Happy 5th Birthday Anna

Today was Anna's 5th Birthday. It has taken some convincing on our part to make her believe that she is 5 and not 5 and a half. Always in a hurry to grow up. Speaking of growing up, as a gift and a reward for good behavior as of late, Anna earned the privilege of having her ears pierced. She has been asking to have them pierced for the last two years. I was 5 when I had my ears pierced and my Mom had to bribe me to stop crying in order to get my ears pierced so it seems only fitting that we had to do the same with Anna. A few weeks ago she was in the middle of a full blown tantrum over only having two candy corns instead of 3. She was so upset flailing around and screaming that she took her glasses from her face and snapped them right in half. I was so shocked I hardly knew what to do or how to react. We decided she no longer deserved to have her ears pierced but that she would have to "earn" the right to be a big girl, just as I did so many years ago. Anna did great the last few weeks and I think we all learned that she really can be a lot more in control than we all thought. She rightfully earned her earrings.

It was just the two of us as we headed to the mall to have them pierced. She told me up front that she wasn't going to cry. I told her that she could cry because it was going to hurt. We have been telling her for some time that it was going to hurt a lot to make sure that she was ready and really wanted to have it done. She wasn't at all worried. No surprise when the ears were pierced and she didn't even flinch. I was holding her hand trying to comfort her, but she needed no comfort. Not a tear. She was a amazing. She really is so tough. She has not cried for a vaccination probably since she was 2 or younger. When she had her tonsils out at 2 years old they said she would have to be hospitalized over night. She was so brave and doing so well that we were discharged within hours. She is amazing. She proves to be a challenge at times but with that said she is also one of the most loving people I know. She loves to be showered and shower others with affection. She wants nothing more than love, approval and affection. She is very nurturing and loves to play with small children. We recently watched a neighbors new baby for a few hours and she didn't leave the baby's side. She loved every second. Anna is such a sweetheart and we are grateful that she came to our family 5 years ago. We count her as one of our greatest blessings.

For weeks she has been asking that she have breakfast in bed for her birthday. This morning she was still counting on it even though she had already been awake for an hour or more. When we asked her to hop back into bed to have her special breakfast as requested she didn't want to do that. She even insisted that she hadn't asked for that. Such a funny girl. I think truth be told she realized it would be more fun to have breakfast while watching Saturday morning cartoons.

After breakfast and some more cartoons, we headed down to the Big, red barn to pick this years pumpkins. This has been a birthday tradition for the past 3 years. We rode a tractor pulled hay ride down to the pumpkin patch to pick the best we could find. After finding our pumpkins the kids picked out treats, doughnuts of course. For dinner we had Hawaiian pizza, Anna's favorite, and had to do with a little Dora cake from the store since our attempted Princess cake that was originally meant to be a pink pony cake didn't cook in the middle and turned out to be a huge mess. After dinner the kids watched "Happy Feet" as Annas pick. Anna was sure to remind us several times a day that it was "her special day" She even got to pick out her own pack of gum at the store. I think it was a special day indeed. We sure love our Anna.

Fall Fiesta

Last night we had a fun,fall, family party. We convinced Anna it was to celebrate her birthday the next day as well as a pre Halloween bash. We had lots of food including the traditional hot dog mummies, chili, veggies, hot cider, and fruit with carmel and chocolate dip. What could be finer?

We played some fun games like wrapping the Daddies in toilet paper to make them "mummies" and "Boo am I" in place of Charades and then the best thing ever, eating a doughnut on a string without hands. I haven't done that since I was a little tiny girl at a neighborhood Halloween Party. It was hilarious. Everyone who participated was covered in sugar or chocolate when they finished.

It was a fun way to celebrate the up-coming Halloween holiday. The kids had a great time running around and playing in the balloons. Not one child cried the whole night. We ended the evening with the spider pinata. I think kids and adults had a fun time. I can't believe we are just weeks away from the full blown holiday season. Yikes!

Disneyland Trip August 2009

It has been so fun to look back at the pictures and remember what a wonderful time we had at Disneyland. It was one of the first "real" full blown vacations we have taken just as our family. We loved every minute of it.

Can you believe

It's almost October? I have to admit I am overly excited about it. I have already made my first batch of pumpkin chocolate chip muffins and they were rather tasty. We can see the leaves turning brilliant colors on the mountains from our kitchen window. I love the cool nights and sleeping with the windows open.

I put my fall wreath on the door this week and was crazy enough to break out the fall/Halloween decor. The problem with that is I have many glass jars I like to fill with fun fall colored candies but, then they get eaten, not by me of course :)

I love this time of year with school in, football season in swing, and the changes of colors and smells all around. I am anxious for the predicted forecast this week. Cold and rainy and yummy. Then I have no choice but to make some spiced cider to keep on the stove that will not only taste yummy but make the house smell so sweet. It's time to break out all the great soup recipes and heavy fall favorites.

Yes folks, I love fall!

Thoughts

I had some time today that got me thinking. What are some things that I really want to do? I went to a darling little fabric store today with gift certificates in hand from my birthday just dying to be spent. I looked and searched and with so many fun colors and textures, fabrics and ideas, that I left the store with no purchases in hand, feeling a tad disappointed and a lot overwhelmed. It evoked that strange feeling inside where I wonder what I am meant to do? Not really with my life exactly, though I often ponder that too, but what creative thing do I want to spend my time doing. Make a quilt? A dress? A cute corduroy bag? I would like to think of myself as a creative person but then when it comes right down to it I feel stifled. What really can I make or create? What would I totally and completely love and feel 100% passionate doing? Sewing? Quilting? Painting? Scrap booking? Sadly the answer doesn't come.

I often spend more time than I should scouring "Etsy" and other women's blogs drooling over their beautiful creations. Sewing projects, photography, jewelry, art. I think I could do that, but then I don't. We finally own a home and I want to make it mine, but I won't. I'm too afraid of the outcome. What if I hate it?

One of Randall's pet peeves with me is how easily I compare myself to others and their supposed abilities, talents, or exciting lives. I don't want to compare but I want to do and make and create beautiful things, if only I could put my finger on exactly what that could be.