Ava's 6th Birthday

Ava turned 6 on January 12.  We happened to be in Carmel a couple days before her birthday, so we had a small (well not really that small :)
celebration with the Titus family.

Chocolate eclair pudding cake...oh, so yummy!

The sweet birthday girl

Her real birthday fell on a Sunday, so after mass and a friend's birthday party, I surprised her by taking her to Build-A-Bear Workshop.  Every time we pass the Build-A-Bear store, my girls beg to go in there.  They talk about what it might be like inside.  Of all my girls though, Ava is the one that LOVES baby dolls and stuffed animals.  She has since she was 9 months old.  I knew this was a gift she would really appreciate!

Ava pushing the pedal to stuff the bear

Ava "fluffing" her bear at the bathing station

Picking out one outfit for her new bear

Dressing her bear

Typing her bear's birth certificate

Ava with "Lovey" her new panda bear

We planned to have her party the Friday after her birthday, but had to postpone until Sunday because of snow.  We ended up having a rainbow-themed birthday party with four of her closest friends.  They did a few crafts, ate cake, and had fun just playing together.

Ava's Rainbow cake

The surprise is on the inside!

First Craft: Painting doilies to glue on canvas bags

The rainbow painted doilies

Second Craft: Making gumball necklaces

The party girls with their gumball necklaces...best part is, they're edible!

Striking a pose

Game: Pin the cloud on the rainbow

Gift bags/buckets

Ava has such a sweet nature.  She is a little mother, always looking out for her little sisters.  She can be stubborn when it comes to discipline, but is often the one giving in when her sisters want their way.  She has a natural smile and a goofy nature, always making people laugh.  

I have a feeling she is going to be a big help when baby boy Klinker arrives!

Happy Birthday sweet Ava Bave!

Friday Funnies

Rose:
"It's not a Barbie, it's a Bar-boy." Rose said referring to a Ken doll.

Ava:
We were talking about St. Anthony of Egypt today and I was quizzing the girls about what he was.  Ava said, "a crab."  Rose said, "No, a lobster."  He was a hermit.

Madeline:
Ava was trying on a puffy vest and Madeline said, "a life-jacket!"

Ella:
"I looked everything!" (meaning everywhere)

HAPPY Friday!!!

The 12th Day of Christmas

To celebrate the Epiphany, I wanted to do something special for dinner.  I found the idea for a 12 days of Christmas dinner party on the Shower of Roses website (http://showerofroses.blogspot.com/2013/01/Twelve-Days-Christmas-Party.html) and decided to give it a try.  On the website, she not only came up with a menu item for each of the 12 days of Christmas symbols, but she explains the Catholic aspects of the faith that each symbol represents.

I took some food ideas from the website and altered a few based on what I could find at the grocery and what the girls would eat.  

Here is what I came up with...some are a stretch, I know.

A Partridge in a Pear Tree

Represents Jesus Christ on the cross

Since I already made a fruit salad for 9 ladies dancing which included pears, 

I just used that for the partridge in a pear tree.

Two Turtle Doves

Represents the 2 Testaments of the bible (the old and new)

Dove chocolates for the two turtle doves.

Three French Hens

Represents the 3 gifts of the Magi (or the 3 virtues: faith, hope, & love)

Cooked chicken for the three French hens.

Four Calling Birds

Represents the 4 Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John

I forgot to get food for this one, so I said that since we have four little girls, 

they could represent the 4 calling birds :)

Five Golden Rings

Represents the first 5 books of the bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy

Onion rings for the five golden rings.

Six Geese-a-laying

Represents the 6 days of creation

Deviled eggs and hard-boiled eggs for six geese a-laying.

Seven Swans-a-Swimming

Represents the 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Seven layer salad for the seven swans a-swimming.

Eights Maid-a-Milking

Represents the 8 Beatitudes

Milk to drink for eight maids a-milking.

Nine Ladies Dancing

Represents 9 Fruits of the Holy Spirit

A nine fruits salad for nine ladies dancing.

Ten Lords-a-Leaping

Represents the 10 Commandments

Roman numerals written with icing on graham crackers to look like the ten commandments for ten lords a-leaping.

Eleven Pipers Piping

Represents the 11 faithful apostles

Pretzel rods for eleven pipers piping.

12 Drummers Drumming

Represents the 12 points of the Apostles Creed

Corn dogs (to look like drumsticks) for the twelve drummers drumming.

For dessert, we made a funfetti cake to look like a jeweled crown, just like my mom used to make when I was growing up.

The Kings Cake

After dinner, the girls put on their crowns and capes and carried the kings to the manger scene.

I would post the video of the procession with us singing, but I do not want to hurt your ears ;)

Our four little kings in their homemade crowns.

Epiphany Gifts

Prayer journals, pens, rosary bracelets, lip gloss, and candy (of course)

Our Christmas decorations are still up, not only because Paul is out of town for the week, but because I can't seem to part with the Christmas lights.  I wish I could keep them up for months.  The Christmas season always seems to go too quickly.

Friday Funnies

Rose:
"Damnit, I forgot what I was going to say."
Where did she hear that?!  Trying not to laugh, I had to explain to her that she can't say that, but she really couldn't understand the problem with it.

Rose made a little projector to shine a light on the wall.  I thought that was pretty clever.

Ava:
"She has the flies."  Madeline said, "No, she said she has the blue."
The girls talking back and forth about their friend who had the flu.

The girls at Bernheim Forest

Madeline:
"I didn't really listen because I was burping."
Madeline's response to me when I asked her if she listened to all her letter sounds yesterday.

This is how I find Madeline about 50% of the time....standing on her head.

Ella:
"Goodness gracious!"
What Ella said after Madeline sneezed one day.

    A short video of Ella reading a book



HAPPY Friday!