Busy weekend equals exhausting weekend

Some weekends we don't have anything planned.  This past weekend was not one of them.  On Saturday we went to our friends' house to meet their new daughter, little Miss T., who has been home from China for only a few weeks.  She's sweet and oh so petite!  Helaina was very excited to meet her new friend.  There was a cookout, romping around in a huge park-like backyard and fun with their dog.

Sunday we attended the FCC Dragon Boat Festival.  Helaina had an absolute blast.  There was food, friends to play with, games, swings and slides, nail polish and face painting, an inflatable water slide and of course, the dragon boat parade and race - oh my, she hit the grass running and didn't stop for hours.  Here's her dragon boat that we made together.  She selected the wrapping paper, painted the dragon's tail and head and then decorated it with stickers.  Check out the look on her face and the folded arms.  She was not in the mood to pose for this picture at all.



















Jim took Monday off and we continued the fun by meeting 3 other families at Enchanted Forest Water Safari, where the fun never stops - just like the commercial says.  There was lots of water fun and "dry rides", as Helaina calls them.  We were there when the place opened and there when the place closed.  Needless to day, Helaina was asleep in her booster seat before we hit the Thruway.



















I've got lots of good pics from the weekend and will post them when I have the energy.  Jim and I are still recovering from exhaustion.  After our tiring 3-day weekend  we continued the "fun".  On Tuesday Helaina had her kindergarten screening at school, Wednesday was a dental appointment to repair a front tooth that had a chip in it that started to decay, and Thursday is a pediatrician re-check for her ears that regularly accumulate enough wax for me to open my own candle factory.  What the doctor dug out of her ears with a long, lighted pipette made my jaw drop.  Helaina's been on eardrops for the last week to soften and "float out" the remaining mess.  The gunk that I've cleaned out of those 2 tiny ears in the last week has been unbelievable.

Oh my, last day of pre-school

Helaina has successfully completed 2 years of pre-school.  Wednesday was her last day and there was a fun little program for parents.  They sang for us, there was a recognition award and completion certificate presented to each child, then there were snacks for the kiddos, hugs and good-byes.  Helaina was very excited to give each of her 2 wonderful teachers a thank you card with a Target gift card enclosed (I figured who doesn't like Target, right?).
Singing one of the many songs they performed.  Helaina positioned herself front and center, which was great for pictures and video taping.

Mrs. M individually recognized every child with a recognition certificate.  She called each child's name then spoke a bit about them while explaining her thought process behind the specific award.  There were awards for the bravest child, best reader, best smile, most creative braided hairstyles, most traveled - it was so nice and special for each child.  As I was waiting for her to call Helaina, I was trying to figure out  what Mrs. M would say.  I thought for sure it would be something like "most questions asked" or "most inquisitive", but when we heard her award we laughed and agreed - she started out by saying something about the Energizer bunny and then we knew!

Mrs. M also said something about a Mexican jumping bean in her speech about Helaina - too funny.  Jim taped the presentation and I'll post it some time, along with some of the songs the kids did.

Best buds.

The afternoon class girls.

Helaina's handprint bag and a ceramic tile she made - typical of the "freestyle" painting and coloring she's been doing lately.

We went out to lunch with Aunt Barb, Uncle Gerd, Aunt Cathy, Beth and Anna to celebrate graduation.  Here's Helaina's "Where my food, I hungry, what taking the chef so long" look.  The child has absolutely no patience in restaurants while waiting for food.

Ahhh, at last, kiddie cheeseburger and fries.

I picked up a few little graduation gifts for Helaina.  I spent less than $10 but she was SO happy with everything.  "Oh, thank you Mommy and Daddy" with every present she opened.  "I love it" - the $4 Little Mermaid ballerina doll was her favorite. 

Checking out the Disney priness bubble jewelry set.  I can't believe how old she looks in this pic.

She's still into the peace sign stuff so these necklaces were perfect.

Helaina loves glass stones and rocks.  She sorts them, makes patterns with them, puts them in different containers, holds them in her pudgy little hands and cherishes them.  She knows the names and colors of most birthstones.  I knew she'd be fascinated with these smooth stones.  They are the first thing she plays with each morning when she gets up.

Who knew they made preschool graduation cards?  Thank you, Aunt Barbara.

