My two eldest looked to be trapped in some kind of net box ….

And they didn’t seem the least bit concerned by the situation.

Yesterday was Baby Sister’s birthday. I learned a hard lesson last year, when I had the whole party organized in 20 minute segments, only to have half the little girls lock themselves away in an upstairs bedroom with a box of Barbies and refuse to come out. This year we stuck to a few crafts, some cake, a pinata … and of course a Bouncy Castle:

Yes, it really was that big. The lady who delivered and set it up actually suggested - in all seriousness - that next time we ask to keep it overnight. So that we could camp out in it.  America continues to amaze me.

So plenty of room for all the kids to jump, although all of them didn’t end up in it at once, because half of them were upstairs playing Barbie.

Speaking of which, the haul this year was almost exclusively Barbie. We are overflowing with them already, and every one is a favorite. Forget Barbie’s Dream House/Real House/My House. I think we are headed for Barbie Sorority House. Especially with the addition of Totally Stylin Tattoos Barbie. Yes, we got one of those and in case you were wondering about all the hype, she does come with a “tattoo gun” stamper which makes a scarily realistic noise. It makes me a little uncomfortable but to the kids it’s just another, less messy way of applying some pretty cute and inoffensive temporary tattoos.

They don’t seem as interested in applying the mini tattoo stickers to Barbie.

While I am just itching to give her a tramp stamp. Because I am evil like that and care nothing for my childrens’ morals

So, just like that Baby Sister turns 5. I took her to buy her main present yesterday. We bought her a very expensive new bike. I say very expensive because at the rate we currently ride (about 10 times a year), if it lasts her 2 years it will have cost more than $10 a ride. But my hand was forced. I started off by buying her a (what else?) Barbie bike, which was the only toy store bike I could find which had relatively good reviews. And I wanted to like it. It is lightweight and has cool styling. However, its main feature is that none of the parts fit together properly. I discovered this after several frustrating hours, one trip back to the store for a bike center employee to look at me condescendingly and tighten a few screws, and the hassle of the front brake falling apart in my hand as I tried to adjust it for the umpteenth time. The last straw.

At which point The Daddy and I discussed things and decided that our children need to ride a lot more. You need to get me my money’s worth, young woman!

…

PS I know these birthday posts are supposed to be all sentimental and full of poetry about how I remember her soft baby head and baby toes and it seems just like yesterday - but honestly? I was too sleep deprived. Don’t remember a thing. She just kind of lay there and went gaa and waa a lot.

Now that she is 5 she doesn’t do that, so much. But dammit, we do need to find a storage solution for all those Barbies.