Birthday Season - Part Deux

For the next installment of "Molly's Birthday Season," we took a trip to visit Grandma and Papa (Aaron's parents). And luckily, Molly's cousins were going to be there for a visit, too. So they cooked up a little surprise party for Molly...

First, there was the personalized balloon banner upon arrival:

(Unfortunately, the photo didn't turn out too well. But Avery and Riley spent a lot of time blowing up balloons and writing out HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOLLY, with one letter on each balloon. But the H kept falling off, so we kept laughing that the sign actually was wishing Molly a Happy Birt-day.)

Then, there was a light-up sparkly crown. Awesome!

And the crown-shaped cake, complete with jewels... (and REAL buttercream icing for Mommy to enjoy!)

Then, Grandma took all three girls to a pottery place to make their own pottery. And this wasn't one of those just "paint your own" places -- this was serious! The girls were using a real wheel and everything.

A B-I-G birthday season thank you to Grandma, Papa, Avery, and Riley for a fabulous birthday weekend!

Next time: Molly's Birthday Season continues with Five-A-Palooza...

Back Home Again In Indiana

The last time Molly and I visited Indiana, it was for Halloween. And we had a fantastic visit. So would a spring trip home for a garage sale be any fun?

You bet!

Our Grandma Suite (a.k.a. guest room in the basement) was OVERFLOWING with Molly clothes from 2T on up. And it was giving me anxiety. My parents' subdivision has an annual garage sale -- and has ever since I can remember. It was always the first sign of spring in Northern Indiana and always an adventure as a kid. It was where I first learned the fine art of salesmanship by hawking everything from lemonade to plants from the garden. Since the sale always attracts a lot of traffic, I figured it would be worth the drive up -- plus it's another chance to visit Grandma and Grandpa.

So, what all did we do?

- Have a bonfire with the neighbors, complete with roasting hot dogs and making s'mores.

- Visit Molly's Barkery at the Farmer's Market to buy treats for Roscoe

- Attend the volunteer thank you dinner at the horse farm where Grandpa volunteers

- Have a jammie day and watch "Sound of Music" and "Magic School Bus" all day while Mommy worked the Garage Sale

- Go to dinner at Mommy's FAVORITE Mexican restaurant... then ice cream and the local ice cream joint

- Play on the neighbor's playground... then at the neighborhood park (the last photo was actually taken by Molly!)

Tete A Tot First: Eye Doctor

There's a new state here law that all kids entering Kindergarten need to have an eye exam before they start school. Good idea. So I took Molly to her appointment last Thursday morning, before we left for Indiana. (More on that later.)



Molly was a little nervous, but doing ok. She asked lots of questions in the days leading up to the appointment, including my favorite: "Do I get to keep my eyeballs after the eye doctor?"



"KEEP your eyeballs? What do you mean, sweetie?"



"Well, do they fall out?"



"No, sweetie - your eyeballs are not like teeth. They don't fall out and you get to keep them."



After we cleared up the "eyeballs don't fall out like teeth" issue, she was fine. She did keep asking if I'd go back with her... and I hadn't even thought about asking the nurse that when I made the appointment.



So we get there, and I fill out the paperwork while she's watching some Dog Nanny 911 show on Animal Planet... but the dog's name is Molly, so it's all good. Then the nurse calls, "Molly? Come on back with me. Let's go play some games."



And it took every ounce of willpower the rational half of my brain could muster to override what my mommy half was screaming: GET UP AND GO WITH THEM!!!!!!!



And I watched Molly take the nurse's hand and head back to the great unknown of her first eye doctor appointment like a big girl.



*mommy tears*



Thirty minutes later (or 3,000 in mommy minutes), I get called back. The nurse asks, "So, you're going to Indiana for a bonfire?"



"Yes, we're going to visit Molly's grandma and..."



"Ah yes," replied the nurse. "We've heard ALL about your trip."



The nurse opens the door and there's Molly and the doctor. She's reading the eye chart like a pro and talking the doctor's ear off. And she did such a good job that she got THREE stickers!



She got a great diagnosis to boot -- a little farsighted, which is good/fine at this age. And a little allergic conjunctivitis - a.k.a. gunk in the eye from the crap in the air.



On our way out, I told Molly what a GREAT job she did. And I got a big hug in return. Another first in the books.

Our Chicago Adventure - Part I

Early in January, Daddy found some cheap airfares to Chicago, where your Uncle Paul lives. "Might be a nice weekend trip for you girls while I'm out of town." Nice thought, but then I started thinking about flying by myself with you... dealing with security, airport delays, shuttle buses, etc. and got thought, "Yeah, I'll pass."

Later that week, Uncle Paul passed along a deal from Amtrak. Round trip, you and me - $60. Sold. Grandma and Grandpa could come over for the weekend, too, and it would be a nice little family gathering.

I really didn't think through the "Chicago in February" part... but other than that, we had a FANTASTIC time. And it was a trip filled with lots of firsts.

