Last birthday post

Rounding out birthdaypolooza 2008, we had a visit from Mommy's Mom Grandma. Someone must have challenged Grandma to a cake baking dual because she showed up with this masterpiece...



I suppose it runs a close second to my twinkie cake.

We also did actually make it to the Friends 2B Made store at the mall for Mooka to make her doll. The store is very cute and very girlie. After picking out your doll, you go to hair and make up, then it's off to wardrobe. She had so much fun just playing in the store.





Even though I dreaded the thought of her turning five, it went quite smoothly. I have had a couple of meltdowns, but I am getting better.

Maybe it's time to have another one...

Why I don't like leaving the house

9:00 a.m.: Announce to A. that I would like to be at the mall by 10:30. (Side note, in my old age, I have gotten insane about planning and staying on schedule. A. however, has not. You do the math.) Mooka got a gift card from Aunt Amanda to use at Friends 2B Made so we need to get to the mall to use it.

10:30 a.m.: Still looking for matching shoes for the kids to wear.

11:30 a.m.: Arrive at mall.

11:33 a.m.: Mooka announces she has to poo to everyone in Macy's.

11:35 a.m.: Find a public restroom at California Pizza Kitchen.

11:36 a.m.: Watch Baby Bear stand in a stall and pee his pants.

11:37 a.m.: Begin cleaning stall while a half naked Baby Bear runs around the bathroom and Mooka points out that there is pee all over the floor.

11:45 a.m.: Apologize to random people who have come to use a clean bathroom and instead find pee-pee-fest 2008 has just commenced at the local CPK.

11:50 a.m.: Finish cleaning bathroom and put pull up on Baby Bear.

11:55 a.m.: Make stealth run through CPK with a kid half dressed.

12:00 p.m.: Find A. and tell him to go to the car for the change of clothes. Proceed to sit in the middle of the mall with a half dressed child.

12:05 p.m.: Children decide to start dancing to the Gwen Steffani music that is blasting from the Macy's.

12:10 p.m.: A. returns with clean pants.

12:15 p.m.: I'm ready to go home.

The official birthday

For the official birthday party, we kept it simple this year. We invited our new neighbor friends over and enjoyed the traditional games and cake. It was nice to not have to plan anything too extravagant and the kids enjoyed themselves just as much as any big bash.



I got really lucky when I stumbled across another mom blog and found the world's easiest daisy cake. Since I do insist on making birthday cakes and was short on energy and time, this worked out nicely.



And yes, those are frosted Twinkies. I dare you to comment.

Is Elvis in the house?

This past weekend we were able to attend my uncle's wedding. It was a gorgeous wedding and by far, the best reception I have ever attended.

The wedding was a traditional Catholic wedding and our family is definitely not a traditional Catholic family. We had no idea that it would last an hour and a half. I was so thankful that I had the forethought to purchase some Crayola Color Wonder books to keep in my purse for an emergency.

Cousin Amber was gorgeous as a flower girl...



Nanny looked beautiful...



Of course, the bride and groom were stunning...



And some of us were not in the mood for pictures after sitting for so long...



The reception had over 600 guests and was quite lovely. After enjoying our dinner, the kids enjoyed warming up the dance floor for the adults.



And then , the real kicker was Elvis showed up and did a full set!



We all partied until we dropped...



Everyone had a great time and we wish the newlyweds the best in their new journey!

The fake birthday

Not only have I been completely depressed about Mooka turning five, we have had two birthday extravaganzas for her and yet a third coming later this week.

On Saturday, we celebrated her "fake" birthday as she called it. We went over to my dad's house for the mini-celebration. Party guests included Nanny, Aunt Sissy, a couple cousins, Grandpa and Grandma with the White Hair.



Of course, there were good presents...



Fun with posing toddlers...

My birthday gift

It was 11:45 p.m. five years ago tonight. I had read every single book I could get my hands on, so that I knew exactly what to expect. Even though the doctor said you wouldn't be here until mid-October, I knew you would be here on September 22.

Daddy and I were getting ready to go to bed. I had announced to everyone at work that I would not be in on Monday because I was having a baby that weekend, but with not even a little contraction action, we were both getting ready for the normal Monday morning routine. I just finished telling Daddy how sad I was that you hadn't decide to come yet. He was in the bathroom brushing his teeth.

And then I felt a pop.

And then I went to the bathroom.

And then I told Daddy it was time.

All of the books made it seem like we would have another eight hours until the show started. But, I had no sooner made the call to Aunt Amanda and you were ready to go. Everything the books said went out the door. I remember calling Grandpa but not being able to finish the call because you were not going to wait.

