The Harrer Happenings

Happy Birthday Calvin!

(and happy birthday Grandma Pam!)

It took forever to get a photo of Calvin kinda looking at the camera and looking happy. We even tried to do photos after dinner. No luck. But I guess that just shows us what we have to look forward to with a spunky, fun loving, active, adventurous one year old boy.

Over the weekend we went up to Santa Barbara to celebrate the birthdays with the VanBlaricum family. On Saturday evening we had some tri-tip and wacky cake. It was a hoot watching Cal eat cake, although, I don't think he was a big fan. He had a couple bites, made a funny face, and asked for my water and spent more time drinking water than eating cake. Ellie helped decorate the cake...she even wrote Grandma Pam's name on the cake. She added just enough sprinkles to the cake...just barely (that's a joke, the cake was covered with sprinkles). There were also presents. Ellie was so excited to pick out a present for her brother, that I think she was more excited about playing with than some of her own toys.

Today, was a normal day for Calvin including going to daycare. I took in some cookies for his teachers as today is a day for all of the adults who care for and love Calvin to help celebrate with him. When I picked him up, all 2 dozen cookies were gone...not a crumb to be seen. I got many thank yous from teachers, so it looks like the cookies were a hit. When I picked him up Calvin was having a little snack, but he had figured out that he could go between two teachers and get twice the crackers! Sneaky kid! He was the only kid doing the little trick and the teachers were laughing about it. Calvin's teachers often have stories about him and I've been told they have been impressed with his logic and problem solving skills...finding things to stand on to reach snacks on the table. I've been told that he's cuddly, but picky about which teacher to cuddle with. He "chats" all the time with other babies. And he usually stops and says hi to the babies and the Piglet teachers. Hes a great napper, at school, taking two hour naps in the afternoon.

Calvin is so much fun. He is hilarious and quick to giggle. He is the most ticklish kid I know. He's a great eater, he will eat almost anything (except broccoli) and we never have to worry about him. He hates to be alone; if he can't see you he will cry and almost panic. In fact, when he is alone is one of the only things he will really cry about. We think that because of this not liking to be alone is the problem of why he will not nap at home. He naps well at school...with other friends at the same time, but at home to be alone in his room...not having any of it. He is crawling...fast, almost as fast as I can walk, and standing. He can walk with assistance. He has started standing unassisted more and more over the past couple days. I know walking is in the very near future. He has 6 teeth.

Calvin is a chatterbox. He talks all the time. ALL THE TIME. I don't think he is ever really quiet. He definitely has said some words as well. He has said, "ball" while pulling a rolled up tote bag out of my purse and playing with his toys/balls. He will also say uh-oh when dropping food off his tray. Yesterday he dropped a teething thingie down behind the dresser while I was changing him and he looked at me and said, "uh oh". He also will say, "mama" when he needs something, anything. But he will point to me and say mama. So I'm pretty confident that he has said his first word. Whether it was ball or mama, I'm not sure.

He loves to play with anything that makes noise. He also loves to play with his collection of balls. But his favorite thing has to be this little Fisher Price farm with little animals. He likes the little figurines and has even carried around some of them.

After I picked him up from school we came home and went out to dinner. We headed to the neighborhood Italian restaurant where we went with Ellie. As expected he ate quite a bit of food, olives from my salad, Ellie's gnocchi, spaghetti from Nick's plate, and even some pesto pasta off of my plate. And then he had some garlic bread! Then we came home and had more cake. Cal still didn't seem to excited about the cake. But Nick, Ellie and I did enjoy the cake!

And then there were more presents...Calvin enjoyed all his gifts. But he really really loved the gift from Nick and I. We got him a cozy coupe...a little foot powered car. He was so excited when he saw it and loved his first ride in it. Just before bed, Calvin and Ellie got to play with the rocket ship that Ellie got him. Both were super happy.

I can't believe its been a year already for us as a family of four. It happened so fast. It feels like last week I was on maternity leave and had this little being than could just barely hold his head up. And now hes chasing and calling after me with opinions. Nick and I are so fortunate to have such awesome kids and kids that love each other.

Happy Birthday Calvin! We love you and your amazing kisses.

Happy Birthday Grandma Pam!

Last Saturday, February 21, 2015, we held Ellie's 6th birthday party. She invited six friends, three from preschool and three from her kindergarten class, to get manicures and pedicures at a local salon and then to play on a nearby playground and have some treats. She was really happy that all six of her friends were able to make it to her party.

The party started in the morning when everyone arrived and the nail salon. There was quite a bit of discussion, thought, and debate about what nail colors to get. Most girls ended up with pink, purple, or red or a combination of those colors for their fingernails and toes. But Ellie opted for a sparkly blue for her nails. It did bring out her eyes. Then each girl was set up in a comfy chair for some pampering.

The girls had some snacks (bagels with cream cheese and fruit) while they waited for their nails to dry. They also had some lemonade to drink. It was fun watching them interact and talk about school and friends and Frozen and siblings and their nails. Once everyone had dry nails they took a group picture...they were all so giggly and definitely full of energy.

Then we headed to a nearby playground that Ellie really likes because it has monkey bars, rings, and two bars that she can hang upside down on. And a merry-go-round type thingie. As soon as we got the playground they girls were off to expend some of their energy. Surprisingly, it seems like all of their nails survived without getting chipped.

And then it was time for cupcakes. All the girls gathered around and sang for Ellie. After she blew out her candle they all gobbled up their cupcakes. It was a great end to her birthday party and she was so happy. It really was exactly what she wanted with her best friends. She couldn't have been happier. She and all of her friends all appeared to have a great time.