A 4-YEAR-OLD WOG

The Wog has been very excited about her birthday and ballet birthday party. Every day for the past two weeks she has asked me, "Am I four yet?" When the big day actually arrived, I don't think she could believe that it was really here. While we missed the company of some loved ones, we made the very best of it!

Do you think the guest knew The Wog's favorite color?


The "peeee-yata" was definitely the highlight of the party.


These little guys meant business!


I'd hate to be on the other end of that stick:


The Wog takes another go.

(The "pee-yata" would not submit to the broomstick. Eventually, it submitted to the pocketknife.)

And another!


The Doodle did not get a turn, but didn't seem to mind!


Cake!


She blew out all the candles on the first try!



Afterwards, The Wog opened her gifts with plenty of "help:"



How a determined-yet-artistically talentless mother improvises when the poster ordered for the "Pin the Tutu on the Ballerina" game never arrives:

(The headpiece was also supposed to be a skirt petal, but one of the partygoers saw it as a crown; who was I to correct her?)

After the party, she insisted on donning one of her new "glamour" dresses from Aunt MB. Then she melted down because we didn't let her have ANOTHER piece of chocolate.


How every birthday girl should feel on her big day:

(She was positively abuzz with happiness.)

When the party was all over I asked The Wog if she was sad that it was over; she said "yes," paused, and added, "But I'm still four, right?" HAPPY BIRTHDAY, to the sweet, lovely, irrepressible Wog!

AIR DOODLE

In case it's not immediately apparent from these pictures, The Doodle LOVES this.





More surprisingly, he also loves this:

(Doesn't it look like Marc is showing off a great catch?)

The Wog got a fabulous "Hello Kitty" bike for her 4th birthday from Grandma and Grandpa. I think you can tell that she is a big fan. She said, "I love it! I can't believe it!"

Taking it out for the first time:


Marc also had to take it out for a spin:


The Doodle, meanwhile, continues his pursuit of Piglet, while Piglet continues her pursuit of avoiding him.


The face-off:


He also enjoys a tasty apple:


This expression is usually accompanied by an "mmmmmm" sound:


Three generations of Vaillants, under an apple tree older than all of us!

And the whole gang:

WOGS OF OUR LIVES

The Wog came home from school on Tuesday and announced that she was going to marry Brady, a cute little boy in her class. When I asked her "Why?" she responded, "Because Reed said 'No.'"

(When I told the story to Reed's mother, she informed me that Reed came home from school and told her that Polly had asked him to marry her, but he was thinking he might rather marry her friend Lily. The decision, apparently, was stressing the poor kid out.)

Here are some pictures The Wog's teacher took at school.






(The boy in the picture, btw, is Reed...surrounded by his many marriage prospects. The pumpkin is Daisy, 375 pounds and the 2nd place winner at the Fryeburg Fair!)

TAG, THE DOODLE'S IT!

The Doodle is a budding outdoorsman. He is never so happy as when he is outside, and he spends much of his inside time plotting how to get outside. if we open the door even a crack, he makes a break for it.

Here he is on his way down the driveway after a breakout during our tag sale:



Up and down the steps. And up and down again.


The Doodle loves Piglet:


Alas, his love remains unrequited:


Checking her out:


The best bargain at our tag sale!


When not working their cider stand, the girls kept themselves busy via various modes of transportation:


This trike's days are numbered (at least for The Wog). A "big girl bike" is coming soon!


The girls were playing Hide and Seek. Can you find The Wog?

(Hint: they both kept "hiding" in the exact same place over and over and over again--the apple tree must be a good spot.)

The army advances:


And then retreats!

WOGTREPRENEURSHIP

We held our first tag sale up here this morning, which meant The Wog's inaugural cider (and cookies!) stand. We baked the cookies together yesterday, and set up shop this morning. Her friend Lily came over to lend a hand. They were particularly good at soliciting customers, and yelled at every stopping (and passing, for that matter) car, "Are you coming to buy some cider?????"

Eagerly awaiting a customer's order: (Who wouldn't buy a cup of cider from these sweet, hopeful faces?)

Pouring cider is a team effort:


Clearly concentrating:


The Doodle looks on...


Then gets in on the action!


We sold out of cookies within the first half hour, and the last cup of cider was poured just as we broke down for the day. Most importantly, The Wog had a blast, and is ready to hit the toy store with her hard-earned pay. More pictures from today's fun to come...

SING A SONG OF APPLES