G-Bear and her bike

Our princess is radiant. 

Our princess has fallen in love.

Hers is a love affair with a bike, 

her new birthday bike, a gift from MoMo and Papa.

She rode it for two days across our carpeted living room as it rained and poured outside.

She even invited our apartment maintenance men over to see it, asking them if they would inflate the tires for her.

Then this weekend, in the perfect Easter weather, she and her bike got to take a first ride.

G-Bear and her bike were off like the wind.

Her moment was extra special because she got to share it with her brother and cousins, all of whom were all on their bikes as well.  

Joy is a dish best shared.  With her buddies by her side, her joy was overflowing.

 I still remember when MoMo and Papa gave me a bike on my fifth Christmas.  I remember having my own bike love affair, pedaling my new pink bike on our carpeted living room for weeks, waiting for spring to arrive so that I could ride outside.  I remember the pure freedom I felt riding my bike for the first time, my dad later helping me learn to ride without its training wheels, the joy of having wind in my hair and the sidewalk ahead as my path.  All these memories came flooding back as I watched my sweet girl experience her own first bike moments.  The first bike experience of joy, determination, and freedom is as classic as childhood itself.  Thanks to MoMo and Papa for making it possible for me and now for G-Bear as well.

Go get 'em, G-Bear!

Our Easter Celebrations

We are having a great time celebrating Easter!

You have heard of the twelve days of Christmas, right?  

How about the FIFTY days of Easter?

After the forty days of Lent, I am thrilled that the Easter celebration lasts even longer.

We have a lot of jellybeans to eat from our basket;

always more jellybeans than the number of black beans we put in during Lent.

This is our reminder that Jesus makes all things new.

Our Easter weekend was a blessing in many ways.

We spent several special days with our cousins, playing outside, enjoying the amazing weather, riding bikes, swinging high, playing chase and drawing with chalk.  

Cousin E flying high Easter weekend.

Our cousins treated us to a rousing egg hunt at church on Saturday.

G-Bear and E-Bear did a great job finding their eggs.

I was so proud of how conscientious they were, even during the excitement of the hunt.

"Did I find the right number of eggs?" E-Bear asked.

"Let's go see what's inside, Mom."

E-Bear enjoying his treasures.

Baby Bear enjoyed watching the hunt from the backpack, 

but he wasted no time exploring G-Bear's basket afterwards. 

 G-Bear was so nice to share!

 We spent Easter morning at our house.  

"Look, Mom! The Easter Bunny made a HUGE mess in our house!" Said G-Bear when she saw our living room.  We had a great hunt!  E-Bear and G-Bear found all the eggs, jellybeans, and chocolates. They especially enjoyed the new pairs of sunglasses, Spiderman and Rapunzel socks and new books that were wrapped by their Easter baskets.

"Awe, the Easter Bunny wished me happy birthday with my Tangled socks!" Said G-Bear.

Easter morning.  He is Risen!

I feel a special calling this year to make a big deal of the Easter season with my kids.  Fifty days is a long time, but the liturgical celebration reminds us of how significant Christ's rising is for the world. Someday, I hope my kids know and embrace that significance in their own lives.  For now, I want them to feel the miracle of Easter through our ongoing celebrations with family and friends.

Our painted Easter eggs!

During this first week of Easter, the Easter Octave, we are coloring Easter pages, decorating our house, and embarking on daily egg hunts at our park with the eggs we made together last week.  We're enjoying our Easter treats, reading Easter stories and talking a lot about how Jesus makes all things new.  We'll make handprint Easter lilies, Resurrection rolls, and hot cross buns.  In all these ways, (and hopefully even more, as I find new ideas for the coming weeks!) I want the Easter Alleluia to reverberate through our house.  Most of all, I want my kids to see the Easter miracle witnessed in the lives of T and me.  That's a tall order, one that can only be accomplished by a God who overcame sin and death.  Alleluia.

Grocery Bag

Happy Easter!  May your kitchen be overflowing with praise and thankfulness to the Lord during this first week of Easter.  Here are our dinner hopes and inspirations for the week.

