Family parties

We had two small parties with our families to celebrate Lily turning 5.

First Grandma Grandpa and Auntie Nalii came over.

Auntie Nalii just happened to be here from Oregon.

So happy she got to celebrate with us.

On Monday morning Peter and I woke Lily up with a happy birthday lick from her puppy and a cinamon roll for her tummy.
She was in the best mood and it was the easiest Monday in history!!!
Then after school Nonnie and Papa joined us for another little bash.
The birthday girl picked a pancake feast for her dinner.
She really tried to get me to serve cheetos for dinner.
We settled for pancakes it was quite the yummy compromise.

If you notice at both mini parties she is wearing the same pink tutu.
I don't have a pink tutu wearing kind of girl no matter how hard I try, but
she told me that she should look pretty and this IS pretty.
She could wear a paper bag and look stunning but let's not tell her I kinda like the tutu when I can get it.

This bulldozer was daddies choice I think it was a hit!

These next two photos are my favorite. They are really about the same picture

but while I waited for my little one to be finally placed in my arms

I dreamed of giving her moments that made their face look exactly like this!

Happy Birthday mi princessa!
You bring me joy each and every day
and I am so very proud to call you my daughter!

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

I found that while I was thinking of things we could do for Lily's 5th birthday I was putting undo pressure on myself.

5 for me is a big deal.

For me it is the loss of my only baby.

I felt as if it should be extra special cause she is now officially a kid and not a tot.

How would I top last years party.

What, oh what, could I do.

Seriously, people, I was loosing sleep.

None of this had anything to do with the actual birthday girl.

It was all about me.
So I decided to scrap the party all together.

And make the day less about me

and more about her.

We got to the park a little early and had a little roadside picnic.

We ate sandwiches and Cheetos

(a request from a certain birthday girl they are also what she'd prefer for her birthday dinner)

and opened a few gifts.

The park has a bit of a spooky theme this time of year.

Blood red fountains, skeletons, and webs aplenty

not a one scared my big girl.

But, the looney toons folks they are terrifying.

We headed straight to......





This girl could not contain her excitement!!!

Harrold took Ava and I on a tour of sodor.

So like I said before folks this is not even kinda scary.

But..........

these guys are so scary we had to promptly go to a different area of the park.

This baby dolphin was so very curious.

I think this bird wanted to attack Nonnie and Ava.

And what would the day be without a little of this.

Two of the cutest profiles in town.

This is my baby. She's still 4 for 2 more days. Oh how I love her to the moon and back again to infinity.

Oh it must be stated that I have one very happy husband cause the giants just won the pennant so I have been told to give a very big wahoo!!!!!

My Baby

is turning 5.

How is that even possible.

I was just waiting and waiting and waiting.

I was just boarding a jet plane.

I was just staring into her beautiful brown eyes.

I was just rocking her to sleep.

I was just enjoying her first words.

She only a moment ago looked just like this!

Stay tuned for a weekend of birthday mayhem!

It's me again :)

So let me just say that the amount of posts this weekend may be a little overkill but my baby will only turn 4 once. Peter and I got Lily a big girl bike for her birthday. This morning we took her out for chocolate chip pancakes and when we got home we unveiled her gift. She was excited and wanted to get on right away but in true Lily form once on the much bigger bike she began to cry. I would push her a little ways and ask her if she wanted off. Each time between sobs she would say no. So we pushed on. We turned the corner to go around the block and she started wailing again. I bent down next to her and said baby we can go home if you want and once again she sobbed no. I saw a pretty leaf and put it in her basket. She thought this was a fine idea so she got off put some leaves in her basket and would get back on and I'd push her a little more. She was getting more and more confident with getting on and off the bike. Then she put her feet on the pedals and discovered that if she pushed backwards the bike would stop. This put her in control. Once she discovered she was the one in the drivers seat she told me mommy I feel much better I am very brave. I said yes you certainly are. By the time we rounded the block and were on the homeward stretch she was pedaling and now I am proud to announce she can ride a big girl bike. Way to go my determined girl!

You can't tell here but she is crying.

