Arabelle's Ballerina Ball (4th Birthday Party)

Table With Tutu Skirt (made my Memaw), and Carousel Cupcake holder that actually spins!

The Spread:  Ballerina Fairy cups, plates and napkins on sale from Oriental Trader.  Grapes and Cheesecubes with toothpicks.  Pink Foil-covered chocolate coins.

the invitation:  printed on pink paper, glued to cardstock.  A strand of pearls and tulle skirt glued on.

cake pops made by Arabelle and Memaw

the venue:  Tom Jones Dance Studio.  It is a cute little dance studio in downtown Berthoud, and I am so proud of thinking of calling to ask if we could do the party there.  The owner had never had a party there but was happy to do it (and for only $50!)  Guests chose a tutu (I purchased a large lot wholesale on eBay)

 

We had 3 boy guests (including Jeffrey), so they got Tophats from Party America.  We also had Gem Stickers for the little girls to put on their faces.

We began the party with a demonstration from a couple of the owner's older students.

Then they helped give a lesson.

Arabelle was the only girl that refused to wear the provided tutu.  Can't say I'm surprised.

Then we had some freestyle dancing with ribbons and hoops and fun music.

My little ballerina princess.

I put down plastic tablecloths to help with the mess, but it didn't work as well as I had hoped.

Presents!

 Arabelle celebrated her birthday a month late this year, but it really worked out well for us.  We were all deadly ill the day of her actual birthday, plus it was soon after Christmas and shortly after our arrival back from Mississippi for Christmas.  When I found out when mom was coming, I decided to plan it for her visit, and I am so glad I did because her help made all the difference!

Jeffrey Talks

Jeffrey spoke a few words around age 2 and then not much more until age 4 when things started picking up.  I remember when he was 3 and 4, my friends with kids his age would post messages of cute things their kids had said to them.  It would break my heart every time I read them because it became overtly obvious to me how far behind Jeffrey was.  These kids were saying more and more complicated things and Jeffrey was still the same.  These kids were also saying funny and endearing things.  I wanted to know Jeffrey better, to hear what he had to say, to understand how he thought.  Jeffrey is talking lots now, although there are definitely still some language delays:  problems in grammar, telling a story in order, expressing complicated ideas, etc.  I must remember rather than getting discouraged by what he's not able to do yet, to appreciate what he is able to do, and to remember how far he's come.  These days, Jeffrey says funny and endearing stuff all the time!  Here are some recent ones:

• Jeffrey wanted to watch a show on Netflix, and instead of his normal cartoons popping up,  "Hoarders" was on the screen b/c I had been watching an episode.

           Jeffrey asked in an accusatory voice, "Mommy, why were you watching that garbage show     again?!"

• (As we were riding down the road) 

          Jeffrey: I see an American Flag!  And a Beagle Flag!
          Me: a beagle flag?
          Jeffrey:  yes! a beagle flag!
          Me: what's a beagle flag?
          Jeffrey: You know!  The bird!

• Jeffrey brought home a card from Church with the word "worship" on it and different ways that we can worship.  I was trying to talk to him about it and explain it to him and Jeffrey said, "I already know mom!  A worship is what the aliens come in on!" 

• Jeffrey, after flipping through an American Girl Catalog, "I don't like all those cute girls." (I was wondering if he was talking about the dolls or the child models?)

• Jeffrey must have had a particularly interesting primary lesson because after Church on Sunday he kept asking me about Death, Resurrection, and the Spirit World.  He asked me about the Holy Ghost and where he was.  I said he is all around us, we just can't see him.   Jeffrey said, "Oh, so he's in invisible mode."

• Jeffrey brought me a Deseret book magazine and pointed to a picture of Elder Eyring:  "Is this President Monson or President Thimble?" he asked.

• Jeffrey (to Charlotte):  Baby, you're stinky!

          Me: That's not nice to say Jeffrey.
          I walk out of the room and hear Jeffrey saying in a nice voice, "Charlotte, you're so strong. You're so handsome."

Once Upon a Runny Nose

John's 33rd Birthday

Arabelle was really excited about helping make the cake: Double Layer German Chocolate Cake with Butter Pecan Icing Drizzled with Dark Chocolate and topped with Fresh Raspberries.  We had 5 birthday candles, so John got 5 birthday candles.

Is it just me or are all these guys starting to look alike?

Halloween 2013!

Jeffrey wore his Hulk costume to the trunk-or-treat, but decided on his Space Suit for trick-or-treating ( his grandma made it).  Arabelle is Tinkerbelle, Charlotte is a unicorn, and Superman is Wesley, a little guy from Church who is two days older than Charlotte.

Jeffrey was full of awkward poses that night, but the leaves are gorgeous!

Charlotte insisted on 3 pumpkin pails, and wound up getting triple the candy.  Weird thing is Arabelle insisted on the exact same thing when she was that age, but with just 2 pails.

Charlotte cut above her lip on a toy metal whisk at 5 pm on Halloween evening.  I thought I'd be spending Halloween night in the urgent care with her instead of trick-or-treating (thinking it was possible she might need stitches), but John and the local pharmacist agreed that a butterfly bandage would be sufficient. 

Arabelle Halloween Photo Shoot

I really wanted Arabelle to wear this dress to Joy School on Halloween, but she said she "hated it", so our compromise was that she wear it long enough for a quick photo shoot.

I wouldn't say she was super cooperative, but this is Arabelle we're talking about.  Her bangs are finally starting to grow out.

Arabelle has been really obsessed with Elsie lately, and is always trying to hug her and carry her around.  Elsie of course hates it. I keep thinking of that Looney Toons character Elmyra.  Arabelle will see a cat and go chase after it, or see a squirrel in a tree, and throw a fit, "I want that squirrel!"

Little Pumpkin Photo Shoot

I couldn't choose between these (Can you blame me?!)