watch girls just *poof!* disappear! This is a shot of Goosie getting rescued by two lifeguards and the shark coming out of the water after her!

This is a cool shot of one little shark under the water~alas, I don't have an underwater camera and the shot is all blurred, but I thought it looked really pretty.

In no time at all it was cake time. I haven't mentioned the cake yet. Goosie, as always, was specific as to what she wanted: "A cake with Kit's face on it and pink polka dots around it." *gulp* Ok. This kid once again has way too much faith in what her mom can pull off. Weeks ago one of the gymnastic moms I chat with during the girls' classes mentioned doing a chocolate outline and inverting it onto the cake. I was sold on that idea! So, I tried it.

Of course, nothing is without it's challenge. I was out of wax paper and parchment, so I piped it onto a freezer baggie. I piped it with a medicine dropper-the kind that looks like a syringe because I thought I could get finer detail. (I was wrong about that, but it worked.) Kit's freckles were rather large. Noses are very hard to translate with chocolate. Her eyes sort of scared me, and Derek kept teasing because Kit's part and clip were on the wrong side. I kept worrying it looked like Martha Stewart more than Kit.

But Goosie, my sweet, sweet girl kept saying "It's ok mom. You don't have to get all the details." She LOVED her cake. She was so excited for everyone to see it. She couldn't wait. She, once again, lets mom know what's important. Not being perfect, but trying to give all you can with as much love as you have.

Goosie had a really fun time with all her friends, and I think she felt very special to have so many people to celebrate with her this year. I'm thankful that she has such a sweet group of friends and that everyone had a great time.

Goosie Turns Five!

Today our Goosie turned 5! She got to celebrate at school with her friends~how exciting! For her family party, she wants a Hello Kitty cake, and I thought she'd want to do Hello Kitty cupcakes for her class. Alas, she said "Well, there are a lot of boys in my class and I think they wouldn't like Hello Kitty cupcakes." So, she chose a funfetti cake mix and frosting, helped me make them and was very proud to bring them to school today.


She also put together goodie bags for her friends. I wasn't too excited about this, but I think we kept it simple and she was excited to do them. We chose mini Tootsie pops, a candy necklace kit that you have to string yourself first, either a Cars or a princess temporary tattoo, and then Goosie made bookmarks for all her friends. She also made a bag for her teachers.


After school, and lunch, we opened some gifts from Grandma Sharon, Grandma Sue, Peanut and from Derek and me.





For dinner she wanted "Chinese noodles", so we made chicken lo mein. I added bok choy and Rooibos tea. She and Peanut helped shred the vegetables. It was tasty!


Mmm tea!


Or juice!


Finally, we had the birthday cupcake. Yes, she had 2 cupcakes today. The official cake will be Saturday. Make a wish!


You too Peanut, big sister wanted you to have a wish too. :)


My sweet girls.

How can my Goosie be 5?

Goosie Goes to Preschool!

Today was the big day~I woke up early and got ready. I stopped Peanut from waking Goosie up and we went down to make pancakes. I fed Peanut...still, Goosie slept. A full 50 minutes later than she usually would! Then she came down and said, "That pancake smell woke me up!"

We had Mickey Mouse pancakes and bananas. Then we washed up, brushed teeth ("Can you do it for me this morning mom?"), got dressed, did hair. She was so excited. "I go to school today!" Derek got Peanut dressed, I washed her up and did her teeth and hair too. While I was doing that, Derek took the "first day of school pictures". Little sister did jump in for some, and they are all too cute to me.

We got to school 5 minutes before they open the door to let us in. Waved at new friends. Then Goosie found her locker and put her backpack in it. She instantly found her nametag and put her folder where she was supposed to. Goosie had made her teacher, Mrs. J., a picture of the two of them and had written her teacher's name on it, so Goosie gave that to her. Mrs. J. pulled Goosie aside and asked her to write her name on it, which she promptly did. She felt way special.

Then she chose a table and sat down to color, and off we went. It was a little sad (we cried last night as we checked on her when we went to bed), and Derek kept noticing and saying things to make me tear up more! But we took Peanut for a doughnut, got a balloon for when it was time to pick her up from school, did some "school work" with Peanut at home and colored and made her a folder too.

Time came to pick up our big girl and she and her friends were outside waiting with backpacks on. She was smiling so big, waved goodbye to her teachers "See you Wednesday!" Her teacher said it was interesting to see the skill level of the kids..."Goosie is waayyy up here" she said. We got in the car and Goosie told us how it all went:

"We colored and then got on the carpet and sang three songs and read "The Kissing Hand" and then we made our hands and put a sticker there! They were too wet to bring home, so my teacher said the next time we could-we used paint-and then we played outside some and had snack with teeny little cups of apple juice. I drank mine right away! And Goldfish crackers. They were tasty. And we sang the "Twinkle Star" song and did some things with our hands-like that...And I didn't get any paint on me!"

:D She had a good day. We had lunch and came home to rest-mom too! She ended up in bed with me because "I'm not tired and I promise I won't be crabby!" But she fell asleep watching me sleep. Peanut woke and then I did too, and I lay there a bit watching my Goosie next to me. I swear she grew as she was sleeping too.

Where am I? What season is it?

This was a scene in my neighborhood yesterday:

How very fall-like.

Today? It's currently 89 degrees (F) and feels like 96 degrees, and is windy but 57% humidity (but feels worse if you ask me). You can't breathe out there and the wind just pushes the wall of humidity in your face more. It's weird! The good news is that it's supposed to thunderstorm again here tonight. Last night there was weird heat lightening going on-lots of it. Ah, Michigan, you are such a weather tease.