The ride to the hospital is pretty blurry. I do remember Daddy doing what felt like donuts in the parking lot because he went to the wrong entrance.

Everything was so intense, you really wanted out right away. Our doctor was nowhere to be found and the back up could not make it to the hospital in time, so they grabbed a doctor out of the hallway.

I remember a really nice nurse telling me everything was going to be okay because at the time I was really scared because nothing was going the way I had imagined.

I begged for the epidural and they actually were going to give it to me. No sooner had Daddy and Aunt Amanda left the room when the really nice nurse told me it was time to have a baby. And my body let me know it was time to have a baby.

You were ready to go.

I was scared to death.

After what felt like a million pushes later, you were here.

And I wasn't scared anymore.

I became your Mommy.

Thank you, Mooka for being the best gift I could ever receive.

Does this dress make me look fat?

Mooka thought Lady needed a party dress for the big day.

Teaching toddlers to pray

We have been working with the kids for quite some time teaching them how to pray. After thinking about it, I have decided to start documenting some of their more memorable moments.

One that happened quite some time ago, but is worth repeating came from Mooka. We had told her that she needs to talk to Jesus about things that she is thankful for and not always focus on what she wants. Immediately afterward, she prayed this prayer:

"Dear Jesus, thank you for making me so beautiful. Amen."

Then tonight it was her turn to pray before dinner.

"Dear Jesus, thank you for mommy and daddy. Please let the teachers give me a good prize at church for my birthday."

At least she's honest.

Visual DNA

Found this little ditty on a blog today. I thought the results were interesting, though I've never considered myself as much of a dreamer. It's a fun little test if you have 5 minutes to spare. If you take it, be sure to come back and comment so I can give my own personal assessment.

New neighbors

I've never been the neighborly type. Outside of the common courtesy and occasional "hi", we just have not built connections with our neighbors.

Until three weeks ago...

We now have the most amazing neighbors a person could ever ask for. They have twin girls who are Mooka's age. We could not have hand selected better neighbors. It seems like instantly we all formed a connection and ever since we have spent a ton of time together.

Neighbor Mom and I sit out in our chairs in the front lawn for hours and watch all of the kids play together. It's like watching a commercial for the perfect subdivision. Kids are laughing, riding bikes, coloring the drive ways with sidewalk chalk, you get the picture. We also offer our fair amount of commentary about the neighbors, but that's a whole other story.

Here is a picture from Barbie madness last weekend...



And girl power...

Parenting lesson #352

There is no such thing as preparing for professional pictures. The more you ask "show me how you are going to smile", the funnier it gets.

Honey, show me how you are going to smile for your pics tonight.



Very, funny. Let me see your real smile.



If you smile pretty, we will ride the train at the mall.



MOOKA - show me a REAL smile!



Okay, I'm being SERIOUS, let me see how you are going to smile.



If I let you take your own picture, will you smile pretty?

Tic...tic...tic

It's coming.

I can't stop it.

In three short weeks, my baby girl will no longer be a toddler. She will be 5 and an official "kid." I'm so thankful that she has a late birthday and missed the cut off for kindergarten this year. Some of my mom friends have experienced the "first day of school" this year and they have done so with such grace. I don't even want her to turn 5 let alone turn her over to school.

The whole experience is much like one of my favorite books from when I was a kid, The Monster at the End of this Book. In the book, each time you turn the page, poor Grover goes into complete hysterics because you are getting closer to the end of the book and well, there's a monster there. I won't ruin the ending for you, but you get the idea. For me, I wake up and I go into hysterics because I'm one day closer to her birthday.

I know nothing really changes, but at the same time everything is changing. I just want her to stop growing up so fast. I know I haven't grown up as much as she has in the past five years.

Pray for me...it's going to be a rough few weeks.

Humor and a very late night

The other night I came across this little diddy and it may be the funniest (but yet most accurate) depiction of parenthood. It gives those wanting to pursue parenthood a little trial run that they can complete prior to actually taking the plunge.

The parts where I absolutely lost it:

Grocery Shopping

* Go to the supermarket. Take along the nearest thing to a pre-school child: a fully grown goat. (If you plan to have more than one child, take more than one goat.)
* Buy your weekly groceries without letting the goat(s) get out of your sight.
* Pay for everything the goat eats or destroys.

Cleanliness

* Smear peanut butter on your sofa.
* Smear jam on your curtains.
* Hide a fish behind the stereo. Leave it there all summer.
* Stick your fingers in dirt. Rub them on your walls.
* Color your other walls with crayons.

I hope you enjoy this as much as I did!