Esther's Jumping Birthday Party

We've all got the crud here...mainly just a yucky cough now.  Esther had a fever a few days before her birthday party and we weren't sure if she would be able to enjoy her party. But luckily she was feeling better with only slightly lower energy on the big day.

Having your kid's party at the jumpy place is a bit pricey, but well worth it.  The kids run around like mad, jumping and playing until they are tuckered out (the parents appreciate this)! Then on to the birthday cake and presents part, which is handled by a young person with lots of energy.  And they clean up after the whole shindig is over.  Again well worth it!

Waiting for the party to begin with Nana Carolyn.

Following each other around like ducklings

Esther needed a break now and then.

Waiting for her second wind to hit.

Theo- friend from preschool

Zachary-from preschool, and Cheyenne-from kindergarten

Lea-dog park friend

Claire-dog park friend
(Love the expression!)

Claire and Esther cuddling

Sisters!

Trying out the seat of honor

Plotting from his throne

Brookelynn (Esther's girl crush) in front; Cheyenne, Lea and E in back

Blowing out the candles!  Man, she has no problem being the center of attention.  When we all sang to her she took it all in, no embarrassment at all.  Love it.

Kelsey-from kindergarten

Bring on the presents!! Esther did very well being thankful for all her presents.  She got her first Barbie...and since it came with a bathroom set which included a toilet, E thought it was pretty cool. (I even found some old soda pop inside it a few days later, which did a good job mimicking dirty toilet water.)

This photo had to be included because it makes me laugh!

It was a monkey bean bag chair.

OK, this has nothing to do with the birthday party, but I wanted to show off the quilt I finished for a friend.  It is made out of her daughter's special baby clothes.

Happy Birthday to my proselytizing, tummy punching, hair cutting girl.

Yep, Esther turned the big 06 this past week.  And decided in honor of her birthday to cut her own hair, but more on that later.  

I got an email from Esther's teacher about E's apparent new found profession, preacher. She kept telling the kids that "God loved her" and "God wanted her to choose to do good things instead of bad".  I responded that I was glad she had taken these things to heart but hoped she wasn't driving everyone crazy.  Her teacher assured me that it was quite cute.  

Fast-forward two days, and Esther decided punching a girl in the stomach was a better form of communication than using words.  Time for a trip to the "thinking chair" and no iPad at home.  Are all kids bi-polar?

This week, after being told to go play in her room for pestering the dogs, she got a hold of some scissors and went to town.  First I have to say it could have been worse, much worse.  But her class picture was the next day and we had just spent $22 for her haircut the weekend before (and it was such a cute haircut).  Now the back has a bald patch and the sides have very jagged layers.  Her reasoning was she wanted to look like a boy and keep the hair out of her eyes.  She did leave the front alone and I was able to fix some of the damage by making more bangs. She has thick hair and it will grow back.  And to be truthful, it really doesn't look that bad, I've seen older kids with similar hair cuts, that they paid for.  Even so, the scissors are now in a safe place.

Helping Daddy fix a leaky faucet (pre-butchering) 

This is a wrench.

She was very helpful as you can tell.

The dogs decided to check on the plumbing progress.

Frankie seemed to doubt Gene's expertise.  She didn't need to worry, no more leak!

Esther birthday present and a shot of her new 'do.

Kinda punk?

Going over the game plan.

Finished "Slave 1" , Boba Fett's ship.

Baldy balderson.

Discussing the intricacies of the ship. (hair after a little correction)

Snow!!!

Yay for snow!  I was definitely in the mood for some of the white stuff.  Ollie and Esther are also great lovers of snow.  Frank, I'm pretty sure had never seen snow before in her life, being she is a Los Angeles girl.  But she was quick to join the "Hooray for Snow Club".  She does this cute little bunny hop and butt wiggle.  Snow makes Ollie a little nuts, he gets frisky and when he sees ice, he has to plop down on his back and wriggle around.  He loves to try to catch snowballs.  And Esther, she is just as excited to play in the fresh snow and the ice.  Frozen puddles are one of the best things. And after playing in the cold, there is nothing better than some hot cocoa.

"This is interesting stuff and tastes quite yummy."

Pre-craziness

King of the Hill!  We found a teeny little hill and Esther thought it was the best thing ever.  If only she could experience Alaska snow drifts, it would blow her mind.

Queen of the Hill

smile!

Offering Frank some snow, she says no thanks, I have plenty.

Happy 2012!

Nothing new to report, so here are some pictures.

My niece, Halie and her boyfriend, Matt.