Day One

Spicy honey-brushed chicken thighs from Cooking Light Magazine

with Couscous roasted vegetable salad from Everyday Food Magazine

Here is one of my favorite quick chicken recipes and a great roasted salad that I can't wait to try.

Photo and recipe from MyRecipes.com

Photo and recipe from MarthaStewart.com

Day Two

Turkey, lentil and mushroom soup from Food and Wine Magazine

with homemade bread and pears

This soup is hearty and full of flavor.  I usually make it sans turkey, and it still tastes great.

Photo and recipe from Foodandwine.com

Day Three

Baked corn dogs and tangy coleslaw

from Everyday Food Magazine

My kids love corn dogs, and this looks like a healthier, do-it-yourself variation.

Photo and recipes from MarthaStewart.com

Day Four

Tortilla soup with black beans from Everyday Food Magazine

with tortilla chips and oranges

I love a good tortilla soup recipe.  The kids love any excuse to eat chips.

Photo and recipe from MarthaStewart.com

Day Five

Creamy tomato and bacon linguini from Tasty Kitchen

with broccoli slaw and apple salad

Photo and recipe from TastyKitchen.com

Blessings on your kitchen!

Easter Blessings 2012

"'Behold, I am making all things new." 

~Revelation 21:5  

Alleluia!  Happy Easter!

A Tangled Birthday Party

Over the past four days, we have had "locks" of fun celebrating G-Bear's fifth birthday.

G-Bear requested a "Tangled" party for her birthday this year.  This was my first birthday party attempt, since we have enjoyed all of G-Bear's previous birthday parties with family at MoMo's house.  I was a bit intimidated, because my mom has made all of G-Bear's birthdays so special in the past.  I was determined to make the party very special and fun while remaining fiscally responsible.   In the end, we had a great time planning and preparing, and the party was awesome.  

G-Bear worked hard on the invitations.  We used giant princess paper from one of her coloring books, I wrote the words, and she added color and decorative embellishments. Then G-Bear, E-Bear and I hand-delivered the scroll-rolled invites to our neighbors while playing musical horns and toy drums (gotta love the kids' "royal" delivery, inspired by Prince Charming's hand-delivered invitations in the movie Cinderella!).  We were off to a great start:  we had a TON of fun, and no purchases were necessary.

Next, it was up to me to tackle decorations.  Family Fun Magazine by Disney has a great website full of party and arts & crafts ideas for just about any movie or character theme.  I found lots of great decoration ideas, crafts and printables in their "Everything Tangled" section, all free and many requiring little more than a color printer.  

Our favorite decoration was the Rapunzel hair braid.  It doubled as a gift to G-Bear and creative party decor.  

G-Bear wearing the Rapunzel hair braid that I made as a present for her party. 

For the braid, I used two pounds of yellow yarn from the craft store and some red satin ribbon saved from Christmas. The braiding process was not for the faint of heart: it required the full length of our living room and hallway plus two hours of my time (this clearly reveals my novice-ness when it comes to braiding long hair, as an expert or anyone more cleaver than me could have accomplished this in a fraction of the time.).  T snapped a picture as I embarked on my braiding adventure:

It was totally worth the $6 spent and the hours of my time.  G-Bear loved her braid!  It was a great decoration, hanging from our porch "tower" and nearly touching the ground below.  Since the party, G-Bear has hung it in her closet to hold her hair bows and clips.

Next, I made paper "lanterns" reminiscent of the movie to hang from our ceiling:

We used materials that I had on hand: envelopes, a three-hole punch, a stapler, left over holiday ribbon, markers and push pins.   G-Bear loved them, and they added a fun, magical feel to our space.

The lanterns in action.

Finally, I made two banners, one for inside, one for outside, out of construction paper squares and utility string.  These were also reminiscent of the movie and a fun way to say, 

"Happy Birthday, G-Bear!"

For party activities, we decided to make prince and princess crowns with the Disney template, cut from manilla folders I had on hand.

G-Bear's crown craft.

We set out extra "lanterns" for the guests to decorate and take home for themselves, as well as Rapunzel coloring pages that I found from this great source.  

