Alphabet Birthday Party

Since Nora has been getting so great at her ABCs, we decided her birthday party this year would have an alphabet theme, and we’re going to get great play areas from www.softplaymanufacturers.co.uk just for the party as well. While I was running around getting the last few things ready and putting the food out, Blake grabbed my camera and took a few photos of the decorations. Things maybe aren’t as staged as I would like, but thank goodness he took matters in hand or we wouldn’t have any documentation at all.

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You can see in the photos that there are homemade flag garlands everywhere, some stamped with all the letters of the alphabet, and some spelling out ‘happy birthday.’ We had paper letters dangling from the light over the dining table, and alphabet blocks in piles and on cake stands. The cake (although unfortunately not super delicious) was an ‘N’ surrounded by Alphabits cereal and a few letter-shaped fruit snacks, and the refreshments were more fruit snacks, letter-shaped toasts broiled with olive oil, letter-shaped chicken nuggets, and as many other foods that are served with dips as we could think of. Nora is big on dipping.
More importantly, where are the photos of Nora? Again, I’m glad someone picked up the camera and took pictures of the party action, but I have no idea who it was. Thank you, mystery guest!

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I did use the camera myself to take individual photos of all the guests (kind of like we did last year for her pillowcase), but I am exercising restraint and not posting all of those. You’re welcome, everybody! This year, each person chose a letter and drew their own flashcard for Nora to practice with, and we’re putting the photos on the backs. The cards all turned out so different and so adorable, and maybe at some point if I get my act together I’ll share them with you here.

ganging up

Zoo membership is the best. This time, Nora, Alex, and I met up with Shantelle and Abby and their neighbors. Toddlers surprisingly don’t care much about the animals, though–it’s all about the fountain, the playground, and the train.

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Independence Day

Celebrating our country’s independence in the Taylors’ driveway with food, music, sparklers, and ridiculous headgear: hopefully a tradition in the making.

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Water Painting

Two paintbrushes, two buckets of water, and a stretch of cement.  Swimsuits optional.

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she speaks for the trees

Ever since Grandma read Nora The Lorax, her favorite spot on our walk around the block has become this stump. She stands up there and dramatically announces that she is the Lorax. I think we need to read the book again so that she can expand the game.

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Hogle Zoo

One of the best parts of Blake being laid off is that he can go to the zoo with me, Nora, and Alex. A 2:2 kids-to-adults ratio is a lot more fun than 2:1.

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Wednesday

Jillian and Rylee joined us for our weekly walk around the block with Alex.

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zooin’

This is Nora’s favorite shirt to wear to the zoo. She likes to match the zebras.

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run around the block

This is one of those days Nora and Alex took their walk around the block at a dead run. The house with the hedges is their favorite place to stop and explore–it’s for sale, and I helpfully included the phone number here so you can put in an offer.

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