My first violin recital

Here I am with two of my classmates, performing at my first violin recital!

Up like a rocket, down like the rain, back and forth like a choo-choo train.

POP! Goes the Weasel.

Me with my teacher, Miss Conny.

Hello from sunny Texas

It's that time of the year when you remember why it's great to live here. Wildflower time! Last year there were no flowers at all, so we're really enjoying seeing them this year. These are right outside the elementary school I will attend next fall.

Keeping Mommy hopping

I have a lot of questions lately. I ask them all the time, and sometimes Mommy doesn't know what to say. Here is a sampling: if you have answers, please let me know.

What happens when you die?
Where is heaven? How do you get there?
Why is God there? Did he die?
What happens to animals when they die?
Do bad people know when they're bad?
Why do people hurt kids?
Do all Mommies and Daddies take care of their kids?
Why do we have stars?
What is a deal?
What are citizens?
How do flowers work?

Playing Church

Mommy walked into my bedroom this morning to see this:

"We're being good!" Madeline quickly explained. I hastened to add that we were playing church. I am singing very tunefully, yet without make any sense, pretty much like they do at church. You can see we are all dressed up in our finest clothes and Madeline is helping her baby to sit still and be quiet.

This had to be shared. Christian, Madeline and Kathryn enjoying some goldfish crackers.

Also, I will post Baby Kathryn's birthday cake, which was quite lovely, as I suspect Sarah is too busy NOT GOING INTO LABOR to post a picture. We had a LOT of birthday cake last week!

All in all, I had a fabulous birthday. I have been telling people that I am five now, but I'm not quite as obsessed with it as I was with turning four. I guess I'm getting old now.

Opening presents from Nanaw and Grand Tom.... a tangoes box (Mommy still keeps calling them tangrams, silly Mommy).

And, as I was getting ready for bed, my new rabbit had to come with me and participate.

Exchanging presents with my birthday buddy Kathryn.



Opening a box from Uncle Kevin.

Opening a spirograph from Grandmama and Granddad.

Jacob is reading me one of the books he gave me.

I had to set to work IMMEDIATELY to tuck some babies into my brand new doll bed from Mommy and Daddy.

This bag from Jacob and family contains a bajillion craft items-- my favorite activities these days. I am holding up a box of PRINCESS TATTOOS. I don't think you heard me, PRINCESS TATTOOS. I am pretty excited, and neither Madeline nor I have much exposed flesh left these days, we are just one big pink sparkly mess.

Opening presents

I am filled with delight at seeing my brand new, real, big girl piggy bank from Dan and Nikki!

I am very excited to read another book about a mouse (Stuart Little), from Grandmama and Granddad.

I got to pick somewhere special to go to celebrate my birthday. I've heard via the relentless advertising just before and after Sesame Street that Chuck E. Cheese is a great place to play and have fun (way to go, public television), so I've been begging to go here. Mommy agreed, so we took Jacob and Luke and headed over. We had lots of pizza and got to use lots of tokens to play games.

Happy Birthday to me!

I have been talking about my fifth birthday since approximately my fourth birthday, and once Christmas was over, I began to get more and more excited. I had some specific demands...er.... requests for the day. I wanted my morning to start off with breakfast in bed. Mommy and Daddy weren't so sure, so we compromised on breakfast in my bedroom at my table. Madeline got to sit and eat with me.


Obviously, my next plan involved my cake, which had to be pink with pink writing. I also wanted the flowers like Mommy made in her cake class. I asked for a butterfly, but Mommy said she didn't want to make that kind of icing again because last time it broke her mixer.

I blew out all five of my candles at once... Mommy made the other kids stand on the other side of the room so they wouldn't blow them out for me.

You might have guessed, but the inside of the cake was pink as well. I like to call it "strawberry shortcake." I found some pink, heart shaped plates with castles and Disney princesses at HEB. Mommy caved and let me have them for my cake. Could the day have gotten any pinker? Well, maybe, if Mommy had filled the room with pink balloons. I'm already thinking about next year.