Lavish Praise

We went to Athena's second parent teacher conference of her 1st grade and I couldn't be prouder of her. It was nothing but praise on top of praise from her teachers and the picture they painted revealed a remarkable well-roundedness and ease to her many strengths.

Her report card was "E"s straight down the line for the third time this year. With the exception of a third "P" for "Listening and paying attention" and a first "P" in Handwriting, it seems her letters have become quite "free form" as she is getting more adept at writing. The teachers praised her for her artistic ability, her writing, her reading, her testing, and her social graces - she's friends with everyone and well liked.

Then the Math teacher chimed into say that she never pegged Athena for being a "Math kid" - as she is such a creative type. And she sometimes has a problem keeping her attention during the Math lesson, so she wonders if Athena is really getting it, but then always always always finds her on the top end of the curve in Math Assessments, getting a 90-100%. This she finds so wonderful - the ease at which Athena grasps her Math concepts, and her ability to be top of the class in both creative and analytical areas.

Her writing is also a big bright spot. Her other teacher has the kids write three or four sentences multiple times a week and struggles with the ones who write "It was fun" every time. Athena, she says is always imaginative and very creative with her sentences.

They did mention they felt she may be a little behind in her speech. She still struggles with her "TH" and "R" sounds, so they suggested an assessment. It effects her phonetic spelling and the teacher will often find her in the "F" or "D" for sounds that are "TH" - that kind of thing. They then went on to say they have decided to award Athena the class Core Virture award for showing the most "Compassion" to her classmates and she will be honored at assembly next Friday. Hmmm, wish she could show some of that "compassion" to her little siblings...

So that was awesome. And Chris and I were pretty much bursting with pride throughout the whole meeting, it was almost a little awkward the lavishness with which they praised her. She is certainly setting the bar pretty high.

Jack and Lil' Leo

Sometimes it's rough being the little brother of two overpowering big sisters.  And, even though, Jack is very much a boy's boy (trains and dinosaurs and monster trucks!) when the only thing going on is a "Princess Dance Party" you bet he's going to join in.  Across the street there is a little boy named Leo, born less than three months before Jack and named after his daddy.  Lil' Leo (as he is called) has three big sisters and when his Mom posts pictures on Facebook of Lil' Leo dressed up as Strawberry Shortcake, I shake my head in understanding and send her a text that says simply "send him over."

Lil' Leo is walked across the street by one of his big sis' dragging two plastic light sabers.  These toys are not allowed in my home (although Jack desperately wants one) if they were I fear Zoe would have so many bruises her teachers would call CPS on us.  Jack always must have the red light saber, or Darth (aka Anakin) and Lil' Leo has Luke's blue light saber.  From the moment Lil' Leo walks through the door, the light sabers are "lit" and an epic Star Wars battle commences.

They twist and turn, spin light sabers over their heads, pose and then lightly "tap" the others' sword.  They are surprisingly gently with each other and the death scenes (Jack always dies) are elaborate and drawn out.  All of this is done in near silence, yet they play totally in synch with each other.  So different from the constant chatter that goes on in girls play, I observe with fascination, this is all new to me.

(I especially love the death scenes.)

Jack really loves Lil' Leo, and vice versa.
These little guys are sooo lucky to have each other.

Three

This is what three looks like.

And this.


And, after a long day with no nap, this.

I had plans for a super hero party to celebrate Jack's third birthday. I've been collecting ideas for awhile which included cardboard boxes painted to look like buildings and personalized capes and different super hero abilities given to each party guest. But when Chris' Dad called to invite us down to the desert the weekend I had pin marked for the celebration, I was relieved to put it off - it's been a rough winter.

I know we've had fairly elaborate third birthdays for both Athena and Zoe, but the third time around reaching three, I also know that this birthday is not the most remembered. Plus, I was at a loss as to who to invite. There is some mention of "Nicholas" and "Keenan" at school, and a budding friendship with little Leo across the street, but other than that, his sisters are his favorite playmates.

And we love a trip to Palm Springs, especially when it includes a golf tournament for Chris. For me, the most recent cool thing about visiting Grandaddio and Grandma Andree in Palm Springs is that Baba and Nana now live there too! It's the Land of Grandparents and its pretty easy ricocheting our crazy crew between the two households when the chaos and noise become too much in the usually quiet and sedate homes.

So we were happy to abandon plans for a big party and postpone for next year. Instead we left the planning up to the Granddads.

Baba prepared a sweet 3rd birthday breakfast, as is the family tradition.


With super yummy chocolate cake, the strawberries made it "breakfast."

And lots of presents to open. Many we brought with us, sent by family members across the country.

In true Third Child tradition, Jack's main present from us was unwrapped and still in its Sears bag from whence it came. It was a long couple of days before we had to pack our crew and road trip to Palm Springs. Sigh. I promise I will make it up to you my darling little Dude.

Regardless of my lack of birthday preparations, this little Dude loved all his presents and celebrations.

After Birthday Breakfast, a day at the ZOO was the next on the agenda. Palm Springs has an excellent Zoo for African and Central American animals, "The Living Desert"
not a bad way to spend one's third birthday.


Athena tried to show Jack "three" but he kept on saying he was "six."


The Living Desert Zoo was nothing short of awesome: cheetahs, zebras and warthogs.

The girls declared it the "best day ever" even before the day was fully complete.

Any day that includes BABY GIRAFFES has got to be one of the best days ever.


Zoe had to have her picture taken with the giraffes as they are her second favorite animal in the world (Zebras being the first, of course).


