Adorable Fern!

The year before Hazel started kindergarten, Aaron watched Fern one afternoon a week. We recently came across a bunch of photos from that time. Fern's bigger now, and still just as cute.

Hazel's 7th birthday

Our kids value tradition more than novelty when it comes to birthday parties. Hazel has decided that birthday party = Death Star cake.

A good light saber battle is also part of the birthday tradition.

Star Wars all around! Easy to shop for someone who is so unwavering in her fandom.

Vogel State Park

Last Memorial Day weekend, we went camping at Vogel State Park with some other UUCA families. There was a delightful gaggle of kids.

There was a bit of a hike to get to the campsite, but once there it was beautiful and private -- a great spot for the kids to run and play without any danger of cars or bothering other campers.

Our friend Todd introduced Hazel to the joy of soaking tired feet in a cool creek after a long hike. She approved.

Lucky kids to grow up in this community and this environment!

Summer is coming.

In the midst of record-setting cold weather, it's nice to be reminded of summer pleasures.

Hazel is 6!

Hazel and her friend Josie are 1 day apart in age -- perfect for a joint birthday party!

We were lucky to have beautiful fall weather and a terrific setting, plus just about everything you could want for a kids' party:

Swings...

Monkey bars...

A bounce house...

Noise makers...

Chocolate frosting...

Even a pinata, thanks to our crafty friend Gabriela who made this star in honor of Hazel's love of Star Wars.

Perhaps we could have used a few more big kids to whack open the pinata, although no one complained when Josie's dad burst it open and dumped out the candy.

Hazel and Josie are old enough that they no longer get to be the cutest kids at their own party. Fern was the unrivaled queen of cute, especially as she proudly told everyone at the party about how she peed on the potty.

Happy Birthday, six year olds!

Hazel said that to have an even better party next year, we should do everything exactly the same but have more balloons, more juice, plant some flowers, and open the "mud kitchen." (Her name for the cob house that's currently being built in Josie's neighborhood.)

Christmas pageant

Friendly beasts, angels, and shepherds all illicitly stomping down the pews.

Too old for Baby Jesus, too young for a friendly beast...maybe next year, Fern.

Cutest sheep, ever. Hazel explained to me that the best thing about the pageant is that it lets her know when it's Christmas Eve.

Hazel insisted that the Storm Trooper tattoo on her forehead was fine, because her sheep mask would cover it up.

I guess the angels were more interesting than the action down below. Juniper was among the angels for the first time in this year's pageant. Apparently, she and Violet worked out a deal to rotate between angels and beasts each year, so that they can be together in the pageant. Forever. Juniper seems to think that she and Violet are on track to being the only middle-aged beasts/angels in the show.

Merry Christmas, sisters.

Lord Vader turns 5

This year we celebrated Hazel's birthday party on Halloween.


Darth Vader was a popular costume.

Hazel Vader stands triumphant while Henry Vader has momentary technical difficulties with his light saber.

Fern was super cute and brought back memories of when Violet and Juniper were small.

She and Ona had a nature girl thing going on while the Vaders dueled.

Lunch (Hazel's choice) was hot dogs and lasagna...

...with a Death Star birthday cake for dessert.

Happy 5th birthday to the sweetest Sith Lord in all the galaxies.

Fern faces

You wouldn't think such a happy baby would have wide-eyed distress as one of her most common baby-at-rest expressions.


 
She also spends a lot of time with this kind of face.