Celebrate!

Flannery had two birthday parties on the same day on St. Patrick's Day--it was a little hectic!  But she had a great time at both!  The first was a princess party for a friend from her class, and the next was a jumping party at a "bouncing house" for the son of my dear friend, Randi.    Flanna got all dolled up with makeup and nail polish at the first party, and then went and jumped for hours at the second.  

Poor thing, she was sooooo exhausted by the end of the day!

the beautiful birthday girl

cousins, getting all grown up now. 

birthday boy!

Do fun times tend to come in waves for you, too?  It seems like we go months without anything on the calendar, and then suddenly everything hits at once!

Experience Art

On Tuesday, I took the day off from work to celebrate my birthday, and my mom, Flannery, and I spent the day together.  We shopped at Ikea a bit, had lunch, and then went to the High Museum of Art.  Flanna was a good sport at the High, even though walking quietly through crowds of quiet adults staring at walls was probably not the most kid-friendly activity ever.  She  kept pulling me here and there to "show" me different exhibits, and seemed to like the large sculptures best.

Flanna being wholly unimpressed by Warhol

us being silly in front of a self portrait of Andy Warhol
(who Flanna kept calling "Andy Warthog")  :)

an amazing mirrored bowl that casts sound waves backwards quite a distance

Flanna's reflection in the giant bowl

studying a cool ocean/constellation piece

our reflection in the "random pieces of glass stacked against the wall" exhibit.
Needless to say, I quickly ushered my 5 year old through this highly breakable exhibit!

The "Marsupial" piece:  a representation of a kangaroo pouch turned on its side

Grainger McKoy's bird sculptures were truly amazing.  I think this was the most interesting exhibit that day.  

Flanna & her grandma with a Picasso

Flanna paying more attention to the duct tape on the floor
 (which she practiced walking on in a straight line) than the Picasso paintings above.  

Flanna was not a fan of Piet Mondrian

Flanna quoting her Olivia book, "I could do that in about 5 minutes."  beside a Jackson Pollock painting

Some of the more quirky pieces we saw included a sculpture made of chewing gum and plastic fake flowers, several animal sculptures by Howard Finster (whose paintings I love, but I didn't realize he did sculpting as well), and a huge canvas of funny looking naked people dancing in a circle (maybe by Matisse?).  Flanna said, "Those people don't have any clothes!"  

It was a busy day, and at one point, I wondered if it was crazy to try to do so much in one day, but in the end, I'm so glad we went.  Art makes me feel happy and calm and connected to the world in a deeper way, which is just what I needed on my birthday.  

What type of art lifts your spirits? Paintings, sewing, music?   I've made a resolution to listen to more music that I love this year, because I think I underestimate just how much music makes a difference in my mood.  

A Small Family Gathering

Suddenly became huge!  Luckily my sweet in-laws volunteered to host Flanna's birthday party at their home, because we never would've been able to fit all these cousins at our place!  We were lucky that so many of our family members were visiting from out of town, and we got to see everyone in one fell swoop at Flannery's party.

It was a really wonderful day.  The kids played and laughed; the adults chatted and caught up with one another; the food was plentiful; and the weather even cooperated.  Flannery decided to wear her Belle dress to the "Princess Party," and I think she felt festive and beautiful (which she was!).

I'm so thankful to my in-laws and to all my family for making the day such fun for her.

Her favorite part of the day, I think, was blowing up the balloons to decorate for the party.  She was so proud of herself for being able to do that all by herself.  My favorite part was when she walked into the kitchen after I'd hung streamers, and gasped in delight!  So sweet!

centerpieces and favors all in one

the princess cake and cupcakes

Flannery and I made the cake, and her Grammie made the cupcakes...yum!

our homemade pinata was not long for the world

the cousins collecting pinata booty

cousins

opening gifts

the five year old beauty

What was your favorite birthday party from when you were a kid?  I used to love sleepovers the best.   Also, my surprise 16th birthday party was great fun.   

Reflect

Today was a milestone.  My sweet little girl turned five.

Five years old.  I just can't believe it has come so quickly.  Time has flown, and suddenly I am on the verge of mothering a kindergartener.

 I'm thankful, of course.  I have friends who have lost their daughters, who never got to see this milestone.  And I know that it's a gift.  