And poor Baba was on triple piggy back duty, carrying little ones all throughout the park, nevermind the 89 degree heat.

There was also a massive train model train set that we could have watched all day.

And a carousel.

Which the little Dude preferred to enjoy for a bench rather than an ostrich.

While the girls chose a more wild ride.
And then we all went home for naps.

And stayed up way too late snuggling and talking by the fire pit.

The reason for the trip, besides being able to celebrate Jack's third with family, was so that Chris could be a part of a long standing family tradition - a men's golf tournament at Grandaddio's club. All the uncles were there, and David, cousin Matt, a hearty sampling of Liebels. In past visits to Palm Springs, its been alot of work for me because Chris always wants to golf and when he golfs, I am left with all three kids for hours. Either nervously by the pool (I dislike being with all three non swimming kids and just myself in the pool) or impatiently at the condo. But, now with Dad and Patricia just 10 minutes away, Chris can golf the day away and we...

have Bocce ball tournaments in Baba's orange grove, or

go kitty hunting, trying to catch sight of one of the four kitties who live there and make themselves scarce when they see little people, or


chill in the sun by the pool, or

swim the day away.

Each day of our trip started with a very early dip in the pool. The girls begged to get in the pool the minute they woke up and it was hard work getting them to wait until the grownups had had their coffee and the sun was fully risen and it was warmer than 68 degrees outside. At 9am one morning, Zoe complained that she hadn't been in the pool "all day" and when was she ever going to get to swim.

See Baba heats the jacuzzi up to a comfortable degree and they would spin around their "little pool" for hours. Its shallow enough so they don't have to be attached to a parent and the pool is cleaned by salt, not chlorine, its practically a large bathtub. They spent so many hours in Baba's pool they nearly grew fins.

We had such a lovely time. Thank you Baba and Nana!
The kids are already begging to go back.

****

Grandaddio (and Aunt Barb, Andrea, Aunt Fran and Grandma Andree) also threw Jack a little third soiree. Making his one birthday dream come true, a "Star Wars" cake. See the little finger marks on the bottom left hand corner, yeah, that was Uncle David...

We got a chance to reunite with our lovely summer bride,
Andrea, now happily married to the Big Guy, Matt. So great to see them and catch up.


And Jack got a Liebel serenade. Uncle David filmed and promptly put it on Facebook.


followed by lots more presents to open.


And with that my little Dude is officially three.
We love you to bits and pieces little boy.
I can't believe its only been three years as I can no longer imagine life without you.
Even your big sister Zoe thinks your awesome.

Athena's 7th Birthday Sleepover!

For Athena's 7th birthday party (I know, right, seven!) she wanted nothing more than a sleepover. Even though she has yet to sleepover anywhere herself (other than family) this was what she wanted more than anything else...even Disneyland. And since popcorn and cupcakes are a whole lot cheaper than the House of Mouse, I happily agreed.

For the first time I was able to keep the guest list small and resisted my impulse to invite everyone. No more than five friends we agreed, just our favorite friends, and with Zoe and Athena that made seven little girls in all.

At first she wanted to invite boys too. Her second best friend, next to Amelia, is Wyatt after all. She didn't get why boys weren't allowed at a girls sleepover. Girls only, we said. So even Jack and Chris got out of there after this picture.

They were so sweet when they all sat down to a table of subway sandwiches, cheese puffs and juice boxes. You could really see their personalities come out as they chatted back and forth telling jokes and trying to make each other laugh.

I told them I wanted to keep every one of them and live in a house of seven girls. Amelia agreed that this was a great idea and that we should send Jack to live with her brother.

I was so proud of my Zoe, holding her own with the big girls. She kept pace with every one of them. I resisted inviting one of her friends so that she wouldn't feel left out. And she never did, not for one minute, she was an honorary seven year old.

While the girls were eating I showed them the basket of scrolls that each held a fun activity idea, "Oh" said Vanessa, "Sort of like a 'To Do' list." Exactly, I said, when you tire of one activity you can pick a scroll for the next one.

Athena got to pick the first scroll, which I think was Flashlight Hide and Seek. Following that was Nail Salon. Then...

Pillow Case races! And...

XBox Disney (Thanks, Baba!)

And a Pillow Fight!


a quiet game of Hello Kitty Bingo

and just simply throwing confetti. Seriously, if you ever find yourself in a house with seven little girls (and you don't mind sweeping) you've got to get yourself a bag of confetti.

I laughed so hard at their pure joy.

Eventually we made our way to cupcakes in a jar and candles...

That's right, I said "cupcakes in a jar"...they were delish!

Especially with the pink milk!

Athena's friend Vanessa shares the exact same birthday,
so we all sang "Happy Birthday Cha Cha Cha" to her as well.

Finally presents were opened...

and then played with in the girls room.

Around 9 o'clock we settled them down with a movie, and then tucked them into their sleeping bags on the living room floor around 10:30. They wiggled and giggled until I fell asleep around 11:30 and a couple of them stayed up even later than that (i.e. Athena and Amelia). And then wouldn't you know, we heard giggling at 6:15 the next morning.

See the thing about sleepovers is that they keep on going, and are still going on in the morning. We woke to an early am balloon fight. Oh to have that energy before coffee.

After a couple of iCarlys, we sat down to breakfast of homemade cinnamon rolls, fresh fruit and eggs. Plus more pink milk.

Then the girls all got dressed, gathered their stuff and played outside until the Moms and Dads came to pick them up one by one. It was exhausting but so much fun! Even I had fun.