This is Nina's year for a family party, but boy has this girl been enjoying lots of celebrating! We celebrated with family and friends in Kauai, but that was several weeks ago so we geared up for the big day again. Zig's Mom wanted to take Nina to the American Girl Doll store and she was like a kid in a candy shop. Oh that place was mayhem, but so fun to see all the excited girls with their new dolls. Nina got Kanani's ears pierced and found her some luggage, outfits, and bathing suits. Babcia loves dolls so she and Nina definitely share this in common! For a minute, I thought she might come our with her own American Girl Doll!
Last night we went to dinner and Nina brought one of her best little buddies, Kate, with her. She had both lemonade and dessert along with her meal, so that was a good night for Nina! Wednesday morning, Nina finally really and truly turned 8, so we took her to Hillcrest Bakery for a healthy breakfast in which she chowed on a chocolate eclair. I didn't want to be a joykill, but I reminded the kids that this endulgence was the last stop on the sugar train that has been full speed ahead this holiday season!
Happy Birthday to me!
Looks like I'm getting a nice ole' fishy kiss. There is no end toRollin's silliness!
Nina and Zig's Mom
Nina and Kate
We love our Nina had so much fun celebrating the little fireball that she is!
And now I can relax with this busy birthday and holiday season pretty much wrapped up. Today I've been cleaning out and throwing stuff away like crazy today. It feels SO, SO good! Better than retail therapy, actually.
When my friend, Jayne, suggested a joint birthday party at Sky High back in November, I jumped right on board! Knowing we would be gone all of November and returning two days before Sela's birthday, the last thing I wanted to do was stress about a party. So the Boys vs. Girls party was born! We had the girls come to our house and the boys met at Hunter's. After some mild trash-talking phone calls made to the boys' car on the drive over, we met up at Sky High and the kids (and dads!) had an absolute blast challenging each other in Dodge Ball. Jayne and I enjoyed watching these fun, competitive kids try to outlast each other. The party was the easiest birthday either of us had ever planned. They even cut and passed the cake for goodness sake! Sela had so much fun celebrating with her favorite friends and there couldn't be a nicer birthday boy to share the party with. Happy 11th Birthday, Sela and Hunter!!
Her party was on the 10th, so we had a little family celebration on the 9th.
What a fun night! We love you, Sela!
Since this is Nina's year for a family party, she wanted to celebrate here in Kauai so Mom and Dad would be here to join the fun. We had some friends over for dinner and Nina had a Lilikoi Macadamia Nut Cake. The kids played all evening and at the end of the evening, Coppin performed a fire knife dance and played the guitar. What a fun surprise! Happy Early Birthday, Nina!
Jingle Bells? What's going on here?!
Now "Happy Birthday!"
It must be said, this man's physique puts men half his age to shame! Kauai living does a body good!
And he was just getting started!
What made Zig's birthday perfect (to him) is that there was no big hoopla and his admin kept quiet about the big day at work. Some people say they don't want a big deal made out of their birthdays, but really don't mind, however, Zig means what he says. His idea of a perfect birthday is coming home and having a nice dinner with family and maybe a dessert (healthy, if possible). He does not want gifts, which is good, because he is so difficult to shop for. My Mom did get creative this year, and Zig was stoked about all the heirloom seeds, grains and other goodies.
The kids do love to celebrate his birthday so we at least have to light some candles and sing. We also share things we love and appreciate about him, and there are many to choose from! I can't write them here..that would be going "overboard." Happy Birthday, Zig! Thanks for always being so appreciative of the simple things. You are loved.
Sela chose the dessert all on her own, and here is the Ginger Peach Blackberry Crisp in progress. Zig LOVED it! He had it for dessert, midnight snack, and breakfast. Way to go, Sela!
Evan turned 2 on May 2nd, although it feels like he's been with us for much longer. He is sweet, sensitive, cuddly, determined, a bit stubborn and very feisty. I love him to pieces.
I have so much on my mind right now that I'm having some trouble staying current on the blog, but boy did we celebrate our little Evan! Sela helped make him a delicious strawberry country cake. He didn't really know what to think when we started singing and bringing a cake with a lit candle to him. He wouldn't blow out the candle for a long time, and ended up getting some "accidental" help.
For dinner, I made tomato soup and white cheddar melts, roasted asparagus, and a big salad. Evan will eat anything, ANYTHING, in the form of soup. The day before he had scarfed down a curried chickpea/cabbage soup. He's a good little eater, albeit a very messy one.
To say Evan idolizes Rollin is an understatement. He watches everything he does. I've seen him on several occasions trying to mouth the words Rollin is saying as he is talking. Oh, he tries so hard to emulate him. It is so sweet and fun to watch their relationship grow. Rollin is so patient and puts up with a lot from Evan...constant wrecking of his things, occasional biting, etc. He's a pretty fantastic big brother. I'm so happy they have each other.
Evan never falls asleep outside of his bed. I think this was a first at Maw Maw's house!
Evan also loves shoes. It's a borderline obsession. He loves music and always sings in the car. Sometimes he tries his hardest to drown out the radio. He is a determined dancer and we all get a kick out of watching him go crazy. He is a daredevil, already. Sigh. His favorite thing to do is to climb up in the windowsill in the kitchen and jump to the couch.
The very first thing he has said for months when he wakes up in the morning is "Where's Nina?" Very recently he has followed this with "Where's Si Si" and "Where's Ra Ra?" He loves to go, go, go. If he sees me as much as put on my shoes or begin gathering things like my purse, he is running, I mean falling over himself full out panic sprinting to the door.
He drives us a little crazy when it's time to eat. He hates his chair, and desperately wants to sit in a regular chair, but he takes one bite and runs, smears, wipes, and then returns to do it again. Oh to have the boundless energy of a child (and a live-in maid)!
I remember Nina's birth well. She was my tiniest baby and though she has grown in height this year, she is still as light as a feather. She must have hollow bones. We were talking about how dogs resemble owners the other day...why does this topic always come up at our house? Nina's favorite dog is a chihuahua. She got one for Christmas. It wags its tail and barks and was her second favorite Christmas gift after her locket with Zig and I inside. Chi Chi wore one of the American girl doll's dresses to church with us on Sunday. Nina loves this dog already. And really, a chihuahua is so Nina. It's wiry, spunky, quick, jumpy, and a ball of nervous and excited energy. Chihuahuas are often seen with sparkly accessories, rhinestone dog tags, and fancy little sweaters. Nina is all that and some more. I also think of chihuahuas as a little self-interested, and I mean that in the kindest way. Nina is often worried about getting her fair share of time, love, special outings, gifts, chocolate, etc. She is a middle child for sure.She is the spark and twinkle in our family. We love you, Nina! Life would be dull without you!
Nina and ChiChi
7 years old!! She rushed to put on her dangle earrings when she heard we were going out to dinner.
Wait, is this ALL for ME?
Would you kiss that face??
Nina had lots of loves for everyone.
Zig's mom, Tina.
Happy Birthday, little bean!
Nina and Zig's Mom
Nina and Kate
