Aren’t Horizontal Stripes a Fashion No-No?

 

We had a modge podge of a weekend, so here goes…

Bowling was on Saturday again.  We always bowl right before Halloween, and you’re supposed to dress up.  We’ve had some really good costume years, and this was not one of them!  Mark was Waldo, I was Wenda, and the rest of the group is the crowd.  Can you spot us?  

                         

You will see this theme again in my Halloween Day post because I’m wearing Lexi’s costume.  Pretty sure her and her buddy Jack will be way cuter!  Funniest part of the night…when I saw someone taking a picture I would sneak up behind and pop my head in.  I think I’m in every picture that was taken that night.  I crack me up:)

Lexi wanted to do goody bags for her class.  Who knew it would be such a bonding experience?  All 3 girls worked together on it!

                          

Awwww…is that all my girls cooperating together?  Good thing I got a picture to prove it.

Tonight was pumpkin carving night.  Adrienne took on a difficult pattern for hers, Lexi was the master cleaner-outer, and Sof wasn’t sure about any of it.  Then again if I was sent to a different country and told to clean out a gourd with my hands so I can cut a stupid face in it I might be skeptical too.  She liked using the spoon best, but did put her hands in it a few times.  She did not like it when we lit it and turned the lights out!  I didn’t get a picture of the big girls finished products because I was putting Sof to bed!  Tomorrow…

  

 

Hope you have a great Halloween!

Big Girls

 

This week was full of activities for the big girls.  Adrienne had her parent viewing night at dance.  It is by far my favorite dance night of the year.  It is the first time we get to see the new dances of the season, and we get to see them all one right after another.  Every year I think they are the best yet.  Adrienne looked amazing and has really grown since last year.  She is in a lot of dances, has lots of partnering parts, and is often front and center.  She worked hard this summer to step up her skill and it paid off!  I love love love to watch her and wish I could rewind the night!

Lexi had a hayride with her Girl scout troop.  It was a cold night but the girls didn’t care.  We had the hayride first and then a bonfire.  The leaders brought hot chocolate and cookies too!  It was a fun night!

          

 

Happy Birthday Sweet Sofie

 

   

My Sweet Sofie, 

I almost can’t wrap my head around the idea that you’ve only been with us for 6 months.  You bring so much joy to our lives.  You are unbelievably smart, funny, stubborn, and opinionated.  You love attention and there is no shortage of people willing to give it to you.  You thrive in the spotlight.  You give and receive love freely but appropriately, which is important.  You are routinely stringing 2 or 3 words together, and saying please and thank you is one of your talents.  You are ready to potty train, but I am not.  I love the few baby ways you’re hanging onto.  All too soon you will be a full fledged preschooler.  You are an amazing girl and your potential makes me excited for the future.  You are the perfect fit for our family.  You bring out the best in us.  You drive us crazy with your persistence, but I remind myself that will serve you well in the future.  I thank God for you everyday.  I was born to be your mommy, and you were born to be my baby.  Happy Birthday my sweet girl.  I couldn’t love you more.

Mommy     

Itsy Bitsy Sofie

The invites went out with this song...
Our itsy bitsy Sofie is going to be three.
She's growing and she's changing we hope you'll come and see.
Come and celebrate and show her lots of fun.
It's her first birthday party even though she isn't one!

And they came. Almost every invite we sent was met with a yes. Our friends and family came and rallied around our daughter, and celebrated a life that has waited 3 years to be celebrated. She loved it. Every part of it. I loved it, just as much. It was just a house full joy.

Of course I planned her outfit for months. She was adorable and the day couldn't have been nicer.

This is my girlfriend Beth. She made the invites and the cake. It's a talent she has but uses sparingly. Lucky for me Sof has a way of getting in people's hearts and making them do all sorts of stuff for her. The cake is the best you'll ever have. Mark asked, "What's in this that makes it so good?". I said, "Crack". It's just that good.

The house was full and kids spilled outside. It was the kind of party where there just wasn't enough time to talk to everybody. There were smiles everywhere.

We drank in life and enjoyed each others company.

I was excited for cake and singing. We've been practicing and she loves it. She was over the moon with the real deal.

We sang, she blew, we cheered, and she said, "More". So we did it all again because she so deserves it.

The whole "one-year-old tear into your cake" thing doesn't work with a kid who always wants utensils and a napkin:)

Gifts were equally elating. After about the second one she got the idea they were all for her! She tore them open like a pro.

As the night went on the fun got a little rowdier. This is a little game I like to call torture my mother(aka. recreate my birth).

She loves it and asks for it all the time.

Adrienne knows how to play it too. What can I say, she's an easy target.

I love how the big girls wanted to play with Sof's toys. They opened everything and totally played with the toy food and dishes.

Then it just got out of control.

Doesn't this room just scream, "My cup runneth over with joy"?

Alas, things must wind down. Kids get tired, and the clock already said it was tomorrow.

If I had expectations this day would have exceded them. You are so loved Sof, and we will never stop celebrating your life.