5!

Happy Birthday, Anya! I can't believe you are already 5. My, how time has flown. I still clearly remember my pregnancy, the day you were born (there were a few very fuzzy, sleep-deprived weeks right after you were born where I don't remember much), and so many of your "firsts". Rolling over, sitting, crawling, walking, your first word ("kitty"), running, preschool. And now you're 5 and talking about your first crush - ack! (whose name is Marlowe, by the way. He's the charismatic "bad boy" at preschool. Of course). And you are so very much looking forward to Kindergarten and being a big girl. These past five years have gone by so quickly and you've grown and blossomed.

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From what I can tell, you had a great birthday today. For breakfast, you got pumpkin-cinnamon swirl bread (Grandma B.'s awesome recipe), a present from us (a stuffed dragon and the first 3 books in the How to Train Your Dragon series, which went over very well) and then off to preschool at Sweet Pea Cottage. There, I came 20 minutes early bearing popsicles for your class and got to join you for lunch. Everyone sang "Happy Birthday". A little playtime after school on grounds, a little downtime at home (with a phone call from cousins Mia and Cole) and then Artists of the Heart across the street - with another round of "Happy Birthday". The weather turned gorgeous and warm-ish in the afternoon, so we had an impromptu playdate with several friends at Dahl park. On the way home, we stopped at neighbor Byron and Susan's house for a visit and birthday present. Phone calls with some grandparents. Special birthday dinner (requested spaghetti and meatballs). Opened a few presents and now bedtime reading. Phew! A very full day and I'm sure you're exhausted.

More Pre-Halloween

Here are some more pre-halloween 2012 shots.
They are a mix between pumpkin-pickin' at "The Farm" in Snohomish, and carving said pumpkins.
Anya is still a bit young to wield a knife, so instead we let her draw the faces and Chris carved them as faithfully as possible.

Spooky Art for Halloween

Pumpkin patch #1

Today we took Anya to her first of four pumpkin patches planned this year.
On the way home we stopped by Uff Da, a Norwegian gift shop in Stanwood. I was hoping to find a Viking helmet for a halloween costume. No such luck. Uff da - believe it or not - took it self a bit too seriously. But the shop owner gave Anya a hand made stuffed mouse her sister had made years ago and she was "looking for the right kid to give it to". Very cool.
All in all, a very good start to the pumpkin patch season.