Norah's 1st Birthday

It's official - our baby has turned One!  It was an exciting day, yet I must say that I'm sad.  Her first year seems to have flown by.  It seemed like she stayed a baby for so long - since she was content to lie on her back to play all day long.  If she needed to see something, she just did a tummy crunch and lifted her head up off the floor - abs of steel.  She didn't roll around until almost 9 1/2 months; literally, she was completely immobile.  Shortly after mastering the roll, she'd roll over to the couch or a table, hook her feet underneath and do a sit up.  Really, abs of steel.  Then, at 10 months, she started crawling, 2 days later, she was pulling herself to stand.  And, now she's walking.  She did the monkey arm walk at first, but now she's cruising along pretty steadily.  It all happened so fast; she's trying to keep up with her sisters, and she already tries to play dress-up with them.  She loves big beaded necklaces and sunglasses.  

Anyway, her actual birthday was a success.  We gave her cake on the 22nd, but saved the big "dig in" for her party that weekend.  I'll try to get to those pictures up soon; there are a ton!  She seems to know that her new toys are actually hers and that they never belonged to one of her sisters.  She's not saying words yet, but like her big sister Molly, somehow you know what she wants.  Our sweet Norah Jane...    

Apple Picking Pics

Apple Picking

So, for those of you who don't know, we decided (for several reasons) to homeschool Amelya for Kindergarten.  Crazy...you ask?  Perhaps, but what would my life be like if I wasn't up to my eyebrows in stuff?  Molly also enjoys doing her "school work," and wants to join in, so I'm trying to incorporate Preschool as well.  Anyway, we are going to take it one year at a time to see how it goes.  I can't screw them up too bad this early, right?  I mean, how hard can it be to teach reading, writing and arithmetic (ask me at the end of the year!)?

That being said, this week we prepared for our "field trip" to an apple orchard with other homeschoolers (we joined a "group").  We studied about apples, learned their five parts, learned a few apple songs (yes, there are apple songs), learned about orchards and apple blossoms.  We were totally ready for our outing and fortunately, the weather cooperated.  The girls picked tons of apples and had a blast.  Even Norah enjoyed trying to bite into a little apple.    

I'll let you know how the apple crisp and fresh, hot apple pie turns out!  Enjoy the photos!

Birthday Pics

Molly Clare - Birthday Girl Extraordinare

Molly is officially a 3-year-old!  We went to the Brookfield Zoo yesterday to begin the festivities.  Molly's favorite exhibit was the giraffes (big surprise), followed closely by the dolphin show (also Amelya's favorite) and the seasonal butterfly exhibit (Momma's favorite).  It was a perfect day to be at the zoo - a nice surprise given that it's August and usually quite warm and humid.  After the zoo visit, we found a great little Italian restaurant where Uncle Mark treated us to pizza.  We ate out on the patio and enjoyed ice cream and cannoli for dessert.  They sang Happy Birthday to Sweet Molly.

This morning, we opened Molly's presents from Momma & Daddy, as well as several cards that had come in during the week.  She enjoyed playing with her MagNeatos set (Molly loves puzzles, blocks, legos, bristle blocks, etc) and a giant floor puzzle of a barn and animals.  She also received a horn and basket for the front of her new bike.  

After naps, we took a quick trip over to My Party Palace in downtown Plainfield (this is where Amelya is going to have her 6th birthday party - don't we plan ahead!).  The store was celebrating it's 1st birthday, so we joined them.  Jasmine and Sleeping Beauty were there and they did Amelya and Molly's hair, nails and make-up.  After a royal crowning and pictures, it was time to return home to frost the birthday cake, which, as you'll see, we enjoyed after a dinner of  meatball subs and peas (Molly's choice).

We have had a wonderful couple of days celebrating; we are so proud of Molly and all she has accomplished this year.  She can count to 20, recite her ABCs, recognize all uppercase letters out of order and recite the months of the year.  She knows her shapes and colors and can write her name (with a little help on the "y.").  She took her first dance class and performed in her first dance recital.  She continues to amaze us and make us laugh - her facial expressions and the way she uses her eyes can be hysterical.    Needless to say, we can't wait to watch what she does next!!

Molly's Birthday Party

Molly's 3rd Birthday party was on Saturday, and the Candy Land theme was a HUGE success! Everyone loved the decorations and the kids all had a blast!  They loved the playhouse and the bounce house.  

The cake came out great (thanks to my bakery - I brought them all of the candy, and they built the cake according to a magazine picture I had), and the special treat for Princess Frostine was a hit.  I bought a soft serve ice cream maker with 3 mix-in compartments.  I even found rainbow ice cream cones.  But, I just realized, we forgot to take pictures of that element of the party.  Oh well!

Molly received many great gifts, including a toddler cookbook, a mermaid felt book, a special candy bracelet, LEGOs and a new big girl jewelry box.  We also gave her a 12" bike, so she no longer has to pedal like a mad-thing on a little tricycle keep up with her big sister!

The children were all exhausted by the end of the night, and they were anxious to open their treat bags full of unicorn lollipops, licorice, Candy Land stickers & tattoos, pencils, crayons and swirl soaps.  

Now, we have to deal with the reality that NEXT Saturday, she'll actually be 3!!!  Where does the time go!?!?

Candy Land Party Pics