It's My Party and I'll Cry if I Want to!

Yesterday was Callie's fun filled extravanga little mermaid under the sea birthday party! Whew! Ma, Pa, and Veronica came from McMinnville for the event. I'm not sure of the exact number, we had around 35 people able to celebarte with us. Callie's family, friends, their siblings and parents made for quite the group. Unfortunately, it was a similar group to the swimming lesson crowd. Callie arrived at her party took one look at the guests, the pool, Grandma (the swimming lesson teacher), and burst into tears. "No under! I don't want to go off the diving board!" No amount of convincing made her feel safe enough to venture over to the water.

Here's Ma snuggling her.

Eventually Callie said her famous line, "I'm hungry," and the true party began.

Of course, she had to have a mermaid cake. (Yes, I made it. No, I don't ever want to see frosting again.)

Here's Dave's sister, Veronica, and my friend, Joleen. Little bit of a height difference...

Callie's Daddy was able to get a picture of the little girls by the pool.

She opened her gifts.

The guests received princess purses with gloves and a necklace. (I found a steal at Target.) Here's Saige modeling hers. Thanks for coming, everybody!

The enormous cake was almost gone by the end of the party. There was just some extra frosting left over. Chandler was happy to take care of it for us.

The "After Party", an impromtu ring-around-the-rosies

I hope no one's tired of reading about Callie's birthday, because she isn't actually 3 until Tuesday. Langstraat family tradition involves several days of celebration. Callie received lots of dress up clothes as presents and we're planning on having a fashion show. Here's a preview!

Happy Birthday, Callie Grace! We love you!

We Did It!

As you read the above headline, please perform the "we did it" dance featured at the end of each and every Dora episode.

Chandler's first day of kindergarten is complete! Here are some of the things that I was worrying about last night that did NOToccur:

1. The alarm does not go off. We are late for our first day. Or I somehow forget that today is the first day of kindergarten and we just stay home all day, remembering about 3:00 that afternoon.
2. A stranger offers him candy or a ride.
3. He gets on the wrong bus.
4. School security guards have to remove me by force from his classroom, as I refuse to leave and cling to Chandler's pant leg.
5.The principal calls to tell me that Chandler was the first kindergartner to ever start a food fight in the cafeteria on his first day.
6. His mountain of school supplies is not complete. I know this may be old hat for some of you, but look at this. For Kindergarten? Really? I hear they need a lap top for 1st grade....

I'm going to stop there before I come across as crazy. Maybe it's too late...

Anyway, here's how the day DID go:

Chandler got to watch the "Curious George" PBS show as he ate his breakfast. He was very excited because he is usually not up early enough to catch it. I told him that he could watch it every school day and when it was over, it's time to head to the bus stop.

He posed for a picture with his new backpack.

We loaded up his aforementioned plethora of school supplies and said good-bye to Daddy. Daddy was looking a bit teary and sentimental. I am proud to say I held it together. Or it could have been that my tear ducts were just empty after last night's poetry ridden sob fest. (See previous post.)

We headed over to the school and took a picture out front.

We found his classroom with little trouble and met his teacher. She was really sweet and glad to meet Chandler. I eventually tore myself away, again with no tears, even on the way home. (Man, I am a rock!!!) Chandler gave me a hug and didn't bat an eyelash. I kept my cell phone in my pocket all day long, but there were no calls from the school. The only hiccup happened about 3:15. I was pacing my kitchen waiting for time to go meet him at the bus stop. I had my camera ready to take his picture as he got off. And then there was a knock at my back door. It was my boy! His bus was almost 20 minutes early! He had gotten off the bus and walked home with no trouble! And I was worried! He's so big. Anyway, he walked in the door and I said, "Well? How was it?" And he said, "Mom, it was so much fun, I forgot to learn!" Does it get any better than that? Of course, then I asked him what his favorite part was. "The bus!" We sure love our big kindergarten boy!

Kindergarten Eve

'Twas the night before Kindergarten, when all through the home,
Not a creature was stirring, except for the Mom;
The new school outfit was lain on the dresser with care,
In hopes of a timely arrival on our first day there;
The children and father were nestled all snug in their beds;
While visions of worry danced in my head,
I set the alarm clock and prayed for relief,
Knowing that tonight would be short on sleep.
When from the boy’s room there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the door I flew like a flash,
Turned on the light and saw with a gasp
Chandler sleeping soundly, which was a rare sight to see
My imagination once again was running away with me.
When, what to my wandering mind should remember,
But a tiny blue bundle, looking just like his father.
It seems like just yesterday, I first held him close,
Now I’m sending him to school, this boy I love most.
I blow him a kiss and then quickly shut the door
And head down the stairs, to check the supply list once more.
It’s all here, the items we’ve been collecting
I wonder if a pack mule is available for the hefting.
I hope the morning brings a new sense of perspective
If not, I hope the waterproof mascara will be effective.
I feel as I pray my burdens seem to fall.
Now dash away worry! Dash away all!
Lord, I will trust in thy plan
Please keep my boy safe in the palm of thy hand.

Rollin' on the.......you guessed it

We're planning a playgroup trip to Mud Island next week, so I thought I'd post a few more pictures to get everyone revved up....

According to the website,

"The Mud Island River Walk is one of the most unique representations of the Mississippi River in the world. It is a 5-block long replica of the lower Mississippi river, from Cairo, IL, to New Orleans, LA. Each 30" stride is equivalent to one mile on the actual river. Along your journey, you'll revisit historical events and learn about geographical transformations. The "1,000" mile journey concludes at the Gulf of Mexico, a one acre enclosure that holds 1.3 million gallons of water. "

I'm not quite sure this hill was meant for hiking....

