Happy New Year! (or Gung Hay Fat Choy!)

by Griffin

by Parker

(2012 is the Year of the Dragon, in case you couldn't tell what these were)

Marcel the Shell

We're totally obsessed with Marcel the Shell in this house, we've watched these videos and read the book about a million times.  Parker went to bed at eight last night and came out to the living room at nine thirty exclaiming, "I can do it!  Want to hear my Marcel the Shell voice?"  We couldn't even be mad at her, her impression is that good.  We made her do it about a million times then sent her back to bed. (the part she's impersonating is around the 3:05 mark)

LACMA

Sooo, I'm a terrible mother and don't know what year my children were born, so I told P that she was born in the year of the boar.  Later I was roundly mocked when we realized my mistake.  She's from the year of the dog, just like me.  Oops!

What we came to see!  Metropolis II.  This was the first weekend it was open, so there was a line to get into to see it.  But we only waited about ten minutes.  Its so large there is a viewing balcony up above.

Its built from erector sets, building blocks, legos, lincoln logs, 1000 hot wheels, several trains and trams.  Its whirling, whizzing madness when it all turns on and it was awesome.  Kids could have stayed in this room all day, especially Fin.

Griffin's already plotting how to build this in the middle of his room.

Griffin pretending to "pop" Jeff Koons balloon animal

Sitting on a bench contemplating this artist, Griffin said to me, "So sometimes artists just make random things and call it art, right?"  I can't really argue with that.

We finally made it to LACMA, I've been dying to go ever since I found out about their NexGen program.  We love taking the kids to museums, but with four of us, admission adds up quick.  NexGen is a program that offers free membership to any kid under 18 (even baby Arlo got one) and grants them free admission to the museum TILL THEY TURN EIGHTEEN.  Yes, you read that right.  For the next 11-13 years the kids get into LACMA for free.  The other awesome part?  Every time they go, they each get one adult in for free as well.  So, as long as we have the rugrats along, Josh and I get in free as well.  Its a pretty sweet deal.  The kids were so excited to get their own little passes and lanyards.  If you have kids you have to sign them up, and if you don't, well rustle up a few.  ;)

Conversations

While driving in the car, Josh and Parker heard an emergency alert. Worried, Parker asked Josh if an earthquake was coming. It turned out to be an Amber alert for a little boy who was abducted by his father. Josh explained the situation to Parker.

"So he was a bad guy?" Parker asked

"Yeah" Josh looked back in the back seat and saw Parker was obviously upset. "Are you okay?"

"I just don't want anyone to take Baby Arlo, Daddy! I love him!"

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Overheard from the next room:

Fin- "Jessi and Baby Arlo are coming over today."

Parker - "I know! I just love Baby Arlo!"

Fin- "Yeah, he's the funniest baby ever."

Parker - "And the cutest. Arlo is the cutest. baby. ever. riiiiiiiighht?"

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In the car Parker keeps saying "Santa Marrrrga-RI-TA, Santa Marrrrga-RI-TA, Santa Marrrrga-RI-TA" rolling the 'R's

"Santa Marrrrga-RI-TA! Mama, I say 'Santa Marrrrga-RITA' fancy, riiiiiiight?"

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Parker decided to wear one of her costumes to the grocery store. Its a pink satin cheerleading costume, but its so big on Parker it just looks like a dress. Around her belly though, there is a panel of pink mesh and you can kinda see her belly button. As I was loading everyone in the car Griffin refused to get in the car. "Mom. Parker can NOT wear that to the store. You can see her belly."

"What? Yeah, a little. But thats okay. Its just her belly."

"No, mom! She's a girl. She can NOT wear that to the store!"

"Griffin, its fine. She just wants to wear a costume, I'm okay with it. Its fine. I swear."

*exasperated sigh* "Ugh! I'm NOT okay with this!" and stomped into the car.

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Parker's Rainbow Unicorn Pegasus Birthday Party!

Parker requested a Rainbow Unicorn Pegasus birthday party this year. We had so much fun with the theme. P wanted everyone to have pegasus wings, unicorn horns and rainbow tails. Fin declared that the boys would *not* like pegasus wings, so we made them dragons instead. I used glitter covered felt and made everyone a pair of wings (black dragon wings or white pegasus wings) and a tail (rainbow yarn for the unipegs, black glitter felt for dragons).

I got most of the decorations at the 99cent store, where they have a whole wall of party stuff in plain colors. Except purple for some reason. Had to go to the party store for purple. Rainbow colored candy, rainbow jello (made by Nanny!) and of course, the fab Rainbow Unicorn Pegasus cake, made by my awesome friend Jayelle. We also had a rainbow veggie platter and rainbow fruit skewers.

The kids made and decorated their own horns and spent most of the party running around in a herd of dragons/unipegs. I also had Unicorn coloring/activity pages and bubbles for the kids to play with. And, finally I gave the kids who wanted one glitter tattoos (Parker had a meltdown because I wouldn't let her put a giant sparkly diamond on her forehead, but everything was made better when we discovered the gemstones I bought for her nails would stick to her head too)

The goody bags had a gumball necklace, keychain kailedescope, unicorn horn lollipop and a real crystal to make rainbows at home (my parents snagged me the crystals at an antique shop, they're so cool!)

Parker had soooo much fun at her party, and so did all her friends. We're so lucky to have so many awesome friends and family, thanks to you all for coming and helping us celebrate with our little Unicorn!