"I'm Four Years Old"

My baby is four! Today was her actual birthday (November 29th) as well as her "baby animals" themed birthday party. We had a very fun day filled with lots of friends & family, a big jumpy house, lots of mini food (to go with our 'baby animals' theme),

cupcakes,

presents,

and a new bike with a baby seat for her animals and baby dolls. Kendall had a perfect day.

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Dear Uncle Joel,

Thanks a lot for playing hacky sack with me, Uncle Matt & my dad today at Kendall's birthday party. I really like playing games with you. Mommy says that I'm lucky to have an uncle who acts the same age as me. She's so funny. I'm only five and you are bigger than me. I don't think you're five. You're probably a lot older, like six or seven. And you drink beer, so that must mean you are maybe ten or twelve. Mommy said that all the beer you drank today was the reason you accidentally kicked me in the face, split the inside of my mouth open & gave me this fat lip.

I will think about how much fun we had all week when I am eating my food through a straw.

Love, Zack

"She needs Fabulous"

Kendall got a haircut!

Actually, both of the girls got haircuts, but Ryleigh didn't like any of the pictures of her, so here you go. If you'd like, you can picture Ry in the green shirt next to Kendall with an identical 'do. Go Ahead. We'll wait.But Kendall! How frickin' cute is she?

She told the hairdresser that she wanted her hair washed, cut like Ryleigh's, blow-dried & styled, thank you very much. I wish I'd brought my camera to the salon, because then I could have documented the beginning stages of my three year old's journey to becoming a trophy wife. Next she'll be asking me to take her to Dr. Stab for her Botox injections.

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P.S. The fish is actually named Dead Zone. My bad. And, for those of you keeping score, he's still alive. I think. I haven't checked in a day or two.

"But have you fed the fish today?"

I'd like to introduce you all to the newest member of our family.

This is Death Zone.

We received D.Z. at a U of R Halloween Carnival. This, of course, was about twenty minutes after I left for work with the parting words to my loving husband, "Honey, whatever you do, please don't let them win a fish."

When I got home that night, he was sitting in a cup on the table.

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Actually, he's starting to grow on me. He doesn't shed or poop in the yard. He doesn't hump every ball we own. He doesn't shred his doggy pillows. (I'm looking at you, Freddie...) Of course, he also doesn't get fed a whole lot. Which is why I decided to take wagers on Death Zone's Death Day.

Anyone?

I'll give excellent odds...

"Haunts and Ghouls of every size"

Halloween around our house is always a day long event, and this year was no different. Book Character parade at school, Dad's work, State Street, Church carnival(s), Olive Street & then trick-or-treating. By the time we got home, the sugar had wielded its magic and the jumping, leaping, running, and whining for "one more piece of candy" was inevitable.

I can't help it. I like candy.

Kendall was a blue bird.

Whenever she walked to a door she yelled, "Squawk! Trick-or-Treat"

Zack was a mummy.

He knew every 5th person we walked by on State Street. Including the guy he thinks we saw at Vons the other day. Ryleigh was a pilgrim.
Her costume choice is generally locked in for the following year by Nov. 1st. I'll keep you posted. (She was a 4th grade costume winner in her parade at school today!)

"You Say It's Your Birthday"

Ryleigh turned NINE this weekend!

We invited twelve of her friends over for a great "Hollywood Award" style slumber party on Friday night complete with red carpet, Hollywood hill, LOUD music, fashion shows, spontaneous bouts of giggling, hours and hours of crazy front lawn dancing, tin foil dresses, sparkly nail polish & mass consumption of sparkling drinks. In this case, apple cider.

At many points during the evening's festivities, it looked an awful lot like a college kegger. Those nine year olds can P.A.R.T.Y.

I'm exhausted.

(Yes, Zack was the only boy there. Obviously, it was a downer for him.)

"The flag still stands for freedom"

At this morning's Patriot Day Assembly, Ryleigh did a phenomenal job at her first foray into public speaking.

My 2nd favorite part of the morning was listening to all of the Franklin kids sing "God Bless The USA." When they sang the first verse, they were all a little quiet, but when they got to the chorus and belted out, "And I'm proud to be an American..." they were LOUD and proud and, let me tell you, when the group of kids in front of me put their arms around each other and started swaying and singing, there wasn't a dry eye in the place.

Especially not from this proud mom.

"There are so many colors in a flower, Let's use every one."

The (mostly) true story of Kendall's first day of Pre-school.

Once upon a time, the cutest three year old on the planet got to attend her first day of preschool.

Her enormous pussycat backpack had other ideas.

Kendall had been anxiously but patiently awaiting this day for many months and was not amused.

So she kicked its ass.

And the humbled backpack never again tried to assert itself over Queen Kendall.

The Beginning.