Sweet at Six

Is it cliche to say that the past six years have flown by? Probably - but they really have. I remember heading to the my 40 week OB appointment like it was yesterday. They hooked me up to some monitors and did a LONG stress test which Brooke didn't pass. Knowing her personality now, I know she was just playing a joke on us! They induced me around lunchtime and less than ten hours later (I know a long time for my fourth child) she was in our arms.

Today is Brooke's birthday and I hope it was special for her. She climbed into my bed shortly after six and I smiled at her and said, "Happy Birthday." She looked back at me and said, "Happy Birthday." She is such a sweetheart.

Her birthday celebration started last Saturday when we had a "Pajama Party" (think sleepover, minus the sleepover, wear your jammies and come eat breakfast, HUGE hit!) with some of her friends. We served breakfast: french toast sticks, bacon, eggs, hash browns, strawberries, juice and milk. After breakfast we decorated pillowcases that I tye died the night before. They turned out so cute. It was quite a quest trying to find 100% cotton pillow cases, but finally I found them hidden on the end cap at Target. Then we opened presents. At one point Brooke thanked one of her friends by saying, "Thank you, your majesty." I don't know where she comes up with these things! Keeping with tradition, Aunt Liz's present was an AWESOME mini cake for Brooke and cupcakes for the guests. She even decorated each of the kids to look like Brooke's friends. I have to say I was a bit sad as they dismantled each adorable cupcake. Brooke had an intense desire to smash her face in her mini cake, so we let her. It wasn't too messy and she was in heaven!













Today I made cups o' dirt to take to Brooke's class (I had to convince her that we've made cookies on a stick for so many years that we should try something different). The kids loved them and Brooke loved the attention. Her teacher let her decide whether she wanted "cha-cha's" in her birthday song and she chose to let the kids add the "cha-cha's." If you don't know what this is I fill you in next time we're together.

After distributing the extra dirt to some other teachers we were off to a soccer game for Michael and then we met dad at Mimi's for dinner before his meetings. After we ordered, Brooke opened her presents and was thrilled with her new Nintendo DS because Erin bought one a couple of weeks ago with her birthday money she has been saving since January.















Overall, it was a picture perfect day. We love you Brooke! You're the sweetest six year old we know!

I know this is a repeat, but it sure helped to have blogged about the Turkey Trot last year. I just copied what I wrote on my blog onto my page. I created this page during a Scrapmatters Speed Scrap. As you can tell I'm not going in any particular order, but at least I'm getting something done.

Another day, another page

So I realized that I didn't say how many days in a row I'd like to create a page and I'm still thinking about it ... maybe 15, maybe 30, maybe tomorrow I'll decide.

A goal too lofty?

I don't even know if I dare post this, but here goes. I really want to get some digital scrapbooking done, so on my list of things to do each day is create at least one page. So here's the one for today....

Something to look forward to...

Since school started (four days ago) Brooke has never expressed feelings of excitement about school. She usually says she doesn't want to go and that it's too long. Yesterday when I picked her up I, of course, asked her how her day was. She said it was okay. Then the following conversation unfolded.

Brooke: I cried a little bit in the morning. (my heart is breaking)
Me: Did the teacher notice?
Brooke: No.
Me: Did any of the kids in your class notice?
Brooke: No. (now I'm wondering if she was actually crying or just felt sad)
Me: We're there tears going down your face?
Brooke: I don't know.
Me: You know what you can do when you feel sad inside?
Brooke: Tell the teacher?
Me: No, you could say a little prayer and ask that you will feel happy inside.
Brooke: I just kept saying in my head, "I'll get to see Mom at the end of the day. I'll get to see Mom at the end of the day. I'll get to see Mom at the end of the day."

As I type I have tears in my eyes. If you know Brooke this side of her just doesn't go with any other portion of her personality. She's a firecracker on the outside, but I'm realizing a real softie on the inside.

So, the past two days I've rewarded her with one of her all time favorite things to do - THE TIRE SWING on the 2nd and 3rd grade playground. She doesn't hold on. She simply positions herself with her rear slightly down and her arms and legs out like she's flying. You can't push her fast enough. Erin likes the tire swing as well, but prefers a milder ride.

We stayed after school today for quite awhile and apparently we stayed just one or two minutes too long because as we were leaving the playground Erin was stung on the face by a bee. She was screaming and then Brooke started to cry because she thought she was going to get stung as well. Once we got to the car Brooke said, "Mom, I wish Jesus never would have made bees."

Bee Sting! on the left side just lower than her nostril

Soooooo Yummy!

The kids are in school, the house is quiet and I'm sitting here eating one of the most delicious salads I've ever had. It is the perfect mix of flavors. I bought the salad cookbook from GreenSmoothieGirl and this is the first one I've tried. It is sooooo good!

C'mon, try it you'll like it!!

Shelley's Tomato, Avocado and Almond Salad

(A note from GreenSmoothieGirl: This is one of my favorite salads - filling as an entire lunch - and it comes from Shelly Abegg's collection. Shelley is a true gourmet, and her raw food recipes can be found at www.rawfoodart.com)

2 cups tomatoes, chopped (I used grape tomatoes and cut them in half)
1-2 cups avocado, diced
1 cup almonds, chopped
1 cup celery, chopped fine
4-5 TBSP. chopped green onion
4-5 TBSP. chopped cilantro
1-2 TBSP. fresh lemon juice
1 tsp. agave
1 TBSP nutritional yeast (didn't have any so I didn't put it in)
dash of cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp. sea salt


Mix and enjoy!!

First Day of School 2009

On Wednesday (the day before school started) I started to feel a bit melancholy. The summer seemed to race by and it was now time to send the kids off to school. Of course, Erin was excited to go back, but Brooke was free with her descriptions on how she felt, "I'm not excited" and "I hate school" were a couple of them. I think her feelings were getting to me a bit and I was just a tad sad.

I wanted the day to run smoothly so I woke at 6:00 a.m. I worked out. Rex gave each of the kids a blessing. I helped the boys make sure they had all of their summer homework - or I guess I should say that I annoyed them when I asked for the 18th time whether they had everything in their backpack. I don't know why I do this, but I do. Then I drove them to school. Showered. Did they girls hair. Oh, I had a disagreement with Brooke first because she didn't want her hair straightened. Made chicken noodle soup for lunches. Packed lunches. Took two pictures (neither of which I'm happy about.) Put on Brooke's shoes. Listened to Brooke tell me they were too tight - brand new shoes, I guess that's what I get for buying them without her. Ran back to the house for an old and comfy pair of shoes. And as were walking across the school grounds the first bell rings. WHAT? My kids are going to be late for their first day of school?! You've got to be kidding me?! I had a sinking feeling. Rex ran Erin to line up with her class on one side of the school and I ran with Brooke and then yelled at Rex that he had Brooke's backpack. He yelled back that he would bring it to Brooke's classroom. We walked quickly to Brooke's classroom; no running in the halls. All of the kids were seated and it turns out that it worked out best for Brooke. She didn't have time to be sad. She sat down and immediately stood up for the pledge. And I didn't have time to feel sad because I was so disappointed that the morning was so crazy. No tears from either of us. I guess it always works out for the best.

One of the first pictures taken - not that good.


Walking to school with dad.


Brooke saying the Pledge.


Erin at her desk.


An okay picture taken after school.