Rylee's First Party

Rylee was invited to her first birthday party this past weekend.  She was so excited.  She talked about it for  weeks. She slept with the invitation.  She could not wait to go pick out a present! It was for her best friend ever at preschool, a little girl named Remy.  

Rylee had a delightful time.  She ran around with her friend.  She jumped in the ounce house, she slid down the slide, she rode bikes and scooters, and she drank lots of soda.  

All the little girls scrambling up the slide.  Rylee has suddenly decided maybe she does not want to be first 

Following Remy down the slide. 

Still having fun. 

The last bounce at the bottom. 

 Showing her snack of juice box and chips.

Check out that face!  She wanted nothing to do with the crawfish! 

Zooming around on the scooter and having a blast. 

That's my cutie!

Student of the Month!

I got a call last month informing me that both Callie and Delaney had been chosen as Student of the Month for March.  I was surprised how many people congratulated me on having TWO wonderful kids who were students of the month.  I felt a little annoyed by the lavish praise, because I think my kids are wonderful all the time and just because a kid does not excel in school doesn't mean they are any less smart or good.  But it was still nice to have my girls recognized as the responsible, diligent children that they are.  

There was a little assembly for all the kids who were student of the month and I got to attend it. I did not get good photos.  The lighting was dreadful and the angles were worse.  Plus, the girls did not want to hold still and let me take their pictures!  

They went through each child, read something flattering and delightful that the teacher said about them and gave them a certificate and a goodie bag.  At the end they got a sign to put in the yard.

There is Delaney in the front on the left.  She was adorable. 

Callie is trying really hard to hide in the middle. 

And Rylee wriggled around on my lap and thought she was very funny.

Last week, I got a call telling me MARIAN had been selected as student of the month for April!  I was a  little shocked, since they usually choose someone with really good grades, who are typical "good students".  Marian was pleased, but embarrassed by the attention.  Her assembly was like the other.  Her teachers said she had improved a lot and she was participating in class more.  It sounded like she was "most improved" in the 5th grade.  And she has worked hard and done well.  I was definitely proud of her!

There's my girl, next to the greenish blurry lady. I'm so proud of her!

Happy Easter!

Today I am a slacker and took no pictures. We still had a lovely Easter.  And I do have pictures from Rylee's preschool event.  Here she is, at her Easter Party:

 Check out her adorable shirt!  I love all the different things they come up with.  The little duckling is Rylee's footprint!

This one you can see her face better. 

Starting on the candy already! 

Lining up with her class for the egg hunt. 

Looking for eggs! 

"Don't distract me Mom!" 

Finding the eggs is serious business. 

Posing in the house for me. 

I love this girl! 

Check out her snack plate- nothing but sugary snacks! 

And she is planning to eat it all.

Doctor Visits

We had a multitude of doctor appointments recently.  Rylee has been so good about being dragged along to pretty much all of them!  Here is how my kids entertain themselves at the doctor's office!

 Say Ahhhhhh!

 Ears look good.

Of course I'm a doctor! I'm wearing a glove. 

This will only hurt a little. 

Call me..... Doctor Callie! 

Rylee is showing her 2 toy dogs. 

Joshua had to have a physical for Scout Camp. He really is a great brother and lets Rylee get away with much too much!  I'm a lucky mom.

A Doll's Tale

This is Delaney on her 7th birthday back in February.  She had wanted a doll so badly for her birthday and she got it.  She was so happy!  She had asked for an American Girl Doll but was thrilled with Walmart's knock off "My Life" doll.  She was in love with her new doll.  She lovingly named her Julie and played with her and had many exciting adventures with the doll, who went everywhere with her.  She became obsessed with making videos of her precious Julie.

Sadly, 6 weeks after Julie's arrival, one of her legs fell off.  Just fell off.  Delaney was inconsolable. So sad.  So miserable!  She cried and cried.  As the mom, I could not justify simply buying another doll.  Even though it wasn't a $125 doll, it was still a $30 doll and I really do not want Delaney to learn that I am just going to buy her stuff whenever she wants it.  She was so sad though, I told her that I would make her a list of 15 chores, worth $2 each and once she finished the chores, we could get her a new doll and she would have earned it.  Suddenly, she was sunshine and happiness again.

However, when she looked at the chore list, she decided a one-legged doll was just fine.  Especially since she had the kit with a wheelchair and crutches.

That worked fine for about a week.  Then, the other leg fell off.  Just fell off.  Now the doll had no legs and life was miserable again.

Delaney decided to revisit the chore list.

And she renamed her doll.... "Legless".

___________________________

A brief follow up:

I do not know why it did not even occur to me to try to return the doll.  I guess I figured there was no chance since I did not have the receipt. After several people suggested it, we did go back to Walmart.  I was a bit surprised, but they did exchange the legless doll for a new one!  No receipt, no questions!  I was pleased, and Delaney was delighted.  Life is glorious and grand for her right now.