Expanding Vocabulary

Ava's been learning so many new words lately and I keep reminding myself to write them all down so I won't forget this stage. Here's a few examples:

Ava: Mommy, I am sooooo hungry. You better play a game with me so I can be extracted from eating. (Pretty sure she meant distracted on that one)

Ava: (In a sing-song voice) I'm floating in the tub, I'm floating in the tub, high-ho the dairy-oh, I have buoyancy in the tub. (I'm not joking)

Ava: Grandpa, why is that praying mantis green?

Grandpa: Well Ava, you see when animals try to blend into something they try to be the same color as what they're trying to blend into. That way it can hide and protect itself.

Ava: (In a condecending tone) Grandpa, do you mean that it's camouflaged?

(While the two of us were sitting on the couch snuggling,)

Ava: Mommy, you are too close to me. I'm being squished like a molecule!

To be continued...

Birthday Girl

Well my baby girl turned five this week. I'm coping, mostly due to all the distractions. When she said she wanted an under the sea party, I had no idea that I was going to buy a first class ticket on the crazy train. And once it got going there was no turning back. Of course she was sick all week and only getting worse. I don't know if the pull of a monthlong pursuit of all things sea life, the 1am cake decorating, or the look in her puffy swollen eyes telling me how badly she wanted all her friends to come over was stronger, but I just gave her some tylenol and started answering the door. Thank goodness my sister was here to reign me in and provide some much needed laughter. And except for a break in the celebration to have her checked-out at urgent care, I would call it a successful party. We don't let a 102 fever with asthma and bronchitis slow us down in these parts. And I just want to say how much I'm enjoying this age. Ava is so creative and articulate and has such a compassion heart. She does have her moments but she is growing up to be a delightful little girl.

The birthday fairy brought Lucky Charms for breakfast!

Mama still insisted on warm blueberry muffins with a candle.

Birthday faces

I love this girl!

Decorations

Fishy Cake

Pinata time!

Daddy gets it done

Rainbow fish

Lovey boy

Under the seafood

Sisters

Little sicky

Happy birthday to my sweet mermaid. You are an amazing gift to us and we love you more then you'll ever know.

Llama, Llama home with Mama...

Llama Llama, morning light.

Feeling yucky, just not right.

Down to breakfast.

Tiny sneeze.

Sniffle, snuffle.

Tissues, please!

Llama's head is feeling hot.

Llama's throat is hurting lots.

Achy, fever, stuffy head...

Llama Llama, back to bed.

Time to rest.

No school today.

Mama Llama brings a tray.

Fruity medicine tastes yucky!

Llama Llama's throat feels gucky.

Look around. Not much to do.

Trucks are boring. Tractors, too.

Make a tunnel for a train?

Llama Llama, fuzzy brain.

Mama Llama gets a book.

Have a listen.

Take a look.

Heavy eyelids. Drippy nose.

Llama Llama starts to doze.

Up again and feeling better. (no photos as this does not apply to my Llamas)

Draw some pictures.

Make some letters.

Llama wants a sandwich please!

Mama Llama starts to sneeze.

Lunch is over. Time for toys.

Mama's head does not like noise.

Mama makes a big ah-choo!

Llama's out of things to do.

Uh-Oh! Mama's throat is sore.

Being sick is such a bore.

Mama coughs and Llama yawns.

How long can this day go on!

Mama shnortles, hacks, and wheezes.

Llama Llama's sick of sneezes.

Soggy tissues, gobs of guck.

Sniffing, snorting, sneezing, Yuck!

Llama Llama, red pajama,

sick and bored at home with Mama.

Llama, Llama knows what's best,

Mama Llama needs a rest.

Get more tissues, bring a cup

Fluff a comfy pillow up.

What else could Mama Llama need

How about some books to read?

Just the thing for Llama Llama

sick at home

but with his Mama.

Happy Halloween!

Halloween is a very serious holiday in the Hsieh home. Ava talks about what she's going to be all year. Her ideas are very innovative, ranging from a toilet to an ice cube to every animal she can name. I don't even try to narrow it down until a couple weeks before the actual day because I know it's going to change. This year she stuck with bird for quite a few months and luckily her fabulous Tia Christy had one on hand that she mailed to us. Ava loved it and so we found a dress and made some wings and we were ready to get ourselves some candy. Even Ben and I got into the spirit with Waldo and Cruella Deville costumes. ( I made sure there was no photographic evidence.) Unfortunately for Ian, he still cannot articulate what he wants to be for Halloween and therefore has to wear Ava's leftovers. But at least I didn't stick him in a princess dress.

Ava getting ready to leave for her school party

Shake your tail feathers

Here pretty birdie!

These are her best school buddies, Landon and Blake. Doesn't she look like one of the boys? :)

Ava got to design her pumpkins this year and Ben did a great job bringing her vision to life

Trick Or Treat!

Ian checking out his loot

Hoarder

Ian's personality is definitely coming into its own these days. He is such a funny and sweet little guy. One of his many quirks is that he is super protective of his stuff. If you come anywhere near his, 'bapo' (backhoe), 'da tu' (garbage truck), or 'du tu' (dump truck), he will scream in glass shattering tones. He carries his precious cargo from room to room to his highchair to the car and up to his crib. I feel kind of sorry for him. It must be tough to have an older sister who can articulate her every thought when he can't put two words together. I'm sure he views his traveling caravan as a necessity. And until he can say, "This is my dumptruck so please don't take it," I'm going to let that boy bring every mode of transportation wherever he pleases. As long as that happens before the third grade, then I'm drawing the line.

Catching up

After uploading 161 photos I'm realizing that I'm a little behind in my updates. I've been somewhat distracted by soccer parties, bird costumes, and fish party planning. But before I get to any of that I wanted to share about a family adventure we took a few weeks ago. We headed out into Mt. Hood National forest to hike up to a lake, but they were repaving the road and we couldn't get through. So an hour into our adventure we had to start over. Ben thought we were close to a hidden floating bridge that took you across the Clackamas River. We asked around and found out that you had to hike down a paved road for about a mile. What we weren't told was that once you got there you had to scale down a cliff while clinging to a cable imbedded in the ground. We all made a valiant effort (except Ian who opted to sit quietly and drool) but only Ben succeeded in actually getting onto the bridge. Someday we will try again and maybe even jump in to swim. I have a lot of somedays building up. Here's a glimpse of our journey.