Belmar in Springtime

Last weekend I took Cody and Cordelia up to see Aunt Mary Beth and Uncle Walter while SLL was in Vermont and Grannie was generously looking after Emma. The less said about Sunday the better, it was . . . utterly . . . macabre. But on Saturday, it was great. After watching Frozen twice on the drive up and stopping for Chic-fil-A breakfast, we had lunch with MBC and Walter. Here's Cody and his uncle hanging out in the backyard. Walter is reading the New York Times while Cody is . . . who can say:

But do note that in the above picture, Cody is accompanied by Harbor Seal, who was given to him by Walter and Mary Beth two years ago at the aquarium. Whenever we go to Belmar, Harbor Seal always comes with us, "so she can say hello to her old home." Following lunch, it was off to the rides at Point Pleasant. Which blew Cordelia's mind.

We started out on the helicopters, with Aunt Mary Beth making sure they were strapped into the helo:

Cody took the stick, of course.

Then it was off to the planes, but this time Cordelia wanted to drive, so she got her own plane. (Please note: The Red Barron.)

Cody concentrated on being in hot pursuit:

Then we slowed things down on the boats:

Before heading off to my favorite ride from my childhood. I was shocked--shocked--that they both really loved the Tilt-a-Whirl! No anxiety at all. Just good clean fun:

Then we rode the train with their godparents:

All of this engendered that rare and beautiful unasked-for sibling comity that's so remarkable:

And finally all five of us piled onto the carousel. We were, as Cordelia informed me over and over, making our dreams come true. (This has yet been unblogged, but for several months now, whenever I tuck Cora into bed, we discuss where we are going to meet in our dreams. At the beginning of this tradition, she would vary the locale--the beach, the playground, etc.--but for three months or so at every tuck in, she has decided to meet me at the carousel. And after we ride, we go for cakepops. That's our shared dream.) Anyway:

And so we did. Right up until 4:28 on Sunday morning.

Once arrived home, Cody was thrilled to be reunited with his favorite little sister:

Cody's Birthday

Last week Cody turned 6. We gave him a half-day at school and after nap time showered him with presents. Shannon won the birthday with a pair of turquoise, Brazilian, agate bookends:

He was really grateful:

We let him choose our dinner outing and he opted (to our surprise) for Five Guys. And then I took him out for a weeknight, evening ballgame. It was magical.

Remember the first time I took him "to baseball" as he still charmingly calls it? (He refers to baseball not as a distinct event, but more like it's an elemental fact. I love that.) This is Cody at his first game:

And now he looks like this:

This was just the PNats second home game and because it was a bit chilly, there were maybe 34 people in the stands. He had some funnel cake, and then asked for another one. (I said yes. On your birthday, it's totally reasonable to have two funnel cakes after having a burger and ice cream for dinner.) Then he hooked up with Uncle Slam:

And then he caught a foul ball, which thrilled him:

This is, I think, his fourth foul ball in just three years of going to baseball games. He has no concept of extraordinary this is, but I keep trying to impress it upon him.

All in all, it was a great birthday.

Little Bird Turns 4

It's nearly impossible to believe, but little Cordelia Mary is four years old. What!? All in all, she had a fabulous birthday. Starting at 6:36 with presents!

Cody gave her a matching hiking backpack, complete with whistle. They wear them all the time. Unless they're in school, they are wearing them, with all the "treasures" they "might need, just in case." It's a hoot: stuffed animals, glow sticks, holy water, Mary statues, crayons, nail polish, and, of course, granite. Which makes them rather heavy, but they don't mind, and get very upset if you try to remove the mini-quarry from the outer pockets.

What she wanted from me was "a princess book with ALL the princesses in the WORLD in it!" I found one that came pretty close. She's definitely, and somewhat incongruously, going through a princess phase. All she wants to do is read long, long fairy tales.

 Spider Woman!

 Emma likes Cordelia's birthday, too — chocolate chip pancakes!

She hit a real milestone during her morning swim lesson:



Doesn't she just look so big and lovely?

The girls had a dance party; Emma was slightly more reluctant than her sister. And worried she might lose an arm.

In the afternoon, Carly & Emmie and their wonderful parents came over to celebrate. Dr. W made cake pops; Cordelia has never loved anyone more. 

The kids watched Frozen, after which some serious karaoke happened. And during, I guess.

Then Sunday, she got the rest of her present from me: a mommy/Cordy morning at the kid spa. By "spa" I mean slightly shabby, but adorable, storefront, where she got a mani/pedi (just polish, really) and a princess bun.

 I know she's my kid, but: she's stunning. Really, really stunning.

 Lipstick?!

 Then we went to lunch (she chose Panera) and had a silly face fest.