Waterpark

The whole Ossman clan (minus Grandpa Ed, who was busy with harvest) met in Des Moines at an indoor waterpark/hotel.  We realized this was Nora's first time staying at a hotel.  She loved it!  After spending all Friday afternoon playing in the pool with her cousins and eating pizza she got the privilege to sleep with Mommy!  (Nora's goal every night is to sleep in "Mommy Daddy bed."  She likes to sleep sideways and thrashes around quite a bit, so she isn't the best bed mate.)  Alena and Daddy got to share the other bed.  Before going to sleep we told stories.  Nora told the story, "Once there was a little mommy and a ghost!"  Then she would laugh hysterically for a minute before retelling the story.  Against all odds everyone eventually fell asleep.  In the morning Alena and Daddy went out to walk around and Nora and I ate banana bread in bed while watching cartoons.

The babies had fun, too!  Nina practices her sitting.

The final birthday celebration

We needed to celebrate Alena's birthday one more time, now with Grandma and Grandpa Ossman.  Alena got a new princess sleeping bag, Barbie clothes, and a new leotard so she is prepared to start gymnastics class on Wednesday.  We set up the camper, Grandpa gave tractor rides, and we went to a pumpkin patch.  The girls are going to have to get some good rest in during the next few days.

Nora has her puppy, books, and Alena's sleeping bag ready to take out to the camper.

 Alena practicing some moves.

The girls loved going through the haunted house, seeing the animals, and playing with all of the toys

Nora was not interested in going home.

Birthday party

Alena had friends Brielle, Tillie, Maya, and Kaelyn over for a fairy themed party.  The girls played some fairy games, made necklaces with fairy shrinky dinks, and ate chocolate cupcakes with pixie dust on top.

The Thatchers gave Alena a Flutterbye, a fairy that actually flies!

Happy birthday, Alena!

Alena turned 5 today!  The Jensens all came over to celebrate in the first of several birthday parties.  We had pizza and ice cream cake.  Alena is preschool's "Jaguar of the Week," so Jackson the stuffed jaguar even attended.  Alena has loved Barbies for over a year, and was very excited to receive a Barbie fairy, that she named Fiona, from Mommy and Daddy.  She received several cute outfits and a new Lalaloopsy doll from Grandma and Grandpa.