Happy 3rd Birthday Sienna! (Pony Style)

She's full of energy.  She's busy.  She's playful.  And now she is three!

At her three-year-old well check, Sienna weighed 28 lbs {14th percentile} and she was  35.25 inches tall {8th percentile}   She's a little peanut; petite and proportional.  No wonder the neighbor down the street calls her Polly Pocket.  She is right on track with her developmental skills.  During her check-up, the nurse showed her little images of a circle, heart, square and house.  Sienna then stood at the far wall, held her hand over one eye, and took an eye exam.  Not only does she have good vision, but Dr. Wilcox was impressed Sienna was so attentive and responsive to the test.  He says most 3-year-olds just freeze and stare at the medical staff.    He called her advanced in that area and says, rarely do 3-year-olds complete the test.  She sure looked sweet taking the eye exam.  But if I was the one giving the test, I doubt she would have been so attentive.  She tends to listen to others better than me.  :)  Sienna is extremely independent, which means if we are trying to get out the door, I need to give us 30 extra minutes for all the things she needs to do 'by herself' to get ready.  She is a bit of a tornado. When it comes to making messes, she has reached expert status.

I love her energy.  I adore her pizazz and spunk.  She gives the best hugs and looks up to her big sister.  Sienna brings a special feeling into our home.  I am thankful she's ours.

Sienna LOVES ponies! So typically, we had a Pony Party for her birthday Two ponies, one with Pink hair and one with Rainbow hair came to Papa and Grandma Wiscombe's beautiful backyard. The children lined up - so excited to take a ride.

Sienna would go for a pony ride and pop right back in line.  I think she went on seven different rides...at least.  

Her Slice Of Heaven.  

She still speaks, in detail, about the two ponies who 'came' to her party.  It was so sweet.  I know we probably have years ahead of us - full of school dances, wanting a cell phone, painted fingernails and latest fashions....  But this year, she only cared about riding a pony with Pink Hair.

Wish Granted.  

My parents have such a lovely yard.  It was so nice of them to let us throw the party there.  And the ponies helped trim the grass by eating it....errr....sorry dad!

 





The Invitations....

It was a beautiful evening with good weather, friends, family, and yummy food.




We also had 'My Little Pony Cookies' with all the main characters, including some of Sienna's favorites: Pinkie Pie, Twilight Sparkle and Fluttershy.

When it came to food, Sienna was mostly interested in the cookies.  

Sienna's friends were so nice to bring her such fun presents (lots more ponies to add to her collection.)

And there must be cake...pony cake...of course!  I had a fun time making and decorating this cake.  Jody put the finishing touches on the mane.

Sienna really enjoyed blowing out the candles and opening her presents.  

When I was little, I also loved 'My Little Ponies'.  I was older than three in the below picture, but I wanted a Pony Cake for my birthday too.  Gracie and Sienna have found the ponies my parents kept from when I was younger.  The girls love playing with the retro ponies.

All About Kindergarten

 

Gracie started Kindergarten in the fall of 2013.  She was extremely excited.  Moments before she went in her classroom for the first time, at the "Meet Your Teacher Night" - she exclaimed,

"All of my Dreams are about to come True!"

She was a bit excited.  A Bit.

Gracie hasn't ever had a difficult time in groups of people.  She loves meeting new faces.  She will tell you her FAVORITE part of Kindergarten is making new friends.  She also is really good at math and enjoys 'Small Groups' where the students do interactive learning.  Gracie was disappointed that in Kindergarten she didn't get to make as many "art projects" as she did in Pre-School.  Gracie is creative.  She loves to make cards and do projects.  She is constantly making 'invitiations' to parties at our house, and handing them out to neighbors on our street.  

Gracie casually told me one day she was "chasing and kissing boys at recess."  Oh.  How about we don't kiss the boys?!?!  She could care less about the romantics of the whole thing...but she's a tease.  And she loves to make the boys run.  She told me,

"Mom, I have skills.  Have you seen how fast I run?"

I chatted with her about it.  But apparently, the chasing and kissing continued.  She came home from school one day with a large bandage on her face.  She was trying to kiss a boy, and he scratched her.  The scratch was deep and took over a week to heal.

She informed me, after the incident, that kissing at school...was no longer something she planned to do.

Gracie was the Star Student for the Week.  I helped her make a Poster showing things she loves and describe her.  

 

I enjoy volunteering in Gracie's Classroom.  She had a wonderful time at her Halloween Party.  She really liked the parade through all the classrooms.

Old Town San Diego

We visited Old Town San Diego while in California.  There are some fun and authentic sites to see.  The Mormon Battalion Historic Site was a fun stop.  They had an interactive tour (with picture frames that talked!) and movies that explained what those in the battalion went through.  The girls panned for gold at the end of the tour.

September 2013 -- Mormon Battalion Historic Site

The condo we stayed in had this welcome sign waiting for us.  We laughed because there was no "s" so it sounded like the Condo was called "The Wiscombe".  Ha! Ha!

