Lynne's Birthday Celebrations

Lynne turned 5, despite my protests. On her birthday, she got balloons (our tradition), sloppy joes and fries for dinner (she was surprised to find out the week before that she actually liked sloppy joes), and a cake with Cinderella squinkies on them. She liked the frosting, strawberries, squinkies, and ice cream. None of us liked the cake. I really need to find a from scratch cake recipe I like (and can pull off). (I do have pictures I took of her cake and presents, but they're on my camera instead of my phone.)

Her yearly check up was the next day. No shots this time (she was happy about that), but she's growing just fine. I forget the details, but she's average height & weight. She got to do a vision test for the first time. She was hilarious doing it. For each letter, she told you what it was quickly, like she thought it was silly that she had to tell you. When she got to the line that was difficult to read, she tried SO HARD to figure out what it was, but couldn't. I was actually proud of her when she spoke up and said, "I don't know what it is." For my shy violet, I was happy she spoke up. She did try and got about half of them on that line correct. No glasses for her.

At her well-child check up. She got the (large) fancy gown to wear.

For her birthday adventure, Lynne wanted to go to Discovery Gateway. We went a few months ago with friends and she's been talking about it non-stop since then. I wasn't thrilled with the idea, but she was so excited about it... It was much better with just one child, rather than three. And I wasn't nauseous this time around. I explored each new place with Lynne for a bit and then sat down while she kept exploring on her own.

The first time we went, we completely skipped the story factory section. Lynne LOVED it. She spent awhile dancing on the stage for me and thought the boy that joined her for a few minutes danced crazy (he really did). She tried on a variety of the costumes they had and spent the entire time staring at herself in the mirror. I've been planning on putting a full-length mirror in her room, but now I'm considering putting two or three up next to each other: the better to see herself in.

Dancing on the stage

Wearing a Shrek costume and dancing, while starting at herself in the mirror.

We also checked out the media station. Lynne got to be on TV. I got in front of the green screen at one point, but since I was wearing a green shirt, it blended into the background. Lynne would react to what was showing on the screen behind her. It was hilarious watching her.

Running with the horses.

After we played with the balls in the beehive and checked out the story factory and media station upstairs, we went to the place that Lynne had been talking about most: the house and grocery store. She made a grocery list during church one week, but I didn't feel like finding it in her notebook, so she made another one on the drive to the museum.

Peanut butter, cheese, sandwich, and dishwasher soap

At first, she couldn't find a shopping cart, since they were all in use, so she explored the farm section. She picked some (toy) vegetables that had been planted and took them to the house. She climbed into the horse and drove a car around.

Riding the horse

Finally, I was able to get a shopping cart after a kid had to leave with his mom. I called Lynne over and she put the groceries that were in it away, except it had 3 of the 4 items on her list, so she just left it in the cart. She cleared the shelves of peanut butter; her cart was full. She also picked up a few impulse items. When she was done shopping, there was a little boy that rung up her groceries for her. It was the cutest thing ever. His dad was standing on the other side of the store and taking his own pictures and we exchanged a few grins. It was so cute watching them work together.

Ready to go shopping

Checking out

The rest of the time was spent in the house. She cleaned up the kitchen (it was left a MESS by the previous kids). She checked out the other rooms in the house. She swept. She loves that house.

Getting some help cleaning up the mess

Sweeping. (I really need to get a kid-sized broom)

 She also checked out the construction center. She worked with some other kids doing whatever they were doing.

I kept thinking I should take a picture of the two of us, but I never did get around to it. I had fun spending time with her, though, just the two of us. We got Papa Murphy's for dinner that night because I was too tired to make homemade pizza, and pizza is what she originally requested for her dinner.

And that was Lynne's birthday.

And to prove that I still have other kids, too:

Adam with milk on his head, in one of the middle of the night play times in our bed (thank goodness they've stopped).

Lynne & Lucas at her first dance class. (Lucas insisted I take a picture of him, after I'd taken some of Lynne.)

Shooting the princesses on screen, while wearing his sister's hat.

Adam is picking up habits from his brother. Some good, some not so good.