Mary Grace is officially 6 years old.

So far this year, we had a friends party for some of her kindergarten friends. Sadly, Mary Grace couldn't invite everyone on her list, but we had a good sized group for our house size.

It was a Tinkerbell/Pixie Hollow theme party with each room decorated for a season and costumes optional. It was a windy and snowy day right after a big mid-winter melt and we all stayed cozy in the house. The party lasted a little over two hours and consisted of a butterfly decorating craft, lunch, bag decorating, another craft, a pinata and finally cake and ice cream.

	All ready for the party
	Cake time!
	Opening presents!

On Mary Grace's birthday proper, we got her a surprise -- a stay at a local hotel with a nice swimming pool and hot tub in a heated atrium. Walking in to the hotel, William was first to ask "does this hotel have a swimming pool?". Upon hearing yes, the screaming started.

After checking in to our room, we swam for a little over two hours. Then as hunger began to kick in, we went back to the room and changed, then headed out for Mary Grace's dinner of choice, pizza. Dinner at Pizzeria Uno, ice cream sundaes and William falling asleep there (at 7:45!), then back to the hotel. I offered more swimming but the kids were tuckered out.

The next morning, we had an early brunch in the hotel restaurant, then it was back to the pool until checkout time.

The kids had a great time mid-winter swimming and they've been asking to go back to the pool to swim ever since...

	Hamming it up, poolside
	Mary Grace and her daddy

Leg Hair.

William: Daddy, why do you have hair on your legs?
Daddy: Why do you think?
William: Because you're an alien.
Daddy: LOL!

I wish I remembered all of these micro-interactions. Sadly, some of the funniest ones have been long forgotten.

Better than a Happy Meal toy!

As the kids and I were leaving the gym the other night, they were running and playing near the tennis courts and ended up running into each other and bumping foreheads pretty hard. They were both crying and as I dual-consoled, I offered up Happy Meals from McDonalds. It worked their tears turned to smiles.

Then I called Anne to tell her I was bringing home Happy Meals and she told me she had chicken nuggets and french fries in the oven already. The kids were disappointed and the crying resumed until I suggested Anne get a toy from her secret stash and give that in place of a Happy Meal toy. (note - confirmation that the toy in the happy meal is the key ingredient)

So after dinner, we unboxed a "Mystical Garden" toy. Just put the cardboard pieces into the plastic tray, add the magic liquid and in a few days, you get a beautiful garden. To my surprise, it actually worked! Here's the proof.