Now isn't that Sweet?

I glance down the hall to see this lovely view! I thought, "Oh, how sweet. John is reading to Rose. Then I thought, "Why is John reading to Rose in the hallway?"

So, I walk a little closer and realize Zellie is there too. I continue to ponder "How sweet! He is reading to Rose and Zellie in the hallway. Why is he reading to Rose and Zellie at the end of the hallway?"

I now walk in front to see two little joeys tucked in the pouch enjoying the book also. Look at that little marsupial!



She says "Dis!" (this) to everything or "Babies!" Over and over and over. The little spark likes to read though and will sit still forever. Our favorite book though is "Water Babies." The end is always thrilling when we say "Water babies love the deep blue sea."

There's nothing like a Dollar Tree Birthday

I celebrated my 34th year of life in July in fine fashion. If you've not experienced a Dollar Tree Birthday, well you are missing out on all the good things in life. I've requested this now for a couple years and every year proves to be better than the last. The only strict instruction I give John is that he takes pictures and remembers the things they say.
I was greeted at the door and ordered to put on my party hat.

Lillie always organizes the banner making.


It is fun to me because they can pick from the whole store what they think "I" would like best.

Here is the run down the gift selection (not in order by favorite):

From Dominic:
Dom selected this angel bell. We pray the Angelus at noon and he thought this should replace our school bell. Perfect.




From Lillie:
She went through terrible distress trying to figure out what to give me reported the male parent. Lillie knows my heart so she couldn't figure out whether she should satisfy my sweet tooth or buy me something elegant.


Lillie got me lilies.
Two packs of M&Ms and Vanilla Wafers.


From Rose:
Rose is a simpleton. She is precise and decisive and always proud of her selection.
Good ole Aunt Rose.




From Zellie:
Zellie won the "Please let me take you to the Dollar Tree everyday" award. I guess she was unstoppable in the cute antics department. John said she was dropping lines left and right. I think she was shaking when I opened her gift due to proudness. She KNEW I had been wanting a watch so what better gift than a princess watch which I might add has a flip top (take that!!) and matching purple necklace and beads.








This was her first selection...ROPE which she thought was yarn. If only.


From Vianney:
A party hat. She was just glad to be there.



From Clairvaux:
Ole' Johnny he is a character. He had Clair's little note wrapped up and in her hand.







My dear Kristi took me to our favorite spot, The Oven. You are good to me.

I am spoiled. It was a wonderful day. Since I take them out to breakfast on their birthday, they each wanted to take me out individually on my birthday for breakfast. Oh my.

How Sweet it is to be loved by You

I love this picture. Have I ever mentioned how I really don't mind at all that I have a bunch of girls in a row? I L.O.V.E. it. I have made a small hobby out of it. I enjoy their sisterhood so much.




Let's see. From the previous post, which daughter continues her elegance even when going to get ice cream in 237 degree weather?











Clairvaux was up to her usual light post sitting antics. Every time I turn around she has Jack-Jacked me and is up on another light post acting aloof to her uncanny ability at 12 months to scale 11 foot structures.


Oh, uh, me. Get down?



We then usually reward her behavior with the best seat in the house around Haymarket Square.

Like I said...

Lots and lots of twirling.

It hasn't stopped since the big day. The dancing is incessant. We might have well just have performed on Broadway because they act like it. Everywhere we go, everyone we talk to, etc., etc. it is all about the Nutcracker.





Luckily, Zellie picked up on the needed moves and is now dancing quite gracefully with her sisters.

See her elegance and grace? Eyewear included



So, what fuel did I add to this fire? I took them to a real live version of the Nutcracker at the Lied Center this evening. How many three years olds do you know will sit for 2 1/2 hours motionless at a Ballet? Me. Pick me. Zellie did! Wide eyed and bushy tailed. She loved it.

She said, "The music makes me sleepy."

We went a couple years ago for the first time and would love to make this a family tradition.
John stayed back with the littlest two so I could take the big kids. Rose fell asleep at the end. It was a beautiful performance!