I tried fall/winter clothes on the girls today. My little Goosie, who is 4 1/2, has some size 4 pants that don't fit anymore, and some that are too big. But she only has 5 pair to wear or grow into. Shirts? Enough to start the season in, but none to end it in (or wear in between!)

Peanut, who will be 3 in September, has some size 2 pants that she can wear still (overalls and leggings) that she can start the season in, tons of size 3 pants and shirts from big sister, but the pants are all too big, especially in the waist. :/ Should be an interesting season for her!

Projects

The girls love a project. "Let's do a project mom!" So, about a week ago, I said it to them first-"Let's do a project!" They were more than ready for one. This idea came from a group on Ravelry called "Little House on the Prairie". We are reading the series and doing projects from within the chapters. (We're ahead on the reading, but don't tell anyone!)

I took a pillowcase and cut it into 2 pieces. Then we ventured outside and picked some flowers. Armed with wooden blocks, you place flower petals under the pillow case (over newspaper or magazines) and pound away. We had some trouble with the blocks, so the girls tried rocks-perfect! Pounding away any stress, frustration, or extra energy, we pulverized the pretty flower petals (and stems, leaves-even chives!) and made these great prints! I will heat set them in the dryer and frame them. I have the perfect spot to hang these, and the girls were so proud. (Although I think I needed to do the pounding more than they did!)

My Notta Birthday

Today, as I was in the shower, my girls came in and said "Mom, when you're done, can you make my bed and your bed?"

"Umm, sure..."

Peanut said, "Mine too?"

"Sure...why?"

"'Cause we have a surprise for you."

"Ok, tell me when I can come down!"

So I went down and found this:

The Partygoers and decorations:

My gifts:

The Party Planners:

It's not my birthday at all, but I think we'll have ice cream after dinner tonight, just for fun. :) And yes, that's B.O.B. from "Monsters vs. Aliens" in a knit cape. You don't have one of those? We love to line up the "guys" around here and organize them. There are certain families that have to go together according to Goosie, and she gets pretty bent out of shape if Peanut doesn't follow the orders.

I love my surprise.

Little Cozy

Went to the dentist today and my little Goosie did so well! I haven't seen her get her teeth cleaned the last 2 times because they whisk her off to different area while I get my teeth done. She's such a big girl. She said they didn't  do Xrays because it was hard to "bite the things". (They've gone to these digital bite plates for the Xrays and it made me tear up today! Those things don't have any give at all and it cut into my mouth! owie!) 

Anyway, no cavities for her, she looked great. I knew I had a filling that was breaking down, and I still have to get that done, but they said they found a little cavity between two of my teeth. Dang it. They were trying to show me on the Xrays, "See? Right there?" Uh--no. 

Then we came home, had lunch and caught a nap. Even I passed out on the couch for a bit. Next thing I know, Peanut is downstairs, playing near me, and I wake up and see that she had given me her kitty to sleep with. She's such a sweet baby. She then laid down with me, snuggled in really good and said "little cozy". Sigh~good day. :)

"Sumpin' Else"

My little Peanut is 2 1/2. Right around the time when she turned 2, she started to try to stall when it was bedtime. She'd say, "Mommy!" I'd respond, "Yes?" And she would say, "Ummmm, sumpin' else!" :) It was very funny. She'd say it when we offered her a choice of food, drink, clothing, books, toys, whatever. "Sumpin' else." 

She has moved on in her little phrases, and the current one is, said in this tone of great wonder/surprise, "oohh! Cutieful!" Cute + Beautiful = Cutieful. Another current one is "actually, ..." She uses it appropriately and it slays me. 

Goosie has always used "actually" as well. She also said "Lasterday", "I can't think about it" (for "I can't remember") and she uses the word "how" in place of the word "while". For example: "I want to have chocolate milk how we watch a show." She actually made fun of Peanut today for using the word "while" in the right way! 

I just had to get these down on paper. It's a sweet, funny little kid thing that you have to remember. My mom tells me that I used to say "cattoos" for "tattoos" and while I was saying the "Hail Mary" I'd say "a young woman" instead of "among women". :) 

So, do your kids have sweet little ways of saying things? Keep track of them, they're here and gone so fast. 

"Totally Me!"

So totally me! :) Yesterday we stopped and got Goosie a knitting machine-the "Totally Me Knitting Machine" for $11 (deal!). She was so excited to get home and try it. Lunch came first because the headache was starting. Then I tried setting it up...and the headache got worse. 

This 

didn't help. There were 3 little tangles of yarn that had to be completely unknotted. What the heck man?! I finally got the pink one done and balled it up and put the whole thing away until today. After rests/nottanaps, it was too late to get the thing started. 

So, tonight, we did. Got it going, after much difficulty. I'm convinced I could have taught her to actually knit with needles in less time. :) The directions were not very helpful to me, but we got there. She had a blast turning the crank and seeing the progress. And she ended up with this:

She was so thrilled! And my little peanut? She turned the crank a couple times and then...

It was only 6:40! Sweet sleepy baby. We've never had this happen! Nottanaps make bedtime easier tonight! Yippee!

Happy Birthday, Docka Seuss!

That's how my Peanut says "doctor"--docka. I love it. :) Didn't remember it was his birthday until someone mentioned it on the Stitch-It Podcast group in Ravelry though, so no green eggs and ham for breakfast today. We did read the book though, and Goosie thinks it's a "good thing he tried it or he would still think he didn't like it!" Ah Dr. Seuss, you genius you. Happy Birthday!