G-Bear, E-Bear and I made homemade playdough before the party in purple (Rapunzel's favorite color) and yellow (like her golden hair).  We set it out for the guests along with all of our playdough tools.  And finally, during the party, T hid a costume crown near our community pool and we took the kids on an impromptu "crown scavenger hunt" around our "neighborhood" with the help of rhyming clues.

The kids had a great time with all of these crafts and activities.  Their smiles and laughter at the party melted my heart.  Even a few adults left with paper crowns :)

By far, my most intimidating project was the cake.  I am not an artist, so I was thankful to find lots of inspiring Tangled cake ideas online.  I made a tower out of an ice cream cone cupcake, attached a printed image of Rapunzel and Eugene, and placed it on top of the cake.  G-Bear and E-Bear loved it!

We made extra "tower" cupcakes for the kids as well as tangled hair cupcakes:

G-Bear was glowing as we sang "Happy Birthday." 

"I really like my party," she said to T and me.   

I could tell that her favorite part was being surrounded by her family and friends. 

The added efforts and details were both budget-friendly and made her party experience extra special.

Blowing out the candles!

We saved presents and family time for G-Bear's actual birthday.  In the morning, we enjoyed cereal with homemade whipped cream and sprinkles in honor of MoMo's signature birthday breakfast:

G-Bear's happy birthday breakfast

G-Bear enjoyed opening birthday cards in traditional birthday attire,

and she loved T's present to her,  her own set of pictures from our Disney World trip.

T's present to G-Bear was a set of pictures from our Disney World trip.

After enjoying bunny-shaped mac & cheese for birthday lunch, and a special dinner at a local pizza restaurant, we couldn't go to bed without opening one last present over ichat with MoMo and Papa.....a new big girl princess bike complete with tassels and a handlebar doll carriage.  Our big girl was speechless with excitement.  It rained all day today, so she rode her bike back and forth across our carpet.  I think she is ready, not just for her new bike, but for life in her sixth year.

We love our G-Bear!  We'll treasure all of these great birthday memories.

Happy 5th Birthday to you, G-Bear!

Before our very eyes,

One!

Two!

Three!

Four!

Five!

five years have gone by!

Dearest G-Bear,

Happy Birthday to you, sweet princess.  Five years ago, on the Wednesday before Easter, I woke up and knew I would become a mother that day.  That evening was one of the proudest moments of my life, as I held you in my arms for the first time.  What a blessing it is, five years later, to look at the wonderful girl you have become.  You are stepping out to explore the world more everyday, sharing yourself in new and loving ways.  We love to see how you welcomingly include others, whether at your birthday party, at the playground, or with all of us at home.  Your brothers adore you, and you delight them as their best friend.  You are so creative, a lover of art projects and imagination games, and I love to stand back and watch you create!  I am so grateful for the way you help me see the world with fresh, hopeful, excitement-filled eyes.

We have had so many precious, memorable moments with you over the past year:

*April....Your enjoyed your first playdate with your preschool friend, MJ, many "Super Sibling" moments and Sleeping Beauty dances with E-Bear.  You welcomed your new brother with gusto and loving affection, ever my joyful helper.

*May....You pedaled your own bike and moved your carseat to the "big-kid-backseat" of our minivan. We celebrated together at Mommy's graduation and appreciated you as you soothed your baby brother's cries.  You make my day with your compliments, take your first swim lesson and devour sticky s'mores at the cabin for Memorial Day.

*June....We enjoy Shel Silverstein poems and stroller rides to the bank.  Our hearts swell with pride and our eyes are wet at your preschool graduation, especially when we say goodbye to your friends and teachers.  You wear your dancing skirt all the time these days, and you often find spontaneous occasion to use it.  We decorate Daddy's car together for his birthday, go to playdough and ice cream making school, and fly our first kite! And you wow the crowd at Daddy's graduation with your lovely dress complete with princess cape :)

*July....You still talk about the fun we had over 4th of July at the GG's cabin.  You love boat rides and tickles from my cousins, sticker books and pinwheels.  You make us all smile so much!  We enjoyed a staycation at Mall of America with MoMo and all our favorite Minnesota blessings before packing our bags for "Norf Carolina."  You and E-Bear waited for days for the truck to come.  The picture of you sitting on our rocker in our moving truck as Daddy packed will be forever burned in my mind.  

