Matilda

This year for the girls' birthdays, my parents got tickets to see the musical "Matilda" at the Orpheum Theater during our spring break.  Since Dave wasn't getting around too well, my sister joined us for the show.  My dad had hotel points, so was able to get us a room at a hotel just around the corner from the theater.  It was such a great show and fun to stay downtown!

Norah's 5-year interview

Favorite color:  red
Least favorite color:  green
Favorite book:  My Little Pony books
Favorite fruit:  blueberries
Favorite vegetable:  carrots
Favorite TV show:  Elena of Avalor
Favorite movie:  Aladdin
Favorite food:  peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
Favorite lunch:  peanut butter and jelly
Favorite thing to wear:  Elena shirt
Favorite snack:  crackers
Favorite zoo animal:  zebra
Best friend:  Harper
Favorite cereal:  Chocolate/peanut butter puffs
Favorite drink:  strawberry milk
Thing she likes to do with Mommy:  play Barbies
Thing she likes to do with Daddy:  play wrestling
Thing she likes to do with Abby:  play Barbies
Thing she likes to do with Sadie:  feed her
Favorite store:  Target
Favorite toy:  Barbies
Favorite game:  Zingo
Favorite song:  Let it Go
Favorite thing to do outside:  swings
Favorite holiday:  Christmas
What I want to be when I grow up:  doctor
What makes me happy:  playing with Mommy
What makes me sad:  when Mommy is gone
What I like about Daddy:  when he tickles me
What I like about Mommy:  when she's here
What I like about Abby:  when she cuddles with me
What I like about Sadie:  when she barks
Now that I'm 5:  I can color

Norah turns 5!

Norah turned 5 on March 3rd...I know I repeat myself every year, but I truly can't believe how fast time has gone.  This year seems extra crazy, because I know she is going to KINDERGARTEN in the fall!  I just went to her kindergarten roundup a few weeks ago, and it's hard to imagine that she will be starting this August.  In some ways, she seems so little, but I know she is excited for it and has loved her year in preschool.

Norah's birthday was unfortunately on a weekday this year, so we had to wake up early.  Luckily for Norah, I guess, she woke up really early--around 5/5:30 and that gave me time to run to the bakery for birthday donuts in the morning.  It also gave Norah time to open all of her presents.  She really didn't have any special things she was wishing for, except for a mermaid tail Snuggie that she had seen on t.v. and at Target.

My mom had sent some packages for Norah to open for a few days leading up to her birthday.  In one package was a gift card to Papa Murphy's, so we had a pizza supper after school/daycare and watched Norah's choice of movie (Aladdin) and had some neighbor friends over to play for a little bit.  With Dave being so immobile from breaking his ankle, we really didn't do anything big to celebrate.  Hopefully over spring break we can do something fun to celebrate both Norah and Abby's birthdays!

The week after her birthday, I took her to see her doctor for her 5-year check up.  She was healthy, and did great with everything leading up to her 4 shots.  She was not excited about that at all, but she celebrated the shots being over with a dilly bar on the way to pick up Abby from school.  She weighed in at 35 pounds (17th percentile) and was 3'5" tall (22nd percentile).

Elena party

Last weekend, we hosted the girls' joint birthday party.  Greg and Rose Mary flew in from Seattle, both of my grandmas were able to come up from Iowa (along with all of my aunts/uncles on my mom's side and one of my cousin's sons), my parents and sister, and Dave's parents joined us.  The girls wanted an Elena of Avalor themed party, which was perfect since Dave's mom had given them Elena dresses for Christmas for our trip to Disney World.  Friday night, the girls helped decorate the house and cupcakes.  Everyone came up for lunch on Saturday and stayed until early afternoon.  We had tacos, chips and salsa, fruit, veggies/dip, and cupcakes for dessert.  It was so nice to be able to use our basement and new couch to hang out in.

Greg and Rose Mary spent the night, so my parents and sister also hung around for awhile that evening until heading back to Rochester later on.  The girls had fun getting some extra time in with Greg and Rose Mary on Sunday as well, and going out to lunch with them before they had to leave for their flight.  It was a fun weekend, and the girls have lots of thank you notes to write for the nice presents they received!

Last day at Disney--Magic Kingdom

For our last day at Disney, Dave and I got up early and got to Magic Kingdom before it opened.  We were able to do some shopping and be first in line to go on Space Mountain.  It was rainy, so there weren't too many people there yet.  We also were able to walk right onto Big Thunder Mountain Railroad before meeting up with everyone for brunch at the Crystal Palace.  Greg and Rose Mary had brought the girls over on the bus.

After Crystal Palace, we had a couple of hours to go on a few more rides and soak up the time we could at Magic Kingdom.  Such a fun trip with lots of great memories!

Disney day 5-Animal Kingdom

On Saturday, we went to Animal Kingdom and met up with Greg and Rose Mary.  We went on the safari first, then had brunch at the Tusker House buffet.

At Animal Kingdom, we saw the Lion King show, went on some rides (the girls hated the Dinosaur ride!), and ended our time with Everest.  We ended up going on in 3 times in a row again, just like the last time we came with Dave's parents.  Abby went on it for the first time, and hated going backwards and down a big hill.

After Animal Kingdom, we took a bus to Chef Mickey's for supper.

After supper, we took the girls to Greg and Rose Mary's suite at the Animal Kingdom Lodge.  It was an amazing suite with a huge room, two bathrooms, a full kitchen, big living room, laundry, and a veranda looking out at the animals.  The girls spent the last night with Greg and Rose Mary while Dave, Tracy, and I went back to our hotel to pack.