Lucky, lucky girl

Celebrating Five.

Ryan's words: Best Five Year Old Birthday Party Ever. Seriously, though - she had a blast and was so thrilled with the whole thing.  When I later asked her what her favorite part of the party was, she answered: Everything.

First there was the cake.  We let her pick out her own cake from Target.  She knew she wanted Tinkerbell. She picked out the fanciest stacked cake I have ever seen. So fancy that it came in its own special box.

 
And inside that box, the prettiest cake I have seen (and I have seen some pretty cakes - including my wedding cake):

 
All those little fairies are stamps, too, with the little flower on front being a stamp pad.  Too cool (and tasty, too, I might say).

We celebrated at Edinborough - doing Adventure Peak first.  We immediately lost the kids inside.  They had a blast. 

 

 
There were a couple of little ones there, too, including our Little Man who would push other kids out of the way so he could climb.  He is all boy.  
Then we took them across the way to the gym (per Madtown's request). 

 

 

 

 
Then, we sang Happy Birthday, blew out candles (sparkly ones that didn't seem to actually WANT to be blown out) and ate cake. 

 
She had barely slept all week she was so excited for her party and I think it totally lived up to her expectations. 

It was a good way to Celebrate Five.

Winter Wonderland

Another milestone reached: Madtown's first dance recital.  Last week was a complete whirlwind with rehearsal, dress rehearsal and two shows. It was totally worth it in the end as Madtown LOVED being in the show and it is certainly something I am looking forward to doing again in the spring.

Thursday night was rehearsal at the studio. Because the winter recital includes combinations of different classes (i.e. all the kindergartners do the Hippo dance regardless of what day/time they take class) they had extra rehearsals so that all the kids were in sync (or as in sync as you can be when you are a little). I was a single parent that night (Ryan had conferences at school until late), so there was a little juggling involved. The kids and I did Noodles for dinner, and then made it to the 530 rehearsal.  After that, home in time for snacks, for Little Man to head to bed and Madtown and I to relax a bit.

 
Friday night was dress rehearsal. Madtown and I left a very upset Little Man (he is seriously all about me right now) home with Ryan and headed to Jefferson High School for the 630 PM rehearsal. It was a little crazy and chaotic, but the girls had a blast.

I should mention "the girls." The winter show was entirely optional, but I knew Madtown would love being in it, so I didn't think twice about signing her up for it. However, only one other little girl in her class signed up as well, so the two of them were two little peas in a pod this weekend. 

 
After they ran through their two dances (the Hippo dance and the Reindeer dance) we hung around until around 9 PM so that they could watch the other dances. Their teacher (Miss Lindsay) was in most of the show and the LOVED seeing her dance - especially when she was a fairy in point shoes and tutu.

Saturday was the big day of the shows. There was an afternoon one (which Ryan and Little Man attended) and an evening show (which my mom and grammy attended). We curled Madtown's hair up (something she rarely has patience for).

 
I didn't really get any good shots from the afternoon show (holding Little Man and taking photos really doesn't mix), but Madtown performed beautifully and was so fun to watch.  (And Little Man loved clapping after each dance and bopping a little to the music - until he passed out in my arms and snored for the remainder of the show).  Ryan bought her roses (two purple, one pink - her favorites) and she was just thrilled.
 

 
After a quick dinner, Madtown and I left Little Man and Ryan at home and headed back for the evening show.  After settling my mom and Grammy in, I got a chance to hang out with Madtown in the elementary school "green room."

 
The girls had an awesome time back there playing, coloring, doing Madtown's leap frog and eating snacks. It was fun to be there, too, without Little Man so that we could play a little (including a mommy & daughter game of Ring Around the Rosie and Duck Duck Goose). 

Then, I headed back out to see the show.  First up was the tap dance for I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas. 

 
I don't have the best shots as during the afternoon show Madtown was on the right side of the stage, but somehow ended up on the left side during the evening show, so we were sitting on the wrong side for the best view. Oh, well. She still looked adorable, did all the moves perfectly, and was so excited that she had spotted me, my mom and Grammy in the audience.

