Olive cut this out when I was clipping coupons the other day. She's doing a great job using scissors!

What Olive scored from her Valentine party at school today...

Here's the Valentines the girls brought to their classes -- a baggie with M&Ms and a shovel and a note that says, "I dig you!"

A quick gander at the invitations and thank-you's that Olive helped design. I love her original one; we made small copies of it for each invitation.

Olive had her well check at the doctor today. She is 43 inches tall and 43 pounds, and she's a perfectly healthy 5 year-old. We have to start her on a fluoride supplement because apparently there isn't any in our county's water supply. And (she doesn't know this) we have to go back and get her kindergarten shots as soon as we know which school she'll be attending. I can't believe we're starting to really think about kindergarten! Anyway, I'm so thankful that she's a healthy, happy, well-adjusted girl who is eager to learn and make friends and be helpful. I adore her.

Olive was pretty excited to show me the CTR she wrote on this. She also got her first CTR ring in her church class; she loves it.

Today was Olive's birthday party; it was really fun!

Olive's swim report card for this session.

A sampling of the birthday cards Olive received.

Olive's 5th birthday!!!!!

the traditional HONK sign in the yard

Hello Kitty pancakes for breakfast

ready for PURPLE day at school
(how fitting on her birthday!)

getting spotlighted at school

a gift from Miss Jo (with $1 inside!) 

lunch at McDonald's with the family 

sporting a new suit at swim class

opening presents (and like super excited about this one)

dinner at Jake's and then 5 candles in a Jake's shake