Happy 5th Birthday, Karla!

Today is Karla's fifth birthday. I really can't believe it. Maybe I am in denial. She is just getting so big and the time has gone so fast!

Karla started her day by having brunch out with Daddy.

Then in the afternoon she got to open her presents from Mommy and Daddy. She played with her new toys all afternoon! Then she went to dance class. Jason and I got to go too since it was "parent observation week."

Then we came home and had dinner with Grammy and Pap-Pap, followed by cake, ice cream, and more presents!

Mommy and Daddy may have gone a little overboard:

Happily playing with her new Barbie dollhouse.

"I can't believe I got this Barbie." This is "Shang" from Mulan.

3 Years Ago Today!

Halloween at School

Karla and her good friend at school:

Walking in the Halloween "parade" at school for the parents.

MULAN:

Mulan's loot from school.

Happy Halloween!

Oh yeah! Pumpkin time! Oh yeah!

Gettysburg

Last weekend Karla took her first trip to Gettysburg with Mommy, Daddy, Grammy, Pap-Pap, Tio Kevin, and Kathy. Her favorite parts of the trip were climbing on the rocks at Devil's Den and going up in the "castle" on Little Round Top. She got tons of Grammy and Pap-Pap time and she loved it! I had a good time too because I got lots of adult conversation! One day Karla went swimming at the hotel pool with her grandparents (for 2 1/2 hours!!!) while Jason and I got to go with Kevin and Kathy on a battlefield tour.



Click here for more pictures from the trip.

Violin

Shortly after learning the English language, Karla expressed an interest in playing the violin. She has talked about it for the past 2 1/2 years. I don't know where the interest came from! I don't have any experience with string instruments and neither does Jason.

Over the summer I had been doing some research and making lots of calls to various people about a 4 year old taking violin lessons. It isn't that common but I found a place that does a free trial lesson. At the end of summer we went to the trial violin lesson. It went really well and Karla was still interested. We explained she'd have to practice, etc. Well, last Wednesday she had her first official lesson. She has a male teacher and was pretty quiet and shy with him but did everything he asked her to do. I wasn't sure if she was getting everything he was telling her or not. Anyway, when we got home that evening, she practiced. I couldn't believe it - she remembered and did exactly what she was supposed to for homework! She even "plucked" more loudly and confidently. She won't get to use the bow for a while. Jason had a late meeting Wednesday so he hadn't gotten to see her after her lesson. Thursday morning when she woke up, the first thing she did was show him her violin and what she had learned at her lesson! When he got home Thursday night she gave us a "concert" and then taught each of us how to pluck "Mary Had A Little Lamb." I'm hoping the enthusiasm continues!

Here she is playing for Grandpa.

Looking at her homework.

Teaching Grandma to play.

New Carpet!

We got new carpet throughout the house last week!

Karla makes a "carpet angel."



Karla enjoying our new carpet.