When parents were ready to leave there was no crying from the kids but I found it difficult to say goodbye and thank each of them personally.  I gave each one a hug, thanked them for a wonderful school year and then the tears came.  I just love the school Helaina attended and she lucked out with 2 great teachers who really cared about the kids and in turn, each child in that class adored Mrs. M and Mrs. P.  Oh my gravy, the school bus and kindergarten in September.  What ever will I do?  Helaina already knows.  "Mommy, you going to cry and follow the bus to school?"  Yes, baby girl, most likely I will.

Class trip adventure

This morning Helaina's pre-school class went on a field trip to Beaver Lake for the Turtle Tour.  They looked at stuffed animals in the lobby, listened to a talk about turtles, went investigating on the trails down to the water, listened for frogs, but saw no turtles or beavers.  "It called Beaver Lake. Where the beavers?"  Good question, Helaina.
Posing in the lobby with a beaver.

Stopping to enjoy nature.

We had a picnic lunch at the park and playground after our morning field trip.  Helaina's latest obsession are monkey bars.  She can finally fling all 52 pounds of herself across them and is very proud of that fact.  Over and over and over again - so much that her hands have built up callouses.

There were only 3 girls in Monday night's gymnastics class so there was lots of individual attention along with a good workout.  Helaina was excited to work on the higher balance beam that night.

Another pre-school creation that I forgot to post on Father's Day.  So sweet.

Could it possibly be that tomorrow is Helaina's last day of nursery school?  Could 2 years of pre-k have just flown by so quickly?  Can my baby possibly be ready to board a bus in September headed off to 1st grade?  Can I possibly be ready for her to board a bus to 1st grade in less than 3 months? Yikes.

"We didn't get you Fudgie the Whale, Daddy"

I realize that no 5-year old can keep a secret, and Helaina certainly falls within that category.  The week prior to Father's Day was tough for her, trying not to spill the beans about gifts, brunch and cake.  She would start to tell Jim something, I'd yell "Helaina!!" and she'd cover her mouth with both hands, say "oops, sorry Mommy" and then 10 minutes later we'd repeat the scenario.  Sunday morning while we were eating breakfast here was the conversation:
Helaina:  We didn't get you Fudgie the Whale cake, Daddy.
Me (as Jim and I are cracking up):  Helaina!  You weren't supposed to tell Daddy about the ice cream cake!  It's a surprise, remember?
Helaina:  Oops. Sorry. Daddy, we didn't get you Fudgie the Whale cake, we got you ..... cheesecake with strawberries.
Jim:  Ohhh, I like cheesecake with strawberries.
Helaina:  Good, because we didn't get you Fudgie the Whale this year.
We wrapped one gift in plain paper so Helaina could decorate it.  The pink people are me, Jim, Josh and Helaina.

The things Helaina made in school for Father's Day are really cute - and one was hysterical.

Jim's reading Helaina's responses to questions her teacher asked about her Daddy.  I nearly wet my pants when I first read them, they are so funny.

Blond hair?!  My favorite one is "will you get something for me".  Makes it sound like we use Helaina as a slave!  The teachers must have a blast asking the kids these questions and hearing their answers.

A framed picture of Jim being a good Daddy and allowing Helaina to paint nearly his entire face one Saturday afternoon.

Helaina picked this t-shirt out for Jim.  There was an entire rack of all different kinds but she wanted this one.

This surprise was truly a surprise for both of them because I didn't say where we were going until we were in the car on our way.  Chinese dim sum brunch - yummy.  We selected all sorts of "small plates" from a menu:  shrimp stuffed wontons, dumplings, sticky rice, beef sticks, won ton soup,  a seafood noodle dish and steamed pork buns.  Not a fan of the buns - looked like a giant snowball with some bbq pork filling.  Couldn't figure out what the "giant snowball" was made of! 

Yah, here's Fudgie the Whale ice cream cake that we DIDN'T get Jim.

This weekend was Helaina's last soccer game until September.  They play 6 games in the Spring and then 4 or 5 more in the Fall, so their picnic was held Saturday.  Lots of kid-friendly games.  We let Helaina use some of her tickets on the dunk tank, which she begged to do.  With the very first ball she unbelievably hit the target but not hard enough to make the kid fall in the water.  Second ball, missed completely.  Third ball, a direct hard hit and the kid went for a swim!  We couldn't believe it and she was absolutely thrilled.  Look at that stance - maybe we should sign her up for t-ball.

