Laura's 'ni hao, kai-lan' party

Here are a few shots from her special birthday party. It was lots and lots of fun to plan with Auntie Joni. It was fun to plan all the chinese food and games and little goodies that went along with the cute characters. It was so loving of Dusti to take pictures. I wouldn't have been able to capture much if it were up to me and she always takes the greatest pictures, so I am one lucky mommy to have her for a friend. It was a fun party and I am still thanking my lucky stars I got her off the 'Chicken Little' theme - Kai-lan was much more fun!

Happy Birthday (little) Laura!

My little baby girl is now four years old. She had a great 'ni hao, kai-lan' birthday party on Saturday and there are some wonderfully beautiful pictures courtesy of Dusti, which I will post soon. This close up shot is from Chris, the expression on her face just tweeks my heart.

She just keeps asking me today, 'Am I really four now, mama?", 'Am I bigger now, mama?", "I'm not three anymore?" It is like she just can't believe it. I can't believe it either. I asked her if she could stop growing now and she said "No, I have to get bigger silly!" I know she does but I just wish I could hold onto this version a lot longer.

Project 365 - Day 365

I wish everyday would start like this. I love when they "play nice". They were building legos which quickly turned into some sort of fort area and they were fighting bad guys and protecting their stuffed animals. What a perfect end to the year of photos.

It seems pretty lame that I am just finishing posting all of these and it is March but I know some of you out there wouldn't have been happy if I didn't post them all. So there it is. What a project. I am glad I did it and am glad it is over at the same time. I wish I had been on the ball this year now that I look back. I can always start now and fill in but who knows. This has been a great way to record our family life.

Project 365 - Day 364

This is movie night at our house now. While I was trying to put the Christmas decorations away they boys induldged in some popcorn and to let me know he was finished Noah promptly put the bowl on his head. This is a regular occurance with him once he has emptied the contents.

Where does the word 'vowel' come from Mommy?

How do I love being a mom? The kids actually said to me last week. "Mom, you know everything" How did I manage to pull off that facade I will never know. And, yes, I explained that I don't know everything but that was very nice to think I do.

So Nathan asked a couple of days ago about the word vowel. He wanted to know why it was called vowel and who came up with the idea to name the word vowel. I seriously looked totally dumbfounded. One, because I totally don't have any idea what the answer is. And, two, because I totally don't have any idea where he gets these ideas from.

So, according to Wikipedia on the internet (thank goodness for the internet)...

The word vowel comes from the Latin word vocalis, meaning "speaking", because in most languages words and thus speech are not possible without vowels. Vowel is commonly used to mean both vowel sounds and the written symbols that represent them

Isn't that interesting?? Aren't you glad you know that now?

This reminds me of my friend Maggie's Snapple facts. I miss her posts of Snapple facts. They made me feel smarter in some weird quirky off the wall knowledge way. I will have to ask her about any recent Snapple facts.

It's almost an "A"

I can't remember if I have shared about going back to college yet. I am still trying to update and save little stories to post. I am trying to just survive life right now.

So, I decided to go back to college. I know, you can say it. Brilliant idea, Cathy. I just say to myself, if not now, when. Is there ever going to be a good time to push yourself to the limits! I laugh at limits these days.

I am taking a nutrition class toward getting into a nursing program to become a registered nurse. I hope to be a part of taking care of moms and babies since my heart is always with babies.

Anyway, I had my first test a couple of weeks ago and I was very nervous. I always get nervous with tests. I studied but didn't study as much as I wanted to. I knew there were things I was confused about and only hoped I would be able to figure it out with the multiple choice answers.

There was even extra credit worth 10 points.

So. I. Got. An. 87.5. I was extremely bummed. I was extremely bummed that a few of the answers I actually knew and just marked the wrong answer on the scantron (remember those??). So, the nice young teenage boy next to me says...

"It's almost an A".

To which I replied the only nice and logical thing I could think of at the moment.

"Shut up, Mister one hundred and two!" I know very mature of me wasn't it?

I have since come to terms with it and decided to listen to my mother's advice and give myself a break, it is only the first test and I haven't actually taken a test in like 17 some odd years, so now there is room for improvement.

Okay, now I have to get back to studying for my next test!

Oh yeah, and finish planning Laura's birthday party for this Saturday now that I checked the weather report and it has changed the forecast to rain. Time to cancel the bounce house and figure out some inside games. Yippee! I love having 30 or 40 people inside my house at one time.