 
The pouty face part may have been my very favorite. Madtown did it so well, too. You might think she practices that at home. Tee hee.

 
After the Hippo Dance, Madtown changed into her Reindeer costume. Apparently, she was horribly upset as she got offstage as she lost one of her barrettes.  One of the wonderful backstage volunteers, though, found some cute ribbony barrettes for her and she was beyond thrilled.  Then, Miss Lindsay came into the room with it as they had found it on stage. Madtown was ecstatic. 

 
During intermission, she came out so she could visit Grammy and my mom in their seats. My mom bought her flowers (yellow roses) which she LOVED. She could hardly believe that she had received two sets of roses.

 

 
Then, back to the "green room" to hang out.

 

 

I loved the back of their costumes with the big read bows.

 

Coloring (a regular thing for Madtown - if she has downtime, she is typicallly coloring or reading).

 
Then on stage to do their ballet number to Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. 

 

 
The cutest part might have been when they all yelled "SHOUTED OUT WITH GLEE"

 

Madtown skipped the finale so that she could sneak out onto my lap and watch the rest of the show. She kept whispering "there's Miss Lindsay" and loved watching the fairies and all the other dances.

On the drive home, she told me that she was going to just rest her eyes for a minute. I found her like this.

 
Yes. It was a whirlwind few days, but so worth it.

Butterfly garden.

I sometimes find stories in unlikely places.

While going through the MN Zoo butterfly garden this summer with Madtown, I was struck by her interest in identifying the butterflies.  I was amazed by the little girl that she has become and how her interests are growing and changing.

This layout describes less the actual trip to the butterfly garden and more the cord that visit struck with me.

This is why I scrap. These are the things I don't want to forget.

She...

 

...loves to draw and color.

...needs a nap most days.

...rarely agrees that she needs one.

...thinks the number 30 is "twenty-ten" and 31 is "twenty-eleven."

...is a girly-girl who loves pink, dresses, flowers and anything princess.

...is just as able to get rough and tumble with the boys - climbing, running, digging.

...is learning to write and spell and can sound out simple words (cat, bug) and write them.

...is currently infactuated with my Swine Trek (Pigs in Space) toy that the kids gave me for my birthday.  She can be often be found sitting at the kitchen table playing with it.

...likes to eat pickles.  And black olives.  And sandwiches. She probably be happiest if we let her eat a pickle sandwich with black olives and chips on the side every night. Maybe, eventually, she would get sick of it.

...cuddles in bed with me in the morning after Ryan gets up and goes to work. It's my own little slice of heaven.

...is totally goofy - making me laugh over and over throughout the day. 

...is a non-stop chatterbox and will talk to anyone who will listen.  It's kind of exhausting sometimes, but mostly I love to hear her stories.

...is already four and a half and definitely growing up too fast for my taste, but I love the girl she has become more than words can express.

Technology.

I was inspired to create this layout for Madtown's book a couple months back when I got my new phone and she was thrilled to get her hands on it and take photos.  It made me think of how different the technology is in her life as compared to when I was a young girl listening to my cassette tapes, playing Lemonade on my Apple IIe and calling my friends on my rotary dial phone.

 
Plus, it made for a good excuse to use my My Mind's Eye robot paper. 

They're back.

Puzzles.

It's been a while since she was intersted, but last night she did puzzle after puzzle. 100 piece ones. All by herself.

 
It's something that I never tire of watching.

Old treasures made new again.

I picked up these little old treasures while out at my mom's this weekend.

While I understand the whole chocking hazard thing, for preschool age child, these old Fisher Price Family toys are so much better than what they make today.

Hiding in my mom's garage were the School House and the A-Frame.  I am guessing that somewhere there is also the barn (I found the chicken), but that might require some additional digging.  (My mom also has the Sesame Street building at her house, which rocks).

I cleaned these off (full of sawdust from the boys cutting wood in the garage) and Madtown has been playing with them non-stop since.

