Time for some REAL food

Benjamin has been waking up in the middle of the night hungry.

So we decided it's time for some real food.

We mashed up a banana.

And Benjamin loved it. 

In fact, he ate two bananas.  In one sitting.

We tried to stop at just one but he got angry so the girls helped feed him another.

And after two whole bananas, he was content and once again slept throught the night. 

Rainbow

While waiting for the school bus this morning we saw a rainbow and all the kids talked about it.

As I came back outside to take a picture I overheard their conversation.  One of the girls mentioned that she wondered what made rainbows.

And before anyone else could answer Grace responded matter-of-factly, "Don't you know that God made that rainbow for us?  It's His promise after the rain."  My, how she melts my heart.

Thumb sucker

It's official.  Benjamin is a thumb sucker.  Whenever he is tired or gassy or hungry, that little thumb makes its way into his mouth.  And I find it incredibly adorable.

Swinging sisters

Grace and Faith both love to swing on the porch.

Unfortunately, it's a single seater.

And that sometimes causes loud, squealy, arguments.

But today they were happy to share and swing together.

Fashionable bowling

Today we promised Grace we would take her bowling.

So she wanted to get all dressed up for the occasion.  She picked out her hot pink sweater dress, her hot pink sparkly belt, and her silver locket.

Grace is actually quite a good bowler.  I must admit I couldn't believe that she could pick up and throw that 8 pound ball so well!  And she bowled in the triple digits - with the help of the gutter things, of course.

While my little girl has some tomboyish tendencies, there's no denying she's a pint-sized fashionista... 

Skate day

Each month, Grace's school gets to take a half day and go to the local skating rink.

Mommas are encouraged to come watch.

So we surprised Grace and met her at the bus.

Then we watched her skate.  She is such a generous little girl.  Anytime someone wanted to "borrow" her skating helper, she just said, "Sure!"

So she shared with all her friends.

And after about half an hour just started skating without it. 

It's so fun to see her.

All About Grace - her first school project

Grace had homework to do.

She had to make a poster themed "All About Me"

So we printed some pictures of her favorite things like her family, playing dress up, dancing ballet, the beach and swimming.  Then we taped it all on a hot pink posterboard using some of her favorite stickers.

After school I spoke to her teacher, Mrs. Gipson, and she asked if we practiced presenting her poster.  After telling her that we did not, she just laughed.  Then she told me that Grace is one of the quietest kids in her class but when it came time to show her poster, she was extra loud and somewhat flamboyant as she showed it off just like Vanna White.  How funny!

Book fair finds

Grace's school had a book fair today and we let each of the girls pick out one book.

Grace chose a fairy book and Faith picked out "Too Pur-hull-lee" (Too Purpley.)

Beachy fun

Today we went to the beach.

And it was a fantastic day.

Grace practiced writing in the sand.

And Faith erased it.

She also jumped in the water.

And helped her big sister by bringing her wet sand.

To build a sand castle cupcakes.

And little Benjamin?  He just relaxed in the sun.  It doesn't get much better than that.

Grace's 5th birthday party

Grace wanted a princess pool party.  I was afraid it might rain.

So we made a cardboard castle just in case.

And we had a coloring table cloth.

And a sand castle birthday cake with edible almond bark seashells.

Fortunately, it turned out to be a gorgeous day.  It's so funny how the kids like playing in the hot tub more than they do the actual pool.

Before long it was time to blow out the birthday candles.

And make a wish!

Then the kids lined up to bust a pinata.

It took some whacking.

But all the kids got plenty of candy.

Then Grace opened presents and I dropped our pink camera and lost the video and several pictures.

But in spite of that, Grace had a fantastic 5th birthday party and made lots of friends with her school classmates.  Several kids asked when they can come back over.  Soon, I'm sure...