Look Out World! Anni's 5!

We've all had those days that just do not go as planned. Well, Anni turned 5 on Monday the 15th and we didn't get to celebrate until Saturday, but we had plans. We found a Chuck E. Cheese about an hour and a half away and we planned to surprise Anni with an all-day event. Shopping for presents first then end at Chuck's place. Well, as usual things happened and James ended up on call and we couldn't go that far out of the area. Good thing we had not let Anni in on the plans. I was really bummed, because Anni doesn't have many friends her age and we weren't going to have a traditional party and I wanted the three of us to have a special day together. But I was determined that everything would turn out okay! We asked Anni where she wanted to go shopping for her presents and she screamed, Walmart! But after we offered her the "toy store" (aka Toys R Us) she changed her tune. She had not been there since before Christmas and I think she had forgotten it existed, but she soon remembered. When then started our day at TRU and she had a blast. She had to ride everything, play with everything, and of course wanted everthing. We made our purchases and asked the birthday girl where she wanted to go for dinner expecting "TACO BELL" or "PIZZA HUNT", neither of which are on mommy's diet! Well, at the top of her lungs she cries, "I wanna go to Cwackow Bawwowl!" (aka Cracker Barrel) We both looked at each other and I said, "works for me."
Of course after dinner we had to stop at the toy section, then the traditional game of checkers on the porch. Anni just steals all the game pieces and declares herself the winner. Gonna have to work on that, but hey she's only 5! It is so fun to watch how much she loves life.
Next, we headed home to play with the presents.

While we were in the toy store we asked Anni what she wanted for her birthday. First she said she wanted "lots and lots o bawbees" and "lots and lots o tuff to go wiff em", which she got. Then she spied something and went crazy! "Daddy Daddy! I want one of dem! Pwees, pweese, peese!!!!"

Yes folks, a Hannah Montana skateboard complete with gloves, elbow pads and knee pads. And I wish you could have seen the look on James' face when he asked her if she was sure she wanted to learn to ride a skateboard and our beautiful five year old daughter assures him it will be okay because Cody has one and he can teach her! Cody is the boy next door that turned 14 years old the very next day. James' eyes sort of glazed over but he held it together. Needless to say, the girl got the board, and she didn't do half bad! I was impressed! It was funny how when Cody came out to see us, James suddenly said it was time for the skateboard to go in the garage. Then it was late and we had to go in for our little cake which again is not on Mommy's diet but I cheated just this once.

Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday dear Anni. Happy Birthday to you. (And many more)


Before I go, I must relate a funny story that happened the next evening. We went into town to get a few groceries and when we returned home Anni was helping James get the groceries out of the trunk of the car. In the process he accidentally smacked Anni in the middle of the forehead with a box of Capri Sun Roarin' Waters. Of course, he dropped his bags and checked her out saying, "I'm sorry baby are you alright?" She grabbed her head, rolled her eyes (so sarcastically) and said "yeah Daddy I'm alwite!" While she was walking over to me, I tried to make light of the situation. I thought it might hurt and was going to smooth it over while I was checking her over myself. So, I said,"I saw Daddy try to knock you out! What are we gonna do with him?" While rubbing her forehead, in a perplexed tone of voice, she shook her head and said, "I don't know...................we can't kill him!"

I almost peed my pants. James is now sleeping with one eye open! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! You gotta love the girl!

My Little BullPup

Well, I promised a blog about Anni's first official day of Kindergarten and here it is!
Waking up earlier was not very fun for Anni but she has adjusted very well. Once we were out of bed at 6:45 we had to get dressed in just the right outfit. Anni was not very happy with any of my choices, however, I was not thinking wearing a bathing suit to school would have been well-recieved. In the end Mommy won the battle.

We packed our new princes backpack and High School Musical Lunchbox and then it was time for breakfast. Anni requested milk and waffles with grape jelly; the breakfast of champions no doubt. Then it was out to the car.

Getting into the spirit of things Anni had to pose by her new BullPup magnet on the back of the car. It didn't show up real well but Anni's cute anyway. Then it was time to buckled in and head off for the big day! I think Anni was a little nervous, but she is such a trooper, it was hard to really tell. When we arrived at the school, we were routed to the cafeteria, then to Mrs. Johnson's room. Anni looked a little overwhelmed and I thought she might cry, but I realized this was the first time she had been in the school with "all" the rest of the kids. Of course, they were everywhere. The hallways were crowded and bustling with activity. She held on to my pants leg for dear life. I stopped and told her, everything was okay, and that we wouldn't leave her until we got her settled in with her teacher. As we approached her classroom door, Mrs. Johnson stepped out, and all of the anxiety simply drained from Anni's little body. Mrs. Johnson was Anni's Teacher the last week of the Jumpstart program this summer and she new from the Kindergarten orientation day, that Mrs. Johsnon would be her official teacher this year. I was so happy to see her relax and feel secure with her. Mrs. Johnson is a good Christian woman and goes to the church we attend. Again, God is taking care of us.

Then it was time for Mommy and Daddy to go home so we left our little BullPup to make her way into the world. It was scary but I handled it much better than the first day of Jumpstart.

At 2:30 I found myself sitting in the car counting down the minutes until Anni would be led out the door. The Kindergarten classes are brought out of the building through a different door than everyone else and walked to the recieving area by an aid so the parents can pick them up right at the fence. I waited and waited and then there she was. If you look really close you can see the pink lunchbox on the left side near the bush. That's my little girl. Only she's not so little anymore.