Quinn's Party

Not this past weekend, but the weekend before, Quinn had her friend birthday party at our house.  (Yes, that's how behind I am at posting lately!)  Counting Quinn and Sullivan, there were 13 (!!) girls at our house on Sunday.

We were lucky enough to have the zoo come to our house.  The zookeeper brought 4 different animals with her and each girl was allowed to pet them.  The girls (and Ryan) tried predicting what was in the cages (as they had covers over the top).  Some guessed snakes, some guessed monkeys, Ryan guessed a skunk.  Seriously, a skunk?!  

The first animal the zookeeper shared was a chinchilla.  It was so cute and sooo soft (from what I am told!).  

Next, she brought out a hedgehog named Bolt.  He was cute, but according to the girls, nowhere near as soft as the chinchilla.  In fact, some said it was "spiky and sharp"!

Next was a bearded dragon.  It was cute, but it was shedding its skin.  That made it a little less cute when I thought about all that skin potentially falling into my carpet.  

And then the grand finale... we all knew it had to be the best, because who doesn't save the best for last?!  The nice zookeeper reached into her cage and then slowly pulled out a.... SKUNK!  You got it - a real life skunk! In my house!  The girls went wild!  They LOVED Luna the Skunk!  Each girl pet that skunk like it was their household cat - so funny to watch!

Only 2 girls refused to pet the animals... my Sullivan Grace and Livy, our neighbor from next door.  Both girls are 3 years old... both girls are adventurous... and both girls were scared silly of the animals!

Sullivan refusing to pet the animals.

After the zookeeper left with her animals, the girls devoured some cupcakes and ice cream.  They all fit around the table - but barely!

We still had some time to spare before the party was over, so the girls took to the basement and played with all the toys.  Some even took a turn at playing Twister...

Quinn had a great birthday and for that I was grateful!  It is exhausting entertaining a group of girls - even if it is only two hours! Every minute, every second worth it to see the birthday girl so happy!

And Finally....Letter Z

* This is the last of our favorites. When I initially started this endeavor at the start of the school year, I thought that I would finish the project mid-year.  I guess it is ironic that we are approaching the last full week of school and we are finishing this thing up! Oh well!


Quinn - Zoos

Quinn loves to go to the zoo.  It doesn't matter what city she is in, she loves to visit the zoo and take in all the animals.  When you ask Quinn what her favorite animal is at our zoo, it inevitably is the same response.  No hesitation - the alligators.  Why?!  Who knows.

Sullivan - Ziploc Bags

Did you know all snacks taste better coming from a Ziploc baggie?  Well at least that's the case if you are Sullivan Grace!  She attempts to put everything in a baggie.  "I want a snack.... from a baggie.  I get the baggie, Mommy.  I get it."  One would think that we own stock in Ziploc bags - not the case, but maybe it should be.

Ryan - Zip-lining

We went zip-lining when we were in Hawaii last year.  I was not crazy about the idea of doing it, but Ryan's persistence led me to try it.  He is a thrill seeker - a fan of all things dangerous.  I am quite the opposite.  The idea of hanging from a cable by nothing more than a hook and a harness did not thrill me.  After doing zip-lining through the forests of Hawaii, I have to admit that it was pretty fun - not sure that I would do it again willingly but it is checked off my list off things attempted. Ryan had a blast and would do it again without hesitation.  That's the adventuresome side of him that I adore.

Audra - Zotz Candies

I don't know what it is about this type of candy, but I can't get enough of it.  There is a hard candy shell and on the inside is fizz.  I remember them from my childhood when I use to walk or ride my bike to the convenient store with a friend.  We would get rows and rows of them (they come in a row of four) and eat them like crazy.  They have found there way back onto the candy shelves recently and I have relieved those memories of my childhood! I love 'em!

A Sad and Really Gross Tale....

My student teacher and I were talking this past week over lunch.  Somehow we got on the topic of birds and them building nests.  She was sharing that they had a bird at their place that was building a nest in their grill.  I shared with her that I thought that was really gross. That I can't imagine birds building a nest somewhere where I cook my food.  Yuck!  She agreed and said that thankfully there were no eggs in the nest so she and her husband have been trying to remove it.

Fast forward about 8 hours.  I let Duff out to go to the bathroom and I caught something out of the corner of my eye.  It looked like there was straw or hay near our grill.  Then it dawned on me - - - there was a bird building a nest in OUR grill.  How ironic. Yuck. Yuck. Double Yuck!

For fear that something would coming flying at me if I opened up the lid, I waited for Ryan to take care of it when he got back from his trip on Saturday night.  Sunday morning Ryan looked inside and this is what we found:

Gross!

He left it alone for a couple of hours with the thought he would take care of it after lunch.  When he went back to the nest, this is what had happened:

An egg.  That's right.  In the couple hours that Ryan left the nest, a bird lay an egg. Go figure.

