birthday royalty

 

So we gave Schuyler what she seemed to want most: Dress up clothes.  And, as usual, Charlie wanted to get in on the action to be Snow White to Schuyler's Rapunzel.  Fortunately, Wardy Baby and Kim were in town to share in a rather hectic workday breakfast-for-dinner birthday dinner.    Nothing like family.

birthday circle

Schuyler at her "birthday circle" at School.

5:45AM

 

Dude!  Please just go to sleep.  We know you're not feeling well but getting up at 5:45am is not going to make you feel better, we promise.  But it's difficult to be upset with you when you look so sad and forelorn.  When you are a teenager and don't want anything to do with us, think back on these moments and know how much we love you.  Even when all we want to do is go back to bed.  get better soon, little cub.

5 years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My dear daughter.  You are five years old and we can't believe it.  You're a real little girl now.  No baby left in you.  You have strong opinions and a giggle that makes our hearts sing.  You adore reading Curious George, Fancy Nancy, and pretty much anything we pick up to read to you.  You have a thing for girly stuff now - you made your dad paint your finger nails for this event and not a day goes by when you don't ask your mum for some "lipstick" (red lip gloass).   You like boys and have a list of boys you "will marry" but this year you've got your own gang of girls you want to hang around with.  You like playing "baby" with Carina, Cece, Charlotte, and Carina.  You absolutely love arts and crafts and do some pretty neat abstract artwork.  You've either a great abstract expressionist or a really messy still life painter!  You ask all kinds of existential questions about life after death and life before birth.  You are curious.  Insatiably so.  You get a kick out of the little miracles still - you check the Easter Lily in our driveway every day to see if it has bloomed and when it did, your awe was inspiring.  Your teachers' comments on you are that "Schuyler is Schuyler".  We're still not quite sure what that means but we think it means you know what you want and you go for it - even if it is not exactly what you are supposed to be doing at the time.  That's good and bad, my dear!  We love you in a way that really doesn't suit words.   As you would say, you and your brother make our love light shine.  We want all the best for you.  We're working really hard to make sure you are prepared for this world and have every opportunity to be as happy as you can be and ensure you are kind to others (karma is pretty amazing).  We lose our patience occasionally.  We're tired a lot.  But throughout it all, we are in a constant pursuit of happiness for our family and everyone we care about.  Open your eyes, heart, and mind to this world and it will astound you.  We love you.  Happy birthday, little girl.

seals & stuff

Our urchin with an urchin.

Charlie and Destiny.

 

Charlie, Ailiyah, and Ayara.

Charlie and Samantha.

Playing "baby" with Carina, Charlotte, Natalia, and Samantha.  Basically, someone pretends to be a Mummy and the others are the kids.  At least, this is what I understand from observation.  It could be much more complex than that.  

Schuyler gets to be the baby.

 

Watching the seals get fed.

turtles & tortoises

Natalia, Emma, Zarah, Ailiyah, Ellise, Cece, Samantha, and Schuyler feeding the turtles.

 

BIRTHDAY GIRL!

Charlie gets in on the action!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the fairy princesses arrive

Ailiyah, Schuyler, Destiny

Ailiyah, Destiny, Schuyler, Zarah, and Charlotte

 

In the shark cage, clockwise from Schuyler are: Cece, Carina, Destiny, Emma, Ellise, Zarah, and Charlotte.  In the middle are Ayara and Ailiyah.

Unlikely bedfellows.

 

 

 

 

 

The fairy princess theme was a hit and the girls loved it, so chalk one up for these parents!