Mommy telling her it is ok to turn around and go home.

Picking leaves for her basket.

Riding all by herself.

When we got to the street we caught the fear bug again.

But we overcame it quickly.

Can you tell she's proud of herself! And check out the cute bike it has a spot for her dolls to ride!

And we're off!

Just a little side note we are still in our birthday outfit because I was informed this morning that it is still her birthday and this is what Lily wears on her birthday. Who am I to argue with that logic and when its your birthday I was also informed that you get to wear socks with your sandals even if it's not in fashion. Who knew? I was also informed today that I could just get rid of her bed cause Lily just doesn't do night night anymore and that my friends is where this mommy drew the line. A birthday only gets ya so far kiddo.

Happy Birthday Bee Bop

Lilyana Rubi was born four years ago today in Suchitepequez Mazatenango Guatemala weighing 5lbs 2 oz at 7pm. Here is our current year in review.

Dear Bee Bop,

I am so proud of you this year. You are still a bundle of cute wrapped in a dollop of sass. You are still stubborn and strong willed. You still love trains and horses. On top of all of that you are smart and funny and love to laugh. There is nothing I cherish more than a good giggle fest with you. And you have a memory like no child around. You absolutely do not forget a thing!!! I have to watch what I say and do around you because I know you will be here to remind me every step of the way. Mommy do you remember when......... Or Mommy how come........... You are becoming compassionate and kind. You are learning lessons about sharing and taking turns at school. You now know all your colors (your favorite one is still blue like Thomas), you can count to 20, and you know several letters including L, W, Z and more. You have finally warmed up to school and enjoy going to see your friends. You are one of the older kids in the class and enjoy that status. You have also gained confidence this year. You started horse back riding and you are a natural. You also learned to ride your tricycle and it is one of your favorite activities. That and locking your dog Stuey (AKA your little brother) in small spaces so he can't run away. You also still have these intense two sides to you. You are fiercely independent and want to do things all by yourself but you also still want to crawl in my lap and snuggle like a little one. When I tell you you are a big girl you tell me no I'm still a baby. Since your my one and only I'm still OK with that. You'll always be my baby even when the time comes when you accept your status as a big girl.

You have brought your daddy and I more joy than we ever could have imagined. Time is passing so quickly and I enjoy every moment of watching you grow. Each passing year the pride I feel for you grows even more. I am really truly proud of the young lady you are becoming. I am truly the luckiest mommy around. Happy Birthday my love. We love you to the moon and back.

Mommy

Birthday Party

Lily's 4th birthday party turned out wonderful. Can I just say parties are stressful!!! Everyone had a wonderful time and the day was beautiful and once all was started even I had fun. Peter and I also took 400 pictures, I was able to weed it down to about 30. Thats pretty good I'd say.

This is my favorite picture of the day.

Pumpkin cupcakes turnded out so cute. Thank you so much Meg and Meredith.

Just a good picture of my friend Amy and I so I had to include it.

Amy's son Tyler and her husband having fun at the petting zoo.

I don't know what is so funny but it is cute.

I thought I would be going down the slide too, but I guess once your four you don't need mom.

So mom gets to go all by herself.

Our friend Rayna. Her mommy thinks she is moving to Oregon I vote no!!!!

Party favors.

Lily is warming up to her Uncle Troy. It's taken quite some time, but I think she may be done teasing him.

Rayna's sister Elia. Maybe V will leave her behind for me to snuggle :)

These two best friends are so sweet together.

Cupcake time. Lily's first try at blowing out her candles.

Taking a little break.

And she does it all by herself!

Pure joy! Or is she laughing at her mommies bum?

Beautiful picture of my niece.

Love this little one. I love his mommy too.

Lily and her Papa

On the train.

Presents

Jakey looked just too cute in Lily's birthday hat.

Whenever I asked Lily what she wanted for her birthday she said a bear. If only our wishes could always be so simple.

And the party crew.

Next year I bet they will be too big to all fit in a wagon.

Happy Birthday to my bee bop!

Mommy and Daddy love you to the moon and back!