Brenna is FOUR!

My baby is four years old today!

Birthday Party Blowout

This past Saturday we hosted two birthday parties in one day. Looking back I don't know what possessed me to do this and I think we may be done with extravangant birthday parties in the future.

Mom came over Friday night and helped me get things ready. She was a GODSEND and I could not have done everything by myself. THANK YOU MOM!!! She has this uncanny knack for knowing just what to do and when to do it during parties. And during the prep work the night before it was so wonderful to just visit and talk and catch up one on one. We don't do that often enough.


Brenna celebrated her fourth birthday (which isn't until Wednesday) with a Princess Party. We had ten children, decorated crowns, played "Kiss the Frog" and generally just played in almost every room of the house. All of the kids, except cousin Ashley, attend all-day preschool together, so they get along nicely.

After the last guest left, we did a two-hour quick-change of decorations and had Cameron's much-smaller-than-expected "Arts & Crafts" party in the afternoon. Only four girls showed up, but they had a nice time glueing crafts and playing outside. The ice cream cake melted (see photo - the white border on top fell to the bottom!), but it was delicious! (Baskin Robbins, World Class Chocolate)

Sunday we took the girls bike riding, per their consistent and non-stop pleading. Cameron actually rode a two-wheeler, without training wheels. She needs some more practice, especially handling turns, but for the most part, she's got it! Bryan worked with her on starting herself - meaning no dad running behind. She was getting the hang of it before we called it quits for the night.

I also want to mention that Bryan completed his first official Bay Area Fit five-mile run on Saturday morning, before the parties. We're so proud of him for training for the Houston half-marathon. It's not easy work. Way to go, Bryan!

The difference between boys and girls

This morning Bryan was commenting that he didn't always know how to play with the girls as much anymore, because they play differently than boys. For example, last week he bought them some Hot Wheels, and immediately the girls named the cars: White Stripes, Blue Boy, and other girly names. They were playing "family" with the cars - having a mother, father, and baby cars. So I asked him if he had spent any time with the girls showing them how to play with Hot Wheels, in the manner he was expecting.
After breakfast, he sat down with them and told them all the names of the cars. Lotus, Hummer, Chrysler 300, Camaro, Mustang. He demonstrated how how he would play with cars when he was their age. I don't know how long this male bonding lasted, because when I finished snapping some photos, I heard Brenna tell Cameron that two of the cars were getting married and then she had them kissing.

Bryan showed true grace under surrender. He commented "Maybe we should spend more time with the kids..." And off we went to Putt-Putt golf, where we played 18 holes (and he soundly beat us all). Amazingly every one of us had a true hole-in-one (even Brenna). Bryan took Brenna on the bumper boats - and Cameron drove her own. I forget she is over 44" and can do these things by herself. She approached being on her own boat, alone, with some hesitancy, but once she got in the groove, she thoroughly enjoyed herself. (Mom hung back to snap the photos.)

Gotta go back.. back to school again!

Today was the beginning of second grade for Cameron. Once again, a new school, this time the local neighborhood public school. If it was a different era, she could walk or ride a bike, but because it's the 21st century, I will handle the daily morning car drop-off.

There are four second grade classes - and each appears to have about 20 students. Her class is 11 girls and 9 boys. She knows six girls from soccer, daycare, and the neighborhood, and you would think that with only four classes, she would have at least one friend in her class. Nope, four are in the class next door and two more are down the hall in another classroom.

Formally, Brenna started her PreK curriculum on Monday, but she didn't return to daycare/school until Tuesday. She had her first homework on Tuesday night - to cut out or write three "M" words. My little over-achiever insisted that we cut out four (she would have done more if I had let her), paste them on a ruled sheet and then hand write each of the four words. Thankfully she has a wonderful teacher who knows just how to handle Brenna's personality.


Because today is the first day of school, I was allowed to walk Cameron into her classroom. We had already met the teacher (a long-term sub; her official teacher is recuperating from a serious motorcycle accident!) The air conditioner wasn't working (workmen cut the wires accidentally) and the cabinet doors hadn't been put on. Ah, good to see our $300 million school bond at work.

All week Cameron seemed a little anxious or nervous about starting this new school, but this morning she showed me the way to get to class from the front entrance. She never hesitated going into the class or saying good morning to her teacher. There was a dot-to-dot page on her desk, and we had to figure out how to sharpen her pencil (all three of the electric pencil sharpeners were overheated from non-stop use that morning.) Finally, Mrs. E. came by with an extra and Cameron got right to work. Hardly even a "Bye, mom."

I can walk her into class one more day - tomorrow - but starting on Monday parents are not allowed to walk students into school. We can only drop off. Last year Cameron & I enjoyed walking into class together. It allowed me more access to her teacher.

I suppose this is the beginning of letting go, of her developing her own independence. It's harder with Cameron for some reason - sending her out there. I guess it just goes on from here - second grade, middle school, high school, college, and the rest. Wow. I looked at the clock and school is over just now (3:15 p.m.) so she's probably listening to directions on where to go to wait for the daycare van. There are at least three others who will ride the van with her and she knows Ms. Laurie will pick her up.

I really hope she enjoyed her first day!

Visiting Laurie

We visited Aunt Lisa & Laurie last night after work. The whole family was there, and it was a little hectic, so we didn't stay very long. Laurie is very pretty today; her coloring is more even and I'm trying to decide if she looks like Ashley or Daniel when they were first born. Mom thinks she looks like Ashley. Judge for yourself - the link to Lisa's family home page is on the left. It includes baby photos of both Ashley & Daniel.

Cameron was in seventh heaven when Aunt Lisa asked if she wanted to hold Laurie.

Notice that Cameron had about six inches of her hair chopped off on Monday. This might be the first photo of Cameron's new haircut. She wanted it short for the new school year and I told her it could be her decision. Sure enough she asked for it to be short. I'm a little sad, because secretly I liked it long.

Of course, now everyone thinks Cameron looks more like me.

You read it here first!

I still can't believe she waited until we returned from our long trip last week, but late tonight, early this morning, Lisa & Brian introduced us to

Laurie Elizabeth who arrived officially at 11:57 p.m.

(Lisa really wanted that 08-07-06 birthdate and we know nothing can stop her!)

Laurie weighed in at 8 lbs 9 oz and measured 21 1/4 inches. She's so big! Most of the family turned out in the waiting room - Brian's parents, our parents, Ashley & new big brother Daniel, David, Leah, and even baby Alexander (6 weeks old.) Of course my girls were disappointed and frustrated that they had to go to bed at 9 p.m. and couldn't go with me to the hospital. I didn't leave for the hospital until about 10:30 p.m. The last two times, Lisa went into labor around midnight and delivered as the sun was coming up.

A few photos from tonight.... this morning.... whatever it is. In these pictures, Laurie is about 30-45 minutes old.

Three generations, Mom, Lisa & Laurie //Papa shows off Laurie to Ashley

The "obligatory" Aunt Shelly shot... (see Baby Mania post from June)

The new family of five!