Morgan's First Mani/Pedi!

Today Morgan had to go to the doctor for her 5-year check up. She was totally fine with the doctor visit, but was terrified that she was going to have to get shots. She kept asking me if she would get shots, I told her she had to take it up with the doctor :). When the doctor told her she was going to have to have shots, she turned to me and said "I told you if I had to have shots, I'M LEAVING!" It was all Mom and I could do not to laugh. So while we were waiting for the nurse to come in with the shots, Morgan was trying desperately to find a way out of the room. First she asked me to open the window so she could crawl out. When I told her there were no locks to open the window, the following conversation ensued:

Morgan: "Mommy, why don't you go get a bomb, and you can put it right here (gesturing to the corner) and we can blow a hole in the wall here and I can climb out"

Me (snickering): "And just where do you want me to get a bomb?"

Morgan: "At the bomb store!"

We waited almost 10 minutes until the nurse came in. At this point Morgan was hiding behind my mother instructing us that we were to tell the nurse that she wasn't there. Unfortunately for her, she was "found" and then the real work began. Morgan began pleading with the nurse, in a scream, not to give her shots while huge crocodile tears ran down her face. It took me and two nurses to hold her down. She was "that kid" that you hear from 6 doors away who is screaming about shots. What was funny was as the first shot went in, she INSTANTLY stopped crying and said "Oh, that didn't hurt!". What a kid.

Stats for our 5 year old: 46 lbs (80th percentile), 44 inches (85th percentile). Her doctor estimates that she will be approximately 5'6" when she gets older. Taller than Mama!

So after such a traumatic start to the day, Mom decided to treat all the girls to manis and pedis! Mom and I opted only for pedicures, but Morgan went all out on her first mani/pedi experience.



Picking out her polish for her fingers....pink. Purple for the toes, of course.

It was a super fun trip to do with my girly girl. I hope there are many more of these to come in the future!

Pool Fun

Morgan has been thoroughly enjoying the new pool she got for her birthday. Our little fish would spend all day in there if I'd let her! Next week we are off to swim lessons so one day she can swim by herself at the big pool!

Day 2--DC weekend with Big DB and Aunt Cecelia

On Sunday Morgan and her Daddy went back into the city with Big DB, Aunt Cecelia, Aunt Pattie, and Matt. Mama was hurting from walking so much the day before, and Mutti had hurt her knee, so we stayed home with Papa and picked blueberries.

Daddy reported that Morgan had a really great time in the museums of the Smithsonian. She LOVED the Neanderthal burial ritual exhibit (future forensic scientist or archeoloist on our hands??) the most, and she got to see the original ruby red slippers from The Wizard of Oz. She had a really great day and spent most of the day with her Aunt Cecelia seeing exhibits, holding hands, and having fun.

She insisted on standing on the metro. She loved to hold on to the pole and get "thrown" around when the train would start and stop.

In front of the Botanical Gardens

Looking at an exhibit with Big DB and Aunt Cecelia

Look at all the pretty rocks!

Trying to pick up an ancient chest with Aunt Cecelia. It didn't work!

Just chillin' with an old rock.

Posing with Dorothy's ruby slippers. When asked if she had the same shoes, she said "Yes, but not with high heels". Cute.

It was a great, but whirlwind trip to DC. I look forward to when Morgan gets a little older and we can spend more time in the museums as she learns to appreciate more of the exhibits.

DC Weekend with Big DB and Aunt Cecelia

Yesterday we headed east toward our Nation's capitol for a fun weekend with Big DB and Aunt Cecelia! Morgan's Papa, Mutti, Great-Aunt Pattie, and second cousin Matt came with us for a super fun, packed-full weekend. Today we spent the day walking all around Washington DC, seeing all the major memorials, eating Columbian food (well, Morgan and I didn't, we had regular old American food), and sweating a ton while laughing and generally enjoying time as a family.

What a ham!

Can anyone say DRAMA QUEEN???

