What a day! After presents this morning, Molly's neighbor friend Rhys came over for a special play date. Playing with Rhys is always a big treat for Molly and I think both kids had a good time today. Rhys tends to be pretty quiet and Molly was so pumped up that she was practically dancing circles around him trying to get him to play. She's started telling him what to do -- "Rhys, sit at table. Rhys. Sit here. Rhys." -- and he just stares at her. He didn't want to leave, though, so I hope that's a good sign.
After nap, Molly helped me make cupcakes (while simultaneously baking pretend cookies in her own kitchen). We had noodles in tomato sauce for her special dinner. That's the closest we could get to fulfilling her birthday request, which was to have tomatoes for dinner. The cupcakes were her choice, too. She wanted vanilla cupcakes with whipped cream and rainbow sprinkles. I tried pretty hard on several occasions to talk her into putting chocolate frosting on but she wouldn't have it.
So here she is with her cupcake.
She's smiling here because she really got us. I walked over to the table very slowly with the candles lit, Jim with the camera, both of us singing.
We got through "Happy birthday dear Molly..." and POOF! She blew out the candles. We just stared at her, stunned, then cracked up. How did she even know that's what she was supposed to do?
Jim lit them again to give her a chance to make a wish and have a little more ceremony about it. He said "OK, I'm going to count to three ..." POOF! Molly grins. We laugh. Everybody gobbles down cupcakes.
This is a shot from earlier in the day, chillin' in the kitchen with yet another cup of tea and the new baby doll that she picked out. I've been trying to get her to pick a name, but the only one she comes up with is Harry. I tell that one's already taken, can she think of another? Yes, she says. Baby Doll. As if all her dolls aren't already named Baby Doll.
Little House on the Prairie party, beginning with Uncle David's hay ride.
Patting Freddy's head.
Christmas morning:
We actually had four Christmases but I'm just realizing I stopped taking photos after about 11 a.m. so the rest will have to live in our memories.
She's smiling here because she really got us. I walked over to the table very slowly with the candles lit, Jim with the camera, both of us singing.
Molly helped at the machine. She can lift and lower the presser foot and sit on my lap while we sew. She also helped pick fabric and figure out sizing on the baby, which she then named Harry. We gave Harry a sponge bath and now she's a part of the family.
Molly must have been good this year because Sinterklaas has left her lots of goodies.
A Very Lucky Man
Here Molly puts some hay and some carrots in her wooden shoes for Sinterklaas.
...and puts them by the door.
We're pretty sure she doesn't quite understand the whole concept, but she's pretty excited anyway.
And got lots of quality cousin time.
She did so well that I let the hair dresser give her a little lollipop afterward. Molly was so innocent. She carried it around for a while not knowing what it was until I told her to taste it. Then she asked "what this?" quite a few times and practiced the word "lollipop" -- just in case she needs that word again. ;)
Yay!
All set to get going...
Molly did very well at the trick-or-treating, though she was a bit stunned. We didn't get a single "trick-or-treat" and only one barely audible thank you, but she did manage to hold up her bag and wave goodbye to almost everyone. The costume was a big hit and got many comments from not only the people distributing candy but they many passers-by as well. She really hit her stride after we got back home.
Molly had way more fun putting candy in the kids' bags when they came to our door. She sat on the stoop for 30-40 minutes and had lots of fun. Above we see her waiting to hand out handfuls of candy. Towards the end of the evening there weren't enough kids stopping by for her so she decided to go find some. She walked down the front steps and took off down the sidewalk at a sprint, candy in hands, giggling insanely. I didn't have any shoes on so Jim chased after her. The sprinting chef went back and forth past the front of the house at least three times and had many of the neighbors laughing as she flew passed with her father in hot pursuit. All in all a good night and certainly the most fun Jim and I have had on Halloween.
Aside from the shrieking of sugared up first-graders that greeted us when we walked through the door, nothing at the party seemed to bother her. She found the food table right away and slowly worked her way into a chocolate stupor, then washed it all down with a juice box. Good thing she wasn't driving home.
