Birthday Party

I never posted these! Better late than never! Leah had many mini birthday celebrations. We continued the tradition of candles in every meal for Leah's 5th birthday. Here are her chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast

Her friend from next door wanted to come over and give her a present. He brought all kinds of sweet things! Including a realistic-looking plastic succulent, which I'd felt even & still gave directions to Leah about how it just needed a little bit of water before I realized that night that it was plastic! 

They had eyed with great interest the package of hostess cupcakes we'd bought for her class -- and then school ended up being cancelled due to snow so they could eat them! 

Next we went to Schnuck's for her 1st COVID shot. I had her change into short sleeves so it would be easier. The pharmacist got a kick out of her coming in on her birthday and then she got to pick out a treat for dessert - after much deliberation she chose three packs of multi-colored marshmallow peeps. 

The 15-minute observation period was a little boring. She texted with Nana Jana. 

She really wanted to have a birthday party and invite her classmates. She also really wanted to have rootbeer floats - and none of us could figure out where she got that idea, she'd never had one & probably hadn't had rootbeer before that either. 

So we bought booked the same party that we'd had at Authority Gymnastics when James turned 9 and when Amelie turned 5. 

They burned off some energy first. 

Here's all the kids on the parachute (plus Amelie)

Here's a video of us singing happy birthday to her (plastic succulent & multi-colored peeps visible) where she has a little trouble blowing out that last candle & gets just a little too close!

Grandma Mary & Papaw brought over a pile of clothes & presents & then Nana Jana and Steve came over with even more presents the next day. 

More Leah Videos

Spelling

Making music with Sam in the basement

Zepto at the Cabin

A little bit ago, we spent the weekend at a cabin up at Mark Twain, and I took no photos  (unlike the other couple of times we've gone). The kids wanted to make a movie, though.

Here's the first idea:

And the finished product: 

Sam got one pic of the pond behind the cabin: 

I saw some very striking black ducks with white bands around their throats & of course several geese.

& We went on a short hike with the dog. The kids played on a log that had fallen over a (very very small) creek & no one fell in, so that's a success. 

We got to go swimming (& Sam & the kids went swimming several times)  including once when Sam got to lifeguard for all these unattended kiddos:

Facepaint

Nana Jana bought a face painting kit and the kids have had a great deal of fun with it. 

Here's Leah very carefully taking it off at the end of the day: 

And another time: 

Nana Jana let the kids paint on her! Eeek!