Stay on the Sunny Side

Vivian made Sam a late birthday card.  It is a giant cupcake, and it says, "stay on the sunny side, Sam."

Sam's 9th Birthday

I can't believe he's 9! Almost done with the birthday celebrations.  Yesterday was low-key, we just went to the park, he went to his friend's house in the afternoon and then soccer.  He was thrilled though!

Cheering up Vivian.

Cake time at Nana's house.

"What do you want for your birthday?"

We spend a lot of time on birthdays between late February and the first week of April.  Essentially six weeks of birthday obsession no matter how I try to tone it down. (Vivian is currently planning her party for next year, even though we just had her party two weeks ago).
In all of this, Lanie is the one who gets overlooked the most.  I literally planned her party yesterday to be held Saturday at the park, as the weather will be warm.

So we asked her what she wanted for her birthday the other day.
"Oh," she said.
"A stuffed puppy, like this one Jack chewed up?" Vivian asked, holding up a stuffed animal with a severed stuffed leg.
"No." Lanie said shaking her head.
"A Barbie for the Barbie dreamhouse?" asked Sam.
"No," said Lanie.
"Um, a Peppa Pig doll?" asked Vivian.
"No," said Lanie.
"Playdough?" asked Sam.
"No," said Lanie.
"A Curious George book!" said Vivian (although we have four Curious George treasuries).
"No," said Lanie.
"Why don't we ask her what she wants and let her answer?" I asked.
"What do you want, Lanie?"
"An American Doll and a bicycle," she said definitively. Pretty much the most expensive presents possible, unless she wanted to throw a pony in there.
"Oh," everyone said.
"Well your birthday is on Tuesday Lanie! Are you excited?"
"NO!" she yelled, "my birthday is on April!"
"Yes, Tuesday is in April," Sam explained.
"NO IT'S IN APRIL!"
"Okay, and we'll leave it at that." I said.

A day or two later, Sam had a stomach ache and I asked him if he wanted some tea.

"Sure," he said.
"Lanie, do you want some tea?" I asked.
"No," she replied. "I'll have a bicycle please."

Update: She got a bike!  We went to pick up Vivian from a playdate and the family gifted her their old balance bike!  It even came with streamers they had once tied to it.

A very happy Lanie last night.

Birthday Girl

First of the children's birthdays for 2019 and all the drama and emotion to go with it.  Vivian turned 6 on Monday and we had her birthday party on Sunday.  Unexpectedly, we had a snow day on Monday when it snowed 15 inches overnight.

Modeling her new outfit and backpack.

Playing in the snow with Lanie, one of the few things that could be shared this weekend.

Braided hair for dressing up for her birthday dinner.

Jack deciding to join us for family birthday dinner.  Luckily I now know better than to put food on the table until it's time to eat.

Happy Birthday Lanie

Singing "Happy Birthday" to Lanie.

March and April Birthdays and Celebrations

Almost finished with the March and April birthday celebrations (and subsequent doctors visits for their annual check ups).
Just Sam's party to go.  Sam turned 8, Vivian turned 5, and Lanie turned 2.

Lanie blowing out her candle.

Sam outside Tessa's house on his birthday.

Lanie posing with a necklace she received, she wouldn't move until we took her photo. In Sam's words, "this is a really long pose.  I hope it ends soon so she opens the rest of her presents."

Vivian at her birthday party.

Vivian and Lanie at Lanie's party.

First Birthday Party

Birthday Girl

Vivian celebrating her 3rd birthday on Friday in style!  

Vivian's Other Birthday Dance

This dance was on her actual birthday, but at her friend's birthday party.  I walked in after a work meeting to find her dancing with just one other child in the midst of the party, as happy as could be.  It makes me think of the song "I Hope You Dance."  As a parent (& a teacher), children are so innocent and you just hope they don't lose that spontaneity and ability to enjoy every minute.  I hope she is always able to dance with no inhibitions.

"I Hope You Dance"

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,
May you never take one single breath for granted,
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed,
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

I hope you dance....I hope you dance.

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance,
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin' might mean takin' chances but they're worth takin',
Lovin' might be a mistake but it's worth makin',
Don't let some hell bent heart leave you bitter,
When you come close to sellin' out reconsider,
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

Spontaneous Tap Dance

My sister took this video at Vivian's birthday party when she broke into a spontaneous dance in the kitchen.  My grandmother, Fifi, used to love tap dancing and would do the same thing in the kitchen, so it was very bizarre to see.  There is a lot of my grandmother in Vivian, her fiesty love-of-life attitude, her dancing, and some of her actions.  I wish they had known each other, but it seems like somehow perhaps they do.

Sam's 5th Birthday Party

We had Sam's birthday party yesterday afternoon at a pizza and bowling place nearby.  They do candlepin bowling (small pin) which is unique to this area of the country.  I found this out when I went to college in Florida and tried bowling with regular size bowling balls.  I don't have many photos, the kids were facing the pins most of the time, but they all seemed to have a good time, and only a few fingers got smashed ; ). Most of the bowling balls also stayed close to the floor unlike other kiddie bowling parties that I've been too!

Goody bags that Sam and I made.

Sam was a little too excited to take a picture before his buddies arrived.

Standing still for the photo, Vivian is saying "cheese."

Action shot of the boys bowling (it can apparently be a full body sport).

Birthday cake time.  Vivian sat front and center, luckily Sam didn't notice.

Dancing Girl

Vivian likes to celebrate birthdays and loves to dance.  Here she is yesterday at her caretaker's house dancing at her friend's birthday party.

Vivian's 2nd Birthday Party

Happy 4th Birthday

We celebrated Sam's birthday with the first "real" (not just family) party that he has had.  He had been to enough parties this past year that he understood they were not always just extended family.  With March birthdays in New England, it's hard to have an outdoor party, because I'd be happy to just have it in the backyard.  We found a fun, indoor gym, that is small enough that the kids are contained and within sight.  They were all happy to be there and the party was fun and not as overwhelming as I'd feared.  Having said that, I'm glad we didn't try this any earlier, I think four was good age for such a big event.

Vivian's 1st Birthday

I can't quite believe that she's already one!

Happy Birthday(s)!

                                         

                         Somehow Sam always gets in on the cake action.

Celebrating Life

Birthday Update

We are still struggling with Sam and toilet training, as in he blatantly refuses to use the potty, toilet, go without a diaper, or even discuss the possibility.  With the arrival of the baby, we decided to hold off on pushing the issue.  Recently he has taken to promising us that he will go when he is a "bigger boy," or after he turns three.  Well, his third birthday arrived and inevitably, as we wished him happy birthday and discussed breakfast Sam said,
"do I have to wear underwear today?"
Chris and I looked at each other.
Dumbly I asked, "Are you ready to wear underwear?"
"No."
"Well, then you can wear diapers today and when you're ready you can wear underwear."
He contemplated this and then told us, "I'll be ready on my next birthday."
We assured him he'd feel ready before his next birthday, way before.

Happy Birthday Mama!

Family photo from surprise party on Saturday for my birthday.  We had just sung "Happy Birthday," so Sam is excited.

It's My Birthday & My Cake!

Sam LOVED his birthday cake- more the singing of "Happy Birthday" (which we sang three times).  One of Chris's employees surprised us with this elaborate Thomas the Tank Engine homemade cake, so we made it the theme of the party.  He was a happy guy (with blue lips).