Happy Birthday, Audrey!!

Our baby is a big four year old now!  And what a delightful big four year old she is.  She fills this house with a lot of laughter... not just because her giggle is contagious (which it is), or that her pronoun mis-usage is constant (which them are), or even that her outfits are perpetually mismatched and rarely seasonally appropriate (which they are).  She keeps us laughing because she's really just a very sweet-natured, inquisitive, caring, happy, witty, expressive little wiggle worm who brightens the room she's in and attracts friends wherever she goes.

 Her current favorites:

Eating oranges, broccoli quiche, "basqueti" (spaghetti), and strawberries, singing Frozen songs, playing LEGO Friends, finding sparkly treasures, doing things herself, showing off her new nightstand, painting, drawing, snuggling, watering plants, wearing rain boots, snuggling the cat, being carried, helping in the kitchen, getting the mail, walking to frozen yogurt, playing in her closet, being read to, riding her bike, playing any kind of musical instrument that makes (lots and lots of) noise, going to preschool, hugging, running, jumping, hopping, skipping, running, running, running, swinging and running some more.

 This kid is really never, ever, ever still.  Even when she's trying to go to sleep she's in motion. Which is why it's difficult to get a picture of her that isn't blurry.  She's her father's daughter for sure.  She's also every bit a Gemini.  She can get so mad and so sad and has no trouble expressing all that mad and sad.  But then, often within the very same minute, it's not uncommon for her to flash her biggest smile, giggle, and leave the room skipping.  It will make your head spin, really.  Mine spins most of the day.

She adores her big sister.  Most of the time. She often asks for another sister (no, dear).  But in the next breath she'll tell me she doesn't like having the sister she's already got (sorry, dear).  And while she's not often in charge when the two of them play, she's quick to take charge and act very much like a big sister with her little friends (oh, dear).

And, oh, is she independent.  She wants to do everything herself!  She was trying to button up her sweater the other day and when I offered to help her she said, "No, I can do it myself.  I just have to foxentrate." Priceless!

We love you, sweet, adorable Audrey! Happy Birthday, big girl!

Daisy Days

Natalie has had a really great experience the last two years being part of a Girl Scout Daisy troop.  We had to switch troops when we switched schools this year which was a little difficult, but I think participating in Girl Scouts at her new school helped make the adjustment a little easier.  She was sort of the Daisy superstar in her new troop because she'd earned all of her petals and a journey patch last year.  Our new troop didn't start meeting until spring of last year so their vests didn't look nearly as busy and colorful as Natalie's did at the beginning of the year.  Natalie has been a really good sport about doing petal lessons a second time around!  And I've really enjoyed helping to lead the troop this year and look forward to next year's adventures.  

 She "bridges" to Brownies soon so we'll start over with a whole new vest and slowly cover it with badges and pins in the fall when school starts. I'll sure miss this cute blue Daisy vest, though.  All of these badges represent such fun memories.

Her whole school participated in a Girl Scoutfest this past weekend and all the troops (Kindergarten & 1st grade Daises, 2nd & 3rd grade Brownies, and 4th & 5th Grade Juniors) participated.  The older girls lead craft and activity stations for the younger girls.  It was awesome to watch all the girls in action, helping each other create some really fun projects.  This is Natalie's unicorn puppet and her dream catcher.

  

Fun stuff.

Little Helper

Audrey is at the age when she wants to help with everything.  Well, almost everything. She has no interest in cleaning up her room.  Nor any interest in picking up her toys.  But all the grown up chores?  Absolutely.  She likes to feed the cat, water the plants, squirt the floor cleaner when I'm mopping, mop (but mostly just squirt the floor cleaner...everywhere!), squeegee the shower doors, make lunch sandwiches, and help me bake. Whenever I start a project in the kitchen, large or small,  she grabs the step ladder & her little apron (that was my little apron when I was her age) and wants to help.  I figure these lessons in motherly patience will pay off big time eventually when the kid can bake like her Aunt Amber does while I sit and read a magazine!

Baby Liam

I'm an auntie!  I'm so excited.  Actually, I've been an auntie for six weeks now but it's been a whirlwind of a spring around here so I haven't written about it yet.  My sister and her husband, Paul, welcomed their sweet baby, Liam Charles, on March 29th.  He came a bit early...and quickly...and took control of his parents' lives immediately as only a newborn can.  But they're holding up well and Liam is growing and changing in amazing ways every day.  I'm so proud of my sister.  Not only was his birth early and quick, it was entirely unmedicated.  She's a rockstar.  Squared.  Oh, and she's a champion breastfeeding mama who's conquered all sorts of nursing challenges with lots of determination and very little sleep. She's really a rockstar cubed.

I was so fortunate to be able to spend a whole week in AZ with Ash, Paul, baby Liam and Grandma Lala at the end of April while Nana came here to help Corey with the girls at home.  It seriously takes a village and I'm so grateful for mine!  We had such an awesome time together.

 I could gobble him up.

 Proud, sleepy parents.

And because 3 weeks have already passed since these pics were taken, here's a more recent one of this little nocturnal, night owl, cat napping, sleepless, bright eyed cutie bug...

Love you bunches, baby Liam!

Now go to sleep so your parents can rest a bit, will ya?

Daddy Daughter Dance

Natalie's Daisy troop organized a Daddy Daughter Dance for every Girl Scout troop at her school.  It turned out to be such a fun event and Natalie and Corey had a blast.  Corey arranged a business trip around it so he wouldn't miss it and he's so happy he did.  They got all dressed up, went out for dinner first and then danced the night away (well, until 8:00) to everything from Katy Perry to songs from Frozen.  It was a tropical theme so all the Hawaii treats and trinkets that Corey's been bringing home the last few weeks were perfect accessories for the night! Totally great turnout of nearly 60 dads and even more daughters as some families have more than one Girl Scout. In addition to lots of dancing there were desserts, a photo booth with some really cute props, and sparkly leis for everyone to wear and take home.  Natalie came home on cloud nine.  They both did, actually.

Smart, sensitive, funny, driven, kind and beautiful.

Look. Out. World.

Teddy Bear Picnic

Audrey's class had a teddy bear picnic last week and I seriously don't think there's anything cuter than a day devoted to bringing your favorite teddy bear to school.  They shared their special bear (or other loved stuffed toy...there was a Snoopy present) with the class, sang the teddy bear picnic song, ate teddy grahams for snack, and made jewelry and toys for their bears.  I love preschool.  I'm so happy we have another year of it.