The mother in me wanted to leave it there.  The OCD in me wanted it gone.  There was no way we could leave a bird and its nest in our grill.  That just isn't sanitary or right.  And so it had to go.  How sad and how gross - all at once.

Birthday Festivities

I am so far behind on life right now - it is not even funny.  April has come and gone and I am definitely feeling the effects.  It has been a month full of fun - a month full of celebrating birthdays.

Last weekend we had a family get together for Quinn and Sullivan.  They both picked what they wanted for a cake this year - and away I went making them.  Sullivan wanted a Dora cake this year.  As in past years, I always make a practice cake to ensure that I am capable of making what they want.  Ryan told me my practice cake of Dora looked "too American" - that her skin tone was a little too peach.  I darkened up the skin tone on the real cake some and it appears that I darkened it a little too much.  It turns out Dora has a very nice tan!  (Oh well!)

Quinn wanted a bubblegum machine.  I couldn't find a cake pan out there in the shape of a gumball machine, so I had to carve and create one of my own.  Not a professional job, but I think it passes the mark for a six year old's party!

Here are the girls with their cakes.

This year the girls ripped into their presents.  They usually are so orderly and so polite.  Not this year - almost embarrassing really.  They both were spoiled rotten - they got far too many gifts.  All of which were very nice!

Two of our family members attended their very first birthday party ever.  Wish I would have thought of getting some party hats on them to commemorate the event!

All in all the party was a big success!  It was great to have so much wonderful family around who love the girls and want to share in the birthday festivities with them!!

Quinn and Sullivan with Uncle Matt

(this is the only picture I got of family members with the girls - I can't believe that!)

Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl!

Dear Sweet Quinn,

Six short years ago today, you entered the world and changed our lives forever.  You were born to two overjoyed (and clueless) parents!  How we adored you and loved you instantly.  You were (and are) absolutely perfect.

You have grown into such a sweet and kind hearted child.  You love to draw, to color, to make pictures and cards for us all.  You love to go to school and you love your teacher.  You have grown into an excellent reader - so often Sullivan asks you to, "please read to me sister!"  You do so, usually very willingly.  You love to be outside (like your dad) and you are trying diligently to learn to ride your bike without training wheels.  You are doing an amazing job - you just need to learn to turn corners!  You will get the hang of it - no doubt!

Overall you have a very good temperament.  You have a big heart and will often put others needs before your own.  You also have a strong will and a little bit of sass.  That strong will will serve you well later in life.

Quinn, Quinny, Quinner, Q Mac, Quinner Bodinner, Q, Francina, Q Mac Donald, Sweet Pea, Sissy, Sister - whatever we may call you - we love you more than you will ever, ever know!  As I say to you each and every night before bedtime, "You are my sunshine.... and I love you!!!"   Happy 6th Birthday, my love!

Love, Mom and Dad

****************************************************************

Quinn had a great birthday today.  Her dad was unable to spend the evening with her tonight because of a work function, so he took Q and Sullivan out for a birthday donut breakfast.  Quinn picked donuts over my traditional pancake picnic - break.my.heart!  But really, how can you go wrong with donuts?!  Quinn said she had three donuts - holy moly! 

Ryan with Quinn this morning.

Sullivan had a difficult time today accepting that it was her sister's birthday. She wanted the birthday balloons to be for her, she wanted to unwrap presents, she wanted to be the one getting all the attention.  In true Quinn spirit, she allowed her sister to open some of her presents with her.  What six year old would be willing to do that?!  (There is that big heart I referred to above!).

Quinn opening some of her presents...

Quinn sporting her birthday shirt... isn't she cute?!

Most often, Quinn is so poised in her pictures.  She has a nice smile on her face and she is so put together.  It was fun to see her act so silly in these pictures!

Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl! We love you!  

Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame 2012

History has been made!!! Saturday night Randy (Ryan's dad) and his band were inducted into the South Dakota Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame.  Back in the day, Randy was a part of a band that was very successful.  The Original Stingrays/Gordon Bird and the Stingrays played in venues all around the region, even opening up for The Beach Boys here in Sioux Falls.

We were able to join in the festivities Saturday night by attending the SD Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame Induction Event.  There were a handful of bands inducted this year and each band inducted got to play a 20 minute set of songs. 

It goes without saying that Randy's band was fabulous!  They rocked it - really and truly!  I wasn't sure what to expect attending this event - but I was blown away by the talent in the room!  

Here are some pictures of the band's "groupies" with Randy... we had a blast watching the show!

All the members posed for a picture after the show....

Congratulations to The Original Stingrays on your induction to the SD Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame 2012! What an amazing accomplishment.

(I am working on getting a video uploaded to the blog for all to see!)