Mother Daughter Day ("first official")

Don't ask me what prompted this concept of "Mother Daughter Day" or how I came up with the way it would come together. Evie has just really wanted & needed time with me... special time... and I have really been feeling the pressure for this, too.

I thought of all the things she likes to do that would be rather special. I printed out a picture of a mom & kid pedicure (Evie's never experienced this treat before), a picture from the new movie "Brave" (Evie loves movies... particularly the popcorn part), a picture of Chik-Fil-A (which she calls "Chik-La-Vey" - *giggle*- I do love that she says this still) and a picture of Sweet Frog's (a chain that features any frozen yogurt you want with any toppings you want - you make & pay by the weight). Evie knew I had planned on us having this day when I mentioned it about a week ago. I presented her with the print-outs just a few days ago so we could solidify our itinerary for the day's events. She bounced on the sofa clasping her hands as I lay out each photo, "Oh! I want to do them all!!!" I put together different combinations and let her pick 1 of the 4 possible combos. She picked the one I knew she would - the movie Brave followed by ice cream.

We glued down our photos and decorated the itinerary. It hung on the fridge awaiting today.

Last night:

 - picked out today's outfit, discussed plans for the morning

 - I glue on the additional surprise pedicure photo... Evie jumps up and down with excitement

Today:

 - out the door by 10AM for our 11AM nail appointment

 - arrive early, so we kill some time at the bookstore reading books. Evie selects the "Brave" activity/sticker book & informs me she would like to look at it during her appointment.

 - double-check the theater times only to find out they switched since I looked yesterday at 3PM. We do some re-working of appointments and re-arrange our plans

- decide to watch 11:30AM movie. We buy the #1 coke & popcorn combo (and, regretfully, get extra butter that leaks through the bag the entire movie). Lesson. Learned. 

- 1:15PM the movie ends - perfect timing since the new nail time is at 1:30PM

- Nails done at 2:10PM

- Walk to Sweet Frog's. Me: peanut butter & cappuccino swirled with crushed Reeses Cups and crushed Whoppers candies. Evie: chocolate & vanilla swirled with mini M&M's and Gummi Bears.

- drive home. Evie and I discuss needing a rest-time. Evie decides to read her book then rest. I head straight to resting. The whole family enjoyed long naps (Max slept for nearly 3 hrs!)

A girl could get used to this Evie selected hot pink sparkly nail polish and a deep purple sparkly polish. Originally she wanted one foot purple and one foot pink. I persuaded her into making a pattern instead (every-other-toe). She then decided on polka-dots. The salon lady choose white for the dots. Evie was a little disappointed the dots were not purple but, as you can see, she overcame that disappointment just fine.

The salon propped her up with pillows and the ladies there all thoroughly enjoyed watching a girl get her first pedicure. Evie did great. In fact, she went on to suggest manicures, too (we didn't). Crafty little thing...

I think Evie learned from last time Nerds candies on chocolate & vanilla swirled ice cream is not the best combo. She made up for strangeness by adding Gummi Bears this time. She then proceeded to pick out the candies leaving me with melted mush to finish for her. I told her next time we'll just get candy. She seemed quite happy with that solution not realizing we could've just purchased candy and cut-out the ice cream middle man.

While at Sweet Frog's I put my purse on my toes while juggling the bathroom activities. As you can see, I ruined my big toe nails mere minutes after having paid for their completion. Alas, such is the life of a mom. I was just glad I had 20 minutes of pampering performed. Evie was happy with her sparkly polish choice.

My mother pointed out to me, "My God. It sounds like you had a $100 day!" And, yes, close to it when you add it all up. But, considering we were out together from 10AM-2:45Pm (nearly 5 hrs of time).... and I would have spent more than that for a babysitter and a dinner out with my husband (for just 2-3 hrs of time)... I think it was well worth it. And, just look at how damned happy she is. Wouldn't anyone give $100 to have a chance to go back and relive a day like this with their daughter just days before their 5th birthday? I would think so...

Baby Butt

Watching a toddler toddle around nude before his bath is just hysterical. Big, bloated bellies leading the way with chunky legs & butt swaying back & forth. It's really the cherry-on-top when Max makes his toothless grimace as he pats his taut, full belly like a drum... walking through the house before bath time. I try to soak up these moments knowing soon enough he'll be lanky & skinny with knobby knees and a strong will declining any foods I serve. Dimpled thighs and chubby cheeks really are a fantastic stage to enjoy....