Her ring and bracelets were some of her prizes (she hasn't taken them off since).  She also used some of her tickets to get her nails done ...

... have her face painted and get her hair sprayed pink, with glitter and pink and blue clip-on braids.  Stunning.

While in a store last week shopping for Father's Day, we (fortunately) had to pass the girls department where we just couldn't pass up the great deal on a new "tankini" swim suit with peace signs on it.  It is just too adorable on her - big girl style suit.  I couldn't stop grinning when she tried it on at home.  "Mom, look, I can do this."

And check out the back of the suit.  Helaina just LOVES it, and I do to.

Helaina swims every day, rain, shine, 80 degrees or 60 degrees - doesn't matter to her.  She jumps in and refuses to get out no matter what.

Happy Flag Day

Yesterday the hallway board in Helaina's preschool read "Tuesday is Flag Day.  Don't forget to wear your red, white and blue!"  All of Helaina's 4th of July shirts from last year don't fit her this year (what a surprise), so a last-minute Target run this morning was successful.  She was dressed in red, white & blue from the top of her star hair bow to the bottom of her spangled flip flop feet (this is the first year Helaina can wear between-the-toe flip flops without the strap bothering her - she thinks it's a huge deal).  $1 - gotta love the Target $1 bins.

Swimming, swimming and more swimming.  Helaina can't get enough whether it's 80 degrees and hot or 67 degrees and windy.

This picture was taken Friday afternoon.  By the end of the school week Helaina is tuckered out.  Friday's are tough because they start out with O.T., then she has school where she works hard and plays hard, she came home and went swimming (even though I protested, I lost that battle) and then crashed on the sofa while waiting for Jim to get home.

Zoey zonked out on the other end of the couch.  She curled herself in between the pile of toys Helaina had tossed aside and went to sleep on the Leapster speller with her paw around the Build-A-Bear cat also named Zoey.  A true cat nap.

Learning to swim

Yesterday was the first day Helaina felt daring enough to take off her swimmies and start learning how to doggie paddle.  She did good at her first attempts and was very proud of herself.  Back into the pool today with Daddy for more swimmie-free swimming.

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Inquisitive? Oh yah....

To say that Helaina is inquisitive is an extreme understatement.  Questions, questions, questions and more questions all the time.  I frequently think back to 2008 when we brought her home from China and she didn't say a word for at least 2 months.  Flashforward 3 years and the child never shuts up!  It's her gift of gab and adorable personality that has endeared her to the speech pathologist on Helaina's surgical team.

Dr. Eileen absolutely loves Helaina, is very impressed with how far she's come and refers to Helaina as a true success story.  She thinks that Helaina is hysterical, articulate, cute as a button and anything but shy.  Those qualities are why Eileen invited Helaina to be a "subject" at one of the undergraduate classes she teaches.  One Friday a few weeks ago I dressed up Helaina in her finest ladybug attire (above photo!) and Jim and I took her to an undergraduate class of about 35 students so she could be their "test".  When we walked into the room there was a collective "ahhh, ooooo, ohhhh, she's so cute, look how adorable she is" from the female students.  Small groups took turns speaking to Helaina, doing some standard speech testing on her and asking Jim and I questions.  Their mission was to determine where Helaina was in the speech therapy process.  They got it right and figured out that she no longer needed speech therapy and was given a round of applause.  Eileen was thrilled, Helaina was happy to be the center of attention and even happier when Eileen gave her a Disney princess basketball and a Disney princess pop-up play tent for her efforts.  We couldn't be more proud of our little lady.

Helaina sported some of her finest jewelry for the occasion.  "Let's paint my nails in a pattern - pink, blue, pink, blue, pink."  The ability to recognize and create patterns is one of the skills kids entering Kindergarten should be aware of.  Helaina's got it covered.









