Katelyn and Ellie's Luau Birthday Party

With the girls' birthdays just two days apart, you would have thought we would always celebrate their birthdays together. But until this year, they always seemed too far apart. It never made sense to combine a 2 year old and a 4 year old party. But as they turned five (today) and seven (on Tuesday), we decided to do a joint party with their friends and hosted a Luau at our house. After much fretting over food, games and whether they'd have enough friends show up to not be disappointed (yes, I know it is more my issue that theirs, but still . . .), the day arrived. And it turned out perfect. The two hours went by in a flash with flip flop decorating (thanks Kay for your creative help), hula hooping, limbo, pin the tail on the donkey (yes, my hubby is a little old school), and pinatas.  However, the main event ended up being a regular old slip and slide. With the temperatures hitting the upper 90s today, we invited the girls to wear their swim suits and have fun in the sun and water.

The afternoon ended with a scooter for Ellie from Aunt Sherry. The evening was even more eventful. Our gift to the girls was an iCarly karaoke machine. We are heading to bed this evening with Justin Beiber's Baby Baby blaring in our ears. Oh, what have we gotten ourselves in to???

Feeling truly blessed as the day ends--a successful party, a helpful sister who loves my kids, a great friend who spent two hours helping little kids decorate flip flops and a hubby who wore a grass skirt because he knew our kids would love it.

 Instead of a cake, we had cupcakes with the little umbrellas in them. The girls made them and then put on the icing and sprinkles and umbrellas.

 The Limbo

 Ellie Hula Hooping. We also had a Hula contest, which Katelyn won.

 The girls each had their own pinatas. They were tough to break. You can see Katelyn below scrambling for candy. I'd say she was successful.

 Owen loved the watermelon.

 . . . . and the cupcakes

Ellie on her new scooter from Aunt Sherry.

Ellie graduates from The J

Tuesday evening we attended Ellie's Pre-K Celebration as she finished out her year at the JCC and heads to kindergarten. It was bittersweet. The JCC has helped me raise this precious little girl for the last five years. She started there when she was only 8 weeks old with Ms. Anna and Mrs. Annette. She was this sweet, little baby who grew into a little chunk and then on to this long, legged, slim young lady with deep dimples and a smile that brightens a room.

While the JCC is a Jewish Day Care, they laid many of her biblical foundations, taught her how to pray before meals (albeit it is in Hebrew), and fed her with the stories that she still asks to read about in her Bible at night. She learned how to be a friend and how to love her friends well. She even created her own Musketeer group that plans to save the world (at present it leaves no time for college or marriage, per Ellie), but still a noble calling I believe.

We will especially miss Miss Sondra, who has cared for Ellie and Katelyn in aftercare. To meet this woman is to know love and genuine joy. In my five years at the JCC, I have never seen her with anything but a smile on her face, constantly encouraging others, greeting every parent and sibling by name. She is always quick with a kind word, compliment, or just asking how your day is going. She displays such a joy of just being with our children every day, even when we are thinking of pulling our hair out with them she always finds the best. Words cannot express the kind disposition of this woman and how much I would love to have one tenth of her spirit.

So thank you JCC for helping me to raise my girls to be the young ladies they are and starting Owen on the right path as he also heads to CPA this fall.  I've also included some clips from the Pre-K performance. You can't watch the little monkeys without smiling.

Five Little Monkey Video

Ellie's Run for Africa

The Calhoun Clan was out in almost full force on Saturday to run in Ellie's Run for Africa. Unfortunately, I pulled a leg muscle a couple of weeks ago and couldn't participate, but Alan, Katelyn and Ellie all ran (it was Ellie's first race).

The morning began with the 5K. 

 They had three kids divisions and Ellie and Katelyn were in the 8 and under group. 

They did very well.

 Ellie's first run was Ellie's Run for Africa. How fitting. She finished in under 10 minutes. I didn't know she had those kind of legs. Definitely has the Calhoun genes in her.

This is one of the coolest races to participate in. They have many activities for the kids. When they arrived, they received a passport and went around to different booths to learn about Africa. Ellie got to carry jugs of water to learn what it was like to have to walk to get your water and hike back with it. They also rode in a utility vehicle (their version of a car in some places).

I had to also include a picture of my handsome, little man. He is wearing an outfit from a friend, who also has an Owen. Isn't it cute. I am learning what it is like to have a boy as he is into EVERYTHING. But I am loving this age. His vocabulary is expanding daily, and he understands just about everything I say, complete with nod "No" to express his opinions.

Dueteronomy 6

Last week at CPA, the high school kids were able to go into the high school building and write scripture on the floors before the carpets go down. Representatives from elementary also got to go in. I had a semi-authorized visit to the building this weekend and Katelyn was determined to find her classes verse. We finally found it.

"If any of you needs Wisdom, you should ask God for it. God is generous. He will give you Wisdom." 

James 1:5

Here's my office. I am going to get in again in the next few weeks and put a verse in my office. Trying to think of just the right words to lay a foundation under me.

Busy Weekend and a Happy Mother's Day

We had a great weekend at the Calhoun house. Kit and Marilyn were in town, so the kids got lots of grandparent love. Saturday was packed with kid activities. First Ellie had a soccer game and scored two goals. Unfortunately, Alan and I missed it because we were taking Katelyn to her dance recital. She did a great job and seemed to love it. She kept beaming like she was playing it up for the audience.

 

We had to leave right after her performance (and missed some of her friends' performances) to get to her last soccer game on time. I really wish I had a picture of her with her dance costume on and her soccer ball in hand, but she was definitely a modern girl on Saturday. I missed the game as I was at home with a napping Owen, but I heard she did an amazing job on defense. I must admit I did enjoy my little catnap at home with Owen. 