First #1 - Amtrak ride! The Amtrak was great. Nice and relaxing with no traffic to worry about. Ellie's Grandma Lil dropped us off, so we didn't have to worry about parking or anything. We walked in, checked our bag, and waited to board. The very nice lady behind the counter gave you a Pinocchio coloring page (why Pinocchio? I don't know... it's what they had on the counter) and some crayons.

We boarded and were seated on the top level, which you thought was amazing. You spent a lot of time just looking out the window, which was so sweet.

Next, the conductor announced that the dining car was open. Dining car! How cool! So we ate pizza on the train as we watched the countryside roll by...

You took a little nap after lunch and, before we knew it, we arrived at Union Station. Grandma and Grandpa met us there to help me with the luggage (and you!) and escort us to Uncle Paul's apartment. We made dinner and greeted Uncle Paul and Ellie as they arrived from Milwaukee... then Uncle's Paul's girlfriend Julie and her two girls.

Grandma and Grandpa headed off to their hotel as we settled in for bed, making plans for Saturday... Day one of our Chicago Adventure was a success - and the fun hadn't even started yet!

Tomorrow: the next part of our Chicago visit, including the trip to see Sue the T. Rex!

Halloween 2008 in Indiana

Ok, so this has been in the "Blogs to Post" file for awhile... at least it's finally seeing the light of day...

Since Aaron had a business trip planned for the last week in October, and since we hadn’t been back to Indiana for awhile, I decided Molly and I would head to visit Grandma and Grandpa for Halloween. This made Molly VERY happy since she had her first leaf-jumping experience at Grandma and Grandpa’s last year… so the only place she can properly jump in leaves is, of course, Grandma and Grandpa’s.

So, we packed up the Cinderella dress, the sparkly silver shoes, and the tiara and headed North. I also packed the appropriate winter clothes for Molly to wear under said Cinderella dress, since I spent many a Halloween wearing snow boots and my winter jacket over my costume – thus killing the look of the rockin’ Marie Osmand costume… but I digress.

We lucked out and had BEAUTIFUL weather… like in the 60s and low 70s beautiful. It was so fun – to be on the street where I grew up, taking my daughter and mom trick-or-treating… and visiting with neighbors who were all sitting outside, enjoying the beautiful fall evening.

Next day, we spent lots of quality time jumping in leaves. (Note the look on Molly’s face in this action shot – sheer joy. Mommy’s look – sheer terror!)

We also worked in a visit to Home Depot for the kid’s workshop. (We can’t miss those!) Not only did we get to build something with Grandpa, we built a leaf press! How perfect!


We had a wonderful visit - great quality time with Grandma and Grandpa. You were the perfect little princess… handing out candy to the not scary costumes ("Mommy, you can give candy to the scary ones.")… jumping in leaves... and simply loving life.

Have Apron, Will Travel

... Or, Why We LOVE The Home Depot...

Over the Fourth of July weekend, we drove to Ohio for my Grandmother's 90th birthday party.

(Interesting side note: after I was informed that we were having her party over July 4th, I told my mom, "But her birthday is in December. Did her 90th birthday just happen, or is it coming up?" My mother replied: "We really don't know... but she's 90-ish.")

Anyway... Aaron and I realized that July 5 was the first Saturday of the month. And you know what that means: Kids' Workshop at The Home Depot!!! And this time, the project was a bird house. We couldn't miss that...

So we packed up our orange apron and hit the road to Ohio. Grandpa said there was a Home Depot close to the hotel... it was literally across the parking lot.

It was neat to see how this Home Depot did things differently: They set everything up outside, under the Contractors' Pick-Up Awning. We signed in and got our supplies. Then, at the very end, Jeff the Home Depot guy stamped the bottom of the bird house and Molly signed her own name. Seriously -- too cute.

We had a great time... and Grandpa had fun getting in on the action too.

Thanks, Home Depot - you're the best!

Grandma wants to see this photo in a Home Depot ad... but what Grandma doesn't think her babies belong in an ad? Is that in Chapter 3 of the Grandma manual?

The Molly Trifecta

Last Wednesday was Molly's perfect day:

1. ALL of her grandparents were here -- Grandma and Grandpa, and Papa and Grandma. Even Aunt Lois and Uncle Jim! Why were they all here?


2. Ballet recital! At long last, the Molly's big debut. And after we got home from the recital...


3. AMERICAN IDOL FINALE! Two hours of filler (thank GOD for TiVo) - capped with David Cook being named the new American Idol.

My cousin in Blue Springs, Mo., had been trying to find a David Cook shirt for Molly. When she couldn't find one in Molly's size, she made her this:

That's right - "David Cook is my Idol" in tiny little sparklies. Way too cute.

Of course, we wore this to school on Tuesday. I'm already having people letting me know they're betting on Molly's American Idol pick for next year. Well, we have to fund college somehow...