6!

Dear Henny, 
Number 6 went off without a hitch.  You're excited about the weekend trip to Louisville and Uncle Gary gave you a baggy of 10 bucks worth of quarters and you went to town on the little trinkets vendor machines. 

When the wait staff sang Happy Birthday in Spanish and carried out the Mexican birthday tradition of putting cake in your face you didn't bat an eye but smiled widely.  

With your cool Star Wars cake, which I got free because they didn't have it ready on time and I had to wait, I bought candles and FORGOT THEM.  So, Bahboo went and found a packet of matches in his truck and your blew out 6 matches...I know, a little crappy but you didn't seem to mind.  
A happy birthday to you.  We love you so. 

Love, Mama 

Racing

Dear Chickletts,
You enjoy a Sunday afternoon with Grandma P and Bahboo, especially when he gets out our ceaseless car track to race his basket of cars.  Squeals and jumping as the cars swoop down the track...over and over again.  You'd do anything to spend time with Bahboo.

Love, Mama

Birthday 2

Dear Hazelita, 
My sweet little funny ray of sunshine.  2 years old yesterday.  You got to have several modest birthday celebrations this year.  We started on Saturday when Bahboo, Grandma P, Grandma Jean and your aunts met up with us at Henry's school carnival.  Mommy was working at a booth so Daddy entertained while I set up bowling pins.  I could watch you from a distance enjoying playing on the playground with Grandma Jean and Henry hopping from game to game. 

After the carnival we went to Mother Bear's for pizza, one of your favorites.  You were SOOO SLEEPY, but you made it through dinner and some birthday cake.  

Grandma Jean gave you a cute little apron to wear in your play kitchen.  You told everyone thank you and passed out back at home.  On the 8th, your actual birthday you woke up chipper and happy.  We got you dressed and as we were leaving I asked you, "Hey, Who is the birthday girl!"  You threw your arm in the air and with a pointed finger you danced in a little circle.  So cute!  

 To start our day we drove to have lunch with WW, your birth mama.  It was a lot of fun and after you reluctantly shared your ice cream, by share I mean you gave us each a bite then screamed off any other spoon approaches, you did a fantastic gyrating dance for the restaurant to be hold.  

We decided to go together to check out the new Independent Adoption Center office and say hi to the ladies that supported us all through the process.  Before they even saw us they called out is that Hazel the birthday girl?!  I suppose they figured we might stop by if we were coming to visit WW, who lives up the street. 

After you ran around and checked out the pictures and grabbed some candy we took WW home. We said our good byes, complete with an, "Love you, Winnie," and then started home to meet Daddy and Hen for dinner and cake.  Daddy even left work early at Henry's request to go on a trip so he can choose you a gift.  He loves you so much.  He chose some doggie wrapping paper because he knows you love dogs and Kipper.   On Henry's insistence, you opened presents before we left.  You loved your giant magna doodle and set to create as soon as you finished playing with the squiggly light up ball Henry chose for you, which you held close through dinner.  

Your most exciting part of the day was blowing out candles and singing Happy Birthday.  

We had to do two takes because I sat the cake down and you blew out the candles before the, "HAAAAP," made it out of our mouths.  We had cake and it was time to end our long day of celebrations.  I can't wait for many more.  You are my sweet funny little baby lady with a loving sense of humor.  I look at you and wonder how I got to be so lucky to be your mama, to see you every morning with your wild wombat hair, to chase you through the library or cheer for you when you make it down the slide.  How do I get to be the one to hug you when you're upset?  It is an amazing feeling.  I love you so, I can't believe you're, "teeeweeeooo."
Love, Mama

Lake Griffy Fun

Dear Henry,
A great weekend getting to go with Bahboo and his boat to the reservoir around the corner from our house. Mama made sure we had plenty of snacks including PB&J's, beef sticks, BBQ chips, fruity snacks and waters. We stuffed our face and watched turtles, geese, and fish. You looked cool in your Star Wars hat and when asked if you were having fun you replied with a, "Duh!" Or a "Boy am I ever!" So we ended our time at Griffy catching tadpoles, just to cinch up that a good time was had. I love spending time with you and Bahboo. We have a lot more time for such adventures together.
Love, Mama

Scary Tarantula, Sweetie Kitty

Dear Henny and Hazel Pants, 
I'll keep this short because the pictures far out weight the text I could clack away.  Halloween! this year was a collaborative effort between me and you Henny and it was awesome.  The past three years we gave you choices of what you wanted to be... year 1 you were a hot dog, year 2 you were Chewbacca, and year 3 you were an impressive Yoda with a hand made light saber replica thanks to your dad and last year you were a lit up Robot.  Well, this year you wanted to be a tarantula.  You and I sat down in the kitchen with your notebook.  While I listened to your description I sketched and you made adjustments as needed.  We made a list of materials needed and upon review you wrote in "cursive" the parts we had forgotten.  We selected our fabric easily but the search for eyeballs proved more of a problem.  At the last minute, just after settling on google eyes you were searching through some discount Halloween bins and found some Styrofoam eyes on sticks and a bag of eyes and asked if I thought they would work. UH! Yeah!  They were perfect!  

I worked a couple of days cutting and sewing the parts and then we constructed the hat together.  It all turned out so spooky and hairy!  

You impressed your friends at school.  They gathered around you to poke and ask questions.  

The children's museum gave you lots of attention too.  You and Hazel did your first haunted house with us, Bahboo and cousin Tony.  

We were able to trick or treat with our buddies again this year, a fun tradition.  

Bahboo, Krispie and Currie joined us.  The weather was beautiful and Hazel looked cuddly sweet in the kitty cat outfit that Henry picked out. 
 
 Hazelita, you sat with Daddy and shook candy in both hands, got all yellow from a baggie of cheese balls and waved and said hi to random trick or treaters.  

I can't wait to see what you choose to be next year.  And...here are the pictures.

I love my little ghoulies!   Love, Mama

P.S.  I always have standards for the Halloween outfits. They must keep you warm, not cover your face and be comfortable and flexible...after this year, I have to add it must light weight.  The weight of all of those legs and the big back slowed you down and wore you out early.  haha