Reading with Sis and some videos

It's fun to find pictures and videos of Mystery Baby on my camera that I didn't even know about. :)

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Red Velvet Cake

When my parents were here for Princess Sparkley's baptism two years ago, my mom celebrated her birthday here and we got a Red Velvet cake from Costco.  That introduced my kids to Red Velvet Cake and they love it.  For PS's birthday this year, she requested it.  Since I was 9 month's pregnant, we bought one with the promise that we'd bake one for she and Grandma when they came for Mystery Baby's blessing.  Today was that day.

Kid created worksheets

Princess Sparkley wrote a math worksheet for Little Guy the other day.  In return, Little Guy created a panda math worksheet for her.  He sounded out the words on his own.

Pyramid

Four Kids

Happy One Month!

9/17/12

I think PS took these close ups when she was holding him.  I keep having to remind her not to get so close with the camera.

One month and a day

I read an article about losing pregnancy weight and one of the things it mentioned was how pregnancy messes up your posture.  I've got a teeny belly and about 4 lbs to go to be pre-pregnancy weight and this picture isn't really showing that.

Myster Baby as Captured by PS

And, having seen this mom's artistic blog (http://milasdaydreams.blogspot.com/),PS created her own scenes, just not always with a napping baby.

Soccer - Game 2

B went to Buddy's game in the AM and we all went later for PS's and LG's games.  Little Guy scored a goal.  He tells a long story about how he kicked the ball through the legs of a red team player who was standing in front of the goal so the ball went in.  He was very excited about it.

 

Mystery Baby watching soccer games.

First Day of School

    5th                     3rd                Kindergarten

 

 

 

I forgot to take Buddy's first day of school picture until this week.  We "started" our school year the day after Labor Day like the rest of Virginia this year.  We're still slowly getting into it, having the new baby and all.  We decided that since Little Guy can read (he's working his way through Princess Sparkley's first grade phonics books) that we'd start him with Kindergarten this year even though he'd have to wait a year for public school.  And even picking out Kindergarten workbooks for him was difficult because he knows all his numbers and letters.  He does a great job with school too.  He knows when it's "school time" and rather than disappearing every chance he gets like the big kids (especially Buddy) he finds books to read, brings me the workbooks and has me read him the directions, ets.  Basically, he's going to teach himself Kindergarten while I'm holding a sleeping newborn whom I can't set down.

Mystery Baby Journal

Notes on Mystery Baby
by Princess Sparkley

9/4/2012

He does not like the clear binkies very much.

He does not like the bouncer without lights so far.

He likes looking out windows.

He likes the black chair next to the window.

He like starring at the back of the car.

He likes the Cougar Fight Song.

He won't sleep if he is not bundled up.

He rolled over EARLY!

He likes to stare.

He likes to keep moving.

He is LOUD and annoying when he cries.


9/5/2012
If he is asleep and your arms are tired put him in the swing.

He also likes the bouncer if he is asleep.

He does not like the hard floor.

He likes being called marshmallow.  I think.

Princess Sparkley Turns 10!

PS really wanted this baby to be born on her birthday.  B was hoping the ultra sound was wrong and we could give PS a baby sister on her birthday.  There is only about an hour and a half left in the day, so it doesn't look like that is going to happen. 

When I went in to wake he up this morning I told her happy birthday and she told me that Buddy, his blanket and stuffed animal dolphin, Splash, had already been in to sing to her.

For some reason, our kids think you get to open birthday presents almost first thing in the morning.  Like it's Christmas or something.  I get it... they don't want to wait, but it makes the day sort of boring for me because there isn't as much to look forward to.

Here's PS opening her presents:

She got some earrings, a Snoopy shirt, magazine subscriptions,

a book she wanted (on the Kindle), a Lego Friends set, her ears pierced, sandals, etc.

She also got to watch a movie of her choice (Ella Enchanted) and we went to Barnes and Noble to get her free cafe dessert.  We also went to Petsmart (her choice) and picked up a Red Velvet cake (her choice again) for her at the grocery store.  I got a couple of good recipes from friends, but was never sure if I'd be in a position to bake a cake today.  It turns out I could have, but B kept telling me not to stress over it and just buy one.  So we did.  She also chose Alfredo noodles for dinner.  Then cake...mmm.

 

 

B-day ?s:

1. What is your favorite color?  Purple

2. What is your favorite toy? I don't know.

 3. What is your favorite fruit? Apples?

 4. What is your favorite tv show? Phineas and Ferb 

 5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Cracker Sandwiches

6. What is your favorite outfit? My purple shirt and purple plaid shorts.

 7. What is your favorite game? Candyland, Tell Tale.

 8. What is your favorite snack? Poptarts, crackers, yogurt, candy, does dessert count?

 9. What is your favorite animal?  pandas, dolphins, whales, dogs, cats, guinea pigs and horses.

10. What is your favorite music?   Weezer, Killers and Taylor Swift

11. What is your favorite book? I have A LOT!  The Sisters Eight series, Half Magic series, The Royal Diaries, etc.

12. Who is your best friend? I have a lot of those too: Grace, Ruth, Audrey, Ella, Lizzy, Emma, Amanda, Jojo, Bryn, and Melanie.  I have more though.

13. What is your favorite movie? Star Wars, Harry Potter, Alice in Wonderland, The Muppet Movie.

 14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Swim and ride my bike.

 15. What is your favorite drink? June Bugs

16. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas (not just because of the presents)

 17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Normally I take Rachel Mei, but I take my other stuffed animals too.

 18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? A fried egg sandwich.

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Pizza bubble, alfredo noodles, ravioli.

 20. What do you want to be when you grow up? A LOT of stuff.  I actually have a list.  Some of them are: a dolphin trainer, a singer, a director, an author, and an artist.  I know I am going to be a mom.

 

Pierced Ears

We always told Princess Sparkley that she had to be twelve to get her ears pierced.  Then I started rethinking that.  With a baby that is supposed to be born this week, her birthday celebrations were limited to just family.  And this year is her Golden Birthday (turning ten on the 10th) so we wanted to make it sort of special for her.  Then my siser-in-law mentioned moving the ear piercing thing up to ten years old for her daughter (5 month PS's junior).  There had been sort of an unspoken agreement among all the aunts that ear piercing happened at twelve.  Since there are only four girl cousins on the M side (two on the L side, but they are both already over 12) and one of the M cousins is only two while the others are closer in age, we rediscussed and agreed that we'd move ear piercing up to ten.  Thursday, two days before her birthday, Princess Sparkley and I made a trip to the mall and she got them pierced.  She looked terrified as it happened, but was very brave and said it barely hurt at all.

Above: before earrings
Below: after earrings

Close-ups of each ear.  She chose a purple titanium ball earring.

Reading Buddies

Pioneer Day Picnic

A family in our ward does a Memorial Day picnic at their home each year.  This year, we did it in July and called it a Pioneer Day picnic.  They set up a slip and slide each year that the kids love.  And this year, Buddy got to try out his new badminton skills he learned at Cub Scout day camp.  He seriously loves badminton and keeps making us watch it in the Olympics.

Belated Build-A-Bear post

In early June, Princess Sparkley's Girl Scout troop went to Build-A-Bear to get the 100th Anniversary Girl Scout bear.  Her troop leader just sent out the pics.