Is this love of chocolate genetic?

Aloka has been practicing her letters a lot. It's not that Josh and I necessarily encouraged her to start this activity, but she started showing a real curiosity and desire to learn so we've each been showing her little bits here and there. She mostly copies what she sees in books I think too.
Here is a picture of a "letter" she wrote to me. She folded it up neatly and hid it in the mailbox in front of our house. I found it later that day when I checked the mail! This is completely from her own mind, and doesn't this first word look strangely like "chocolate"??

This is also her 'lemonade' letter she wrote. She asked me to write lemonade, and she copied it. I think she was practicing for her lemonade stand that she wants to do. It's on a City of Nelson envelope because I was at the Govt. Building getting my toy store registered as a sole proprietorship that day. She was entertaining herself quite well as you can tell.By the way, just one more thing I love about Nelson is that you go to the Government Building, talk to one teller, and do just about anything with the one interaction. You get your drivers license, pay parking tickets, pay utility bills, register your business, and a zillion other things.
The only thing you can't do is register your car there. That's a different place, and when you register your car, you get your insurance at the same time, all in one shot. It's a little weird though, that your registration and your title are the same document, and you're required by law to present it if you get pulled over. So essentially, you have to carry your vehicle title in your car, which makes me a little uncomfortable. Why I am thinking about this at midnight whilst typing my blog, I have no idea.

Next I'm putting up some pictures of a fun hike Aloka and I did with some friends. It was a hike in one of the old growth forests here in the mountains. It was so beautiful, and Aloka did amazing.
We hiked for 2 hours, and not only did she not ask to be carried once, but she was running ahead and 'leading' us the whole time! The young lady pictured with Aloka is Jenny. Aloka took an immediate liking to her and they held hands for a good portion of the hike.
And here are some photos of the fun 'expedition'!

Huge tree!

Aloka liked leading the way

Juergen and Eric checking out the girth

Jenny and Aloka

Eric, Karl, Aloka and Jenny having a snack

Presenting the new "do"

Aloka is holding up the freshly cut hair. She saved it, and has been taping it to her baby dolls head.

This all started with Aloka picking up the scissors and deciding she felt like cutting something different than her usual paper projects. Like, how about her hair she says. This isn't the first time this has happened, but she cut enough off that it had to be completely cut.
This was her intention anyway, because the whole time she was doing the cutting, she was saying "mama, i need a summer haircut". So she cut some, and I finished it off. It is super cute, and I think she had great timing. She needed a change, and the weather is perfect for it!

A pretty cheesecake

I was happy with how this turned out so I decide to post a photo. I made this for a potluck/birthday party that Richard and I went to. I saved a huge piece each for Aloka and Josh! Everyone gave it the thumbs up!
Can you tell it was raspberry season based on the last two cakes I made? (one in each post!) The berries here are amazing!
And speaking of cakes, check out Melissa's blog to see her latest gorgeous creations!

Birthday Girl - 4 years old!

Well, as promised here are some pictures and videos of Aloka's birthday party. This party took place one week after her actual birthday, because we were having a cold and rainy spell, and all the birthday plans for the party were outdoors, pool, sandbox, scavenger hunt.
It turned out great! I had put a lot of planning into it, and made little rhymes for the treasure hunt. it was a blast and all the kids loved it.
The party started off with a crown making craft, which was a great way to start a birthday party. It got all the children busy and having fun in a cooperative way, and then by the time the treasure hunt came, everyone was decked out in their cute creations.
I was happy with how my cake turned out, and Melissa donated a fondant "princess crown" as requested by the birthday girl. I decided against icing, and opted for the way less sweet whipped cream option, which the kids loved!
I'm just going to put all these vids in one big long blob for you all to view, and likewise with the photos:

Mama and Aloka eating birthday cake, Aloka is feeling shy in this photo

In order: Claire, Aloka, Ani, Avi, and Sophie

Cutie pie Claire

Aloka and Claire; I have no idea how they can fit in this teeny car! When you look at the empty car you'd think "no way can even one 4 year old fit in that thing"

Aloka and Sophie, very excited about cake!

Birthday cake! I was happy with how this turned out, so yummy! Thanks to Melissa for the pink princess crown and thanks to Dena for the whipped creme idea!

Aloka multi-tasking playing with a balloon and about to blow out candles

Nile in the new sandbox! Aloka LOVES her new sandbox!

Watching me cut the cake

Aloka having lots of fun!

Two hilarious facial expressions caught on film!

Aloka and below, Aloka and Sophie, very excited for cake!

Eating

More eating and a cute Nile

Treasure hunt

Playing silly games

Some water balloon play!

Here's Aloka opening up her cool ukulele from Kara and Sophie. Kara is the one sitting next to Josh. Aloka LOVES her ukulele!

Self Portraits and Other pics

I'm still working on getting a whole heap of videos uploaded, and I will then post about Aloka's awesome birthday party. But in the meantime, around the time of her birthday, she made her very own chocolate cake, completely unassisted (almost). She chose what to add, with the exception of me throwing in a little baking soda at the end to help it rise. Then we put it into the oven, and it actually turned out really yummy! She is such a natural!
Here are also pictures of random things and self-portraits of her. Every photo in this post she took. Is it just me being a parent, or does she have a good eye for composition?

Mama on Phone

Still Life with Slippers

Still Life with Flowers

Mama holding cake Aloka made

Aloka makes her own birthday cake

Mama on Phone Still...

Below is the slightly "dark" self portraits. I swear she was happy two seconds before she took these! This is just her "I'm totally concentrating" facial expression.

This photo should be on the cover of National Geographic or something.

It's been a hard week and it's only Monday

Today was a crappy day. I have a renter in my house and I gave her 30 days notice to find another place last week because it wasn't working out, and Aloka was having a really hard time with her. Today she put a 'stop payment' on my rent check that she had given me last week, and moved out. It's leaving me high and dry unless i can figure something out. Anyway, going to bed.