Mikayla's 5th Birthday!

Well, crazy weekend for us. We had Mikayla's party tonight (Friday) and will leave early in the morning to go to Nate's nephew's wedding in Tomah, WI tomorrow. Here are some pictures of the birthday party. It went well. Mikayla had fun, no one got hurt (physically or feelings-wise) and that's what matters.

Here's my #5 cake Mikayla asked me to make. She wanted chocolate frosting. I ended up using a round cake pan and an 8" square cake pan.



For games, we played, "pin the #5 on the Mikayla," and "pin the sunglasses on the sun."



After cake and presents, we adjourned to the garage where we had sea shells burried in pink and purple colored sand (Mikayla's favorite colors). Each child had a beach pail and shovel with their name on it. After they found their amount of shells, I put their party bags in their buckets.



Nate also made a race car ramp for each kid to race cars with. Can't believe I didn't get a picture of it...

We ended up with a whole hour to kill and ended up playing games such as paintbrush (reminded me of "What Time is it Mr. Fox, except with colors. You yell Paintbrush and everyone runs), Red Rover, Duck Duck Goose, Sack Races (with pillow cases), and Dodge Ball.

Hot Summer Day Fun!

What to do on a hot summer day when your little sister is napping? Play in the sprinkler. Mikayla put on an old sun dress and pretended it was raining outside. I discovered the other day, if you let your kids play with a bubble machine (a highly productive bubble machine) and then let them play in the sprinkler, voila, it acts like natures washing machine.

Goofing Around For the Camera

The girls were being silly together before bedtime last night. I took a few pictures and they turned out pretty cute.



This photo, Mikayla took!

Look that Way!

I just caught Elyana playing with Mikayla's new marble run game. It is now off limits to her and on top of a table (that did not stop her just now). "What are you doing!?" I exclaimed. Ely's response was, "Look dat way," pointing away from her. Yeah, right. Does she think I'm stupid?!

Also, wanted to add that Mikayla keeps reminding me of Nate lately. A few days ago, I caught her with different online Sesame Street games going on both our computers. She was running from chair to chair to play both games at one time. Even Nate says he's never done that, but thinks it's an awesome idea.

I have been busy lately trying to plan Mikayla's 5th Birthday party. It was going to be a princess party (that's what the invitations all say). Now it has become a beach party. We don't even have a kiddie pool! So, I'm being super creative, but it's been a scavenger hunt around town to get the various things I need. I'm also trying to adjust to not doing triathlons. Sounds silly, but I've started to put on a few pounds, my anxiety is high, and I"m not sleeping well. It almost feels like my body is chemically trying to adjust to not doing intense workouts all the time. I'm still trying to workout, but we've been very busy lately. Somehow, I've got to find a balance again.

Radio

During lunch today, Mikayla asked me what music I was listening to. "The radio," I said. "What's a radio?" I told her it's kind of where it's someone's job somewhere out there to play a bunch of different songs for everyone to listen to. "Wow! You made a radio then, mom!" She was referring to the mix CD I made of worship and praise music we listen to running errands.

I've Become A Master Gardener!

I've done it! It's official! I need some kind of diploma! Even my friend Karin said, "I, um, didn't think it was possible..." Out of 2 rows of corn seeds, 3 rows of green bean seeds, I have produced...(drum roll please) 2 GREEN BEANS! No, not 2 green bean plants that will yield an entire meal of green beans, but 1 plant that has yielded 2 green beans. Don't even ask what happened to the corn seeds! Someone tie a green ribbon around my pathetic "green" thumb!

To save my self esteem, I'm blaming the stupid rabbits that live under our neighbor's shed.

What's Wrong With Elyana?!

For a second I thought there was something wrong with Ely today. Her ear was a deep purple color. That's when I found that Mikayla left the cap off her marker earlier and Ely discovered it. I just want to know what she was thinking though. Why her ear? The mind of a 2 year old amazes me!