She especially loves the little chalkboard inside the School House. She has been drawing pumpkins and our family with the piece of 30 year old blue chalk that was inside.

Sigh. I love when these old toys become new again.

Ren Fest.

Every year since I can remember, my mom and I have gone to the MN Renaissance Festival (I say "since I can remember" because, apparently, when I was REALLY young, my dad thought it was a tourist trap and we didn't dare go).  My dad ended up being a huge fan and we went every year as a family for many a year. My brother even worked at it one year. 

I also have a distinct memory of going with my friend Emily and my dad lying and saying he was dropping off for work so we could cut the line of cars.  I guess we were kind of hard core.

Later on, in college, my mom and I started the tradition of going just the two of us.  We browsed.  Drank lemonade, soda and, later, fancy coffees. We ate - every year we have apple dumplings and cinnamon ice cream just before leaving.  We leisurely shopped. 

I don't think I have missed a year. In fact, we even went last year - 2 week old baby strapped to my chest. Yes. It's that fun for us.

Of course, since kids, it's kind of been a whole different type of experience.  No more leisurely shopping.  Many, many more stops for food, water, nookies, and the like.  Much more shopping for princess tiaras.  More rides.  More searching for the illustrious fairy.  Genuine fun, albeit a whole different type.

We had a blast this year. Even Little Man - even if I didn't let him get out of the stroller (genuine fear that I would NEVER get him back in).  Madtown found a butterfly tiara right away that she needed (and I was secretly thankful it wasn't yet another pair of f 
airy wings).

Next, we had to ride the butterfly ride. She loved this ride last year and had been asking about it for a week now (as soon as she heard we were going this weekend).  Of course, judging by the height sign, this is the last year she will ride it.

 

She also rode a giant rocking horse. 

And pet snakes (her dad would hate that one).

Little Man got in on the fun, too.  He loved the petting zoo, where he honked at the geese, tried to get too close to the piglets, and pet sheep (trying to take one's nose with him - sorry Mr. Sheep).

My mom and Madtown fed the sheep, too. That was a riot. Of course, after the nose fiasco, Little Man was banned (by me) from touching any more animals.

Continuing with our animal exploration, Madtown also rode her first llama (she chose this over the camel because she could ride it by herself - my independent girl).

Her favorite part of the day was getting her face painted.

After which, as a new anointed fairy princess, you was required to take the oath (which include things like behaving, going to bed at night, smiling, etc.). I adore this woman.

My mom was also gracious enough to get a picture of me and my new fairy princess (even though I know she secretly hates using my camera).

Little Man decided to take a nap through this.

But was awakened by the excited (and one not so excited) screaming surrounding this next ride:

Oh - and did I mention the fairy? We found her this year (not sure where she was last year) and Madtown was able to add another "fairy rock" to her collection of special items.

And, as alluded to before, no trip is complete without apple dumplings and cinnamon ice cream (just plain vanilla ice cream for Madtown - hold the dumplings, but Little Man was a cinnamon ice cream hog - barely left me any).

Seriously, though. We had an awesome day. The two kids were troopers and were so full of smiles.

I am already looking forward to next year.

Girls like trains, too.

We bought some new tracks (switches to be exact) while at Ikea yesterday.  Madtown enjoyed an evening of running trains and little Fisher Price people. Well, at least when Little Man wasn't trying to destroy (or play) with the tracks himself. 

Yes, girls like trains, too.

A little perspective.

I am reading Learning to See Creatively by Bryan Peterson in an effort to better compose the photographs I take.  I am just beginning the book, but have already learned a valuable lesson.

While Madtown was playing in the rain the other morning, I saw a wonderful opportunity to take some photos of her with her purple raincoat and adorable Hello Kitty boots.  At first, however, even though she looked adorable, I wasn't pleased at all with how my photos were turning out.

It then occurred to me that, as I was learning from this book, that maybe my perspective was off. I choose to shoot from another angle.

Just by dropping below and shooting up at Madtown, I was able to take a picture I love.

It's amazing what a little change in perspective will do.