Sunday I was started the day early (too early courtesy of the O man) and took a walk. While out, the little angels were preparing this for me and Marilyn. . . .

Flowers, French toast and Fruit bowls with little Reese's Peanut Butter cups.

It was such a treat and they were so proud of their creation. I also need to thank my hubby for leading them in the great pampering effort. 

In the afternoon, we took a slightly authorized tour of the new high school building. It is sweet and I am so excited for it to open and all the new kids that we will be able to bring in to our community. Then off to Cheekwood.  It was beautiful and the girls had a ball exploring. We did struggle to keep Owen from trying to take a swim in the green algae ponds :)

Finished the evening stuffing ourselves at Five Guys on their patio. Perfect environment for small kiddos. I felt truly blessed today to be able to stop and just enjoy my kids and their enthusiasm for everything that is around them.

Easter 2011

As I was reminded recently, we have been dying Easter Eggs on Good Friday since I was born. So to continue the tradition, our crew headed to Louisville on Good Friday to partake in the pre-Easter festivities (minus one very sweet Katelyn who stayed behind to play a soccer game. She did win 14-1, but that is another story).

Owen's favorite part of Easter egg dying was throwing the eggs into the dye and watching it splatter everywhere. His second favorite part was hurling the eggs across the table. We ended up just giving him one to destroy, so he cracked it all up and then dyed it over and over again.

Katelyn finally arrived on Saturday morning. As a reward for not sucking her thumb all week (well almost), she got to go to the bungee jump place.  Owen actually weighed enough, so we let him jump too. He was not very excited at first, but quickly found it was fun to be pulled down and bounce back up.  It was Ellie's first time as well, so she wasn't as adept at doing flips as her Big Sister Katelyn.

This is my favorite picture of the weekend. I just love the way my girls love on Owen. They are always quick to give him hugs and kisses and just snuggle all over him.

Daddy and Owen

Three generations of Bibelhauser Girls

Owen's Second Easter Egg hunt of the Day. He looks like he's got it. 

Cool masks from Aunt Barbara

The Great-Grands sure don't make it easy to get a picture. I have about 15 shots of them and not a one has them all looking at the camera.

My niece put this cute cousin video together of our Florida trip

 I love Ellie's downtrodden look and Katelyn's reaction.

Marvelous Me

Today was Katelyn's Marvelous Me Day at school. We have had to reschedule a couple of times, so she was very excited when the day actually came. She made a poster of pictures of her and her family. She actually did the whole poster herself and picked out the pictures. She also got to fill a Marvelous Me bag with items that she cherished or that represented her. She put in her soccer and dance trophies, along with a soccer medal, finger puppet and her Katelyn (American Girl lookalike) doll.

Alan and I also ate lunch with her at school and were present for her Day. She even read a book to the class which if you know Katelyn, that is huge because she does not love reading. She read IF which has one page with a picture of toes as teeth--both Katelyn and my favorite page. She also got to show off her hula hooping skills. She has improved since even I last saw her.

A future drummer???

Today was PJ Day at the J

They have been having a book fair all week at the JCC and in conjunction with Dr. Seuss week, the kids got to wear their pajamas to school today. They are shown with their teacher, Cristen.

Tomorrow is Book Character Day. Ellie is going as Barbie Fashion Fairytale girl. Owen is going as himself.

I know I have not posted much of Katelyn lately, but below is the type of picture I have been getting from her lately.

I did get a couple of the kids at the zoo this weekend. It was Owen's first ride on the carousal.

Weekend in Louisville---Bone Marrow Registry

We went up to Louisville this weekend to be a part of the Be The Match bone marrow donor registry drive in honor of my cousin Stephen. We had 42 new people added to the registry and raised about $480 to help cover the cost of processing it all. It would be heavenly if one of them ended up being a match, but if not, that is 42 more people on the list that may match someone else. We enjoyed spending the day with family, selling (and eating) treats and chili. We even made it to the zoo for the day.

Ellie was assigned to have Shabbat bear for the weekend, so he got to accompany us on the trip as well.

 Ellie at the Zoo

 Ellie and Shabbat Bear

Owen selling waters

Language development

Owen turned 15 months this past week. One thing that I am always in awe of is the brain's ability to process language. It always makes me pause to think of such a complex organ that God created that is capable of so much. So with each of my kids, I love to sit back and watch their language start exploding as they begin to realize the power of language.

So I thought I would share Owen's limited vocabulary.
Our very favorite is banana, pronounced nunununa very quickly.
Buk=book  (His absolute favorite toy).
Mo=More
Ba=Bottle
Mil=Milk
Dat=That
Dog=any four legged creature
Ball=Ball
Mamamamama=Momma
Uh-O means I dropped it on purpose, but I'm going to pretend it was an accident.

I feel like he has more words, but I just can't recall them.

A day of Firsts

My little guy is growing up way too fast. This past weekend he got his first haircut which was very low key at the kitchen table. Yes, that is a fork in his hand. Not the most sanitary, I know, but keeping his hands busy allowed me to actually do a quick trim.  His other first was to use a utensil to eat. He was actually quite good at getting it into his mouth. Of course the dogs are loving it because it means more crumbs on the floor for them. They pretty much camp out under the table when he is sitting there.

I also caught one of them all playing together today. The girls took the box upstairs and Owen screeched so  loud that they had taken his toy, that they brought it back and all played together. We seem to have a box fascination in this house. Luckily, Ellie decided this one was too little to live in. Notice Owen's favorite toy of all--the toothbrush. He has them scattered throughout every room in the house and both cars. I guess his teeth will be healthy.