Happy Valentine’s Day

 

This is Veronica’s gift to me on Valentine’s Day. She picked them herself.

A Cake Fit for a Princess

It’s been a couple of weeks since Veronica’s birthday party, and I am just getting around to sharing her cake. Yikes!

On her actual birthday, she had asked for little cakes, “like from Brave.”

But for her party, we needed something a bit bigger.

Continuing with the ubiquitous Star Wars theme, I used all my skill with the Force to fulfill her request.

 

Meet Princess Leia!

 

Veronica decided that, since she is a Princess, she needed a crown. Of blueberries.

 

And fire.

I think Veronica was pleased.

Happy Birthday, Veronica!

Five years ago today I was looking at this sweet face.

 

Now I’m looking at this sweet face. No, not the green one.

True to tradition, Daddy made pancakes for breakfast in bed.

 

Then Veronica got to pick dinner. She chose Pizza Hut. I thought about trying to talk her into something different, but she has been wanting to try “Pizza Hunt” for a long time.

 

Also by request, cakes “like from Brave.”

 

And, of course, the candle must be licked.

 

Five! So big. When did that happen?

 

Loving daughter.

 

Bestest big sister.

 

A reason to celebrate!

 

Just hoping I don’t turn into a bear.

Snap, the job’s a game!

 

Today I gave each of the girls a plastic bag and instructed them to go on a trash-collecting mission. Naturally, they had to come up with some sort of game of pretend to make this chore more fun (thanks, Mary Poppins).

What imaginary game did they settle on?

Picking up dog poop. Sounds like a lot more fun, doesn’t it?

Holy Thursday Wisdom from the Greenes

Despite the oven turning off in the middle of cooking a pot roast, tonight’s dinner went very well. Grape juice, matzo bread and the reading from Holy Thursday helped to make it special for the girls. And even spawned these gems of insightfulness.

 

Veronica: Satan is mean.

Jacinta: I not mean. I share.

…

Mom: No honey, she said Satan, not Cinta.

 

Veronica: Can I have some more grape juice? I will pass over my cup. Because it is Passover. That is the other thing it can mean. You pass things over.

The Secret to Invisibility

This short conversation took place yesterday morning when I asked Veronica to throw something away.

V: “I already did.”

Me: “Are you sure? Because I didn’t see you do it. Do you want to check and answer again?”

V: “You didn’t see me because I turned invisible.”

Me: “Oh, really? That’s pretty amazing.”

V: “Yeah, I found something you can do to turn invisible, and anything you are carrying turns invisible, too.”

So there you have it folks. If you need the Secret to Invisibility, look no further than my 4-year-old daughter. She is now accepting requests to share said secret – for a small fee, of course. Fruit Snacks are preferred.

St. Nicholas Day

We missed St. Nicholas Day last year because Ari was a tiny, tiny baby. But Veronica still remembered the popcorn balls of times past. So this year shoes were selected and ready.

 

Yes, they picked their own. I thought putting them by the fireplace would be fun. Until I saw how dirty it looks in the pictures.

 

Jacinta was too interested in her treats to give a smile.

 

Or maybe just too tired.

 

I wish I had a caught a picture of Veronica’s face when she spotted the treats. Her two hands flew to cover her mouth in utter surprise and delight. She doesn’t do emotion halfway.

 

Yum! Breakfast of champions! Or maybe saints.

Happy St. Nicholas Day!

Say Cheese!

I think we all know that the more children you are trying to photograph, the harder it is to get a picture where they are all simultaneously looking at the camera, not to mention smiling.

Which is why I’ve dubbed this photo, A Small Miracle.

Veronica, Gourmand

Paul and I went on a date last night, thanks to the generous offer from my parents to babysit. On the way to drop the girls off, we were discussing what we would do.

Veronica: Are you going to a restaurant?

Me: Yes! Where do you think we should go?

Veronica: Burger King.

Me: That’s not exactly the kind of restaurant we were planning on. We want something a little nicer.

Veronica: Burger King isn’t nice?

Me: Well, it’s not a nice restaurant for a date. We’re looking for something more fancy.

Veronica: Okay, I have an idea. Pizza Hut.

Me: …

Incidentally, we did not go to Pizza Hut, but to The Original Blue Adobe Grille instead. It’s one of our favorites! When we showed up with our leftover boxes (there are always leftovers, which makes me very happy the next day), Veronica was convinced that we had, indeed, gone to Pizza Hut and was very excited for us to share. Sorry to burst your bubble, honey.

Prisoner

His crime is unknown, but this is his punishment.

Olympic Fever

Over the last couple of weeks we’ve had the TV on more often to watch the Olympics, and Veronica has been really into it. The following conversation may have just taken place between her and Paul during a friendly game of Olympic “ball.”

