Birthday Parties Galore

Last year I kept track of how many birthday parties Ally attended – the total was 20. I kind of wish I’d kept track this year as well. This week Ally will have gone to 5 parties! Here are pictures from 3 of them.

Daniela is a friend from school and her party was at a local park. Lots of girls and squealing and of course a piñata!

Saturday was a double:

First up was our neighborhood friend Mia – her party was at a local rock climbing gym. Becky took Ally to this one, because I was helping out at school with an event.

Gearing up – and starting to climb.

Climbing, and smiling.

walking the tight rope and doing the free climb without the belay rope.

One last climb before cake! Becky said Ally was her usual conservative self and really only climbed up about 8 feet high. But it was her first time and she had fun – that is really all that matters.

2nd party of the day:

Then in the afternoon we went to Luca’s party – it was a movie theme with a series of children’s short films projected on the wall in his playroom. The kids munched on popcorn – Ally’s favorite snack.

 

After the party Ally asked to play at the park across the street from Luca’s house for a few minutes – I thought it was a riot that her clothes matched the play structure! She said she wished she had friends there so she could play hide and seek and no one would be able to find her!

Remainder of Cleveland Trip

Day 2 started with Katy’s Baby Shower. Grandma Barbie and I drove to the shower, we needed to be there early since Grandma was a co-host.  Ally went with Uncle Kurt, Aunt Christine, Kaitlin, Jackson and Meredith to Kaitlin’s soccer game. Christine joined us at the shower later. Ally spent the day with her uncle and cousins – soccer and foot ball games, lots of gymnastics and lunch.

Some pictures before the shower.

And family pictures after the shower!

After the shower we headed back to Kurt’s house, and then off to a local shopping center. Aunt Martha had given each of the kids a gift certificate to B.arnes and N.oble. They were all excited to buy something new. Ally was determined to buy a non-fiction book and she selected on on whales. She also bought a stuffed animal who is currently the new favored “special thing” it’s a penguin named waddles – and has the big googly eyes like her beloved, and recently blessed Coconut. After the store we went out to dinner.

Jackson reading his new book – and hugging Grandma for a picture.

Meredith playing with the game she bought and then watching TV on the ipad with Ally after they took a bath.

Jackson felt a bit left out with the 3 girls so he enlisted Grandma to play catch football with him.

Then he went looking for his sisters and Ally and found them watching TV.

 

The next day we went to the airport with Grandma and Ally got to ride the in-airport shuttle car.  Ally and I bought theses scary glasses to freak Becky out – those who know Becky understand she has an eye phobia so this was a blast for Ally and I!

It was a great weekend spending time with family.

Cleveland Visit Day 1

My cousin Katy is having a baby! She is due on Grandma Barbie’s birthday, December 23. Ally and I flew to Cleveland for the weekend so I could attend her shower. We stayed with my brother Kurt and his family and Grandma Barbie was there as well.

Friday, grandma stayed home and backed food for the shower – there she is breaking up pork sausage with her bare hands for the quiche. While Grandma cooked, I took Meredith and Ally to Target for some supplies. The girls each got a “slushee” or Icee as I call them and some popcorn to share. Safety conscious Ally pointed out the warning on the cart that showed children are not supposed to get in the basket. I told her I thought it would be ok as long as they did not stand up. She was skeptical, but her willingness to adhere to authority (mine) trumped her safety concern.

The girls has a fun day together!

After Target there was coloring and some exploring the river behind the house.

Nature loving Ally climbed over braches and excitedly called out for me to “come see…deer tracks mommy” we saw deer tracks, and some other animal footprints as well.

After the steep back up to the house – Ally counted 38 steps it was time for snack – cereal of course with Jackson and Meredith who were now home from school.

We had some gift prep to do – my mom had an idea to put together a clothes line with new clothes for the 1st year of the baby’s life. The girls helped hang everything. Later on Aunt Martha brought some more outfits, with a picture of Katy wearing each of the “vintage” pieces.

 

Pizza for dinner out on the deck, then a fire and roasted marshmallows.

I brought the kids matching pajamas and they cooperated for nice and silly pictures.

Aunt Martha and Uncle Phil came for dinner – and Great Aunt Martha read Ally her bedtime book.