Friday, December 20, 2013

It's Beginning to Look...

Last weekend, we were supposed to go down to New Hope for a Charlie and Sharren Holiday Parrrrrrty.  Alas, Mother Nature had other plans for us.
So we decided to get our holiday spirit in gear all on our own.

On Saturday morning, before the snow got Serious, we took a trip to the snowy tree lot.
We found the perfect tree!  Not too tall, not too short, not too fat, not too skinny. 
PERFECT.
Harper was a little grumpy.
Ok, A LOT grumpy.
She powered through, though.

We spent the rest of the weekend playing in the snow, making presents, and decorating.
 SNOW HULK!
 While Harper is much better in the snow this year mobility-wise, there was still some of this business.  WHOOOAAAAA.
It was really powdery, but that wasn't stopping Luke from getting a few runs in on the sled.
 Luke insisted on wearing his goggles from Uncle Joe.
They looooved shoveling and were put out to step aside when the shoveling brigade showed up to clear snow on our block.  Mama joked, "make way for the professionals!"
 And as they posed moments later, "We are professionals!"
 Salt dough ornament break!
Did we use the Play-doh Fun Factory with the salt dough?  Yes.  Yes we did.
We have a LEGO advent calendar again this year.  While Luke enjoyed it last year, this year?  He is taking it VERY seriously.  He spends a great deal of time each day arranging and rearranging his tableau as each addition requires.
Mama's favorite part: The LEGO Repast.
By Sunday, the snow had a thick coating of ice on top.  Luke was ready to sled!
 And as Lukey goes...so goes Harper.  Trips up the hill alternated from her insisting "I can do it MY. SELF" to "GUYS?  I need a little help."
At one point, she attempted so slide down on her bum (with limited success).
SHOOSH!!!
 Little legs + many layers = Many breaks.
 Harper's favorite part of playing in the snow?  Eating it.
She'd been asking about eating snow, no joke, since the last storm of LAST winter.  Occasionally, throughout spring and summer, she would ask, "When it snows?  Can I eat some of the clean snow?"
"Surprising" Mama with a snowball.
 We closed out the weekend by trimming the tree.
We kicked it off by getting into Xmas jams and having the traditional nacho picnic party.
Frick and Frack had a lot of fun hanging the ornaments together.
Stockings: ready to be stuffed!
Look at that tree!  PERFECT!
Merry and Bright...and Harper.

Happy Holidays!

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Harper's Never-Ending Birthday

It's been Harper's birthday forever, right?  

Due to overlapping Giraffe room birthdays, we agreed her class party would be the 16th.  Harper was a big help in making the cupcakes (chocolate with, you guessed it, PINK frosting).

She added ingredients "vewy carefuwy, Mama."
 She was surprisingly good at cracking eggs!  Ironically, her brother is like Hulk with eggs - they are suddenly in shards in his hands, but Harper cracked and plopped and done!
 "My hands are a wittle gooey!"
 She mixed!
 And mixed!
 Aaaaand mixed.
And she licked the beaters - some even got in her mouth!
 We had a tea party in her class with the cupcakes.  I think they were worth all of her hard work.  Jonah seems to agree.
 And after a redux of the finger light dance party, Harper got to be the Teacher at circle time - according to her teacher, Harper pioneered this game and she takes it VERY SERIOUSLY.
 For the Real Birthday Day, the cupcake shirt was busted out.
 And sure, it was snowing to be the band outside, but a feathered crown is COMPLETELY ACCEPTABLE headwear on your birthday!
And finally, Harper opened her present from Mommy and Daddy, a new doll that is a little...classier?...than Baby Goldfish.  Harper named her Ava Sullivan, after one of her besties in the Giraffe room.  Not Ava.  Ava Sullivan.  She will correct you. 

Happy Birthday, Harper!

Monday, December 9, 2013

Harper is 3: Part 1

While Harper isn't OFFICIALLY 3 until December 17, due to a cluster of birthdays in her classroom and holidays and other festivities, her party fell a few days before the real thing.
Our girl requested a cupcakes and Hulk party.  No small request!

Daddy set about designing invitations for all of her bestest friends.
And creating decor for the event.
The stage was set, thanks to Hulk parts of Avengers party gear and fortuitously cupcake-themed plates, tablecloth, and garland.
She was READY!  Birthday Girl cupcake shirt: Check. 
Cupcake barrette: Check. Hulk barrette: Check. 
Luke in Captain America mask: Check.
Friends soon arrived and they played "stick the toppings on the cupcake."
And yes, she did add a tutu to her outfit.  SO?
Luke invited his 2 besties over for "big kid" fun. 
And after lots of coloring, but a lot more playing with the dolls and kitchen and the dress up box, it was time to decorate cupcakes!
Yes! We encouraged 10 small kids to play with frosting and sprinkles in our very own home!
It went far more smoothly than we feared.
Gummy bears and maraschino cherries were VERY popular toppings!
Harper held court
Like a pro!
And then, Daddy's piece de resistance!  The CUPCAKE CAAAAKE!
Harper hadn't seen it until it came to the table.
Make a wish!
The party wrapped up with a finger light disco in the dark dance party!
Thumbs up to Luke for turning out the lights - the kids went NUTS!
Harper and Ava were getting down.
 Luke, in the background, modeling Gavin's night vision goggles while Harper shimmies.
 Showing Aunt Sharren her moves.
Luke, Chase, and Gavin up on the landing providing "Disco Dance Party" lights
I think she had a good time.
 Still to come - School party and her, you know, actual birthday.