A letter to the birthday girl (a few days late)

Dear Reina:  You celebrated a birthday on Monday and as soon as your birthday was officially over Monday night, you came down with a bug and were sick for most of the rest of the week. In looking at the blog from this time last year, almost the same exact thing happened. This year, you didn't let a fever and general droopiness stop you from enjoying every minute of your special day, and the day before that and the day after, etc. etc. etc.

The birthday girl on the morning of turning 5.  No one in the history of the world has been more ready to be 5. 

The biggest thing you wanted for your birthday this year was your own pet.  You narrowed the list down from a kitten to a guinea pig to a hamster to a fish. We try to explain to you that Trigger and Tootsie would claw down your door to get to the first three species on your list so you finally compromised with #4.  On Monday night, we went to the pet store to pick out Goldie, your very own beta fish.  (Read this part when you are older.  You insisted on a girl (ghel!) fish but not only are they not as flashy looking, the pet store didn't have any.  Since you can't read, we told you that the male halfmoon beta you had picked out was in fact, a female.  Later that night you told me that maybe one morning we'd wake up and Goldie would have a bunch of baby fish with her and I giggled.)   

Serious about her first pet fish.

Goldie Rainbow Victoria is safe and snug in her own BRIGHT PINK fish tank.  We let you pick out the tank accoutrements and you (naturally) chose pink rocks, a pink plant and a pink thing for Goldie to hide in.  You also wanted an Easter Island statue in there but I thought Goldie might need a little more room to stretch her fins. 

Hope Goldie likes pink! 

On Sunday, we had a spa and tea party at our house for you and a few friends from preschool.  I was so busy dishing out hot chocolate and other party stuff that I forgot to take a single picture.  Luckily one of your godparents snapped this one. We had great help from the other moms and some of the older girls and we painted finger nails, made bead necklaces and had a tea party with your Great Grandma Dunlap's blue willow china. You had strong opinions about the decorations and the menu but I think you were happy with the way it all turned out. 

Reina, I say this every year but I cannot believe you are five.  You told everyone at preschool that you were leaving for kindergarten right after your birthday and you really wish that were true.  You write your name beautifully and you told me today that 40 + 60 = 100.  You will be more than ready for August to roll around but I know I'll get just as teary dropping you off as I did with your brother. 

You stopped taking naps last month and I feel like we've shed the last little vestiges of toddlerhood around here.  When you were sick this week, I actually enjoyed getting a chance to take care of you because you are usually running around here too fast for me to sit and cuddle for a while.  (The Florence Nightingale aspect of the week evaporated around Thursday when you were yelling for a kleenex and had three boxes within arm's reach but let's cut each other some slack on that one, okay?)

My little Raisin, you are a busy, busy kid.  You love to do art projects and I'm currently sitting at the kitchen table in a pile of crafts that you've (semi) completed this week.  Your room is in a state of perpetual disarray because you love all of your toys and I'll walk by and see the miniature ponies having a picnic with the baby doll while the cats and the baby monkey watch from the bed.  You have really taken to your dance class and you twirl and jump through the house.  You also love music and we all know the complete lyrics to the movie "Frozen" because it's blaring from you room just about every waking minute.  Even Will walks around singing "Let it go.... let it go...."

You love your big brother and (most of the time) you are a willing ninja, star wars, soldier girl following along on the mission.  You are delighted by your baby cousin and have a list of things you want to teach her - among them how to eat and use the toilet.  I'm sure your aunt and uncle will appreciate that assistance.  You talk about all of your extended family members and get frustrated when I say that we'll see them sometime soon (and won't give specific dates). 

Reina, five years ago you made our family complete.  Today, you make it infinitely more entertaining and you keep us on our toes with your energy and enthusiasm for life.  We love you, Reina girl.  Happy fifth birthday! 

Ice fishing and other things to talk about besides football

Greetings from a subdued Pauley household.  Well, I'm not even actually there right now (on a work trip), but it was subdued when I left.  Okay fine, I was the most subdued.  That thing that we don't need to talk about that happened on Sunday bummed us all out but we look forward to next year and hope to see the Broncos back in the SB.  Before the big game, we had a busy weekend! 

 

On Friday, Reina attended cheerleader camp at one of the local high schools.  She was really excited to give it a go.  When I dropped her off, she held my hand as we walked into the gym but once she saw all of the campers and cheerleaders in a circle, she dropped my hand and off she went. 

 

The whole camp performed at halftime of the basketball game that night.  When I first picked her up, she told me that she didn't want to do the big dance.  I said that was just fine but as halftime approached, she changed her mind.

Lining up with the rest of the campers. I think I told say "Go Thunderbirds!"  Or she's giving me an order.

Reina being lifted.  She was very serious about the whole endeavor and didn't crack many smiles. 

My favorite cheerleader and her favorite cheerleader.

 

 

On Saturday, Glenn took the kids ice fishing while I stayed home and didn't ice fish.  For the record, I had a ton of chores and it was cold outside.  Ice fishing was a huge hit.  We have some bonafide Wyoming kids on our hands. 

