Rapunzelpalooza 2012

Rapunzel. Maximus. Flynn Rider. Pascal.

These are all household words in our home. These characters are practically family, and so it made perfect sense that Aubrey requested a Tangled themed party. We invited a few of her friends and their families over for some games, crafts, playtime, and of course a Rapunzel-themed dinner, where we served "Mother Gothel's Mac & Cheese," "Celebration Chili," "Braided Biscuits," and "Flynn Rider's Fruit Kabobs."

Rapunzel and Flynn greeted the guests as they arrived...
A 15 foot braid adorned the entryway, trailing from upstairs to downstairs...

Town square banners (just like in the movie) could be found everywhere...

Lemon-filled lemon cupcakes with raspberry whipped cream/cream cheese frosting, decorated by all of Aubrey's favorite characters. Yum!


We played a few fun games, starting with making Pascal party blowers...
Then we broke into teams, and dressed our friends as Rapunzel...using only toilet paper!!! The kids got a real kick of this. They just couldn't believe that I would allow so much toilet paper to cover the living room floor...




Then we went on a diamond hunt to find the jewels for Rapunzel's crown.
And then a balloon fight broke out...

And somehow they all turned on me!
What a wild bunch!


Happy girl!





Finally, gifts to end the night. Happy Rapunzelpalooza, Aubs!!!

"Long O" words

Yes, it happened again. Again, Camryn's quick wit and vocabulary made her teacher laugh hard enough, that she felt like she needed to call and tell me what my daughter said.

So the week after the "long I" conversation, Mrs. Cox again had another adult in the room as she taught her "long O" lesson. That particular day, there was a UO researcher taking data about the kids for a district/university collaboration. As Mrs. Cox gave the kids one minute to think of a "long O" word, she warned the researcher (with a wink and a smile) to keep an eye on Camryn, and note her response.

Sure enough, Camryn's hand had already shot up. She had a word to share. As she turned her attention back to the class, the teacher called on Miss C., who shared her word.

"Cope!" she said.
Mrs. Cox probed further. "Can you explain what you mean?"
"Sure," Camryn stated. "Like...My mom just can't cope with my sister anymore!"

And so Mrs. Cox turned to the UO researcher, raised her eyebrows, and giggled. Then she praised Camryn for coming up with an original word, and using it correctly. More correctly than even Mrs. Cox could even imagine. :)

Aubs' big day

When I woke Aubrey up on the morning of her birthday, she immediately popped out of bed, put her hands on her hips, and said, "Look! Look how big I am! I'm four!" :) She was absolutely convinced that she had sprouted overnight, and now truly qualified as a "big" girl. For the rest of the day too, she was appropriately full of herself, and just so excited to be 4, that she ran, jumped, and twirled everywhere she went.

Even though her sister was very sick, we did our best to celebrate Aubrey's birthday in little ways throughout the day.

She got to choose what to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and use the birthday plate for her meals...

And when Daddy got home, she opened her cards that had arrived in the mail...

And of course, her presents... (BTW, it's kind of hard when the present is bigger than you!)

Surprise! Now Rapunzel lives with us! (See the hands-on-hips? Full of herself...)

More gifts...
An MP3 player, like her big sister, which will be perfect for our Spring Break plane ride!


After gifts it was time for dinner. Aubrey chose a combo breakfast/dessert for dinner: Strawberry and blueberry whipped cream waffles. Yum!!!

For those of you who know Aubs well, this photo is self-explanatory. Can't even believe it.
Happy Birthday, Aubs!

Happy 4th birthday, Baby Girl!

Dear Aubrey,
I'm not sure if I'm ready to say "Happy 4th Birthday," but apparently the time has come. Although I try very hard, it is difficult for me to see you as anything but my baby. I find myself with a skewed perspective of just how old you are, how big you've gotten, and how much you are capable of. I have become one of those moms who "babies" their youngest, but I just can't help myself. Fortunately, you are there to remind me with your strong opinions, and insistence of "I can do it!" You are the perfect paradox: my baby one minute, and my big girl the next.

It has been so fun to see you this year become a big cousin. You love all babies dearly, but you have a special place in your heart for your cousin Keira. You just can't help yourself when you hug and kiss her so much, that we must physically pull you away. It is in these moments that I am jolted back to reality, and realize that in comparison, you really are no longer the baby of the family. This realization makes me so proud of you, but a little sad as well.

Sometimes, I think you realize this internal struggle of mine, and even use it to your advantage. For being such a tiny thing, you are much more intuitive and mature than one might believe at first glance. You catch on quickly, noting what behavioral strategies work (and don't), and then utilizing this knowledge to your benefit with impeccable timing. You are a master at batting your eyelashes, and playing the "helpless baby girl," one minute, before turning around, and giving your big sister (or your father, or I) a serious tongue lashing the next. You are a tiny, but powerful force to be reckoned with, and I don't doubt for one minute that you will keep your father and me on our toes for years to come. :) Nowhere is this more apparent than at preschool. You rule the classroom with a tiny fist, and there is no one, big or small, who dares push you around. Some days, this is a bit of a problem, but most of the time, I admire your resolve.

When you are sweet though,...oh, you are so sweet. You still have the amazing ability to fold yourself up just right, and fit into my arms the way you did as an infant. You still love to be cuddled and rocked, and told stories about when you were a baby. While snuggling you, I could inhale forever the scent of your freshly washed hair...the perfect mixture of tiny girl sweetness and Johnson & Johnson's shampoo. It is in these moments that I am convinced you are still my baby.

So, even though it is time to wish you the happiest of birthdays, and celebrate heartily your accomplishments in the past 4 years, please know this. I am proud of you. I am amazed by you and all of your new found 'big girl' pursuits. I love you more than you will ever know. And no matter how old you get, you will always be my baby.

Happy Birthday, my tiny bean.
I love you.
Love,
Mommy & Daddy

Family party

Sunday, we held our traditional "transition" birthday celebration, to both finish off the festivities for Camryn's day, and kick them off for Aubrey's. Having both girls' birthdays so close together can be so fun, but so overwhelming. Sometimes it feels like all we do in February is party! :)

Keira wore her party clothes!

Aubrey was just SO happy to play with her...


Grandpa, that's just mean!
Aubrey was enamored with her baby doll bed from Grandma and Grandpa...

Camryn was the only one who realized that a travel pillow must = a vacation! :) More to come on that...

Then it was time for an ice cream sundae bar like no other! The girls had their pick of every topping you could imagine, thanks to their aunties, uncles, and grandparents!



Time to blow out the candles!

One last celebration...I promise that she wanted to do this. In the photo, it looks like we're forcing her!
Happy Birthday, silly girls!