A Little Luau!

Audrey requested a Hawaiian birthday party this year and so a little luau she got!  It was so much fun.  She and her little friends wore grass skirts and flowers hair clips and made their own Hawaiian leis.  There was sand to play with, limbo to try, the hula to learn, snack to enjoy and a beach ball or two to bounce around.  The weather was perfect, the guests seemed to have fun and, most importantly, the birthday girl seemed to truly enjoy herself.

I found a website where you can find a 

Hawaiian translation for every girl's name.

Natalie and Audrey are Nakeli and Aukele!

 Natalie painted the Hawaiian mural for the craft corner.

 Nothing is cuter than little limbo. Nothing.

Audrey, of course, wouldn't wear the grass skirt...or the flower hair clip...or the lei she worked so hard to make.  Little stinker.  She was pure comfort (and pure Audrey) in her Hawaiian sundress with her sneakers.  For what our first born is going to cost us trying to keep up with the latest fashion trends, Audrey ought to save us a bundle!

 Speaking of that first born...Natalie had two helper friends at the party but pretty much

ran the show herself.  She helped make the party food,

 decorate the backyard, and led the little girls in the "make-a-lei" craft station.  

At one point we heard her say to the little guests,

"if anyone is having trouble just raise your

hand and someone will be by to help you."

So. Classic.

 Thank you, Nakeli!

Couldn't have pulled it off without you!

And with a few puffs toward 5 candles, 

the cupcakes were devoured the birthday bash was behind us.

Such a fun party.  

Such a super fun way to welcome 

what's bound to be a great year for Aukele!

5

Audrey is 5 today.  5.  It sounds too big to be true.  

Our little baby is a baby no more.  

Instead she is so many wonderful things...

She is kind to her core and loving beyond measure.  She bounces through her days like Tigger and is so full of life that she brightens every room she enters.  When she tells a story (and she tells LOTS of them because she pretty much talks to everyone she meets), her hands and arms act as expressive punctuation...shoulders shrugging, arms waving in the air, hands on her hips. It's impossible not to smile (or blush, depending on the story) when she's got the spotlight.   

She's always up for a good snuggle.  She'll ask me to bend down and close my eyes and then she'll plant the sweetest kiss on my cheek.  She's artistic and creative with a beautiful singing voice.  She plays Legos for hours, can master puzzles beyond her years and beats the entire family at any game of Memory.  

She's curious about learning and loves being read to.  Her favorite books right now are Monster and the End of This Book, Over in the Ocean, and any book about Ladybug Girl.  She's always up for adventure and will attempt to climb any tree, scale any fence and explore anything that looks like it's trying to keep her out!  She keeps us on our toes, that's for sure!  

And dessert is definitely her favorite meal!

She's an adoring little sister and a loyal little friend.  According to her teachers, she's the first to befriend a new student in the classroom. This does not surprise me.   She adores animals, especially cats, and most especially OUR kitty.  She's actually trained Scarlet (yes, she's trained a cat) to come into her room and stay awhile.  We now find Scarlet asleep in Audrey's bed during the night and I'm just sad Audrey's not awake to enjoy it.  

While I still can't believe she's 5, I'm so in love with the 5 year old she is.  Shine on, little one!  

Mother's Day

I had a lovely Mother's Day last weekend.  I was completely spoiled for a day and it felt great.  I slept in and woke up to breakfast in bed (a lovely parfait made by Natalie and presented in a wine glass!) and super thoughtful gifts and cards.  After church Corey made strawberry shortcake for lunch and then shuttled Natalie to and from her tennis lesson.  And for dinner he slaved away at the stove for hours making paella.  So yummy!!!  It was a delicious day.

And I also fit in a walk on my favorite trail with my speedy, scootering girls.

 It's really too bad Mother's Day is only one day a year.

Daddy Day

As promised, here are pictures of Daddy Day at Audrey's preschool.  They spent the morning at her preschool eating donuts, playing inside and out and making a bunch of cool stuff.  The paper tie Corey is wearing was his invitation.  On the back it listed all the event details and under attire it read, "bright tie."  So cute.

She made him a card and got all of his favorites spot on!  

Corey was a little bummed, however, that she's the only

kid who used the word "grayish" to describe her dad's hair color!

Roses are Red

And purple, and salmon, and pink, and yellow and yellowish pinkish.  Natalie has been taking tennis lessons since January and the courts are a close walk to a beautiful public rose garden.  We had some time after her lesson last weekend to wander through the garden and it was such a beautiful day to do it.  So many beautiful rose bushes in bloom!

 I just love this lady.  I wish she was in our backyard!

It was so bright and sunny and I only had my phone as a camera

so I didn't get the best shots.  But I had to post the ones I did get!

Tea for Two...Twice!

I was invited to two different very special tea parties in one week last week.  So fun.

The first tea party was in Natalie's class and marked the end of their Beatrix Potter unit.  I had the pleasure of reading a few Beatrix Potter stories with her and her classmates during my volunteer time in the classroom the previous month so I was really excited to be able to attend the high tea party, too!  All the children were asked to bring a stuffed bunny to school and while they were at lunch recess, some very dedicated parent volunteers transformed the classroom into a tea party fit for Beatrix herself!  The desks were pushed together and covered in table cloths, decorated with vases of fresh flowers and teapots filled with piping hot chamomile tea and scones, carrots, strawberries and grapes were arranged on each child's plate.  It was really charming and Natalie LOVED it.

A week later I was invited to A Very Special Tea at Audrey's preschool to celebrate Mother's Day.  The cute little Pre-Kinders sang to us, served us iced tea, fruit and muffins and presented us with a handmade card and a sweet little fingerprint necklace gift.  It was beyond sweet.  I cannot believe this is my last preschool Mother's Day tea party.  Boo hoo!!

 Singing "I'm a Little Teapot"

 My present...a cute little clay heart with 

Audrey's cute little thumb prints inside!

 That's Audrey's name in "cursive"

And my personalized card.  She thinks I'm 16. 

Bless this child.

(there was a Daddy Day at preschool a few weeks

earlier and she made a card for Corey like this.  I'll

post it soon.  She thinks he's 16, too!)