5.5

Today Blake celebrated his half birthday at school.  Each child wrote a little something about Blake and drew him a picture.  Then the teachers presented all of the pictures and stories to Blake at the end of the day. After the teachers read each one Blake thanked each child.  He was a complete goofball! All of the kids had a lot of fun, especially Blake, but I cannot get over how much energy they all have.  This crew of 17  has been together for three years now.  It's so fun to see the little family they've become, all of the inside jokes and how much they know about each other. 

 Blake was suppose to sit in the middle of the circle while the class sang to him - nice pose.

Blake handed out basketball cupcakes at the end of the day.  Alison asked me if I found the idea on pinterest.  No, but maybe the lady at QFC did :)

Randoms

Here are some random photos from the last couple of weeks.

 Water coloring from our most recent sleep over.  With these two clothes always seem to be optional.

 Last night while I was getting Blake out of the bath tub Lauren decided it was time for a picnic. She spread out a sleeping bag, our "beach blanket" and brought up some oranges, crackers, salami and a bottle of wine with a sippy cup for me! Such a thoughtful girl :)

 Hopefully my kids will have Chad's eyes, but they look pretty cute in my glasses!

 Grammy and Grandpa sent Blake a sticker for his ski helmet, he's very proud. 

My daughter and her undying love of ranch. GROSS!

Canada

Today Blake presented his world cultures report on Canada at school.  He's been working on the report for a week or so and he did most of it himself. Chad printed the photos for Blake, but Blake cut everything out himself and glued it all too. I wanted to help but he wouldn't let me! Parents weren't allowed to attend the presentations, but I got a full write up from Blake's teachers and it sounds like he did a great job. I swear he picked out the "couldn't be more perfect for a report on Canada" shirt. 

Practicing his facts on the Peace Arch Border Crossing, Niagara falls, Queen Elizabeth, curling, hockey, bull riding and the Northern Lights.

Gangnam Style

The Gangnam Style basketball team had their first game on Saturday, they lost by one point.  It was great to see Blake and his buddies play. It was also fun to run into so many parents I knew.  In the first picture below Blake is guarding Tilden, I went to college with his mom and the coach behind Tilden is Brian, we went to high school together. It made me excited for Blake to go to school next year, and then I realized nothing has changed, I still really love the social aspect of school the most!

Blake & Cade

The Celebration

Lauren and I headed to the Handsaker's house yesterday for a very intimate party to celebrate Georgia being  TWO YEARS post transplant! All of the Grandparents are out of town, Blake had skiing and Alison is getting over a cold, so it was a pretty low key celebration, but we had fun.  Lauren and I brought some gifts, balloons and vegan, gluten free cupcakes....they weren't too bad :)

 Being naked is SO funny!

 Head to toe in GG's clothes

  So far both of these girls are terrible drivers that love to chat, scream and wave while behind the wheel.  Hopefully they will improve over the next 13 years!

Two Years Post Transplant

Two years ago today a young man from Germany saved my niece's life.  I have learned so much over the last two years, many things I would prefer not to know.  One of the few positive take aways for  me has been to really cherish the little moments.  When I hear Georgia and Lauren giggling together I still have that moment of  "this is really happening, we really get to do this".  The journey has changed us all, my kids are far more aware of germs that most.  Lauren sings a little song about having no germs each time we get to play with Georgia and Blake could give you the run down on bone marrow and your immune system.  

As I snuggled Georgia to sleep the other night she gave me a kiss on my nose and said "I gave you a kiss because I love you".  I couldn't help but feel immense gratitude for that special guy we call "Mr. Germany". 

Congratulations Georgia, you are amazing. 

Spend Over

Georgia had her first ever spend over last night!  Yesterday my poor sister was so sick she called to see if Georgia could come over.  Georgia has never spent a night away from Alison in her life, so I was a little curious to see how this would go.  Everyone was GREAT! All of the kids started in Lauren's bed, then Blake went to his bed and I ended up snuggling Georgia to sleep in our guest room.   The last thing she said before falling asleep (after we chatted and giggled for over an hour) was "Na, I'm having so much fun". It was a success!

 

Calvin

The upside of afternoon preschool is we get to have regular playdates with our neighbor and good buddy Cal.  I'd say yesterday was one of our best playdates ever.  Cal we are so glad you are feeling good!

Warren

Lauren and I soaked up a little sunshine in the freezing cold today. She is growing up so quickly and she cracks me up on a daily basis. Lauren is so sweet, she loves to chat and snuggle. I love her little voice and the way she talks, I wish I could bottle that part up and keep it forever.  She has a hard time with her Ls so she uses Ws instead. She likes to put chapstick on her "wips" and she says "I not wike cats, I wike dogs, I wuv woowie" (Louie). She calls herself Warren Pippen (Lauren Pittman)  and when she was at the mountain daycare in Montana she lost her name tag.  When the ladies asked her what her name was she kept saying "Warren Pippen" and they didn't know what to call her.  She calls Blake either Blaker Man or Blakie. If she doesn't like something she's eating she says "I not like this, it spicy".  Cause oatmeal can be sooo spicy. I am baffled by how much she knows about the world. At this age Blake was about to become a big brother, he was still such a baby in so many ways.  Lauren on the other hand is one wise woman.     

 Lauren is in a 3-5 year old dance class.  She fits in well, but every now and then I notice there are a couple of things her little body just can't do yet....like leaping.  Every time the girls are supposed to go around the circle leaping over markers on the floor Lauren gracefully hops along and then strikes this pose on each marker. I think I had tears I was laughing so hard - A for effort my girl :)

Blaker Man

Just a little update on Blake and all he's been up to.

Blake started on the kindergarten basketball team a couple of weeks ago.  He was a little tentative because he isn't in kindergarten yet, but all of his worries were set aside when he learned the name of the team,  Gangnam Style. The other teams have normal names like the Blue Sharks, Fireballs, etc.  Nope, we're Gangnam Style and Blake takes it very seriously.  At practice he'll be up to make a basket, shoot, and then do the Gangnam Style dance all the way to the back of the line. If your wondering if that's what all of the boys do...it isn't.  Just mine :)

I love you Blake, you are a great basketball player and you have a style all your own. You scored at your first scrimmage and you have your first official game next weekend.

Blake also officially started ski lessons a couple of weeks ago.  He's taken a couple of lessons in Montana over the last couple of years and evidently they paid off!  Blake was placed in a class with all eight year olds. He is taking lessons through Powder Pigs, where I took lessons as a kid and later taught when I was a teenager. Blake's class mostly skis the blue runs and last weekend he came home and let me know he skied a black diamond run too.  I was amazed.  Blake would also tell you he's taken the chair lift by himself one time, which you aren't supposed to do until you are seven (I wasn't thrilled) . And this last weekend he fell getting off the quad and the chair hit him in the head twice "but I had my helmet on so it was AWESOME".  All in all I think it's a good thing Chad takes him up skiing every Sunday.

Blake is starting work on his first report for school too.  It's a world cultures report and he's chosen........Canada. Very exotic, eh? I think he picked it because one of his first friends in life moved to Canada and he still calls her "my Canada Ella". One of Blake's teachers grew up in Canada too, so we better do our research!

Christmas card photo & out takes