Sorry for the delay on getting my blog up and running. My super hero, brother-in-law, B, has been working like a dog in these early summer days and has finally had a moment to breathe…and fix his server…which hosts my blog.
We are back up and running.
Fortunately for you, I have been writing despite the blog being down and have a few entries stock piled.
Happy reading over the next few days.
We drove from Chicago to Iowa City in record time despite the rain and the holiday traffic. The only hitch were the two children in the back of the minivan who absolutely refused to go to sleep. DVD’s did not work. Quiet music did not work. Blankey’s and pacey’s did not work. Food and milk did not work. NOTHING WORKED. We listened to a one year old squawk and whine and grunt and produce every annoying sound of frustration known to a child for almost the entirety of the trip.
So you will understand exactly why the moment we arrived at my parents house we unloaded perishable items and perishable children and left immediately for the local bar, the Hilltop.
And you will understand, based on previous mentioned evidence, that it would be totally appropriate to catch Ivan drinking one of these:
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…Audrey turned 3 years old. Kind of amazing, really. It was a bash full of people who love my daugher, all her 10 little friends (minus Cousin Ruth Anne, whom we sorely missed), streamers and balloons hung by Grandpa, presents and lovely hyacinth a bloom on the mantel.
Highlights of the party:
The pile of gifts, all for one little girl named AUDREY ANNE! One gift after another she kept looking up at me, making sure it was okay, “a present for Audrey Anne”. Yes, a present for Audrey Anne. I think she kept thinking it was like Christmas where there are many gifts for all sorts of different people under the tree. And when it occurred to her that she wouldn’t have to share at all, ever…delight and surges of glee went through her little body.
Typical three year old melt down when it came time to sing Happy Birthday and blow out her candles. After a few minutes of Ivan pulling his amazing Dad tricks, he coaxed her out of her hiding place just in time before the candles pooled on the cheap frosting smeared across the cupcakes.
And at the end of the night, I found myself cuddling with Audrey Anne, Hope and lil’ Julia on the big overstuffed black couch as we read the Fancy Nancy book (which just so happens to be one of my favorite childrens books now). They were so tired and strung out on cupcake sugar and macaroni and cheese, they just sat there real still with their hands resting on my body. It felt soothing to me.
As I lay Audrey down to sleep, I said to her, “Audrey, did you have fun at your birthday party?” And she replied, quick and witty, “Yes! Let’s do it over again.” Like tomorrow is what I think her little mind was thinking.
God bless my little Audrey Anne. May she know she is deeply loved and celebrated by many.
We had a low key, laid back, lay around, very little stress sort of Christmas. Ivan and I have been wanting to have an “our little family” Christmas where it is just us and our girls. And this year seemed like the year for it since I have recently given birth to a little one, named Scarlet Charlene.
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Here is Scarlet Charlene who has recently acquired the amazing ability to charm with her crooked smile. Here she is charming her Abuelita (grandma in Spanish).
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Ivan and his girls…
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One of Audrey’s presents…a tent.
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The new snowsuit (these things are so worth the money!)
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The funny part about this picture is that AA has no idea who Santa is…we were on a playdate after Christmas at a coworker’s home and my friend asked AA, “What did Santa get you for Christmas?” Audrey looked at her with a quizzical look, like my friend wasn’t speaking English or something.
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Getting ready to go out and play in all the tall drifts of snow with Abuelita. Comin’ back inside the warm and cozy house with found treasure…ice cycles. Audrey found them to be quite edible. Uemmy (Audrey’s version of yummy).
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My daughter who loves Guittard chocolate covered pinwheels.
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Sorry for the fuzz, but this picture was so wonderful. Piggyback rides!
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And for the best part of our Christmas together—we threw Jesus a birthday party! Audrey and I planned it all out complete with streamers and balloons. We made birthday cupcakes with sprinkles. And we made him a birthday card. Christmas Eve, after dinner, we sang Jesus happy birthday and blew out his candles. It was a wonderful celebration.
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And Audrey thoroughly enjoyed eating her cupcake.
