Soccer sign-up and busted camera, eeerrrrggghhhh

Yup, Helaina has joined the ranks of team sports.  We've got her signed up for soccer.  First practice is Friday night and first game is Saturday morning (had to switch gymnastics around to accommodate one weeknight practice and the Saturday morning games).  I should correct myself and say soccer starts this weekend if the unbelievable rain ever stops.  We're all very excited.  Helaina has her No. 3 ball and we need shin guards now.  Jim bought a stirrup-type one-piece sock-leggie set but with Helaina having wider feet than me and calves the size of Lance Armstrong, well, I couldn't even budge it over her foot.  Need to find an adjustable wrap-around velcro type before Friday.  We're certain of one thing - our daughter's got the legs for soccer, no doubt!

The Saturday before Easter while at gymnastics I pulled out my camera to take some cute pics of our little gymnast.  Turned on the camera, the lens extended and opened, then nothing.  The screen went black and prompted "lens error, restart camera".  Ok, tried and tried and tried - busted.  It was in the repair shop late last year because I dropped it and one side came slightly apart.  It was fixed with a caution from the repair dude "don't drop it again or that will be it - there's a piece on the inside that's broken and can't be fixed".  Well, I haven't dropped it but the camera was purchased in 2004 and has been put through A LOT, so time for a new one.  Jim did his research and my new camera has been ordered, but is backordered.  I've been snapping pics with the video camera (which I never even knew we could do) but they aren't too great.  Timing is everything, broken camera at gymnastics, the day of our town Easter egg hunt and the day before Easter.  Annoyed was an understatement.  On Easter someone in my family hinted that it was no wonder the camera broke because it gets way too much use.  Hmmmfff, Helaina is one of the most photographed kids around but it's just because she's so darn adorable.  What can I say?  If the new camera hasn't arrived by Friday night's soccer practice we'll be borrowing someone's for the weekend.

Ahhhh, how cute - little Zoey Marie.  Just love that stripe down her nose.

Hippity Hoppity

Easter morning brought us one excited little gal - she was just as excited as she was at Christmas.  Helaina mercifully slept until 7:30 which gave me (I mean the Easter bunny) time to get downstairs and hide the baskets and eggs.  There was no way in heck that we could leave eggs and baskets on the floor overnight because Zoey would have been pouncing in the baskets and batting the eggs all over the house all night long.  Good thing the Easter bunny knows that Helaina likes Disney Princess anything.  Helaina had one basket from us and one from the Easter Bunny and the emphasis was not on candy due to her continuing dental issues.  Even so, Helaina did score a bunch of candy from Daddy (bad Daddy), Aunt Barbara, cousin Beth and Aunt Terry and Uncle Mike.

A Belle dress and a Cinderella dress were the biggest hits.  The Cinderella dress matches the Build A Bear cat outfit that Helaina picked out for her birthday.

A basket from us, one from the bunny and another one she used to collect the plastic treasure-filled eggs that were scattered around the house Sunday morning. (Don't you love her jammie selection?  Dora top and Christmas snowflake bottoms.)

Opening the plastic eggs left by the Easter bunny.  Helaina thought it was funny that the bunny left one egg in her shoe, one in the refrigerator and one in Zoey's bed.  There were about a dozen in all.

Ok, how cute are these bunny cupcakes?  Who knew that if you google "Easter cupcakes" you get about a zillion ideas from very clever people.  Helaina helped me decorate them at first, but she was mostly interested in eating the decorations and gobs of frosting.  Chocolate chips, jelly beans, marshmallows and Chicklet-type gum - who knew?

Helaina's been getting creative with her hair styles lately.  "Mom, I want a real high ponytail with a bunch of braids sticking out, ok?"  Sure thing, Princess Belle.

Pre-Easter Fun

We colored eggs last week with a Disney Princess (what else?) egg coloring kit.  After an entire cup of pink dye was spilled I smartened up and put the cups of color inside a baking pan to avoid future run-off.  Helaina soon abandoned the metal egg dipper thingie to use her hands.  Yup, she had multi-colored fingers and nails when we were finished.

One dozen colored and stickered eggs.

We went to our town's Easter egg hunt on Saturday.  Not a big turn-out because it was wet, windy and the park was sloppy mud.

Helaina and Jim found one of the special hidden eggs (a soccer ball egg) that scored Helaina an extra prize.  She had her pick between a package of marshallow bunnies or a giant chocolate bunny.  The chocolate bunny won.

Mud splatters galore on Helaina's pants from running through the soaked puddly fields.

Tonight's amusing dinner-time conversation:

Helaina:  When I get married I'm going to live close to you.

Me:  Oh good!  You'll live close so we can see you whenever we want.

Helaina:  Yes.  I'll move in the blue house across the street.

Me:  Great.  Can I move in with you after you're married?

Helaina:  Sure.  Then Daddy can marry someone else.

Jim:  Oh great, finally!!! (he seemed a little too happy about that)

Helaina:  I'm going to adopt a baby.

Me:  That's a good idea. You can adopt a baby but you can also have your own babies that grow in your belly.

