Vivian's birthday fell on a Sunday, so we didn't have to plan around work/daycare or anything like that. We had rented the main room at Sunnyhill for the afternoon. In the morning, Will and the girls went to church (where the whole congregation sang Happy Birthday for Vivian), while I made the last few arrangements for the party in the afternoon.
We opened presents when they got home from church, then Annelee and Vivian napped, I went to the church to get the room ready, and Will followed with the girls in time for the party to begin.
Vivian keeps asking for an outdoor pool party for her birthday, but unless global warming kicks into high gear very quickly (I hope not!), that is not going to happen. Having said that, she got such fabulous weather on her birthday, that we had cake and games outside in the playground and only moved indoors for pizza and then a little bit more play while we were waiting for the parents to pick up the kids again.
Most of Vivian's friends from preschool came without their parents (Gregory, Mackenzie, Nina, Gwennavere, Kathryn), the "old" pre-preschool friends came with parents and siblings (Rowan, Owen, Corwin, Jesse).
After the party, we went home, and Rowan and Joel came over so that Rowan and Annelee could help Vivian unwrap her gifts from the party.
All in all, it was a success.
Will and I were in bed before 10pm that night. Kid's birthday parties are hard work! :)
Annelee closely supervises the gift-unwrapping
Vivian with her new bike. We had to exchange it for another one (this one was a little too big), but she's been practicing lots since she got it
Showing off the pearl bead craft from Marion, Sebastian, Tobias & Fabian
Probably Vivian's favorite ... Barbie horse and carriage from Omi
Posing in front of the birthday decoration
Everyone singing happy birthday (or at least the end of it, since I had technical difficulties with my camera). Click here if you cannot see the video below.
Birthday cake outside! Angie always poses like this in photos :)
Corwin in the police car
Owen is probably communicating with Corwin
Vivian and Nina busy moving leaves around. That made for lots of entertainment
The games were (barely organized) chaos. Turns out, the kids like the concept of games more than the actual games. This is the egg on a spoon race (but with bouncy balls)
The balloon relay race
Annelee and Jamie
The large quantities of balloons (which I had to manually blow up because my pump waswn't compatible with the balloons) was probably the biggest hit of the party
More balloons - Jesse, Vivian, Kathryn, Rowan
Jesse, Nina, Vivian
Pizza time. Corwin and Kyra had to leave early, other than that, everyone's in the photo
Last, but not least, here's a video from the end of the party. Click here if you can't see it below.
For months now, Will and I have explained to Vivian that the birthdays don't come in the same order as you count; and that after four, you turn three again. She's not buying it. "Moooommmyyy / Daaaaadddddyyy ... I don't liiiiiike this game!!!" she always responds.
So, I guess she's right. She's actually five today. FIVE! Even three would be astonishing, because it doesn't seem that long since she was born (although, some days, it seems MUCH longer). She really is a girl now. Tall, slim, goes to birthday parties independently, had her first sleep-over the other day ... already talking about graduating from preschool and moving onto kindergarden ... always talking, chatting, imagining, making up games, calling us on it when we try and fool her. Lots of fun. Here's to the next year!
This year, her birthday is on a Sunday (just like her actual birth day) and we are having a party for her with a number of friends from preschool and also some of her old friends. For the first time, parents are optional, so kids will outnumber adults. Gulp! Pictures from that to follow, I'm sure. Assuming we all survive ;-)
Hahahaha. Before we move onto the photos, I just re-read last year's post and I had forgotten that we told her then, too, that she would be three again and already then she didn't believe it. She's just too smart for us!
December 2011 - making cookies
January 2012 - The artist at work
February 2012 - With Omi and Tobias in Germany
March 2012 - At her favorite playground
April 2012 - Off to hunt for Easter eggs
May 2012 - All dirtified
June 2012 - With all her "prizes" from the Pride Parade
July 2012 - Feeding the birds
August 2012 - Beach Babe
September 2012 - Playing soccer
October 2012 - Pony ride at the preschool fall festival
Halloween was unusually long this year. It started with multiple parties (mostly for Vivian, but also some for Annelee). Seamus from across the street started things off, then came church (where Vivian won cutest costume and Annelee won best toddler), Gregory's party, daycare ... and that doesn't even include the actual trick or treating.