*August....Welcome to our new home!  You and E-Bear were so excited to share a room, and you both took to it with enthusiasm (and just a little late-night chatter!).  We enjoy our new pool, and you are ready to try a few paddles without your floatie.  Lazy summer imagination games are your forte, especially at the playground across our street.  We enjoy trips to Chick-fil-a, the mountains, Tweetsie Railroad, Grandfather Mountain, and our first earthquake!  

*September....What a treat it is to live so close to your cousins!  You love to walk hand-in-hand with your cousins at "Uncle T's football games."  Whether we are cheering for UNC or 'Bama, you are a great cheerleader.  You and E-Bear enjoy your first day at two new schools, and even though you are shy you exude sweetness and enthusiasm.  Baby Bear is always content in his Exersaucer, as long as you are there to play with him!

*October....You take Washington DC by storm with Daddy and MoMo.  We detail the "Days of Our Week" to try to remember them better, and your favorite day is "Family Day" (Saturday).  You love playing Superman with E-Bear, wrestling with Daddy, cheering "Rooooooll Tide!" and singing your October song.  Woody and Jessie make an appearance for a whole week leading up to Halloween, and you are dressed to impress with your cousins at their neighborhood Harvest Party.

*November....Our epic travels begin, first to Minnesota for Halloween and playtime with MoMo & Papa.  It is great to rake the leaves again in Papa's driveway and reconnect with beloved toys.  Every Thursday I get to hear you recount your favorite stories and songs from Bible school, and I love it.  We have a thankful Thanksgiving with Aunt K, Uncle T, your cousins and Nana. You six cousins are peas in a pod.  

*December....I am so proud of the gifts you give away on St. Nicholas Day, and you wow me with your Christmas cookie prowess.  We make our second epic travel, this time to Alabama, and you keep me smiling, despite long drives, hotel rooms and bumper car moments.  You are just as excited as E-Bear to celebrate his birthday at our cousin cabin weekend.  You can pick Santa out of any crowd and love singing Christmas carols with me, especially "Jingle Bells," "Away in the Manger," and anything by Straight No Chaser.  

*January....We say a tearful good-bye to our beloved Christmas tree and then we are on to New Orleans, where you love to say "Roll Tide" to every passer-by.  You transitioned back to school and home life so well, after our many trips and travels.  Your favorite days always seem to be those that we spend at home together, whether watching Sesame street, playing in the new tent, snuggling in Mom & Dad's bed, or coloring at the art table.  You and Daddy are reading your first Little House on the Prairie book together at bedtime, something that you love.  

*February....There aren't words to describe your awe, joy and excitement during your first Disney World experience.  You loved everything from meeting the characters, to seeing the shows, to dressing the part each day.  I cried when we walked out the gates together to go home because I loved being there with you so much.  We had fun designing valentines for your classmates, making our snow-day snowman, and reading your phonics book together -- you are doing such a great job reading your first words!

*March....You fit right in at Chick-fil-a Princess Night with our friends.  You are typing and writing your name by yourself.  You are ever watchful of your family members: telling me when Baby Bear is getting into something he shouldn't, voicing concern if you are afraid E-Bear may get hurt, protecting me from tickles.  You love our daily walks to the office to see "Mr. Gary." Your favorite way to greet someone is to hop up and down on one foot.  You have great friends now at both Bible school and preschool, and I love to hear you share your stories from both.

G-Bear, you are gentle, trustworthy and brave.  We pray for you that you will continue to grow in wisdom and stature, never losing your sweetness and loving heart for others.  As we light a candle together this Easter Sunday, I'll be thinking of your first Easter Vigil service with us when you had just come home from the hospital.   You have been a blessing and light in our lives from your first moment. Daddy and I are so proud of you and we love you so much.  Happy, happy birthday, G-Bear!