October Celebrations

We always seem to end up having lots of celebrations in October. First we celebrated with extended family at Disneyland. Then we celebrated Rebecca's birthday at Disneyland and in the evening with Great-Grandma Darlene and Daddy. But the next day there were tears because:
"I don't feel like I'm six because I didn't have cake and blow out any candles."

We quickly ran to the store, bought a cake mix, whipped it up, and blew out the candles.
Situation saved.

Next. A few months ago after Joseph's visit to the dentist Rebecca decided she finally wanted to give up thumb sucking. We came up with a plan. One candy each day that she didn't suck her thumb, an oreo for a week's worth of success and a party with a doll if she managed to kick the habit completely. We had tried before unsuccessfully, so I thought I had to bribe her hard to make it work. But she quit that same day, only had to be reminded a couple of times and it was over. I was really impressed by her determination. She even wore a sock to bed every night so she wouldn't do it in her sleep.

She kept asking when we would have her party, but I was so sick I kept putting it off. I finally thought, I better do it before life gets any busier, so we invited the people she had told her plan to back in August and had a little party with pumpkin decorating, pizza and cupcakes, complete with singing: "No more thumb sucking for you" to the tune of Happy birthday to you. Needless to say, I'm exhausted. I was going to keep the doll for Christmas (it was actually for last Christmas but I held on to it in the end), but she remembered, so I felt like I should stick to my promise. I'm proud of my little girl. Would that we all had that determination.