We enjoyed yummy Mexican Food at an outdoor restaurant in Old Town, San Diego.  We visited a candy shop (explaining the sucker popping out of Gracie's mouth).  

Batter Up!

Enjoying my Super sized Snow Cone at Petco Park, where the San Diego Padres Play.

As we were planning our trip to Southern California, my parents wanted to do something Michael would enjoy.  Michael really wanted to watch the Padres Play at Petco Park.  The issue was, the only HOME game, while we were on vacation, was on Sunday.  After talking about it a great deal, we decided to do it, knowing it's one of the few things Michael can comfortably enjoy on vacation.  

When vacationing over a Sunday, we always find a nearby LDS ward and attend church.  This trip was no exception. We were sitting in a Sacrament Meeting in Carlsbad.  The youth speaker, an impressive young man with down syndrome, stood up to speak.  

"Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy, "  He said.

He went on to talk about how we shouldn't attend sporting events on Sunday.  I looked at everyone on our row...I couldn't help it, I started giggling under my breath.  What a fitting topic.  Perhaps Heavenly Father's gentle way of reminding us that He is, indeed, aware of us and our choices.  And I think He has a decent sense of humor too.     

The stadium is sandwiched right in San Diego.   

We stopped on our way home and showed the girls the beautiful San Diego Temple.  

I am so thankful for the blessings the temple brings into our lives.  What a comfort to know that families can be together forever.

Fixing Breakfast Before Church

The girls liked watching a little Disney Jr. before our adventures each morning.  The condo was beautiful - a really nice and fun place to stay!

"Adults are only Kids Grown Up, Anyway..." - Walt Disney

During our September California Trip, we spent one day at Disney's California Adventure Park.  We started off the day at Ariel's Grotto.  We enjoyed a delicious breakfast and while we were eating, Snow White, Cinderella, Ariel, Tiana and Belle came to our table and visited with us.  It was a magical way to begin our day.  And well worth it, having all the princesses come to us...instead of waiting in lines for hours

Sienna was MOST excited about Princess Belle from Beauty and Beast.  Gracie was her inquisitive self - asking the Princesses all sorts of questions.

Gracie was really excited about pushing Sienna in the stroller around the park.  I didn't think she would last - but she pushed her for a long time, and Gracie walked almost the entire day and never complained.

Riding Mickey's Fun Wheel with my Sweetheart

It was not busy at all the day we visited.  We walked on to rides.  In fact we rode again and again without waiting on some.  Gracie's favorite rides were: Jumpin' Jellyfish, Luigi's Flying Tires, Radiator Springs Racers and Toy Story Mania.  

I got to ride with her on Toy Story Mania.  It was one of my favorite moments.  She was wide-eyed and giggling with unbelief the whole time!  The 4D virtual effects had her laughing and squealing out loud.  She was so cute.  

Sienna loved: 'Ariel's Undersea Adventure' and Disney Junior - Live on Stage.     

We went to 'Turtle Talk with Crush'.  Crush picked Gracie out of the crowd and talked to her forever during the show.   He even gave her a nickname: "Groovy Gracie."  She still refers to herself as that.  

Cars Land is so fun!  Disney never overlooks the details - and the main street in Carburetor County is no exception.  Such a darling place!! 

This is one of my favorite pictures - Gracie and Grandma Wiscombe are laughing so hard - trying to control this 9 foot inflatable tire!  

There's my favorite ride in the background:  Tower of Terror.  I love it.  I love the anticipation, the drop, the thrill - SO fun.  I didn't ride it during our visit.  Funny how that happens when you have kids and just one day at the park - your priorities change....and you only have time for select things.  Tower of Tower also happens to be Michael's favorite ride!!  I stayed with the girls while my parents and Jody took Michael on the ride. (It takes a few people to hold him from each side on that ride.)   My mom had even purchased a foam pillow to place under Michael to pad his hips.  The workers let Michael ride it twice without getting off.  He LOVED it - laughed the whole time.   While Michael and the crew were riding Tower of Terror, I took the girls to meet some of the classic characters.  Notice how Gracie is holding Pluto's leash tag to make sure it's showing.  It was super cute to watch her meet Pluto.  She loves Pluto! 

*The girls with the One and Only: Mickey Mouse*

After we met up with my parents, Michael and Jody - we knew the park was closing soon.  The girls really wanted to visit "A Bug's Land" where they have lots of rides for little kids.  So that's where we went.  

Soaring in the Sky on 'Flik's Flyers'

               Riding 'Francis' Ladybug Boogie'

We ended the day by riding Toy Story Mania once again and watching the 'World of Color' show (from the back).  It was really fun.  Gracie was dancing to the music, and there was no one around.  I was dancing with her!  Another really fun moment I will never forget.  Spinning, Twirling and Taking it all in!