Helaina:  I'm going to have 2 kids - a boy and a girl.  I'll name the girl Kiera.  (that's the name of a dog down the street!)  How does the baby get in there?

Me:  (yikes) Well, you have to be married first to have a baby and you won't get married until you grow up.  Remember you need a Daddy and a Mommy.

Helaina:  ok

Museum of Play

Jim took Monday off and we went to one of Helaina's favorite places, the Strong Museum of Play.  Unfortunately she knew we were going there when she went to bed Sunday night (big mistake telling her), because she woke up at 6:35am Monday morning squealing and declaring that she was so excited about our trip that day.  Future note to Mom and Dad - if we want to sleep past 6:30am, never tell Helaina that we're doing something fun the night before.

I thought this was the funniest fish I'd ever seen with that crazy horn.  And check out the mouth - it almost looks human with those lips.



On TV with Rosita from Sesame Street.



 

One of Helaina's favorite things to do on Monday was play on this stage with other kids.  She was the first "act" and she sang "Here comes Peter Cotton Tail".  She actually had a moment of shyness and had to be coaxed to sing, but she eventually did and it was so funny. 

Another stage area where there were costumes to dress up in.  She disappeared behind the curtain and came out in this dress with her hat on that she had made earlier.  She reminded me of a Bavarian waitress from the Amazing Race!

Shopping in the mini Wegmans which is totally authentic to the real grocery store, except pint-sized for kiddos.  It's one of the most popular attractions at the museum. 

Cheese, a donut and ice cream.  Yup, that's our gal.

Helaina loved this new disco dancing area.  The screen captured a silhouette image of the kids dancing and it was pretty cool. 



Virtual dodgeball was also a popular attraction.  When the game started you had to avoid jumping on the red "dodgeball" that was moving around the floor.  Helaina didn't want to stop playing.





Build the giant lego tower - knock it over.

 
Hula hooping is always fun.  Helaina had lost her knack for hooping but just recently got the hip action right and can now keep it going pretty good.

Breakfast with the Easter Bunny

Last Saturday morning after gymnastics we headed to the zoo for breakfast with the Easter bunny.  They put on a yummy breakfast buffet with many of Helaina's favorites - french toast, eggs, bacon and "shawshages".  She couldn't wait to see the Easter bunny and when the big adorable bunny entered the room Helaina squirmed with delight.

First priority, hugging the bunny.

Second priority, face painting.  There were lots of options to choose from and I tried to get Helaina to select the penguin with bunny ears for her cheek, but she wanted the bunny face.  I think (uhm, yah I know) that our face painter was sick of painting faces and it shows, because the "whiskers" look like railroad tracks but Helaina was happy.

Sitting on the bunny's lap waiting for her Easter lollipop.  The bunny should of had an assistant because with the big bunny mittens on it was hard for her to pick up the lollipops to give the kids.

When I snapped the picture of this lion it took me by surprise.  She was chewing on the blue plastic barrel then all of a sudden turned toward me and I swear she was staring right into my eyes for the longest time.  I momentarily wondered how the glass would hold if a lion charged at it full force.  She soon turned her attention back to the barrel chewing as I told myself that she was just a big kitty cat.  Yah, right.

What Helaina's been up to

Amazing what you can create from the treasures stored in the craft box - a piece of netting, a gawdy silk rose, some ribbon and the hot glue gun create a Cinderella bridal veil - or at least that's what Helaina thinks.  She actually gasped when she saw the finished product!  It also doubled this week as a "crazy hat" on crazy hat day at school.

I have no idea why Jim has his fuzzy noodle bow tie on his head, other than the fact that he gets nervous at weddings where he is the groom.

You simply must wear your bridal veil when eating morning oatmeal...

... or when coloring ...

... or when marrying a ninja turtle.

At gymnastics last weekend there was a bouncy obstacle course set up and the class absolutely loved it.

With practicing just about every day this week, Helaina's gotten good at bike riding.  She's still working on stopping, turning and starting but is doing much better with lots fewer falls.

Determined as all heck.

When you do take a tumble you may as well rest for a bit while sorting your silly bands in the street.

Helaina went to her very first circus a few weeks ago and was VERY excited.  This was her expression when the lights dimmed and the show was ready to finally begin.

It was a good circus with a variety of acts.

 

The elephants were a fave. 

Don't you always end a circus with a pony ride?

Another milestone

Our little bike riding gal was so excited about her triumph - as were her proud parents.  Helaina is persistent as anything and the numerous falls in the road didn't discourage her.  She picked herself up, brushed herself off and got right back on the bike.  Scrappy little girl, isn't she?!

One exhausted 5-year old:  After bike riding and playing on the swing set, our Energizer Bunny ran into the shed and pulled out her t-ball set.  Jim was fiddling around with the pool cover so I pitched a few balls to her.  She smashed 5 balls in a row that went whizzing past me - one of them almost got me in the face.  After the 5th hit she threw down the bat, grabbed the tee and ran to put it away in the shed yelling "I don't need this tee!"  Hmmm, we were going to sign her up for soccer, but maybe little league would be more appropriate!