Sunday Art Section: The Princesses

Addie's favorite subject of her drawings these days are princesses. I love the colorful crowns.


This picture tells the story of Cinderella (far right) whose is sad because her doll is broken (can you tell what fell off?). Ariel is the red-haired mermaid in the center and Belle is on the left. Cinderella is going to fix her toy by sewing back on the doll's arm with the needle (can you spot the needle in the drawing?). I'm looking forward to Addie's creating her own storybooks!

Where Babies Come From

I found this stuck to Eliza's leg.

Celebrations (plural)

Addie's birthday party is a total blur. I only took about 4 photos unfortunately and the ones from Disneyland are even worse. At one point in between the pizza and the cake, Addie ran past me; I gave her a big hug, wished her happy birthday and she said, "I love you." I guess if you aren't going to remember much, that moment is pretty good.

Ah Disneyland. We took off from work to avoid the weekend crowds plus we had a built-in babysitter for Eliza - school! Addie was super excited and remembered a lot from when she was last there a full year ago for her third birthday - no Nemo! While she claimed last year that she loved Pirates and Haunted Mansion she insisted that we skip them this time. We of course did It's a Small World which she loves and added to the repertoire - Peter Pan's Flight (very cool), teacups (not as puke-inducing as I thought which was good), and Storybook Land (pokey but sweet). She was also tall enough for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, a real roller coaster. She had her hands over her ears the entire time but when we got off she said she liked it. Last year she was too small and I was pregnant so this was a big moment! My favorite is still the Buzz Light Year ride. Cap was a noble father and husband letting Addie and I shoot Zurg while he shouted words of encouragement.

Addie joined the ranks of the other mini-princesses, wearing her Sleeping Beauty costume and her birthday button. After a 75 minute wait deterred us from Princess Fantasy Faire, we thankfully got to see Princess Tiana, Alice in Wonderland, Cruella deVille and the Fairy Godmother walking around the park. She tasted her first cotton candy, had rainbow sherbet and immediately fell asleep when we got to our car. We picked up Eliza from school glad that she was there all day and excited for next year when she just might be big enough to join us (or then again maybe we can wait until she's 2).

Unfortunately, by the time we got home I could tell I had the flu but my body made it through all of Addie's birthday celebrations before conking out. We still have a few presents to open too!


Actually eating the cake part of her rainbow/my little pony cake - a first!


Waiting in line for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad


Preparing herself. She approached all rides with her ears covered, eyes open though.


Smiling on the teacups

Body Art

Cheerios nose rings. All the rage amongst the 8mo-1yr crowd.

Happy Birthday Miss A!

Today is Addie's fourth birthday. Gee whiz. She's so grown up!

We celebrated yesterday at our house with 40+ guests, balloons, a bounce house and of course cake. In a few minutes, we are heading out to Disneyland to further the celebration, dropping Eliza off at school while we play.

Happy Birthday Adelaide. I love you!

Sunday Art Section: Life Aquatic

The Pretty Sailboat


Mermaids

Poolside

Somehow I neglected to post these photos from our weekend in Palm Springs, um 2 weeks ago. We went out to visit my friend Sara from New York who was their with her family (Alex age 5 and Petra 6 months) visiting the in-laws.

We rocked it at a resort that Cap and I stayed in last year for our 5 year wedding anniversary. Sunday we spent all day by the pool. Eliza totally loved sitting in her pool chair where she happily chewed on a toy while floating around the shallow end. Addie spent most of the day in the pool although she prefered to stay where she can stand. We successfully bribed her with princess diving toys and ice cream to get her face in the water. Eight months of private swim lessons. Geesh! Good news is that at her swim lesson last week, she actually swam with her face in a little bit which she said was fun. A break-through!

We all enjoyed drinks poolside which was thrilling for me since I was pregnant this time last year. I can tell I was excited because I took more photos of our cocktails than the kids.

8 months

Eliza is scrappy!

She's so scrappy, that her new nickname is Scrappy. I mean Cunning Cobra. She will be innocently gnawing on a squeaky giraffe or snuggled on my hip, secretly biding her time, and then . . . Hiiiyah! She lunges arms out, mouth open, catching her prey in her fists of steel. I've been locked in death grips when she gets my hair in both hands and poor Addie continues to loose her locks by the fistful. Now that Eliza is crawling at lightening speed and has four teeth, I fear for my life.



Happy 8 month birthday my little scrappy cobra.


* I promise no babies were harmed in the course of this photo-op.

Best Friends

This is Erica, Addie's best friend.
Erica's last day at school was today.
We only found out a few days ago.

She's off to Korea for the summer to be with her grandparents and then to kindergarden. I'm heartbroken for Addie. I want to protect her from being hurt but I think I'm more upset than she is right now. I also think I might be overreacting and Addie will be totally fine and take it all in stride. I've moved around more than most kids and I survived. I even thrived. But I got to be the person leaving, not the person being left behind. Oh little Addie, don't be sad!

Mother's Day

I got to sleep in (until 7:20).
Cap made waffles with raspberries.
Addie made me a lovely card.
Cap gave me Martha Stewart's new sewing book.
Eliza took the longest nap ever.
We drank mimosas and ate brunch with fellow Moms Grandma Vede and Aunt Karen.
I wished Gran and Nana a happy mother's day on the phone.
Addie went to bed early (which is really on time but since that never happens . . .)
Cap and I drank champagne and watched Fantastic Mr. Fox.

Rather a lovely day.

Except the part where I accidentally pushed Addie off the slide instead of down it. After that I really didn't deserve a mother's day. "You did it!" she said. Terrible Mommy. So so sorry! She recovered with a small red spot on her cheek, and I was left with a guilty smear on my conscience.

Happy Mother's Day!

Watch out, Ariel

I eat mermaids for lunch.