Update

I've needed  to do an update, but this one is especially for my parents. They were supposed to visit this weekend. But mom fell and cracked a rib. I love you mom.  Here's some pictures to make you feel more present.

Our friend Laura works at a furniture store. If we visit her, and there are no customers in the store, she lets the girls run across all the mattresses. It's a dream come true for my girls and a great rainy day activity.

Sometimes I feel guilty. When Hadley learned to ride a two wheeler, we announced it to everyone we met and sent out pictures. Kassy put all the skills together and truly learned this April. But the accomplishment passed without much hurrah. Sorry love.

Tom did celebrate the bike accomplishment with the girls by riding bikes to school with them. Nobody does this at their school. There isn't even a bike rack; Hadley had to hide her bike in the receiving room. Kassy rode the trail-a-bike because it's hard to take a new rider across busy streets safely and without unnecessary panic on Kassy's part. We hope to do this often in the remaining three weeks, but you know what the weather did this past week.

Kassy had a birthday, almost a month ago (April 14).  She is now 6. We choose birthday menus and she chose grilled cheese for breakfast, gluten-free man and cheese for lunch and grilled cheese again for dinner. Catch the theme there? She got lots of cool gifts including a Padme Star Wars gun from her sister ( in the picture they are all sweaty from soccer), a sewing kit, a knitting spool, a fancy new scooter, and a remote control r2d2. She took ice cream cups to school.

The Saturday following her birthday, we had a party. This was Kassy's first friend party. And while I struggle with friend parties (it feels counter-productive to our values to let her invite friends when really she is just dreaming of gifts). But I let the parties happen occassionally (not every year), especially since there is no extended family around to celebrate with. I was worried at first because Kassy seemed unable to imagine anything but a party following the same theme as her sister's the year before. And then, she settled on Star Wars. I am not well-versed in Star Wars vocabulary nor have I have met another little girl who wanted a Star Wars party, still I searched the Internet and came up with a plan. And like Hadley's party last year, I let her invite a few extra kids thinking a couple kids wouldn't come, but they all did!

We had 12 kids (counting my girls). I made them all light sabers (out of mini flashlights, clear plastic tubing that was really a cover for long flourescent ligth bulbs, and permenant markers to make the light appear green or blue). The saber and a self-produced Star Wars activity book (made from word searches, mazes and coloring pages off the Internet) were the party favors. We started off with the activity books while we waited for everyone to arrive. Like most of this spring, it was a cold rainy Saturday, which hampered a few of our plans but we preceded anyway. We held Jedi training.
Tom had created an obstacle course in the backyard to build their Jedi endurance and speed. (The course was comical with the little kids in winter coats and then watching them shout "Cheater" at Tom. When he did the obstacle course, he was too big to crawl under one of tunnels so he jumped over it!)

Then, using water balloons they to erase the chalk-drawn death stars on the driveway (yes we used water balloons while wearing winter coats!). Finally, they were awarded their light sabers and taken into the basement. Balloons were hanging from the ceiling, and inside each balloon was a star wars character from the dark side. The winner was the one who rescued Princess Leia or Queen Amidalya from the balloon. This meant lots of balloon popping noise. Next the plan, included cake and present opening. We had Ewok cake (gluten free cake with pink frosting, decorated with gummy bears and marshmellows, per Kassy's request) and Yoda soda (lemon-lime pop with green sherber).

And after the present-opening, much to my dismay, we still had 30 minutes and no plan. We did impromptu thinking. Back outside we went, and suddenly Darth Vader showed up, looking strangely like the much-loved Cody. Each child fought Vader, but it was Kassy who finally finished him off.  Then we took the kids downstairs and tried to teach them sword fighting moves. I was thankful when it was all over as I was exhausted. And I couldn't have pulled it off without the last minute rescue efforts of Cody, Laura, and Jordan. They filled water balloons, finished decorating, drew death stars, cleaned up, remembered to take pictures for me, dressed up as Vader, and countless other things that made the party possible when I hadn't prepared so well. Thanks friends.

In other news, Hadley had her art displayed at the Saginaw County Art Exhibit at the mall. Each area school picks student work to display and Hadley was one of the second graders chosen (hers is the Starry Night imitation).

Meanwhile, soccer has started again. Tom is coaching both girls' teams again. He loves it. There is a girl on Tom's U8 team who is really good. She has impressive foot work and scores every game ( 3 goals in the first 4 minutes once) even though she is one of the smaller girls out there. Her name is Hadley, but I don't think she is my daughter because my daughter has never been a great player.  I'll try to post some even soon.

Mother's Day brought goofy girls sneaking around to make breakfast in bed. Kassy was so excited that she woke up at 4 am (she doesn't even do this at Christmas). I made her go back to bed. Both girls got up at 6 am and made my breakfast (Cheerios and milk, a hard boiled egg, a hershey's kiss and hug, water). They poured the milk on the cereal at 6:15 and didn't serve it until 7....wasn't the yummiest bowl of cereal but certainly the sweetest. My parents sent cool chalk board placements for Mother's Day. We've been having fun with those.

There Mom. Now you are all caught up. Love you.