girls at fives are worth it all

Adelaide turned 5 this past weekend. She had a 'tea party' for her friends - we spent the last few weeks making invitations, crafting, planning games, creating an amazing menu of little sandwiches, fruits, etc. The party was on Saturday after I finished a night shift - Joe and I were both exhausted after a week of trying to have everything perfectly prepared - and I have to confess to more than one thought along the lines of "I don't like parties ... I am not crafty ... I should have just bought sandwiches ... why am I doing this?". But by the time the guests showed up, everyone looked calm and collected, we had lovely little decorations and a beautiful spread of tea time ... the girls (and Miles) giggled and laughed; the moms took lots of photos, and it was overall a raging success. The minute the guests were gone, Adelaide overflowed with "oh thank you mama for the best party ever ... I loved the tea ... my friends had so much fun ... this game ... that treat ... thank you, thank you" on and on. And that delighted little face definitely made it all worth it.

Little Anika is now 5 months and still happy and delightful - very studiously watches everything. She is absolutely enchanted with her siblings and is working hard to learn to move - I know she wants to be able to chase them around and sing along with their performances (check out the Flickr movie!). Unfortunately, I think we have diagnosed a milk-protein allergy (she poops blood - yuck!), so I am in the process of going dairy-free ... and trying hard not to cry about it. She's totally worth it!