High Five for Friday (2.20.15)

I replaced last week's High Five for Friday post with a Valentine's Day post, so this week I'm covering a couple of weeks worth of high fives.

1. This sweetheart - my nephew, Carter - turned two years old yesterday. He is, without a doubt, one of the most delightful children I have ever met. Despite regularly dealing with a variety of uncomfortable medical conditions since birth (like his older sister and Will, Carter has a number of food and environmental allergies; poor buddy also suffers from terrible eczema), he smiles all the time and gives genuine hugs, sloppy kisses, and serious fist bumps to everyone he meets. You can tell, after spending even just a few minutes with Carter, that he is, above all else, happy.

Happy birthday, President Carter!

2. Hallie has yet to figure out how to produce a natural smile on cue, so when the time comes for me to take her picture (like right after she lost her first tooth but before her new tooth comes in), I ask her to make faces and just snap continuously until I finally capture her beautiful, toothy grin.

3. I've used this tactic for years (check out these two adorable examples - here and here) and I had to pull it out of my bag of tricks yet again in order to capture Hallie's smile before the Daddy Daughter Dance. She certainly has a flare for the dramatic!

On the night of their date, Tom came to the door - flower in hand - to pick Hallie up.

They had a lovely time at the event, taking pictures in the photo booth, coloring t-shirts, decorating picture frames, dancing, dining on Chick-fil-a, and decorating cookies. They performed their "special move" more than once, but it didn't land them on the cover of the newspaper this year.

While Tom and Hallie danced up a storm, Will and I played arcade games at Grand Station, dined on Mexican food at Rosa's, and played Wii at home. I abhor almost all video games, but I couldn't say no to Will after he batted his long eyelashes and told me "he would be honored" if I would play Wii with him.

4. On Valentine's Day, after all the digging and planting and watering, I organized our annual Valentine's Day treasure hunt. (The kids LOVE this activity, so even though I've been cutting back on Valentine's Day traditions, this one will stick around for years to come.)

The final clue led the kids to the oven, in which I'd hidden their small Valentine's Day gifts. As you can see from the look on Hallie's face, they had absolutely no idea that you could put things other than food in the oven… (Oops?)

5. Happiness Highlights:

Our friends Mike and Kristi (holding itty bitty Will) have
had a tough week. I'm throwing up the biggest high five
ever that Kristi survived a terrible accident, but I'm also
asking for thoughts and/or prayers for these wonderful
people and their two precious girls as they move forward. 

I discovered that the second hole in my left ear (my sister and I "split
a piercing" as teens), despite going earring-free for 15 years, remains
open. Hallie believed I'd performed magic when I put in a stud - she
mistakenly thought I'd forced a metal post through my solid ear.
To be clear, I have no plans to start wearing a second earring...

After dropping Will at karate and before the high school dance team
practice competition we had plans to attend, Hallie and I ate a "picnic"
dinner in the car. My girl cares very little for eating in traditional
environments/circumstances, but let her eat on the floor, in the car,
outside, buffet-style, out of a paper bag, etc. and she can put it back.  

My parents celebrated their 39th anniversary on Valentine's Day.

Also on Valentine's Day, my sis-in-law celebrated her birthday. 

The highlight of our most recent basketball game excursion may
or may not have been the halftime chicken wing eating contest.
(Tom has a long history of participating in - and winning - eating
contests so we always get a kick out of this kind of event.)

Happy Friday, friends!

Linking up with High Five for Friday!

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