 |
| Waiting for guests |
Dear Hazelita,
My sweet girl, you turned 4 this September 8th. This birthday marked six months of passionately awaited expectations of a party! On exiting the library flipping your dark braids around you broke away from me to let our favorite librarian know that your birthday was coming up. I nodded from behind and clarified in like 3 months you'd be 4 while you gushed on to described your party as a pony party in an alley with lots of pizza and jars of candy. Checking out from the grocery you let polite checker know too of your alley pony pizza candy party, in two months but so and so are coming, and so and so and.... Finally, each day creeped by with the slowness of a snail until the day was here. Two o'clock seemed so far away. Bahboo and P, Grandma Jean and Aunt Glo, Uncle Dave and Goldie the best dog in the world showed up and the party started. We got the cotton candy machine set up and party decorations, tables and Henry filled the pinata (stashing a half bag of candy in the cabinet.) Soon, the party was full swing with all of your guest wishing you a happy birthday and despite the line stating no need for presents you make an amazingly thoughtful haul of presents and cards. There was beautiful weather and a great swell of energy, and I don't think it was just the cotton candy machine going faster than little hands could wind it up on the naked paper cones.
Great people together to celebrate my best girl created the excitement all on its own.
Next was breaking the pinata. Holy excitement! Kids lined up and everyone got a couple of chances to wack and swing at the pinata, even a couple of adults. It was intense and exciting to watch!
After the pinata we sang happy birthday and cut cake. Yum! Your birthday was a sugar feast.
I'm so glad we had a party at our house this year. I am so grateful the weather was perfect. I'm so grateful for you. Many more happy birthdays my lil peach. Love, Mama
Dear Peep,
We've had some great times with friends this summer. I've really enjoyed our times in the creeks around Bloomington. One day we hiked up the waterfalls at Cascades Park and you played for a couple of hours with a group of boys there redirecting the water down to the small stream. I felt like a kid along with you, helping with the heavier rocks and log moving. The boys, a few years older than you, thought you were really cool and puffed up your chest by commenting on how strong you are at only 4. Before they left the oldest requested you all get a picture together. We've spent a couple of afternoons in Sylvie and Etienne's creek with Keegs and Lily. That was a fun day.
You were all turning over rocks trying to find new creatures. Searching for tadpoles and little salamanders made you all hungry and tired.
You enjoyed making and sharing banana bread with your buds and playing crazy kids on the deck. I can't look at these pictures without smiling or laughing out loud.
We've also returned to Olcott Park a couple of times too.
We even bumped into JoJo, Tommy and Jacob, a birth cousin at Cascades one afternoon and you all played together in the water there. Luckily JoJo had an extra life jacket in her car.
I love these times of pure discovery and excitement. I am grateful we have such wonderful friends to enjoy it with, and when they can't be their you easily make some new ones.
Love, Mama
Dear Henny and Hey-zel,
Last weekend we were able to spend a night away in Evansville to visit Gavin and his family. He has three awesome daughters, one high school, one middle school and one pre-school (just a month older than you). You were a bit smitten with Miss Alyissa. Yep. The oldest. I think it was the light saber popsicles she made for you all to eat. Hazel you just hung out like a little sweet pea, enjoy snugglin' from Gavin. We ate at a cool German restaurant near their home.
Poor Delilah puked right before we left. Oh my! So she carried her little puke bucket on the walk over hanging close to me and holding my hand. Poor thing. Alyissa was able to get you to try pig knuckles of all things! You loved it!
After dinner we went to the hotel where you swam for a while in the cool pool. The two of you were excited about the big hotel bed and all of the pillows.
In the morning we got breakfast down the hall and you ate a ton! We got ourselves together and met Gavin and Delilah at the Children's Museum in Evansville. IT WAS GREAT! Olivia and Alyissa had Girl Scout Cookies to sale. You were so excited! We could have spend four hours vs the two we were there. There was exciting water room to play in. Hazel, you had an abundance of things to stare at and enjoy. It was such a nice time!
You were in love with the pilgrim home and civil war scenes you could role play in, but then maybe you loved the various ways to build more.
You were sad to leave the interactive art gallery but they were making a last call announcement and we didn't want to get locked in!
We loved catching up with Gavin and his girls and hope to return to spend an extended time at that the Children's Museum. I also think we would really enjoy the riverwalk and activities in the warmer weather. We can't wait to return. So grateful we have such easy travelers.
Love, Mama
