Mother of the year (not) and Super Daddy

Today is Heidi's birthday! We have successfully kept a child alive for 4 years. We had her birthday party on Sunday, which is good because no one would have been able to make it today do to the weather. We had a smashing time. And by smashing I mean Heidi's nose.Heidi really wanted a pinata for her birthday. She chose a chili pepper one because it looked like a strawberry and she really wanted it to match her strawberry shortcake dessert. I love the way 4 year olds think. Anyway, the thing would not give at all! I took the 2x2 we were using as a bat and was helping her go at it when both of our hands slipped a little and the end we were holding came up and hit her nose. Tears, blood, open flesh, we had it all. Nothing seems to be broken, she didn't even have a bruise the next day. Did I ever feel like a terrible mother. I mean, who else do you know that has given their child a bloody nose on their birthday. But I totally scored back a few points when I told her she could wear a bandaid - a Care Bear bandaid over her nose. When we returned to the garage, the pinata was still not open even with the kids hitting it the entire time. Luckly we had a strong Daddy who could rip it open.

Lesson learned #1: Odessa is not athletic, don't let her help with hitting things.

Lesson learned #2: Don't buy cheap WINCO pinatas, they are made from corigated cardboard and packing tape.
The rest of the party went well. Heidi recieved lots of games, which we love. We didn't have any messes with the craft, just one kid trying to eat the cinnomon/applesauce ornaments - but that was almost worth the face she made! And who doesn't love local strawberries in December. I love having a freezer space and a thinking outside the box 4 year old so we could have strawberry shortcake in December.

Today Jeff stayed home from work. Yesterdays trip to and from were a little scary - and it is an excuse to stay home and play with the kids. I hadn't taken Clara out yesterday, so it was really her first snow experience today; unless you count last years face plant when she was 2 and a half months old, but that is another story. This is pretty much what she looked like the whole time.Heidi and Jeff discovered if you shovel snow on the to old metal slide in the park, you can go really fast! Heidi loved it, possible only because with all the clothes she was wearing and the powery snow none of the falls at the end hurt.And once again the sled came out and Jeff being Super Daddy would take the girls on sled rides around half the block.

Oh, what fun it is to ride in a daddy powered sleigh, hey!