Max Is A Walker

I love these "drunk sailor" walks Max performs. What amazes me is how long he can manage to stay up before falling over!

Evie Graduates Preschool

Preschool Learning Center at Maymont

Evie picks out one of her "fancier dresses" for today's occasion. I couldn't attend (work) but Rob did. I actually did not think too much about today';s event since it is just preschool but after the videos and photos Rob shared with me... it looks like I missed some cute moments. Oh well, there is always Kindergarten, 5th Grade, and High School graduation to look forward to....

Here's Evie on graduation day... they all received balloons.

Evie with her fiend and fellow classmate, Jasmine.

The kids all did an on stage performance singing a song about rainbows (hence the colored gloves). Rob did video tape for me... it was super cute and truly amazing that they managed to keep the kids in line for this bit...

Evie's teacher, Karin Eldred (Mrs. E) on the right and her teacher assistant, Ms. Jones on the left. Evie will truly miss them both...

This is Evie's class. Picture day was this week so this is a good "end of the year" shot. Can you find my teacher's pet? Evie is always found nuzzling close to her teachers...

Here's Evie's entire school. Her class is wearing green and is off to the left side of the group shot.

Camp Hilbert - Recreational Pool Day

We joined the Weinstein JCC Rec Center this year... just in the past week, actually. We enjoyed the indoor pool last weekend and hiked the 31 miles out (near Oilville, VA) to the outdoor pool at Camp Hilbert today. It was in the middle of nowhere, sparsely attended, and surrounded by forest.

It. Was. Perfect.

We left for our pool adventure right at the heels of Max's afternoon nap and retuned home 2 hours later ... just in time to heat up a frozen pizza for me, Rob & Evie.

Over dinner Evie tells me, "I had fun today."

So did mom and dad. So did we.

Final Dance Recital - "Giggle Toes" class at The Little Gym

The final dance of the semester.

Everybody line up, line up....

The class ran August through June (but we signed-up somewhere in October).
The "giggle Toes" class includes 15 minutes of tap, 15 minutes of ballet, and then 30 minutes of gymnastics (of sorts). Evie tells me she liked tap the best... but she says it smiling knowing that I liked tap at her age. What she really likes is the 30 minutes spent running around (sometimes a little crazy) inside the gym. I polled a few classmates... they agreed.

The class was offered the opportunity to purchase costumes (basically that little one shoulder purple number some of the girls are wearing) but I had just bought Evie a dress-up ballet dress that fit in just fine. So glad they didn't enforce costumes... $35 for a 15minute spotlight seems a bit excessive for where we are with our enthusiasm for dance right now.

One more class next week and then we take a break from Little Gym for awhile. This was Evie's 3rd class there (and her best one yet). But it's once again time to try other things and to enjoy the summer committed to activities like swim lessons.
Yes, Evie starts swim lessons in just a few weeks... stay tuned...

Houston, we got a walker... over.

Max is 12.5 months old. OK, well, maybe more like 12 months and 3/4 of a month but let's not get too technical, shall we?

He's been taking steps for a solid month now. I posted on May 4th that Max took 2 steps off the coffee table and I was super excited that he'd be running by week's end. Rob was in Toronto and missed the whole thing. Turns out, Max would take 2 steps off the tables, chairs, walls, doors, knees and even the puppy for the next few weeks. Rob had missed nothing. We all saw the same show again and again.

Most babies take very slow and deliberate steps. Max, however would throw himself forward with his legs stumbling trying to keep up with his momentum. He'd inevitably "fall" after a few steps and he'd transition into a crawl. He never once hurt himself and seemed to find this all rather fun. I think Max likened himself to a dare devil.

Over Memorial Day weekend (May 26-28), while in North Carolina visiting my folks, we would catch Max taking up to 3 steps. We had acquired Louie, the new family pup, on May 19th and I think Louie nipping Max's butt & licking Max's face had finally started motivating him into a more upright position.

Tonight, we caught Max taking over 6 steps so I grabbed the camera. We tried to recreate the moment just after it happend. This definitely wore Max out so I'm sure it's what attributed to his fall at the end of the second take on camera...