Mommy Survived the Birthday Party

My idea, even before becoming a parent has always been that there is no need for the huge birthday blowout party each year. I don't like the idea of setting my kids up for expecting bigger and better each year, not to mention the expense parents pay for these outrageous parties- It is crazy. I have always believed in the rule that a birthday party should have 1 guest for each year of age, in Katie's case this year, 4 friends.

Well working at The Little Gym has made me forget. I had an opportunity to do a birthday party at the Gym for Katie for free and so I went for it. I invited all of her friends figuring many would not show- it is summer, people are busy, etc. Boy was I surprised, we had 16 kids! It was a lot of fun, but boy was I wiped out.

Katie had a great time and it looked like her friends did too so that is what counts. I think 5 will be a little more low key though...

Rolling along

Katie has decided she loves doing anything on wheels! For her birthday, Grandma Gaysie, Uncle Chris and Jiseth took her to Toys R Us to pick out her first bike. She has never shown any interest in riding the bikes at preschool, but when we got to the store and showed her a bike her size, she climbed on it and rode like a pro throughout the store. She was turning and weaving in and out of aisles- the family didn’t believe me when I said she had never ridden a bike before.

She ended up getting the first one she picked out and had claimed as hers. It is lavender with princesses decorating it, purple tassels on the handle bars, and even a heart shaped purse attached to the handle bars which has already come in handy for collecting bugs.

Uncle Chris and Daddy took her to the flat park at the bottom of our hill to teach her how to ride. It was more like practice since she was a natural. She can even go down our driveway using the brakes.

The other new wheels are her roller skates. While shopping for Daddy’s Father’s Day gift (a toddler tee-ball set) Katie saw some pink roller skates and decided she really wanted them. I was hesitant- I mean roller skating is hard, but she said “Mommy I want this from Aunt Paula” so I let her spend her money on them.

When we got home she had a great time getting all the gear on- knee pads, elbow pads, helmet and skates… and then she was off! She only held a hand for a few minutes and then she got her determined game face on and started skating all over the house. Of course Sara wants to do everything Katie does, but at least she can ride the scooter with mine or Daddy’s help. Our house sounds like a roller rink now!

My Katie Turns 4

Today we started a new family tradition, the Birthday Present Hunt. When Katie woke up there were birthday decorations all around the house and a balloon tied to her chair at the table. When she sat down for breakfast she found a small present. Whne she opened it, it was a card with a picture of the Calliou room upstairs. On the back it said, "Happy Birthday to you, to find your presents follow the clues."

So she ran upstairs and in that room was another hidden present. Of course upon opening it she discovered another card with another clue. The clues took her all over the house, and ended up outside in her playhouse which was full of actual birthday gifts.

She had a great time hunting for clues and then finally opening her gifts. The best was when she opened a card from Aunt Paula, Uncle Griff and Chris. It had glitter on the front and she was enjoying the glitter when a $20 bill fell out. She picked it up and said, "Here Daddy, there is money for you."

We read the card and told her she gets to go shopping and pick out her own present. She said she didn't think kids were supposed to have money, but I told her she is 4 now, so she can pick out what she wants and hand her money to the cashier to pay for it herself. You could see the lightbulb go off in her head. A big smile slowly spread across her face and she said, "Mommy, can I go shopping all by myself?"

I said "Yes" and she said, "I'm 4 now, am I old enough to drive your car?"

She was serious! Nate and I are in big trouble...

Riding the Train is the way to go

Nate had to spend last week in Portland for work and he had the brilliant idea of bringing the family along and dropping us off at Grandma and Grandpa Buksa'a house. We paced the car and headed out Monday morning. We planned for 5 hours even though it is a 3.5 hour drive. We wanted to be safe in case the children needed to make some stops.



After the first hour we had to stop at a Mc Donald's with the playroom. The girls had been screaming and fighting the entire ride so we decided to let them run off some steam. Of course once we got in the playroom they just wanted to sit on the bench...



We tried feeding them (they wouldn't eat) and were on the road again. The long drive was horrible, with Sara screaming because she wanted out of her car seat, and Katie yelling at Sara to stop screaming, and Mommy begging Daddy to pull over and let her walk to Portland. Of course Daddy said, "What was I thinking? Going to work is never this awful."



Once we got to Portland we had a great time. We got to visit with Macy, Max and Vivian and then we got to see Great Grandma Buksa too. Katie LOVED floating in the Buksa hot tub, Mommy got her birthday camera, Sara enjoyed collecting rocks in the yard, and Daddy stayed at a nice hotel and got to work without children each day. Everyone enjoyed the trip.



We had a nice visit with Grandma and Grandpa and when it was time to go home Mommy decided it would be best for all if she braved taking 2 kids on the train. Daddy drove the luggage and car seats and met us at the station in Seattle.



The train was perfect- even better than an airplane. The kids met other kids in our car and enjoyed running around the car with them. They even found a small space behind the last seat where they could hide and pretend they were in a cave.