She LOVED riding on the DC Metro!

Tomorrow we are off to see some of the museums, then back home for the 4th of July.

Five

5 years old

4 years old

3 years old

2 years old

1 year old

Birth Day, June 30, 2006

My Sweet Daughter,

Today you turn 5 years old. How fast the last five years have flown by. In those past years you have learned so much and grown up from a baby to a fun loving, wonderful little girl. You are a ball full of energy, constantly moving from the moment your eyes open to the time you fall asleep. You are still a night owl like your daddy. You make Mama and Daddy laugh so much with your constant jokes and witty statements. You have the most active imagination. You have created your own play mates (Sister and Boy) and there are no limits to what you will do with them!

You will be starting Kindergarten this year. I can't believe it's time for school! You will be going to St. Francis this fall and you are excited to start school at the "big school". You are learning your alphabet and know how to write. You love to read and draw. I cannot wait to see you start to learn to read this year.

You have one of the kindest spirits I know. You care deeply for your friends and will defend them fiercly. You also feel their pain and their joy. You have a servant's heart. You want to help everyone do everything. Your favorite things right now are swinging, playing in the pool, and creating jewelry. Your favorite TV shows continue to be Penguins of Madagascar, Phineaus and Ferb, and Agent Gibbs (NCIS). We chuckle that you know the characters and dialogue better than we do!

You are amazing, my child, and I love you more than words can say. I thank God that He sent me you, my angel, my sweet first-born. I can't wait to see what this year brings for you and all the wonderful things that will happen as you continue to blossom.

Love always and forever,

Mama

An Enchanted Birthday

Yesterday we had a beautiful, enchanted unicorn birthday party at Marilla Park! Morgan chose the theme months ago and has been waiting with baited breath for the party to finally arrive.


Our friends at Sabbies Sweeties made the cake and cupcakes to really make the party complete. I don't think I've ever eaten a more delicious cake, except maybe our wedding cake :)

The main party attraction was a unicorn pinata, which all the kids LOVED. Each kid had three turns whacking the heck out of the pinata, and we still had to rely on Aunt Lola and some muscle power to break it open. We also had to hire an engineer to hang the silly thing (see below)

Morgan had a special goblet to drink her Kool-Aid from. She hasn't let it go since.

Morgan had 16 of her friends at the party, which was just enough to drive Mama to the brink of craziness. But it was fun. In between decorating their own unicorn horns (sugar cones, icing, and sprinkles in all different colors) and the pinata the kids kept busy playing tag and running off some of the sugar between the trees of the park.

Morgan's best friend, and my crazy niece, Julia

The Birthday Girl and her friend of 5 years, Lydia

Future Mr. and Mrs. James Risk :)

Decorating her unicorn horn with chocolate icing

Messy Face!

Taking a whack at the unicorn...yes I realize the stick is bigger than she is!

New Red Boots!!!

Princess Camel shirt from Saudi Arabia

Opening more gifts

The birthday girl, who turns 5 on Thursday, made out like a bandit. We have a house full of Barbies, My Little Ponies, make-your-own crafts, and other sundry items. She had a great day and fell asleep quickly that evening. I can't believe she's going to be five in a few short days. My how time has flown by. But I must admit that I am glad party planning/party throwing is over for another 365 days or so.

Fun on the Farm

Summer is in full swing here in Small Town USA. Last week Morgan got to spend some time on Nannie and Big Pop's farm while Mommy and Daddy were working. Julia was there, which of course thrilled Morgan to pieces. The girls kept Nannie busy. They played a lot in the pool, painted, played with their dolls, had a picnic and other fun things.

Nannie wanted a few pictures of the girls "on the farm" and since the hay had just been baled in the field we thought that'd be a perfect backdrop. Here are a few that she took.

We were off to Charleston after that to take Julia home and have Morgan's birthday pictures done. I got a sneak peak of those, and the 12 I have seen so far are awesome! I can't wait to share them with you all. Have a great weekend!