Don't forget your boats, rubber ducks, etc...


As you can see, the kids love it. Callie asks almost daily to go to "the island". I will send out details in an e-mail, as I don't wish to invite any strangers who may come across this blog. Hope everyone can make it!

Tagged

I have been tagged by Jewly. Here goes.

How To Play This Game of Tag:

Post these rules on your blog.

List: 3 joys, 3 fears, 3 goals, 3 current obsessions/collections, 3 random surprising facts about yourself.

Tag 5 people at the end of your post by leaving their names. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

3 Joys:

1. My husband. We celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary in March, which makes me feel really old. Anyway, everything good that has happened in my life since then is a result of the decision that I made as a stupid headstrong teenager. Dave is working so hard right now at FedEx, shooting weddings on Saturdays, graduate school, and finding time for our family in between. Love ya, babe.

2. My kids. They are also my greatest challenge. They teach me something every day. They make me laugh, cry, and occasionally want to pull my hair out. I can't imagine life without them.

3. The Gospel of Jesus Christ. It brings me peace that I can find nowhere else. One of my favorite scriptures:

"I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God. Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things." Alma 26:11-12

3 Fears:

1. I think I have already posted that I am terrified of sharks. Even in the swimming pool. Yes, I know it's illogical.

2. Speaking in Public. Teaching a lesson in Relief Society causes near panic attacks.

3. Scary movies. No thanks.

3 Goals


1. Keeping my priorities in check. Spending time on the things that matter most. Elder Scott: "Are we filling our life so full of "good" things, that there is no time for the essential ones?"

2. Someday I would like to go back to school.

3. Exercise and eat better. I joined "Curves" and try to get there when I can. I am hoping to have more time for it when school starts again.


3 Current Obsessions/Collections

1. I currently obsess over keeping the house clean. (Ha, ha, that was a good one.)

2. The Twilight Series! I too was one of the cynics. A friend recommended I choose it for Book Club. I was like, "A teenage vampire book?? Really?" I chose not to. A few weeks later another friend loaned me the first book in the series. Five days later, I was finished with all three (around 1200 pages) and had preordered the fourth. I am thinking about dressing up and going to the midnight release party. I am counting down till the movie release in December. I heart Edward.

3. I am in the process of "collecting" all of the Enchanted Nursery Disney Princesses for Callie's birthday next month. I racked up at Target today.

3 Random/Surprising Facts

1. I have had 10 sinus surgeries. The last one was about 18 months ago. I once had a doctor look in my nose and tell me it looked like someone had run a lawnmower up there. Don't be J.

2. When I was a kid, I wanted to be a writer when I grew up.

3. I will not eat seafood. I detest it, including the smell. It used to be that Dave couldn't order it in a restaurant and expect to sit at my table. I have learned to deal with it. I just breathe through my mouth for the remainder of the meal.

Five People that are "Tagged"

1. Val

2. Leash

3. Deborah

4. Nicole

5. Jamie

Where is summer going???!!!

It seems like I haven't had much time to post since school let out in May. Things have been busy, busy. I also have been slacking on my picture taking, which is the driving force behind the posts. So, anyway, here's what we've been up to (without photos):

Chandler and Callie spent a week at Camp Ma and Pa. They have a great time with their McMinnville grandparents and Aunt Veronica. Catherine spent the time off running her office, as the boss was out of town. The kids started a summer camp at their preschool the first week of July. It was Callie's first experience at the "big girl" preschool and Mom was nervous. She walked right in and didn't cry. Mom tried not to. Chandler on the other hand, wondered what he was doing back at the preschool that he graduated from in May. I informed him that this was "camp", not "school". They have been having tons of fun and bring home all kinds of projects and artwork. They also started swimming lessons last week with the best teacher ever, Grandma. Chandler is a fish and recently learned how to get rings off the bottom of the deep end. Callie is doing what is asked of her, just not quietly. She is known to sit on the step and sob until it is her turn again. She is doing great, learning how to "reach and pull" and go off the diving board. Grandma will having her swimming before summer is over, whether or not the screaming will cease is another question.

Dave had another birthday last Saturday. We had a fun family day with lunch at Outback, swimming, and then to the Redbirds game. Dave is still doing really well in school. He finished his first summer term with a 100% in his class. We are so proud of him! I am keeping busy being the wife, mother, maid, cook, taxi driver, paralegal, etc. I am a little nervous about my new role of being the mother of a Kindergartner in a few weeks. It seems like Chandler was just born!

So that's the latest with us. I promise to post some new pictures soon!

June Visitors

We had some of our favorite people come to visit in June. Ma and Pa (Dave's parents) were able to come for Father's Day. Erin (Chad's wife) and their daughter Brianna came from California for a week also. Ma and Pa built some new cabinets for our kitchen to replace some we had to rip out to get the refridgerator in. (Ah, condo living). Pa and Dave spent Saturday installing the cabinets, while Ma and I took the kids to Mud Island River Park. Erin and Bri and the Georges came too. We had a blast.

Morgan, Callie, and Bri loving the water

Chandler, Ethan, and the waterfall

After church on Sunday, Erin took some nice photos. Here's the Sparkman family:

Here's the proud Grandma, with all four of her granddaughters in matching dresses.

We had a great time! Come back soon!