birthday recap

Alexis' birthday came and went. She loves being 5, though I think she's disappointed that she isn't magically 2 feet taller and knows how to ride a 2-wheeler (both things she thought just happened when you're 5). She woke up the morning of her birthday to a bed full of balloons, streamers hanging in her doorway, and her favorite stool (the one that wiggles) decorated for her to eat breakfast on. She spent the morning playing at the park with friends, telling everyone it was her birthday, and wondering where her presents were. Then in the afternoon we went to a local water park, just the four of us. The water park was pretty fun, but the water in the slides was cold, so we spent most of the afternoon going around the lazy river. Alexis was tall enough to walk in the river, if she tilted her head up and stood on her tiptoes, so I got to follow her around it hundreds of times making sure she didn't get smashed against the wall, pushed under by all the other kids, or swept away when the current got stronger. It was lots of fun! After that we had cake and ice cream and opened presents, then off to her very first soccer practice.

This year, Alexis wasn't the only one excited about her presents. The resident Barbies were pretty thrilled as well, since they ended up with a few new friends, including one of the male persuasion! Not only that, but they received some new sleeping arrangements. They were so excited that I was even able to persuade them to get dressed for the occasion (I don't expect this to happen again).There's only 4 sleeping bags, so not everyone can camp at once. The girls sleep inside,while Ken sleeps outside. To protect them from bears, naturally.
However, the bears don't seem too intimidated by a man in a purple paisley sleeping bag.
Poor Ken, he wasn't even around long enough to play naked, like everyone else.