Ninja Henry Turns Four

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Birthday Party...everyone little boy has to have one.

Cowabunga dude!

So here's the key to an awesome TMNT birthday bash.

Invite all your heroes in a half-shell.

Make sure you do well on the TMNT training course.

And don't forget to complete the wall climb.

And then be ready for a surprise attack...

because Shredder could be right around the corner.

Star throwing for the little Ninjas was a favorite activity.

Frances is too young for all the Ninja nonsense.

So she and Bubba just imitate each other as usual!

The Ninja Turtle pinata was difficult to crack...as usual!

Mother of the little Ninja always plans the funnest parties.

I can't believe that Henry is four years old already.

He is intelligent, so very sweet, and speaks his mind whenever you ask him his opinion.

Claire and Sami didn't really care much for the party stuff. You should have seen her giggle right after Sami slurped her face with doggy kisses.

Childhood is marked with birthday cake after birthday cake.

This year it's a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle party. Next year...who knows!

But the memories Henry will have of this day will forever be in his dreams. And joy remembered is twice sweet!

We got such a kick out of this photo...Bubba with two of the youngest party goers. Would you believe that although he obviously weighs several more pounds than Frances...adorable chubby Bennett is actually 2 months younger than petite Frances.

Her smiles tend to steal the show these days...

as does her photo bombing Daddy.

Henry...what a great party! Let's have some more pizza dude...or rather cake that is!

And Frances and I will have a Diet Coke to go with it.

The Kitchen Cabinet

Apple pie, chocolate chip cookies, and stone soup were among the imaginary recipes I made as a child in this little wooden kitchen cabinet.

My father, handy with wood shop skills, crafted it from his own design and hands. Dad signed the back of his creation and placed it near the Christmas tree...where two-year old little Lisa discovered the treasure.

My brothers might tell you I was spoiled...being the youngest and the only girl in the family. 

But I would tell you that I was just loved.

As I stepped through my childhood...my kitchen evolved from a  little wooden play kitchen...to playing in Mom's big kitchen...to sharing a college kitchen with roommates...and finally having a kitchen in my own home.

But the little wooden kitchen sat in a corner basement room...

just waiting for someone to open up the doors and let their culinary imagination run wild.

On the occasion of Olivia's first birthday a couple of years ago...my parents hauled the well-loved kitchen into her birthday party and presented little Olivia with her very own first kitchen.

Where Olivia and Henry have been stirring and cooking and baking delightful things ever since.

Do you think Olivia can smell the imaginary cookies stirred and baked in this little treasure by her Nana when I was just three years old?

Although childhood was long ago for me...I still feel the wonder and allure of every age I once was.

I am among those holding to the belief of...

once a child, always a child.

"Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one." Dr. Seuss

Count All the Bees In The Hive

Christopher Robin and I walked along

 Under branches lit up by the moon.

 Posing our questions to Owl and Eeyore

 As our days disappeared all too soon.


But I've wandered much further today than I should

And I can't seem to find my way back to the wood


So, help me if you can I've got to get

 Back to the House at Pooh Corner by one.

 You'd be surprised there's so much to be done,

Count all the bees in the hive.

Chase all the clouds from the sky.

 Back to the days of Christopher Robin and Pooh.

It's hard to explain how a few precious things

 seem to follow throughout all of our lives

After all's said and done I was watching my son

 sleeping there with my bear by his side.

 so I tucked him in, kissed him, and as I was going

 I swear that old bear whispered "Boy, welcome home".

Believe me if you can I finally came

Back to the house at pooh corner by one.

Back to the days of Christopher Robin

Back to the ways of Christopher Robin

Back to the days of Pooh...