It's a real gift to get to watch this amazing and creative little spirit grow and change.  It's a gift to get to guide her into realizing all her wonderful insight and talent and strength.  It's a gift to get to experience the world anew each time she learns something or does something for the first time.    It's a gift to get to watch my husband as such a patient and gentle father, and my parents as grandparents.  

Each day, each year, --it's a gift.  But I still want it to slow down.  Maybe this is why blogging means so much to me.  It's a way to capture these beautiful busy days, to focus on the bigger picture amidst the chaos of appointments and meetings and deadlines and play-dates.  It's a way to reflect.  

How do you find ways to reflect on your life here and there?  Do you think reflecting makes you happier?

Nana's 80th Birthday

We celebrated Robi's grandmother's 80th birthday last weekend.  I hope that when I'm 80, I'm so healthy and full of energy.  Nana is such a treasure to the family, and I'm so glad we got to celebrate with her! 

This one's my favorite!

What do you want to be known for when you're 80?  What do you want to be able to say about your life by then?

The Birthday Boy!

It's my husband's birthday today!  (That's right...we're both capricorns.  My friend Debi says that's why we're so peaceful and compatible.)

Because celebrating traditions makes us so happy, Flannery and I made some neat cards for him, bought him a cooking class (I promise that wasn't a selfish gift--I really think he'll enjoy it!), and frosted some brownies for his birthday "cake."

Then we lit the candles, and Flanna helped him make a wish.

I think this is going to be a good year for him.  I can feel it in my bones.


What are you looking forward to in this new year?

My Favorite Birthday Books

It's my birthday today!

In celebration of the nerdy mama SLP that I am, I'm going to post a list of my favorite birthday-themed children's books today.  Because that makes me super happy.

Aaaaand the winners are: 

The Birthday Zoo - by Deborah Lee Rose - this book has unique animal and verb vocabulary, which appeals to the speechy side of me.  The pictures are cute, and the text isn't too long, so the book is readable in the 20 minutes you have for reading with your kiddo before bed.  Plus, it rhymes!  I bought it before I had Flannery, to read with my preschool speech students on their birthdays, and I bring it out every year to read during Flanna's birthday now.  Such fun!

On the Night You Were Born - by Nancy Tillman - Warning!  This book will make you cry!  When I found it in the bookstore, I got all weepy and just had to buy it.  And I wasn't pregnant or anything. And they only had it in hardback.  And it was expensive.  And I am pretty cheap.  The illustrations are works of art, and the words--sigh.  I love to give this to new parents.  My hubby says if you read it too much, you'll make your child conceited.  Maybe so, but I still read it with Flannery all the time, especially on her birthday.   I mean, come on, the polar bears did dance 'til dawn the night she was born, and none of the ladybugs flew away!  It's just true.

Happy Birthday, Moon - by Frank Asch -   My mentor, Anne van Kleeck, introduced me to this author forever ago when I was in graduate school.  I love the sweet stories and concepts introduced in each book about Moonbear and his friend Little Bird.  Plus, this book takes me right back to my time doing research on book-sharing in grad school, which I really enjoyed.  I know, I'm a nerd.  But, hey, it's my birthday--I can be as geeky as I want today and no one can say anything, right?

Birthday Monsters - By Sandra Boynton -  who doesn't love a good Boynton book?  It rhymes, it's silly, and there are monsters.  Enough said.

(By the way, I don't get any money if you click on these amazon links...they're just there so you can see the cute books I'm talking about.  My mom would love it if I were technosavvy enough to put ads up on this blog, but I have to admit I'm not there yet.)



What are your favorite kids' books?

The Years Are Short

Oh, my.

Four!

Is. So. Big.

I don't know where the time has gone. The days are long, but the years are short.

I'm trying to soak up every sweet second with this amazing little four year old person.

Walking in the parking lot yesterday, she said, "Mom, you don't have to hold my hand anymore, remember? I'm four!" I told her the rule is that you hold hands until you're twelve.

I'm reeeeally not ready for twelve. Good thing I've got some time.




How do you try to soak up the moments with your family and friends?

My Official Taste Tester

Flanna helped bake her own birthday cake. I think she tasted more batter than we actually baked! But it was great fun! And the cake turned out pretty cute, if I do say so myself.



What was your most memorable birthday cake as a kid?