The theme at preschool this week is family amd Eve brought this cute little chain home today. It makes me smile. We read two of her classmates as well and they said “because I do” and “I don’t know.” I’m glad Eve came up with something sweeter than that.
Remember that painting photo shoot from last month (bottom half of this post)? Voila! Here she is!
It's a little hard to see in the picture but she is holding up a completely blue painted hand.
The grandmother of one of Eve’s classmates came to school yesterday and was super excited about it. I hadn’t seen the magazine yet and didn’t know she would be in this issue. The grandmother was raving. Last night I got a copy from my friend (the photographer!) and, of course, she is adorable. This morning the grandmother brought her copy to school and showed all of the parents and kids and Eve’s teachers. Everyone was making a big deal over her today. It was funny. Eve was so nonchalant. She just said, “yep, I was painting rocks.” :)
For snack yesterday Eve and I made fruit parfaits, something she made at school a few weeks ago and loved. She told me step by step how to do it and (with a bit of convincing) allowed me to make minor modifications to the recipe. They were a big hit at snack time. Lex even ate two, after a bit of reassuring Eve that it would be ok for Lex to eat daddy’s parfait. He was fine with it :) We’ll have to make them again soon!
Eve dancing in excitment over her fruit parfaits.
At the nursery today, picking up seeds and dirt and rocks. Funny things to pay money for. We were checking out the greenhouse and Eve found these awesome chairs. She plopped down and said “Let’s just sit here awhile and watch the flowers grow.” We did. You can’t really see the flowers in this picture because they are behind me. I love her!
I think Eve is a secret reader. I don’t know why she’s so shy about it, but sometimes she lets loose and reads an entire book (Go Dog Go, or most of Green Eggs and Ham), but then other times she refuses to read even the simplest words. It’s exciting to see her learning, but frustrating that she doesn’t seem more excited. I think she’s just being silly, but you never can tell with that one. I hope she becomes proud of her reading skills soon. We are all proud of her!
Happy April 1st. The April Fools Day joke today was snow and school cancellation. I was looking at pictures from Eve’s 3yr check up and there was sunshine and green grass. Not today! Instead I had to take both kids to the doctor where we waited for over an hour. Sigh. They were as well behaved as can be expected for two bouncy kids in the doctor’s office at lunch time.
Eve, of course, is healthy and strong. She weighs 41lbs and is 42″ tall. The doctor didn’t tell me her percentages, but I’m sure they are fine. We know she’s tall. The doctor said she looked healthy and great. She also got an eye exam today, which I was eager for, and the nurse said she seems to have 20/40 vision. Eve was very silly and Lex was quite distracting, so I think it was hard for her to get an accurate read, but Alan and I have noticed that Eve may not have perfect eye sight. The doctor recommended an appointment with an eye doctor. More on that later.
Eve got three shots at the end of the appointment and cried the whole way home. I got a little bit of lunch in her and then put her to bed. Lex is having quiet time now and I’m trying not to eat all the cookies we have in the house. I really need a sugar detox this week and it’s going to have to begin with a purge of all remaining birthday sweets.
Today is our last day of swimming lessons, marking the end of a crazy week. We are looking forward to a quiet weekend.
Happy, happy birthday to my big girl today! Just four short years ago today we welcomed her into this world, forever changing our little family. Lucky, lucky us!
Today she woke to find a little birthday something waiting for her.
Happy Birthday Eve!!
A tiny pink Samuri eraser makes her say "awww"
Ribbon on packages is kind of like torture to small children.
Lex picked out a flashing "Birthday Girl" tiara for her. She loved it :)
Big birthday hugs
The chocolate cupcakes I made for her party this weekend didn’t turn out well (literally, they did not turn out of the wrappers well and made a huge mess) so last night I whipped up a batch of yellow cupcakes (thanks Betty Crocker!) and this morning we put Cool Whip, red sprinkles, and raspberries on top. They were a big success with her friends at school.
Decorating cupcakes
Like my snazzy cupcake transport system? They all made it to school, safe and sound.
After school we decorated a princess mirror, put together her new puzzle, ate lunch, and spent an hour watching videos of her first year. That was fun.
Eve's friend got her a Decorate Your Own princess mirror. Eve loves it.
This was a gift from me, but it ended up being much harder than I had antipcated. We did it though!
This is Eve’s favorite…
This is one of my favorites (it’s hard to choose just one!)…
Now she is napping (which took some effort on my part!) and this afternoon we are off to swimming lessons again and then out to dinner at a restaurant of her choice, which is still undecided. It is a lovely day.
(I’m not quite ready for her to be four yet. I still get a few more days with my three year old!)
For her birthday this year Eve wanted a “just family” party. Over the past weeks I’ve asked her off and on about inviting others, maybe a few friends, or neighbors, or classmates, but she held firm to her “just family” idea, so this weekend we had a fun “just family” party. Luckily we have more than enough family to fill the room! :) Eve was surrounded by love and duly doted on.
Lex learned how to use the vacuum and did a great job helping us clean for the party.
He was THRILLED that I let him stand on the counter while he dusted the shelves.
After he was done with the shelves he decided to clean the counter. This kept him busy for awhile. It was great.
Eve and Rosy
Mema and Lex.
Eve's idea of birthday heaven is a room full of people ready to play Candy Land with her.
Books are irresistible in this house. If you pick up a book, both kids will immediately appear. Aunt Katie is an excellent book reader.
Eve chose pizza for her birthday dinner. I love her idea of a good party - family and pizza!
Cake! This year Grampy Don convinced Eve that she wanted a Parcey Cake for her birthday. She agreed before she even knew what it was :) Parcey Cake is a Johnson family creation consisting of layer cake with a layer of Jell-O and Cool Whip between the cake layers. Eve chose chocolate (of course!) and raspberry Jell-O. Yum.
Eve liked the cake!
Eve and Grandpa Tom.
Classic.
Eve got wall sticker dress up dolls and a doll house. They were quickly put on the wall and the kids have been having fun with them.
Sunday was beautiful and we got out the bikes!
Lex is going to try and lose the training wheels this year.
Taking a break with Aunt Rose.
Here are pictures of Eve from the past few days. We’ve been having fun doing our silly things.
Eve helps put away the groceries.
Pirate fun
We did some rearranging.
Eve ran in to chastise Lex and I for talking too loudly while her baby was nursing.
Daddy love
I love this one with the calendar in the background :)
The sun was shining today and we got out the door a few minutes early, so I grabbed the camera.
Yesterday I said,
“Pete and Repeat had a race” (a smile slid across Lex’s face, he loves this one)
“Pete lost. Who won?”
“THE TURTLE,” yelled Eve!
Laughter erupted in the living room. When things settled down, she added,
“As you know, slow and steady wins the race.”
For the past few weeks the kids have been waking up at 5:30. Sometimes they manage to stay in their room until 6am, as is the rule, but more likely than not Eve is out way too early. Now, with the time change, it’s 6:45 and they are both still sleeping! I got up extra early to get a shower before they woke up, but now I may have to wake them for school this morning. I guess the joke is on me this morning.