Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Violet Turns Five!!

The focal point of any birthday, around here, is The Cake.  Each person gets to choose what they want on their cake.  And then Mommy does her best to accommodate any and all requests.  It is often a topic of conversation for months prior on one's birthday.  In fact, it's not unusual to discuss what you want on your cake, next year, the day after your most recent birthday.  
Consequently, the night before any birthday involves much preparation.  Here's a bit of what the scene may look like: 



Each cake also includes the name and age of the birthday girl or boy.  I got a bit carried away with this one (since the requests were numerous..."a garden and a fence and the sky and a sun and some clouds..." ...you get the picture) so I had to be creative. 

The other tradition is presents on the couch when you wake up.  I grew up with this and I love it.  Kind of like your very own Christmas morning.
Cake inspection usually happens first thing.  This one met with approval, I fairly certain.
Cheese!
Since this was a school morning for Amelie, we were a bit pressed for time.
But Violet managed to open all of her gifts.

Violet's birthday was on a Wednesday this year.  On Wednesdays, I do morning carpool and stay for Amelie's cello lesson.  Violet nearly always comes along, but it's not her favorite time of the week.  So, very kindly, our frieghbors invited Violet over to play (which allowed her to stay at home a little extra, while Daddy got ready for work, when she could play with her new stuff).  Then she got to play with her good friend, Lucy.  After cello, Linus had a Playmobil playdate with his buddy, Rock, which lasted through lunch.  So Violet and I got to have lunch out and head to her ballet class.  After ballet, we picked up Linus and headed home for a nap.  A nap?  On her fifth birthday?  Yup.  Violet is my sleepy one.  And, as she protested, I reminded her that she didn't want to be a grumpy birthday girl at her birthday dinner.  She conceded, but sticking her thumb into her mouth.

The garden cake. 

Birthday dinner involved Aunt Carol, and Bowie Grandma and Grandpa coming over.  Violet chose "chicken"(steak), noodles and cut up veggies for her birthday dinner.
Grandpa and Linus
Linus, Grandma, and Amelie
Aunt Carol and Violet
Approval, yes?
Happy Birthday, Sweet Violet Ella!
We love you and, Lord willing, look forward to many, many, many more birthdays!!!

Monday, March 14, 2011

Violet's Garden Party

Back at the end of January, Violet celebrated her upcoming fifth birthday with a few friends.  She wanted a reprise of her first birthday, with a garden theme.  So a (very simple) garden party is what she got!  
To begin, Violet and her guests decorated styrofoam cups flower pots that had been previously personalized.









After they were decorated, we planted three kidney beans in each, so each party guest could experience a growing beanstalk over the coming weeks.

Violet, the fruititarian, snuck some strawberries before it was time to eat.  Being that it was her birthday and all, I let her.

We played "Pin the Bumble Bee on the Flower."  Amelie, Violet and Linus decorated the flower themselves.

Bet you never would have guessed.

Time to eat!  Pizza (thanks to Papa Johns), berries and veggies were on the menu.

The Big Kids:  William and Amelie

Rock and Lucy

Violet is excited. Can you tell?

Calico Critters!

Strawberry Shortcake!

A beautiful, purple, twirly dress

"Violet" cupcakes--purple petals and yellow centers.

Violet was quite pleased with them.
I'm a simple kid's party advocate.  And this smile confirms my feelings about simplicity!

Wednesday, March 02, 2011

We're Really Very ODD Around Here Lately

We returned from our Seattle trip yesterday and the blog posts are swirling around in my head.  (Not to mention the girls' birthday posts!)  But the mountain of laundry needs some attention, among other things.  So in the meantime...

We went to Menchie's back on Amelie's birthday.  And while we were eating our froyo, I realized how very odd we are these days.
These cuties are the 7-3-and-5 kind of odd.
Or is that the 7-5-and-3 kind of odd?
Or how 'bout the 3-5-and-7 kind of odd?
No matter their order, they are such blessings!