Will and Reina and one poor fish.  I washed their coats Saturday night because Reina carried the fish around all afternoon. 

 

Will's turn!  I think Reina's hat makes her look a little like an Ewok.  In a pink jacket. 

Reina and Will and their new best friend, one of Glenn's friend and co-worker who is also a really patient ice fisherman who doesn't mind being shadowed by two very interested mini-humans.

 These two kiddos sure love being outside, even when there are several inches of snow on the ground and temperatures in the teens.  The thermos of hot chocolate certainly helps but these two genuinely like stomping around in the snow.  Which is good, because it's February. Winter is here. 

Bunhead

After Reina's soccer game a few weeks ago when she complained about being punched in the arm, I finally made a decision that I'd been dancing (ha!) around for a few months.  I called and signed Reina up for pre-dance at a local ballet school. She's been asking to go to a dance class, cheerleader class, cheerleader dance class, etc., for quite a while now.  And why not, right?  Just because I don't have a graceful bone in my body, well... maybe she will.  On Wednesday night, I picked up her early from school, helped her into the tights and leotard, bought a brand new pair of ballet shoes and we waited for her class to start.  She was a whirling dervish in the waiting room, spinning, jumping, 'mom watch this'-ing.  When the teacher came to get the class, Reina followed her without a look back.  On Saturday mornings at soccer, she'll often need a personal hand-holding escort before she joins the team.  Not at dance class.  As I watched her through the parent window, she followed directions, learned the ballet positions and had a great time for 60 minutes.  Watch out world, Reina's ready to dance. 

A Great Day and a slightly weird ending

On Sunday, Glenn and I (thanks to the amazing generosity of Aunt Vicky and Uncle Matt) headed to Denver to watch the Broncos in the AFC Championship.  It was an amazing day and the best sporting event I've ever attended.  The Broncos led the whole time and while the ending was a little nerve-wracking, the good guys won.  I have a ton of pictures but first, how we started off the day: 

We've got spirit yes we do, we've got spirit how 'bout you?  Bronco Fever was racing through the Pauley house Sunday morning. 

Will found my old Elway jersey and even though he swims in it, it didn't stop him from wearing it the rest of the day. 

He looks like a natural, doesn't he? 

After dropping the kids off with Grandma and Pop-pop (thank you!), Glenn and I headed to the stadium. It was one of the days where everything worked perfectly. We didn't have any traffic to deal with, found a cheap(ish) parking spot and walked to the stadium. We arrived early enough to grab some lunch and watch all of the pregame activities. The weather was perfect - 60 degrees (in January!). I was too nervous to really enjoy much of the game but that's a topic for my sports psychologist to tackle.  

We had orange pom-poms waiting for us at each seat.  The playoffs!  Fancy! 

Balloons at kick-off and the view from our seats.  It's not as bad as it looks, plus there's a giant tv to bring everything a little closer.  AND we remembered the binoculars. 



Team introductions and the smoking Bronco. 

Glenn was Super Fan on Sunday. Usually he has a more stoic approach to sporting events. A couple of well-placed "whoo hoo's" and short bursts of applause are all the emotion he needs to show.  But on Sunday, he was loud and jumping up and down, shaking his fanny to the music and making up for the fact that I barely muttered a peep. 

Super Bronco Fan

Game over!  Players running onto the field.  I may have cried a little bit.  It was also amazing that when the clock reached 0:00, no one left the stadium.  I've never seen that happen.

Former UW player Mitch Unrein now a Bronco. 

The final score! 

Confetti cannons and players (in white) high fiving the fans. 

After the game, we picked up the kids and headed back north.  Reina was a little sniffly and complaining of a cold but we didn't think anything of it.  Fast forward a few hours after bedtime (I was still awake watching Sports Center) and I hear a noise that at first I think is the neighbor's dog barking, but it's actually Reina with the croup.  I woke up Glenn, got dressed and took her to our newly remodeled ER.  It's a great facility but not a place that I enjoy visiting at midnight.  Reina got a breathing treatment and they kept an eye on her for a few hours and we stumbled home in the wee hours.  Reina's still a little sniffly today but feeling better.  It wouldn't be a three-day weekend without a little drama. 

Is this the face that launched a thousand ships?

No, actually this is the face belonging to the almost 5-yr old who was "punched" in the arm by someone on the opposing soccer team during Saturday's game.  After the alleged incident, she didn't cry but she marched off of the floor, over to us and gave us a report of the punching.  When I told her that the person probably didn't mean to punch her, he was just going after the soccer ball and just accidentally ran into her, Reina was not satisfied with that answer but she did go back into the game.  But not before she walked over to the other team's coach (who was also on the field, which is not even a field but an indoor gymnasium, indoor soccer is confusing) and told the coach about the punching.  The coach was very kind about it and Reina eventually ended up playing with a tad more enthusiasm.  But after the game she told us that she wants us to talk to the offending player's parents before the next game.  So maybe full contact sports won't be her thing? 

