The Cabbage Patch

Gramma's Outfits

Today, we went to our favorite photo place and took birthday pictures for the oldest two.  Usually, I'm pretty good about having great outfits ready for pictures, but this year I've been 10 steps behind schedule.  Luckily, Gramma had brought great outfits for their birthday presents.  Here they are before leaving to take pictures.

I have to add the next photo because you can see the mood Pumpkin was in.  She was quite upset she didn't have a new outfit to change into.  Fortunately, a change of clothes helped calm her down a bit but then she turned around to get her hair redone and I had already left.  According to Ben, she cried, "My hair!" while clutching her head and just had a meltdown.  Obviously, it had not stopped by the time she came downstairs.

Please ignore the closet.  I wish I had closed it before taking the photo.

Pumpkin's Day in Pictures

In sequence from morning until dessert time (a rarity in this house):

She was talking on the phone with Gramma.

My Little Star

No, really, she played a star with her ballet class.  She is in a class with other 5 and 6 year olds.  This particular class is very talented (the teacher's words not mine).  Her ankle was still hurting quite a bit on Saturday.  She did perform but limited the leaps and jumps.  She did wonderfully.  I did have a Mama Bear moment when the audience was laughing because she walked on stage instead of doing arabesque jumps.  They thought she didn't know her steps.  Anyway, it didn't ruin the moment.  I was so proud of her.  She rested for two and half days.  She danced so very well.  I could tell her ankle was bothering her, but she did a fabulous job.  I couldn't take pictures of the actual dance (copyright issues) but I did take before and after pictures.

Showing me she could stand on her right ankle.

There's my nephew!!!

Pumpkin, after that full day of birthday fun, decided she'd had enough and fell asleep towards the end of the first act.  She slept through the entire all the applause.  She slept until we arrived home only to wake and not want to sleep.

The ballet school is a classical ballet school.  They only teach ballet and it's a very good school.  I appreciate what they do for these girls (and one boy).  The recital is an actual ballet that the girls from the youngest to oldest perform--it was written by a local person (well, she lives in the state) for the school.  The teacher coordinates and works with the author to choreograph a wonderful show.  This year it was "A Princess Tale:  Lesedi's Ribbon".  It was magical. 

Here's one more shot of my little star.

So Blessed

Brother called me as I was closing his door after our good nights.

Brother:  "I'm going to find a woman who's not married, who is Catholic and whose last name is Powers when I grow up."

Me:  "She doesn't have to be named Powers, Brother.  She'll change her name to Powers when you get married."

Brother, exhibiting some relief:  "Oh, okay."

He's too cute and I'm truly blessed.

Dessert

*Quality is not great because it was taken with my camera phone.

Pumpkin Attacks

Please see what one of my children did with the Spear of the Fear of God.

Too Cute

Pumpkin was being just too cute today.  Take a look for yourself.

Amen.

Bowing before communion.  She really pays attention during mass!!

Who's that?

She just prays everywhere!!  Oh, and she's wearing fresh jammies in the last two pictures.  She has a bad cold so I kept her in her jammies since they keep her footsies so nice and toasty (she refuses to wear socks in the house).  Normally, I wouldn't worry too much about it, but it's freezing here and we're not used to it.