Bruised

Here is our bruised ballerina. Over Thanksgiving Lauren was running in Grandma and Grandpa Brown's house, when she tripped and hit the side of her face on the leg of a stool.

I'll be glad when it is gone completely because I am so tired of the stares we get out in public.

This past weekend Lauren was able to go and dance on the stage where the Nutcracker is taking place. They were given wands and danced to three songs. Her teacher, Melissa, is the one dressed in street clothes. In the Spring she'll get to perform in a recital.

I can't see an end in sight of her ballet days. This could turn into a lifetime thing. I am happy that she has found something that she loves to do.

Howdy Doody Partner!

I'm behind on posts yet again.

This year Lauren was a cowgirl for Halloween.

Yeehaw!!!

Happy 5th Birthday!!

This birthday for Lauren was a lot different than ones in the past. When she turned 2, 3, and 4, I was in the kitchen for hours preparing cake or cupcakes. This birthday I didn't even spend one second preparing anything in the kitchen.

Has anyone ever known a 5 year old, or any age for that matter, that didn't want a birthday cake?

This year Lauren just wanted to get some frozen yogurt at MyFroYo. We invited family to come along. We have gotten together with Jason's brother and family, and his sister on Lauren's birthday for the last 5 years. That is hard to believe! Where does time go?

The only dilemma for the evening was: How was Lauren going to blow out candles?

Well, we made her a cake out of our cups, sang happy birthday, and she blew out her candles.

We love you, Lauren! You are one of a kind!!

Party Time At The Brown's

We decided to let Lauren have a party for her 5th birthday. Five of her friends were able to come. Before everyone arrived, we took a picture of our decorations and, boy, do the Browns know how to decorate!
We took this picture, after which I realized the silverware drawer was open and the package of knives were on the counter. We can't have that in our picture, so Jason took several more pictures with all of that fixed. Little did I know that something else was in this first picture...

Lauren's party consisted of "pin the tail on the donkey."

I played with the girls and came the closest. I outsmarted them all! (Or maybe it is because I cheated by feeling the outside of the poster.)

Then, they decorated sugar cookies that were shaped like butterflies, a crown, and a princess shoe.

Finally, Lauren opened her presents.

Lauren loves all of her friends. She could play with them all day and all night. Thanks to all the girls who could come.

Playin' In The Rain

          It's raining; it's pouring.

The old man is snoring.

He went to bed and bumped his head,

And he couldn't get up in the morning.

It rained here a few weeks ago, so Lauren took advantage of it. She put on her rain boots and rain coat and ran outside to play in the small puddles. She laughed the entire time. :)