The Very Hungry Caterpillar - presented by JULIA

Today Julia decided that she would read ME her book instead of the other way around!  Boy was I shocked to hear that she had practically memorized the whole book - some parts are not captured on the camera, but here is an excerpt:

Transcript:
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
He ate a nice green leaf, and after that he feel much better!

The next day was Sunday again, caterpillar ate 3 plums, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5! The next day was Sunday again and the caterpillar eat these 5 oranges - DON'T TALK ABOUT! (an aside to Mommy - ie - BE QUIET MOMMY!)

Now he wasn’t hungry any more, and he wasn’t a little caterpillar anymore - he’s a big FAT caterpillar! He built a small house around himself, stay inside for more 2 weeks and he is beautiful butterfly!

She even puts in the inflections! This gave me such delight, I can't even describe it! If you're wondering what the actual words are in the book, check it out at your local book shop or library: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

This is (presently) her favorite book - one she received for her birthday from her Omi and Pop in Virginia.  Ironically, she also received the book in a larger format (from my teaching partner, Terri) with more delicate pages!  So it works out rather nicely, she has one for bathroom reading (the board book is easy for her to hold and turn the pages on her own) and one for bedtime reading by Mommy.  Also seen in this video, her favorite dress-up outfit, Cinderella, made by Grandma Jan!

The Strawberry Shake

One of the gifts Julia received was a Strawberry Shortcake video and "dance mat."   The video has two cartoons of Strawberry Shortcake, then a little dance video that uses the little dance mat.  Julia is in love with doing the "Strawberry Shake."  It is hilarious to watch her - it is like toddler Dance Dance Revolution... 

Julia's 2nd Birthday Party

Julia is turning TWO!!!  I can't believe it - although, to talk to her, you'd think she was turning three.  She is such a delight - I just can't get enough of her.  We had a wonderful party at John's Incredible Pizza.  I wasn't so sure at first about having it there, but it was such a relief not to worry about whose house to have it in (because ours is too small to keep everyone inside, and it is WAY too hot to ask them to go outside in August...), food for everyone, cleaning up afterward, etc.  The "party hostesses" took care of everything.  They even came and made balloon animals for the kids, and would have played games with them except the kids present were too young for musical chairs, etc.  After eating our fill of the pizza buffet, singing the birthday song, eating cake (yummy ice cream cake from Coldstone Creamery), and opening a mound of beautiful gifts, we had fun playing the arcade games and riding the bumper cars!  Julia had a great time which was most important, and she has been delighting over all her fantastic gifts.  She is set for Princess goods forever I believe!  Our good friend Carole was so helpful and took many great pictures during the party for me so I was able to enjoy Julia at the party and not worry about capturing the event on camera.  Here are some of the highlights.