Vivian went as the sparkly rainbow tooth fairy, with a costume that Will and I had a lot of fun putting together. Annelee got to reuse the monkey suite that Vivian wore a few years ago.
Trick or treating was supposed to be on Wednesday, but got preemptively postponed to Saturday because of Superstorm Sandy. As it turns out, Sandy didn't hit us hard, just with lots of steady rain, but Wednesday evening this year was no worse than last year when it wasn't canceled. But, Saturday was dry, so all in all it turned out well.
The whole family started out together, but (as expected), Annelee faded after just the short end of our street. Will took her home to hand out (and eat) candy; and Vivian and I continued with Rowan and Joel who we met up with on the way.
We made our way all the way down Gypsy, back on Shady Lane (with some spectacular spooky gravestones and a haunted garage at the final house - perfect) and back home through our dark backyard.
Vivian is already planning her costume for next year (a friendly vampire) and Annelee ontinued to wear "Key" (monkey) for most of today. I believe I will have to hide that costume away when she's asleep to try and avoid a melt-down. She's come a long way since last year and the year before.
Monkey!
Sparkly rainbow toothfairy
Monkey see, monkey do. Also known as trying to pose like the big sister
Watching TV the day after Halloween, she was so upset that I wanted to put the costume away that she had to get her binky to soothe herself
As in previous years, we went to Simmons Farm for the hayride and pumpkin picking (and other fun activities for the kids). Photos from previous years are here: 2011 and 2009.
This year, we started out with the petting zoo that had new fluffy baby bunnies and the cutest little black pig. No photos, I was too busy adoring the little animals and keeping the girls from chasing them too much.
Then Vivian immediately remembered the corn box from previous years (a memory like an elephant, unbelievable), so we made a stop there. Then it was time for the hay ride (and munching on the yummy apples they handed out), a pony ride, the annual tunnel photo, sack slide (Annelee threw a fit when I wanted to slide with her ... big girls like her do the sack slide alone!), hay maze, and of course the choosing of the pumpkins and corn. At that point, we were all dragging a bit, and took the ride back, had lunch there and then headed home. As expected, Annelee fell asleep within 4 minutes of being put into the car seat.
We'll definitely be back there again next year!
Eating yummy apples on the hayride down to all the fun
Vivian atop the horse
And Annelee, too
Annelee's first tunnel photo
And Vivian's 3rd or 4th
Celebrating with a hay toss after Vivian made it through the hay maze. Annelee successfully explored both ends of it
BOO!
Ghostly!
Vivian and her chosen pumpkin
We'll practice more lady-like positions for next year!
Who allowed her to get big enough to almost reach the pedals in a fire truck?!
Thank you, Susan, for bringing her up here. And for also coming. The girls totally adore you (well, Vivian does, and Annelee is quickly catching up) and we enjoy your company, too.
Susan dropped Grandma off on Saturday and then almost immediately left us again to have a girls night out with her good friend Kim (who lives minutes from our house).
We all hung out and played and chatted, and Will made a delicious spaghetti-meatball dinner.
On Sunday, we went to church, and Susan came back home for a late lunch. At naptime, we planted a white-blooming dogwood tree in memory of my Dad ... he would have loved that. Thank you!
Then we just hung out some more, had some more delicious food (well, everyone but Annelee who chose dinnertime as the perfect time to get sick - but who luckily got better soon after) and just generally had a good time.
They left Monday morning after breakfast.
Come back soon!
Tree planting in progress ...
... and DONE!
Annelee suspiciously inspects the nail polish on her fingernails
The Aquadoodle is more her speed
Vivian, however, totally enjoys her spa treatment
Group hug with Aunt Susan
And with Grandma
The Master Chef puts the final touches on dinner: Halibut, roasted red pepper grits, mixed vegetables. Deeeeelicious!
