Dan Day

For some reason, in my family, on both sides, May is a particularly busy birthday month. Which means, if my calculations are correct, that August must also be particularly busy.

It's Dan's birthday today.


He's my main squeeze. My better half. My hero. My best thing.



I quoted an old Nat King Cole song in my birthday wish on our family website. He thought that I wrote it. I wish I did, but I didn't. Just because I didn't, though, doesn't make the lyrics any less true!

"You will always be my necessity.
I'd be lost without you."


Happy 31st birthday, Dan!

Five

Ava was born five years ago today. In an instant I became a mother and I had absolutely no idea how much my life was going to change and how it would continue to change.

Ava is a sensitive little soul.


She reminds me daily that she is really my spiritual peer rather than my subordinate. Of course as her mother I am to teach her and help her grow, but she already contains within her everything she needs.



She has a very distinct sense of right and wrong, of justice and injustice. She wants to do what is right.


She wants things just so, and I can appreciate that even if some days it also makes me crazy.

She appreciates the natural beauty of the world and points it out to me so enthusiastically. I love how excited she gets to see colorful flowers, a bird flying by, or a beautiful sunset.



She has a lot of energy and likes to be silly.



She loves to color and draw and paint and be creative.

She's often on an emotional roller coaster, just like me, which can make for some interesting dynamics.


But most of all she's just a girl who wants to be loved.



And we do!


Happy 5th Birthday, to my Sweet Sugar Pie!

I also must say Happy Birthday to my sister, Leah!

One date, two special girls!

Party Doll

Dan has run out to buy Ava's birthday presents. We are really cutting it close!

I wanted to take her five year old pictures today but that didn't happen. Instead we (meaning Dan) worked on the yard and then we (meaning us) went swimming at the pool. The day was rounded out by a mommy/daughter trip to the library and the grocery store. Pretty good day.

Yesterday was our first "throwing a birthday party" experience. I would have to say it was successful, but at the same time I am not sure this will be an annual event. Yeah, her birthday comes annually, I know, but a party for friends doesn't have to. I honestly think that she would enjoy her usual family birthday dinner as much or more than a hoopla party.

In my head I wanted things to be simple. No theme. Just good old fashioned party games and some food. And if I had given myself more than 5 days to accomplish it all, it could have been nearly painless. Instead I was emailing out invitations in my procrastinator way and trying to squeeze donkey drawing, pinata making, and bean bag sewing into 45 minute increments throughout the week. And somehow, my usually uneventful life became all jammed up with other things I was actually supposed to accomplish/attend/participate in.

But, we made it. I think Ava might agree that our favorite part of the whole deal was working on our stuff together in preparation for the actual party.

We made a donkey and some tails for Pin the Tail On the Donkey.





We paper mached a pinata,


which was just going to be a painted ball until Ava so cleverly suggested we turn it into a strawberry.


The party day came and so did Ava's friends. She invited kids from her preschool class and we ended up with 3 girls and 3 boys. I think this might also be the last year for boy/girl parties.

There was quite a bit more wrestling, underwear/poopoo talk than I anticipated.

I made a rice crispy treat cake that I thought turned out pretty well and even had a surprise chocolate marshmallow frosting between the layers.


Ava later confessed that she did not like the chocolate layer and politely insisted that I cut it out of her pieces if she was going to eat it.

I think everybody had a pretty good time.


And my many thanks go to my friend Jill who came to help me out.



Everybody needs someone to come up with the perfect and speedy solution to fix an ailing pinata seconds before it was due onstage, someone who willingly throws herself into a game of red light/green light when things get crazy, and someone to generally hold your hand through your maiden party throwing adventure. Everybody needs someone like her!

In Case You Wondered

How Max likes "solid food", this little narrative should clear things up:

He doesn't.

Hi Max!




You are so cute.



Would you like to try some delicious food?




Yes? Well you are in luck. I happen to have here, some smushy vegetables, fruit, and cereal all designed to tickle your palate and satisfy your hunger.


Here you go, try this.


Wait, you don't like it?



You think it tastes awful?



It makes your tummy turn over?




Well, I can't imagine why!


You'd rather me feed you bites off of my own plate? You'd rather me put little pieces of real food right into your mouth? You'd rather try to eat the string cheese, fish sticks, and bananas that pass in front of your view?



