Happy Birthday Jayden

She is thrilled to be SIX years old, feeling quite older, more responsible and capable in a Fancy Nancy kinda way!  And the only gift she requested was to have a girls only 'drop-off' party.  So we called on Five of her best friends from church to celebrate with a SUPER play-date with crafts, face-painting, lunch  and cupcakes.  (Zach, Ollie and Marty vacated the house and had an awesome father-son breakfast at the Waypoint Cafe at the Camarillo Airport)

Jayden Malia is an amazing little girl, with faith and maturity beyond her age.  I am so blessed to be her mama, friend and teacher.  

First Day of School

The morning began with Hand-made crowns, Old Navy uniforms, chocolate muffins, and smoothies.

 

Then we snapped photos outside.

And we were off to Bethany Christian to meet up with dear friends. Sophia and Morgan Elder and Taylor Ikenouye are all in Zachary's preschool class on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.  I am so blessed by the friendship of their Mamas, Nikki Elder and Kelly Ikenouye, and so excited that our kids will grow up together!!

 

 Back and home, Oliver had a nap, and Jayden and I opened the door to her new classroom!  She is a quick and eager learner, and I had the best time, the most fun, the perfect role as her teacher!  I am incredibly blessed to stay home with my children and to have so many options for their educations.  And I have a feeling that Homeschooling is going to become my very favorite mothering activity.  God is so Good!

Firsts

First day of VBS....Pandamania!!

 Jayden's crew is filled with almost all of her besties: Isabella, Zoey and Paul (whom she is going to marry apparently).

 Zachary also found himself with his best buds:  Charlotte, Morgan, and Ryder.

 First day of Swim Lessons!  I was amazed to see my rambunctious Oliver respond so well to his instructor -- following directions! A.M.A.Z.E.D

New Year's Eve

The weather was spectacular.  You know,  the magical combination of atmospheric ingredients that make Southern California winters envied by frozen States across the land: 

warm, sunny rays piercing through nippy air to toast the skin. 

Conditions perfect for releasing boisterous little ones into the outdoors for running, laughing, and cardboard sledding!

 Our friends Kelly, Cole and Taylor Ikenouye met us at Ant Hill Park for a couple hours of Holiday happiness.

  In the EVEning we busted out noise-makers, and let the kids stay up really late (9:00 is late around here, folks). 

Noodle Out

Nine days ago Jayden braved her way through "Surgery Day" (which I will blog about next week when I have time to access her baby pix on the upstairs computer). Today she hurdled over fear yet again for "Noodle Out" day.

The noodle, not it's technical name of course, was a clear, plastic, macaroni noodle shaped devise that the surgeon sutured in her nostrils for support and better breathing during the 1st week of healing.

This purpose having been accomplished, we trekked down to Westwood this morning to have Dr. Bradley take it out. A super simple task --- he just snipped the stitch and pulled it out -- but it took a while as Jayden needed a good cry before she could trust that it wouldn't hurt. She'll tell you now that it was "soooooo easy!".

Here's pictures of :

--the kids loaded in the car for the journey through LA rush hour traffic. Had to make a pitstop at Starbucks first.

--in the parking garage of the UCLA Medical center with Malia Bear and Bobo Bear (another blog to come about these new friends).

And videos of

--the chaos of 3 kids in a waiting room

--crossing 'today' off the calendar

Happy Feet

Although she no longer receives formal Ballet instruction, Jayden still has a passion to twirl and twit about on her toes.
She loves to tell people that she goes to "pretend Ballet class" which takes place in our living room.
Zachary often obliges her requests for a dance partner, but he put his foot down when she told him to put on some white tights. He said "no ce-ce I can wear my pants!".
Here's a bit of video from some recent pretending :)

2 Samuel 6:14
David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might,

Celebrating our Daughter

Jayden Malia Sarkisian

was born 4 years ago and for an entire week we celebrated her

beautiful countenance, radiant joy, tender compassion, intelligent creativity, and over-all yummyness.

She is an amazing person with a giant desire to know and do what is right and to understand things of God. She loves scripture and singing praise and worship.

She delights in all things girly -- make-up, high heels, jewelry, princess gowns and crowns -- dress up is her normal routine!

She is most assuredly a generous gift from our loving Creator and we love her to bits.

*****

Her actual birthday was October 10th, and when asked what she'd love to have for her birthday she responded with exuberance,

"Can we have bacon!!?"

This awesome reply solidified the notion that a big-jumpy-house-piñata-petting zoo-million-dollar birthday-party just wasn't necessary.

Instead...

**on Thursday we baked letter "J" cookies with pink frosting and pink sugar sprinkles to share with her class.

**on Saturday she received a special delivery of cup-cakes from the Dewey girls and Dad made her requested "hard" (aka well-done) bacon for breakfast.

** on Sunday she opened gifts and ate Chinese food with Grandma, Grandpa and Ron and Stella.

AND
** one week later opened more gifts and ate home-made ginger snaps with Mima, Papa, Uncle Andrew, Uncle John, Aunt Kelly, and brand new cousin Anna Moniz.