Happy Birthday, Reese!

Today Reese turns 5 years old!  She began Kindergarten this week, and was the first one in her class to celebrate a birthday.  (She will probably also be the only one to turn 5 during the school year).  She is excited to go and learn and her enthusiasm is rubbing off on the other kids in the household.  She is excited to work on computers each day at school. Reese LOVES to color and draw.  She tells me that when she grows up she wants to be a mom then a missionary then an artist. ( I tell her she might need to switch the order around a little.)  She dresses herself (and likes wearing the uniforms).  She loves to be in charge when she can, or at least be a part of things when she can't.  She likes to eat pizza. She likes to play and read on our electronics. We read chapter books and she likes the Mermaid Tales series and Wonder Woman books. She is a loving, generous, fabulous big sister (most of the time). She is a great singer. She wants to do everything just right. I call her "Baby Girl" or "Angel" and Daddy calls her "Princess"

Happy Birthday, Reese!

Balloons courtesy of Grandma Great.  Thanks!

UPDATE:

I didn't get any pics at Grandma Leah's because I forgot the camera. So here are some pictures from Reese's birthday, when she was opening presents, and also, the cake.

I have never made a fondant cake before.  It's not something we covered in culinary school (Though I have a sneaking suspicion and a bunch of ladies from my class got together afterwards and took a cake class together.  I never was very popular).  Anyway, without any lessons, I tried to make my own fondant and put it on a cake.  The results were disastrous. Good thing I have a little talent for sculpting characters.  That really saved the cake.  And the fact that it was delicious.

 Little mermaid cake includes Sebastian the crab, Flounder the fish, Ursula's tentacles and a bunch of other random sea creatures inspired by both the Little Mermaid and Finding Nemo.

Kids on a Trike

I just found this to be cute so I thought I'd share.

Getting Ready for 5

I'm working on Reese's 5 year birthday cake.

Can you guess the theme?

Liam woke up from his nap as I was working.  I was hoping to get a lot done before he came to "help" me, but these two guys were in the works when he decided that he needed to make a fish and crab for Reese's cake, too.

and by "make" them, I mean "pound dough and then tell Mama you need help and expect her to do everything."

so I ended up having to make a quick fish and crab out of the fondant scraps I had given him to play with.  I don't think they will show up on the finished cake.  Or will they....?

First Day of Kindergarten

Today was Reese's first day or Kindergarten, sort of.  While school is in session technically, today she went to school and met with her teacher and did an evaluation.  She will have class with all her classmates starting next Monday!

She's excited to wear school uniforms.  She kept saying, "Don't I look like such a school girl?"

Zoo

Trip to the zoo with cousins!  Aunts Shelly and Kenzie were there (with, of course, Aunts Megan and Danica, as they are the mothers of said cousins).

Liam, Reese, Lila and Declan by the elephant

The elephant show!

Seals

I wish I had gotten a pic of the polar bear swimming, he came right up to the glass.  Show off.

This orangutan photo op is made out of legos.

More Trees

The wonderful people from our church decided that they could help us with some tree removal.  On a day of service we had a huge group of people help to clean up our yard.  The kids helped pull plants and remove rocks while the men pulled out their chainsaws and knocked down 5 trees.  With only a little structural damage to the house and only one near-fatality, I'd say the day turned out pretty well a success.  Only about 7 more trees to go!  Oh, and all those stumps....

wait out of the way as the tree falls

Photo Booth

We went to a work party for may dad's company yesterday.  They had a photo booth.  We all got our pics taken but Reese took full advantage of the props and unlimited access.  I had a hard time keeping her from going back again and again.  But the ones where she had no adult supervision turned out pretty cute, in my opinion.  Thanks for inviting us, Dad!