Monday, February 13, 2012

Cupid, Draw Back Your Bow...

We interrupt this regularly scheduled blog post to bring you a special message:

Happy Freaking Valentines Day.

Secret: I do not care for Valentines day.  Don't worry, close friends who are reading this, I am not going to go on my traditional rant.   I know, you've all heard it.  But, while I do not care particularly for Valentines day, I do like celebrating things with Russ and Vivi.  And, despite my recent kvetching about crafting, I wanted to help Vivi make something special for her daycare buddies on Valentines day.  

I have to say, I feel like holidays and daycare is a little like a minefield.  Halloween: Jean had a party.  I brought treat bags.  No one else did.  I felt dumb.  Christmas: two of the moms brought treat bags.  I did not.  I felt dumb.  So, I have decided to bring treats for every possible holiday that makes sense, and will just assume that if there is ever a Miracles on 34th Street PTA organization, I will be elected president.

But I digress.  Vivi and I decided to make Whoopie Pies.
With some attitude.

Vivi helped with every step!  She poured ingredients in...

...she helped me mix (although she thought it was hilarious that we were not just going to eat the batter right then and there)...

...and she helped roll the whoopie pies in sprinkles once they were assembled.  Because, you know, stuffing two chocolate cakes with frosting is NOT ENOUGH SUGAR FOR TODDLERS.
She did have to taste-test the sprinkles first.  And incorporate her special birthday sprinkles that Grandma Otto brought this summer.  Thankfully, sprinkles do not go bad.

And, of course, a final taste test!

Look at them.  They're kind of hideous.
But you know what?  She and I had a blast making them together, and I am glad that she is going to get to celebrate with her daycare buddies and bring them something fun.  Even if their parents find it hard to forgive us for presenting their children with that amount of sugar.  So Happy Valentines Day, yall.  From the Ottos.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Tip-toe Tip-toe Tip-toe Where?

Thanks to a little episode called, "The Wonder Pets Save the Nutcracker," Vivi is obsessed with Sugar Plum Fairies.  Super obsessed.  When she wakes up every morning and I ask her how she slept, she answers, without fail, "I slept well.  I dreamed about Sugar Plum Fairies."  When I ask her what they were doing in her dream, she replies, "They were dancing on their tip-toes!"

It may or may not surprise you to find out we also spend quite a bit of time these days dancing on our tip-toes.

Due to a stroke of luck and a very timely growth spurt, cousin Eva swung into town with some out-grown costumes.  Among them...a fairy!
Yes, it is technically a Tinker Bell costume (I think).  But I am not really up to differentiating between the varietals of fairies, nor is Vivi interested.  So a Sugar Plum Fairy she is.  And what do Sugar Plum Fairies do at the Otto house?

They laugh at funny jokes.

They practice for Fairy Mardi Gras.  -AHEM!-

They DO NOT like to stop dancing to take baths.
Even the prettiest fairies can sport Grumpy Frowns.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Queen Vivi

My apologies, blog world.  I know I have been missing for a bit.  I have been crafting, crafting, crafting for a score of events that are now, thankfully, almost over.  And let it be said, for the first time, that I am tired.  of.  crafting.

Very tired.

However, my endless painting, glue-gunning, etc has afforded Vivi lots of time to spend playing in her new domicile.  You see, Vivi now has a castle.

A Christmas gift from Grandmary and Grandpapi, it has been very, very popular.  Our little queen has been holding court quite relentlessly since we opened it up.

Sometimes, if you ask very nicely, she will even let you into the castle with her.  If you fit.
And sometimes even if you don't.  No one denies the queen.

Heck.  Everyone likes castles.
Even baby Charlie.  :)