Frost and Glitter

This was the best I could do to capture the magical way the frost coated everything last night.  It was even more spectacular this morning under the flashlight beam on the way to the  school bus.  I cannot really describe that - Mark says it needs to be an abstract painting ;)

But, to see Esme dancing in circles through the flashlight beam as the world glitters in every molecule around her wherever the light touches in the darkness... I will remember that one for a long time.

Click to see the picture full size and zoom in.  It's worth it.

Esme's Christmas party and drama program was this morning.  I walked her to the school bus and then got myself ready to go and meet her at her classroom at 8:30.  I was just a few minutes late - as the parking lot was FULL and I had to drive around the block.  The door was closed when I got to the classroom - carrying her little exchange bags and the gift for the teacher - but when a grandmother came up right behind me we both decided to open the door.  There was Esme and her classmates dressed in reindeer antlers.  They were doing their little dance routine as the reindeer in the LeRoy the RedNecked Reindeer program their teacher had worked with them on.  They even did a line dancing routine.  It was very cute! 

Afterwards Esme told me she was just about to maybe cry because she didn't think I was coming, and then I came in the door. ;)  We made it home afterwards and then Mark took me on to work.  I made it through work (although it was FREEZING and I had to wear my hat in the store just to survive the night!).  We stopped by the store and got a few last things before we came home.. now I have two days off.

I'm reading the book 'Bedding the Enemy' by Mary Winn.  Again, it is the characters that make it enjoyable, and the way they bicker and test each other while also supporting and protecting each other.  After that, I have some 'cubist literature' stuff lined up... things to read while trying to decide where next to take my novel.  

9th birthday

 The yearly presentation of the potato.

Daddy made me do it!

 Hazel and Grandma

 

 

Cake!

    

 Presents 

Fuzzy purple boots

She'd asked me for boots and these seemed to be just right for her.

 And toy mice!

We got her the cage and wheel and Grandma got her an extra mouse to play with.

She had asked for this outfit in August for school, but it wasn't really school appropriate.  Grandma bought it for her birthday so she can dress up fancy!

G stayed for Minecraft sleepover

They brought face paints and a game that the girls enjoyed playing against each other!

Sixth birthday

 Esme turned six yesterday, and we brought food into her class and had a pizza and presents with Grandma later in the evening.  She had been a little sick the day before, so I was worried she wouldn't get to enjoy her birthday - but she did :) 

 Purple cupcakes and cheetos, and the walrus, up above.

A classic 'Esme' look  She looks just like she did when she was two , here...

Grandma and Esme on her sixth birthday!

An owl hat and an owl shirt :)

A happy smile as she 'walruses' the cheetos with other kids.

She chose purple frosting for the cupcakes and multicolored sprinkles.  They had zebra, giraffe and tiger patterned papers and the kids loved seeing which 'animal' they wanted to be.  As I took the lid off a kid says 'Hey, they ARE purple!'... apparently she had been informing everyone ahead of time and was proud of i.

Coming to ask for something from me and her teacher at the party - her owl shirt I gave her the night before to wear to class before her other presents.  She was so happy about it :)

  

She is looking all knees and legs here - working on presents at Gramdna's house.

Working hard at wrapping paper

There were several My Little Pony things from Mom and Dad, books from all of us, Spin Balls she had wanted so badly (she took a try later but it was naturally dark), light up snowflakes and hairclips and clothing.  She was very happy about the pony toy when she got home and took it all out of the package when she got home.  This morning, it was all about the striped dress and the math puzzles.

Post-birthday dress and hairclips - thank you Grandma :)  And she is playing with the add and subtract math puzzles she couldn't wait to open this morning before school.  I really thought she would pick the pink dress but she said the stripes was so pretty.  I hope she has a good day at school - I am a bit more under the weather than I was able to let on yesterday... crashed when I got home... kudos to Mark for getting her to bed and helping out this morning, as well.  We measured her against the wall where we had last year -just before her fifth birthday - and she had gained at least two inches.  She asked 'What kind of human will I be - at the six?'  She really expected a bigger change to happen - something like on the Sims whirl around in flowers and be all grown up... she knows we've talked about it but she still wishes it could be true.

5th birthday party

Esme is five years old today - it is really hard to believe all of this time has gone by... Grandma allowed us to have it at her house (thank you!) and her friend Gwennie came to help her celebrate. They had a blast running laps all over Grandma's house and being little girls...at one point they both were crawling under Grandma's bed and bumping their heads - and at another they were running around with balloons caught in their ponytails trying to find the 'balloon that is getting them.'

Gwennie helped Esme open up her presents and they were both delighted in them. Grandma gave Esme some beautiful books including Cat in the Hat and Dick and Jane, a bubble machine that was a big hit once we were home and a pink lamb to hug at night. The dreamlight Unicorn was the big thing Esme had asked us for - for months.. and to see both little girls squeal at it was a hit. Gwennie had one already - so she was eager to show Esme how that worked. Gwennie mom brought squealing balloons and that was an occupation for about ten minutes pumping them up and letting them squeal across the house.

Esme also got Simpsons figures and Disney pirate figures from Mom and Dad along with books and socks. Both little girls were just gearing up after two hours to go play outside when it was really time to go home. We've called it an early night here -- something about running frantically around the house for hours has put Esme down to sleep long before ten pm... I am wondering what that will mean tomorrow! I'm almost ready for bed myself, too...

4 years old birthday party

It was a big day today! We invited Grandma and Grandpa and Robert and Mikey and Gwynnie to the Dairy Queen to help us celebrate Esme's 4th birthday.


balloons


What is on my head?


Mikey and Gwynnie


Daddy discussing the merits of hot fudge


Funny Gwynnie
she turned 3 in September


balloon hat fun


dancing around


Now what?


Grandpa and Grandma had to 'help' unwrap


wrapping paper


Hungry Hungry Hippos was (and still is tonight)
the star of the show
Mikey and Robert chose well, thank you!


You want me to open this?
What is this?


Thinking hard on an airplane toy..


Which one next?


Proud piggy bank owner!
She really likes this, too.


chilling at home, winding down with her new shades
She got an Elly Pocoyo toy and is happy about her but so much more fascinated by the moving parts on the H.H.Hippos toy.

Also thank you to Grandma and Grandpa for pots and pans, socks, dinosaurs, Dumbo movie and other things! Daddy also gave her a calculator, binder clips to stack, watercolors and glow sticks (big hit). I think this has been a very exciting birthday and Mama is thankful to everyone for coming and having a good time. I hope we haven't spoiled her ;) just kidding...