Getting back to being inquisitive, frequently I'll jot down things during the day so that I remember to tell Jim some of the conversations I have with Helaina throughout the day.  Here are a few questions that Helaina has asked in the last 2 days:  Do cats blink?  Why is water wet?  Why do I have a nose?  Where is my voice?  Will I have this voice when I get married?  What color is my voice?  Is it clear like a protoplasm?  (the protoplasm reference comes from a Scooby Doo movie, believe it or not!).  I was talking about a bridal shower the other day and Helaina asks "What is a bridal shower curtain?"

Then today at lunch while slurping down noodles, IT happened.
Helaina:  Mommy, how does the doctor get the baby out of a lady's belly?
Me:  (gulp) Well, the Mommy's go to the hospital and the doctor has special tools to help the Mommy push the baby out of her belly.  (special tools? what was I thinking)
Helaina:  But how does the baby get out?
Me:  (double gulp), Well, the Mommy has to work really hard to push the baby out of her belly.
Helaina:  Out of her belly button?
Me:  Well no, out of ..., well ... the doctor helps the Mommy in a special way and the baby comes out.
Helaina:  Oh.    (mercifully, that was it)

After dinner tonight Jim and Helaina were on the couch and I was in the kitchen cutting up watermelon:
Me:  Helaina, why don't you ask Daddy the question that you asked me at lunch today.
Helaina:  Daddy, how does a baby get out of the Mommy's tummy?
Jim:  Well, it pops out.  Just like popcorn.  Pop, pop, pop, pop then out comes the baby.
Helaina looks toward me in the kitchen and I shake my head and smile.  She smiles too and then goes back to watching a cartoon.  End of that conversation for now.  Jeepers, she's only 5 - how much detail are you supposed to go into with a 5-year old girl????!!!!!

Phew, what a scorcher

What do you do when it's a record-breaking 97 degree day?  You switch off between playing in the water and sitting in the air conditioned house.  Helaina reached a pool milestone this evening when she jumped in the pool with nobody catching her.  Her head and face goes under water a little and it's a good start to getting her to submerge her face completely.  After her initial jump she was so proud of herself that she continued to jump in, get out do it again, jump in, get out, on and on about 20 times in a row.

After gymnastics Monday night we stopped at Toys R Us to buy their advertised $4.99 slip 'n slide.  Best $4.99 spent in a long time.  Helaina absolutely loves it.

Another weekend, another soccer game, another birthday

With each passing week Helaina gets more into her soccer practices and games.  She's still majorly exhausted by the end of the hour of play but her skills are slowly improving.  She usually has a huge smile on her face when she's in pursuit of the ball.
Check out her stance while trying to block a ball being thrown in.

She got to play goalie for one quarter but unfortunately she didn't get any action.  I don't think she minded because she loves wearing the vest.

A little one on one.

On Sunday we celebrated Baby Geo's 1st birthday.  He did not like wearing his crown and ripped it off his head pretty quickly.

Oh joy, another pinata.

Nic with a daisy in her hair and green frosting all over her face.

There was a gazebo and lake at the park where the birthday was held.  Jim snapped a few nice pictures before Helaina had enough and took off looking for something more exciting to do than pose.

Funny Helaina:

Lately Helaina's coloring has been very colorful.  If she's coloring a princess instead of doing the dress all blue, the hair all yellow and the crown all silver, she'll use every crayon in the box and put different colors next to each other.  One day I asked her why she does that and she said "It like a rainbow.  This is creativity.  I being very creative."  And right she was!

Sometimes it works out that I'll give Helaina her evening bath when Jim is in the shower in our bathroom.  She has this routine where if he's in the shower she'll take off all her clothes, charge into our bathroom, pull the shower curtain back and moon him.  He screams and tells her to get out, she laughs hysterically (as do I) and runs out of the bathroom - it's their "thing", but Jim's not a fan of it when she sneaks in and he isn't prepared for the attack.  The other night Jim was just getting in the shower when he heard Helaina charging down the hall like a bull.  She had bolted upstairs to moon Daddy.  I heard some complaining from upstairs and as I rounded the corner to head upstairs I see Helaina standing on the top landing, totally naked, about to cry.  "What's wrong?" I asked her.  Her reply:  "Daddy heard me coming and locked me out of the bathroom.  I VERY disappointed 'cause I wanted to moon him."  She had such a pout on her face!  So I took her by the hand and she told Jim, through the locked door, that he's not supposed to lock her out any more.  Too funny.