Airfare: $650 (not including time to search for best offer)
Suntan lotion: $5.80 (not California Baby, obviously)
Pedicure for white feet that haven’t seen sun/ air in 6 months: $18 (plus tip)
Watching neko pretend to swim, chase her new friend whose name she refused to say the entire weekend, put on face decorations with said older friend (aka makeup), frolic in the sun (a lot), relax and drink (easily go hand in hand), dig beach ditches with fortifications, not wearing socks for a few days (and gloves or wool) and catching up with old friends like we were teenage girls again….priceless!!!!
One year ago: We had way better weather
Two years ago: Spring Showers
P.S. thank you to our most generous and amazing hosts - next up is you guys in Accord!
Today marks the first official day of spring. Maybe in Israel or Southern Spain, but definitely not in Accord.
Although it was warm enough to be outdoors for extended stretches sans gloves, scarves, hats and long underwear (neko still had to be in what amounts to 5 layers of heat trapping material-note rosy cheeks) there were still big globs of frozen ice - how is that stuff NOT melting?
Neko had extreme fun regardless of my moaning about weather (kids can have fun with two sticks, paperclips and one crayon)…mostly exploring the woods (prickly things made for a band-aid party), riding her pink bike and making twig tea parties:
Did you guys see the bike pics? She got going on her won a few times! Yeah, soon she’s gonna have a paper route and start paying for her own damn Barbies!
One year ago: Spring Chicken
Two years ago: Spring Solstice
Evidence of neko’s bigness:
Evidence of neko’s grown up sensibilities:
- Thumbellina is the best movie in the entire world.
- When I was a baby in Ima’s tummy, I made peepee in there.
- About her babysitter: Laurie I like she, she has sweet eyes.
- I’m a witch and I’m going to fly on my broom to Atlana and land at the airport to E-E and Oompo and Remy.
- Earlier this evening: Ima, I want to sleep in your bed tonight. Me: No, you’re sleeping in your bed. Neko: but I’m sick and I think I have a fever. Me: You are not sick, you’re fine. Neko: No, Ima I am sick in my arm.
Can’t wait what to hear what she comes up with next!
One year ago: Spring Chicken
Two years ago: Girlie Girl
Everyone knows how much we like to throw neko birthday parties, and this year was super uber fun.
An art themed party, combined with a ball pit (c’mon CMA what were you thinking - ball pit will always win) 83 chocolate cupcakes, everyone neko loves/ adores/ talks about incessantly (and her parents happen to like these people too) under one roof and the promise of waking up a big girl (with 128 pounds of presents) made for a great event:
Later that night, neko fighting her heavy eyelids, told me, emphatically (everything she says has to have umph) I’m three now, I’m not half anymore (she’s been 1/2 as in 2-1/2 for like 8 months).
Thank you to everyone that came and made this the best birthday neko has ever had…
One year ago: Second Birthday Party - Vilde Chaye Theme
Two Years Ago: First Birthday and homemade poufs
No birthday is complete without chocolate layer cake, sprinkles and some story time:
We began the weekend long celebrations with a visit to neko’s class….i think i totally missed my calling as a teacher: surrounded by adoring chocolate fueled cherubic angels…the rest of the day was a whirl of barbie and icing….next up-the paaaartttty!
I walked around in a daze yesterday: three years, that’s 1,068 days since my life was turned inside out and upside down and all around, my heart became someone else’s and my entire being consumed with neko’s being.
I never realized how much happiness and light she would give to me.
Neko, you fill me with silly giggles and funny nursery songs, with endless games and lots of challenges to my imagination (how many variations of witch stories can I come up with), you have taught me about patience and looking at everything from 14 angles, about the possibility of boundless emotions, about learning from everything and about family.
Can you guys believe she went from this:
To this, in about 2 seconds:
Stay tuned for bday extravaganza