Teeth

Will lost that last pesky top tooth over the holiday break.  At the end, it was hanging in sideways and at a weird (icky) angle.  The tooth popped out during his one day of parks & rec program last week while Glenn and I were both at work.  It's not a violent story, just 6-yr old boys playing board games and somehow someone's tooth pops out. Said tooth was probably hanging on by the tiniest of threads and needed just a strong gust of wind to let go. 

 

Tonight as we were working on homework, I had to get a few pictures of my favorite first grader.  Vampire fangs and all. 

The top teeth are just starting to come in.  I like to watch him try to eat an apple. 

This is what happens when I say, "Smile and show me your teeth!"

 Look at this big kid!  Where's that little toddler who was marching around the house like last week? 

After the tooth finally fell out, we had a near crisis on our hands the next morning.  The Tooth Fairy forgot to make her nightly visit.  I had taken the day off and was trying to catch a few extra minutes of sleep when I heard Will tear down the stairs and yell, "Dad!  The Tooth Fairy forgot me!"  At that moment, the Tooth Fairy might've muttered 'aw crap.'  I got up right away and explained that it had been super windy the night before and the Tooth Fairy has a lot of trouble flying in the wind and that she'd surely be there the next night.  She was and she even left an extra dollar for an interest payment.  Besides the windy conditions, the Tooth Fairy may or may not have also discovered Magnum PI reruns on one of the tv channels and lost track of time.... 

Is it still the holidays?

It is on this blog!  I have a backlog of pictures to get on here before the new year gets any further down the road and a thousand little stories to memorialize.  We've had a nice vacation and while today is the official last day, I think most of us are ready to get back to the routine. 

A few weekends ago, we trekked to the mall to visit Santa (more pictures of that excursion below).  When we got home, Reina was getting out of the car and somehow whacked herself with the car door (she is my child after all).  This goose egg prompted me to call Glenn at work to make sure it wasn't ER-worthy.  It wasn't but she had this pretty mark for quite a while. 

Droopy not-quite-concussion girl.  Ouch!

Before break, we had Will's Christmas program.  He's right smack dab in the middle of this picture.  He was a slightly reluctant participant but he knew the songs and the dance moves. 

Second row from the top, right smack dab in the middle.  Red shirt.

On the last day of school, Will's brave teacher had the kids make gingerbread houses. I took a few hours off to go help.  There was about 100 pounds of frosting and lots and lots of candy and doodads for the house.  She even had teddy grahams in case any of the kids wanted to full their houses with 'people.'  Will's creation wouldn't have met any HOA requirements but it was definitely creative.  And luckily there weren't any teddy graham battles or massacres on the front lawn. 

He's serious about a lot of things, and that includes frosting the gingerbread house.

Will is turning into quite the sports fan and Broncos fever is running rampant through the house.  On Sunday mornings after church, he makes sure all of us are wearing our Broncos gear (even little sisters who aren't convinced that orange matches the tulle skirt she's wearing).  It's a little bittersweet for me because I'm so glad he likes watching the games but frankly I can barely handle my disappointment when they lose and I'm not sure I'm capable of soothing anyone else's disappointed hearts.  Hopefully I won't have to deal with that during the postseason.  Fingers crossed! 

Is this a boy's shirt? 

Super fan!

I even squeezed my noggin into Will's helmet.  It's only weird if it doesn't work! 

As I mentioned, we all bundled up and took everyone to the mall for the annual picture with Santa.  This year had an added level of excitement because Baby Cousin joined us!  This sweet little girl didn't even cry when she sat on Santa's lap. 

Reina loves to kiss Baby Cousin.  Here she is mid-smooch. 

On Christmas Eve, we went to the services at Aunt Vicky and Uncle Matt's church.  The church had a small nativity scene program and Vicky and Matt had the starring roles as Mary and Joseph with Baby Cousin as the Blessed Baby.  The program needed extra supporting characters and Will and Reina initially wanted to be involved.  On the day of, Will's shyness got the better of him and he didn't want to participate.  Reina found out she was going to be a shepherd and she grumbled about that all the way to church. When we arrived, the people in charge said, "Oh, are you one of our angels?!"  The light came on in her face and her disposition greatly changed.  Taaaa daaaaa!!

Angelic Reina

Last week, Glenn and I asked Reina if she wanted to be in the movies when she grows up.  She said yes and I wasn't sure she even understood what that meant.  A few hours later, she told me that she wants her first movie to be Batman because she wants to play Batgirl.  Watch out Hollywood. 

After all of the Christmas festivities, we had some nice days just playing at home.  We watched football and went swimming.  Both kiddos spent some time with Pop-pop and Grandma.  We shopped and (over) ate good food.  We went to a great New Year's Eve party where Glenn won a hand of bingo despite only playing one card and the rest of were juggling two or three.  We watched a lot of movies and tried out Will's new Battleship game.  He beat me fair and square.  We have so much to look forward to in 2014 and I think I'm ready to get it started.  Happy New Year!!