I must admit I really can't blame you.

Mudder's Day

I was lucky enough to spend Mother's Day with my momma this year. Dan was so generous to send us out to eat at my very favorite restaurant for a pre-Mother's Day dinner, just the two of us. It's expensive prices make it a special-occasion-kind-of-place. It was heavenly special occasion.


For my Mother's gift from my dad, he asked each of us children to write a significant moment we had had with our mother. It was a very hard thing for me to do, because choosing one instance seemed impossible.

But I did it and so did the rest of my siblings. Dad had it bound into a book and presented it to her on Sunday. He made us each our own copy and it has entered my list of Favorite Presents Ever. Even though it wasn't even for me!

Earlier in the week I attended a "Mother's Tea" at Ava's preschool. They walked to a florist and arranged their own little bouquets for us.


And like last year my favorite present was her answers to questions about me. Mostly because a glimpse into the mind of a child, especially Ava, is a fun trip.


My Mother's Biography
By Ava

My Mother's name is "Mommy".
She is "5" feet tall and "10" pounds.
Her hair color is "black" and her eyes are "brown".
The prettiest thing about my mom is "I love my mom so much".
Even though she is "5" years old she still looks good.
I love my mother because "cause her is so sweet".

I am so happy to be happy as a Mom. I am trying remember how lucky I am to have what I have. It's so easy to take things for granted, and even wish for more. But really, I have more than any one person deserves.

Six Months

Last week (or so?) Max turned six months old. That is half a year! Where did the time go, folks? This ball just seems to roll faster with the birth of each child.

My sweet little baby has me completely and hopelessly in love with him. It's because he is so cute.


And juicy and squishy.


And because he looks at me like this,



And because when I take pictures of his baby blues in good light it makes me forget that I want Photoshop.



And because he does cute things like this,



Oh I am a sucker for the foot grab.


Our family dinner has turned into a comedy routine. Inevitably, each night we sit down together and Dan ends up holding Max on his lap while he eats one handed (good daddy, huh?) This puts him in a prime position to see Luke's antics.



The only thing is, they never really start out as antics. Luke just says something, anything. He coughs or drops his fork on accident. Yet to Max these are apparently the funniest things you could do at the dinner table. And he begins to laugh. And laugh. And laugh. Which perpetuates Luke's antics into real antics. And soon we are all giggling (unless I am grouchy and tired and instead of giggling, remind the kids over and over to "stop trying to be funny, sit on your bottoms, and eat your dang dinner!")

But usually we're all laughing.




He is starting to sit up.


I like to call it the tripod position. But after about 20 seconds it looks more like this,




Then slowly like this,



Then,


Until, eventually his nose is rubbing the carpet and we throw in the towel.

Despite enduring his second round of ear infections, he is maintaining his cheerful disposition and we are all happy about that!

San Antonio Part II: Wild Oak Ranch

Annnnnd, the run-down on the hotel:

-Because April was still considered the "off season" our one bedroom suite with a full kitchen was very affordable.



-The pools were fantastic. Indoor and outdoor. Lazy river. Hammocks. Beach with sand. Lush vegetation. Cool playground.









I love that Ava took this picture and cut-off my head.

Let's be honest though, it's probably for the best.


Luke was an animal in the water. Which is quite funny considering he pitched quite a fit to get his swimming suit on.


Ava was good as gold with her little armies. I hope to get her swimming without them this summer. Either way she's easy in the pool because she's independent.


Max, on the other hand wanted to be independent of the water, not in the water. After a few floats down the river he was content to relax on his chair poolside.




-Instead of lighting the fire pits for s'mores, they showed an outdoor movie instead. (kind of a bummer cause I love me some s'mores)

-Our roomy accomodations allowed us to get creative with our sleeping arrangements. And creative we were. Hoping to get the most out of our stay, we put Max in the gigantic bathroom,




Ava got the floor of the bedroom, and Luke lucked out completely and got the king size bed all to himself.



Silly, I know, because that left Dan and I with the pullout couch in the living room, but we were then able to stay up as late as we wanted, eat food, and watch TV.

-My highest recommendations, to all who have the opportunity: Check out the availability and prices if you're planning a trip there. It is so worth it!


-We didn't have nearly enough time to enjoy all that was offered, but that just means one thing,



We've gotta go back!