Faces

Most of the time when I take pictures of the kids, the pictures I love are where they are smiling and looking sort of normally at the camera, but these days that is not often the pictures I am getting around here. Marissa in particular loves to make crazy faces at the camera. Is this a five year old thing?! Thank goodness for digital cameras otherwise we would probably only have crazy making face pictures from this year and the last.

When I think about why I like them to be smiling in pictures, I think it's because it makes me feel like I am doing a good job as a Mommy if they seem happy in photos. I think I know that they are happy, but it is just like a little seconding motion in my head that all is well in their lives if they look happy in photos. Does anyone else feel this way? The silly face pictures will continue to come no doubt and we will have many for the record/photo albums. Maybe I should make a photo album of just ridiculous faces, that would probably always be amusing to look at on hard days!




Probably, the "Mom, will you please quit
asking me to smile" face. I was trying to
capture the blue ribbons in her hair for "blue day"
at school for the record.

 

Marissa turns FIVE!

 

Holy cow, I can't believe Leo and I have a 5 year old! Well, every year I want to have a birthday party for the kids and Leo wants to do something chill, but this year I won, ha! Marissa had a luau themed party which I tried to plan weeks in advance to leave as little as possible to the last minute, given having a 3 month old and 2 year old. I think we did pretty well. Now I just need to figure out what to do with all of these leftover luau decorations, Daddy is taking care of the leftover Mai Tais;)

As for our big girl, she is really, really growing up. Her expressions, mannerisms, the tones she uses, just everything screams I am a big kid now! It is nice, she is so much more independent then ever before and she started kindergarten just this last week a few short days after her birthday! Quite a week! A birthday with a party on the 19th, our 6th wedding anniversary on the 20th (our baby girl was so close to being born on our anniversary!) and then 4 days later she started kindergarten! Phew, I am exhausted. Note to self for next year when I want to have another big party, I felt totally hungover Monday after the party even though I only had one sip of Mai Tai from sheer birthday party throwing exhaustion! Somebody please remind me next year that I should go with Leo's attitude of doing something very small.

Here are some photos from her big day!!!!!!

bounce house fun!

Devin & Teddy with Nai Nai

This boy LOVES his baby brother!

Ahahaha, I love Teddy's tough guy look here!

Teddy and yea yea



Marissa's Amazing cake, made by a friend of ours, let me know if you are
need a baker to make an amazing cake for your party!

M


Enjoying a hibiscus flower!
 

Minor meltdown @ cake time resulting in this,
everything was fine in the end though.

Aunt Vicky aka Aunt Kiki. I have a feeling Marissa may listen to
her more then anyone else in the world!

Typical Oliver



Luau Girls!

This picture reminds me to tell you to ask Daddy about
the "helium shortage" story when you get older.

Mai Tai Master