Fancy Nancy Tea Party

Isabelle doesn't turn four until Monday but we celebrated with all of her friends today with a Fancy Nancy tea party. Isabelle has never asked for a birthday party with friends until this year. She's had fun at so many other parties that she really wanted to have one of her own and since Fancy Nancy and dressing up are her favorite things, that's exactly what she and 12 of her friends did!

So excited! The invite

The weather channel said it was supposed to rain right in the middle of her party today. Thank goodness meteorologists can't really predict the weather because it was sunny and 75 degrees!

Bonjour everybody! Isabelle is 4!

The Get Fancy Room Each of the girls got to choose a purse to decorate. You can find the pattern on Martha Stewart's website here.

After decorating their purses they got to choose a tiara and boa to wear - and clean their sticky hands with wet wipes.

Isabelle decorating her purse with Aunt Darla's help.

The girls working hard.

After crafts they all headed upstairs to Isabelle's room to play for a few minutes. Don't they look sweet?...

That's what you think! Definitely time for a diversion.

Ready to play Pin the Tiara on Fancy Nancy.

Emersyn taking a turn.

I think they did pretty well!

Time for the tea party! Our table of goodies.

Birthday cupcakes

Peanut Butter and Jelly Flowers

Raspberry Hearts

Little Ladybugs

Tiara Sugar Cookies

The girls chose a seat and were ready to be served.

They also had Sparkling Princess Punch with a lavender sugar rim on their glass.

Isabelle carefully selecting her favorite Magic Fairy Wand.

Yummmm!

Madeleine had a good time too, but she did sleep through the first half of the party. The girls couldn't wait for her to wake up. I know she was really surprised to find a gaggle of girls surrounding her crib when she finally opened her eyes. I wish I'd had my camera for that moment!

Deep in conversation

After treats it was time for the pinata.

Time for presents!

Happy Birthday to you Isabelle!

School's Out!

Isabelle's first year of preschool is over! I can't believe how fast the year went by. I remember how excited and nervous Isabelle was to start school last fall and now she's done and has learned so much and made so many new friends. In September she'll be in preschool five mornings a week which will be great for her as I'm quite sure she would live at preschool if it was an option.

Isabelle's birthday isn't until next Monday but as yesterday was the last official day of preschool Isabelle got to bring her summer birthday snack. She took ice cream cone cupcakes. Yummm! And, in case you're wondering, they did all topple over in the car on the way to school. My hand-dandy cupcake carrier just wasn't up to the task.
Today Isabelle's entire preschool met at one of our big parks for a day of play. Here's Isabelle with her wonderful teacher, Mrs. Facchini. Isabelle just loves her and we're so excited we get to have her again next year.

Laney and J.J. having a good time.

I know she learned more than this...

**Remember to scroll to the bottom of the screen and pause the music in order to hear video**

P.S. Thanks for the input on my plant mystery although it may all be for not. In the process of transplanting the poor thing it was stepped on by a giant preschool-size foot. We'll see if it makes it.

Calling All Botanists

Until yesterday I was going to title this post "Fantastic Flower Update", feeling very proud of myself that my flowers I purchased almost a month ago are still alive. Not only that but some of them even look healthy! However, much to my chagrin we have made a thwarting discovery in our window box.
Earlier this spring Isabelle came home with a little cup containing two mystery seeds she planted at preschool. When pressed her best answer as to what was growing was, "I don't know. Mrs. Facchini said to plant them." Thinking they were probably just little flowers we put them in our window box planter. Now, I'm not sure but I think we may have pumpkins growing in our poor little box. The leaves have gotten bigger and bigger, they're thorny on the bottom and it's spreading like a vine.

Here's a picture, can anyone confirm this? And everything was going so well! Ugghhh!

In other news last Thursday evening we went to the spring play my kindergarten students were putting on. It was "The Little Engine that Could" and they did a fantastic job. After the performance we had a picnic in the field behind our school. Here are a few little friends of mine, along with Isabelle, Madeleine and Jason, enjoying the sunshine. It was so fun to see my class again. I really miss them!

Pictureless in Seattle

Today was the day I was going to post the lovely professional pictures I had taken of my two girlies. Alas, it was not to be for we had to cancel our appointment with the photographer because children just can't seem to keep their faces clear of scratches, bruises and rashes prior to a photo shoot. A few days ago Madeleine's Impetigo reared its ugly head again and she has blisters all over her chin. Not to be outdone Isabelle decided to fall out of her bed and bang her head on the bookcase on the way down. For the record, she's NEVER fallen out of bed! With exasperation: "Come on!" I'll have to reschedule when all their wounds heal. :(
Gee whiz! A post without pictures is like a sandwich without bread!

Swimming Lessons

After last summer's disastrous group swimming lessons (near drowning!) I decided that Isabelle would have to learn to swim some other way. As I would not consider myself a competent swimmer (the doggy paddle is my crowning achievement in the water) she would not be learning from me and it's hard for Jason to get to the pool. So, I signed her up for private lessons at one of the sports clubs. Isabelle is not afraid of the water but is shy when meeting new people so her friend Laney came with her! I thought this would be a grand plan and Isabelle would be deep-sea diving in no time. Well, you know what happens to the best laid plans. Both girls had moments of glory and moments of despair. I'm sure our instructor was not sad to see us go and is probably dreading the next lesson with these two.

Isabelle started off pretty well, venturing into the water and at least listening to the teacher while Laney took her turn at crying.

Still doing okay although I was manically trying to show Isabelle what a delightful time she should be having.
The five minute span of time where both girls were happy to be in the pool. It was only three feet deep so they could both touch the bottom. Here's Laney enjoying walking on tiptoes and Isabelle holding her breath. Apparently this can't be done without puffing out one's cheeks like a blow fish.

Laney finished great with plenty of smiles while Isabelle finished the lesson off with some hysterical crying that we're still trying to get to the bottom of.

After all this excitement Madeleine was exhausted. :)