Veronica: I am the USA.

Paul: Okay, who am I?

Veronica: You can be the English one.

Paul: Ok, I am England. *Turning on British accent* Blimey, pass me the ball!

Veronica: I am not called Blimey.

Paul: No no, that’s just something that English people say.

Veronica: Actually, you are from Russia.

Paul: Ok, I am Russia. *Turning on Russian accent* Comrade, pass me the ball!

Veronica: No no, play in Arizona.

Paul: I should be from Arizona?

Veronica: No, just play in Arizona.

Paul: But that’s the way that Russian people talk. Even in Arizona.

Veronica: No, Russians don’t talk when they play ball.

Then the USA scored a goal, and shared the point with Russia. Everyone wins!

The 4th is With Her

Today my little sunshine turns four years old. While she hasn’t been a baby for quite some time, I feel like the transition from three to four somehow launches her firmly into the realm of girl. A girl with likes and preferences and opinions. A girl who knows what she wants. And what she wants is Star Wars.

 

So when I saw this pool noodle lightsaber pin from the queen of geeky girlyness (girly geekyness?), Jen of Epbot and Cake Wrecks, I knew we had to make them happen for Sunday’s party. A quick Google search turned up a variety of tutorials, and Paul locked himself in the office for a couple of hours to give each lightsaber its own unique flair.

Veronica picked a green one, of course.

 

Needless to say, they were a hit. Ba-dum ching.

 

Other fun included daring aerial acrobatics…

 

Drinking pool water out of a pair of goggles (because that’s what two-year-olds do)…

 

And trying to keep the wrong end (right end?) of the bottle in Ari’s mouth.

 

Here’s a more appropriate object for her to chew on. Opa, show her how it’s done!

 

That’s better.

 

This watermelon was originally going to be a shark, but in keeping with the Star Wars vibe a few small changes turned it into the giant asteroid worm (apparently also known as an Exogorth, thanks Google).

 

And of course, there was the infamous (to my Facebook friends) Darth Vader cake. Since Veronica specifically requested a Darth Vader cake - also thanks to Jen of Cake Wrecks and her nifty book - I gave it my best shot. I still think that Vader got the better of this epic battle, but my valiant husband did step in and keep it from becoming a total disaster. 

 

So this tired mama’s heart melted when Veronica saw the finished product and said, “It’s perfect for me, Mom.”

 

She gets a little shy when she’s the center of attention.

 

Though she was more than happy to pose for a picture with one of her new toys.

 

While Jacinta quietly helped herself to the rest of the frosting.

 

The next morning, Veronica was up early to play with her new collection. Excited, much?

 

Jacinta was ready for fun, too. Complete with heavy breathing.

 

Today – Veronica’s actual birthday - we treated her to breakfast in bed, a favorite tradition from my husband’s childhood. Which he totally made happen while I groggily tried to remember how the camera worked.

Happy Birthday, Veronica! I can’t believe it’s been four years, but we love you more today than ever!

Old Wisdom

There’s an old saying. Actually, there are a lot of old sayings, but I’m thinking of one in particular. You may have heard it before.

 

Keep your friends close.

 

But keep your enemies closer.

Roar.

Question of the Day

Me singing: He’s got the whoooooole woooooorld in his hands…

Veronica: No, Mom. Don’t sing. (What mother hasn’t heard that before!)

Me: Well okay then.

Veronica: God has the whole world in his hands?

Me: Yep.

Veronica: Well where does he put the world when he is done holding it?

Me: …

Poo-fect Fit

This came in the mail today, addressed to Veronica.

 

I can’t help but feel that this is a result of last week’s moving tale.

 

Though I searched the packaging, I could find no evidence of who sent it.

So I guess I just wanted to tell that person…Thank you?

 

I think she likes it.

Oh, and she said to tell you, “Thank you.”

And “Rattlesnakes.”

Update: Someone ‘fessed up. Thanks to Erica for the gift!

Hair

All three girls have had the same infant hair (albeit in different shades).

 

This is Veronica at about three and a half months. See how it does that sweep to the right? Her right. Your left.

 

And again at about five months. Still doing the sweep.

On another note, have you ever seen a chubbier chubbikins? I thought not.

 

Jacinta at about five months. Although a couple strands escaped downward, it still goes mostly to the right.

 

Here, at six months, you can see it is clearly sweeping.

“Mmmmmm, these fingers taste great!”

 

Which brings us to Ariadne. Or Ariad, as Veronica likes to call her.

True to form, she has the rightward sweep going on. I don’t fight it. After a bath, I just comb things they way they want to go.

But the other day I wanted to try something different. Something…radical.

 

What happens when you make right-sweeping hair go left?

 

Bump it!

 

Ariadne’s got her style on.