Happy birthday, Nora

Nora has had a big week. Her 5 year old well child check was on Wednesday, with all the pre-kindergarten shots. She took them like a champ and tipped the scales with a fighting weight of 42 pounds at 43 inches. One clean bill of health later and she was on her way with three bandaids, two suckers and a handful of stickers.

Friday, her actual birthday, was celebrated with a date with Daddy to the hibachi restaurant in town (her choice) where she sampled swordfish for the first time (also her choice). By all accounts, a good time was had by all. I wouldn't know. Not wanting to be a third wheel, I stayed home and had leftovers and snuggled the heck out of a baby. This guy ain't complaining.

Here are the buddies right before they left.

And here is my little girl, looking more grown up than I'm really comfortable with.

She also opened presents from us and relatives near and far. Doll house furniture, books, games and art supplies have kept her occupied all weekend. She was overwhelmed with the awesomeness of it all!

On Sunday, her friends joined her at the Duluth Children's Museum for a super hero themed party. They made masks, ate pizza, cake and ice cream and chased each other around and around and around...Every one of them looked like they were going to need to be poured into bed that night. Glad to do my part.

This picture serves to reassure me that she still is my little girl....

Super Ellie

And is you've been wondering what the baby looks like these days....

Super Nora

Just hypothetically, if your child were still wearing her Halloween costume in January, would you gently encourage her to move on to another interest? Or would you take a bunch of pictures?

Hypothetically, of course.

Holiday Haze

Once again, the holidays have come and gone in a blur. It goes faster every year- and these years with little ones especially. I find myself too exhausted from the early Santa mornings and the late baby nights to write too much these days. Add in the fact that I'm back to work full time and the candle-space between the flames is getting ever shorter. Therefore, in lieu of smart words, I give you sweet photos.

It's all over now.

For posterity, I want to record this conversation from dinner tonight.

Eric: We have a problem. I can'y find K-A-T-I-E-A-N-D-T-H-E-B-I-G-S-N-O-W.

Nora: Yeah, I don't know where it is either.

Me: Don't know where what is, Nora?

Nora: Ummmm...one of my books.

Me: Which one?

Nora: Ummmmmm....Katie and the Big Snow.

Me and Eric (in unison): Shit.

Nora: [hysterical laughter]

Happy Thanksgiving!

This may be my favorite piece of art in my house. I love the anatomically correct waddle juxtaposed with the free-form placement of feathers. I think she might have disregarded the assignment and tried to make a chicken.

That's my girl.

Snowy Saturday

There are sometimes benefits to being stuck inside on the weekend. Today, I used my evil mommy superpowers to get both girls to (briefly) hold still.

Heh heh heh. I feed off the cuteness.