Our Fun Saturday

Yesterday Mia went to Logan's birthday party. At three years old, the party goers didn't need any planned games. They spent an hour just playing with balls...

...and digging in the sandbox. Mia had so much fun! This is why we need a real yard for her.

After the party we went to see Stuart Little by Sight Stage Productions. It was an hour long show where the actors did the whole play with their voices already taped so they could do sign language. It was great to see a lot of hearing-impaired kids having such a good time. Mia absolutely loved it and was so excited to see Stuart afterward. She was a little surprised when he took his head off!

Three Year Olds

I just love the things three year olds do, even if it means more work for me! The other day, I made Mia a sandwich. I turned around to do something else and she decided to make her sandwich "better".

I sent her into her bathroom with some windex to clean her sink. A few minutes later I went to check on her and found her doing a little extra. She was cleaning the carpet...with the windex!

Three Year Old Pictures

Yesterday we met my friend Michelle (Lorelei's mom) at the park to take Mia's three year old pictures. Michelle used to be a professional photographer. She's also been a professional singer and has had a whole bunch of other amazing jobs. I'm so glad we found each other that day at library story time. I think the pictures came out great!

Yes, she is as sweet and innocent as these pictures...unless she is hungry or tired! We are so thankful she is out of the terrible twos. It was amazing that it happened almost on the day she turned three. She has become so much more obedient and actually wants to be good! At least we will be well-prepared for a new two year old to rule live in our house.

Sisters

How many people get sisters that are sisters, aunts and moms all rolled into one? Only those who have sisters at least twenty to thirty years older than them!

They buy them cute little gifts for their birthdays.

And give them lots of love!

They bend down to their level.

And aren't afraid to play!

But pretty soon...there will be another sister...and a niece...and a daughter. And all this attention will be...gone divided. Enjoy it while you don't have to share, Mia!

The Things We Do For Love

Last night I was forced taken to see Wicked Rocky Horror Show. It's a charity event put on by the cast of Wicked as they go to each city. Dan loves the movie. I hate it. I think it's weird and sick. But sometimes you have to go out of your comfort zone for your hubby! I did enjoy the music and the dancing in the first half, but the second half was kind of boring and twisted. But we had a great time with friends and laughed a lot.

The weather was nice enough to have dinner outside downtown. These are the people that made me go!

And this one!

Here I am happy before the show got really really weird. And demented.

Of course the performers were all part of Wicked's cast so they had amazing voices.

We stood for the whole show because there were no seats! It was an old quirky venue and we were right next to the stage. And I made it home without God striking me down!

Shower #1

I didn't feel up to par this weekend and my really lousy pictures attest to that. We went to California for Brittany's shower. Friday night we went to Bucca de Peppo to meet Brittany's mom and sister. This is the first really bad picture I took of Brigit and Michaela.

Afterward it was still warm outside so we let Mia play in the fountain a little bit and I captured it with another really bad pic.

The next day the girls came over before the shower and showed Mia how to use Beth's new camera. And of course I got a bad picture of them.

The guys had already headed out to golf. The three of us went to the shower together where I took the cream of the bad pictures crop of Brittany opening presents. Sorry, Brittany! I'm sure others got some good ones.

I did get one good picture of Mia eating cake. And if you don't like my pictures, well you can eat cake too! haha In my defense I had a headache, nausea and I was dizzy and I had a three year old that tossed and turned all night, had shoes that were too tight and really didn't want to be at a baby shower! So she's staying home the next time. :)

A Lot of Unconnected Thoughts

Today we are leaving for California to go to Brittany's baby shower. So excited to sign our first card with these names!

Yesterday Mia and I took Aunt Bonnie out to lunch. She is my mom's older sister. My mom has four siblings age 87 and older! So when people think I'm crazy for adopting toddlers at 50, I just tell them I come from long-lived stock. On my dad's side, my great grandmother lived to 102!

We are saving most of Mia's birthday presents for her babysitters to dole out when we go to China. We figure it will distract her from missing us and keep her entertained. One of her gifts was a Lite Brite, but she has already created her own homemade version.

I was reading someone else's blog this morning and came across this quote I thought was so true! Since my daughters and future daughter-in-law (I hope) read this blog and are all getting married within the next year and a half (I hope), I thought I would print it here.

I have no way of knowing whether or not you married the wrong person, but I do know that many people have a lot of wrong ideas about marriage and what it takes to make that marriage happy and successful. I’ll be the first to admit that it’s possible that you did marry the wrong person. However, if you treat the wrong person like the right person, you could well end up having married the right person after all. On the other hand, if you marry the right person, and treat that person wrong, you certainly will have ended up marrying the wrong person. I also know that it is far more important to be the right kind of person than it is to marry the right person. In short, whether you married the right or wrong person is primarily up to you.

– Zig Ziglar

A Little Of Everything

Yesterday we took Mia to see the musical, Annie. She loved it...until the last few songs. Then she got a little restless. Then a lot restless. Then she and I went out and watched it on the monitor in the lobby. We're going to go see Stuart Little in two weeks and then that will be it for awhile until Anna is old enough to semi sit.

Here we are at Panera with Gabby and family afterward.

Mia was so tired she fell asleep in the car at 5:45 and slept through until 6:15 the next morning.

We have a new pic of Lu Lu (That's what's she's called at the Healing Home.) She is so darn cute!

Beth sent me a picture of her shoes for the wedding. They are super pretty and feminine.

An Awesome Day

It's 6:45 and someone is out for the night. That would be the party girl. Three years old, can you believe it!!

There were games.

And friends.

And pizza.

And cake.

And Chuckie.

And presents.

And really big presents.

It went so smoooothly I didn't even get a headache like I usually do at these places. It was nice having it on a Friday when the crowds are slim. All the kids were good as gold. They loved the games, the show and the food. As three year olds they were completely in awe of everything.

Now on to the next thing in this very very busy year.

Things You Learn

Today I learned so much! Did you know the tools that the dentist uses actually have special names? Yes, Mr. Shower, Mr. Tickly, and Mr. Vaccuum. What an education I got.

And did you know that if you don't put your hands on your belly button while they are cleaning your teeth it will fly away. I had no idea! And now you know too.

Easter Weekend

Friday night we picked up Becky at the airport! Arek went to Boston for a week long business trip so she came to visit.

Saturday morning we headed out to Eggstravaganza at The Wildlife Experience. Mia's absolute favorite activity was the bounce house.

Sitting on the Easter Bunny's lap and bowling came in close seconds.

There were lots of things to do there, but since we have a membership we didn't feel bad leaving to go to the Easter egg hunt at the park. We should have stayed. The hunt was packed with kids and lasted all of about 1 minute. And almost all of Mia's eggs were filled with gum. I'm just not giving gum to a two year old. Even an almost three year old. I've picked it out of hair and carpet too many times!

We got at least six compliments on the 20 year old Easter pail that Darlene made for Beth way back when.

On Easter morning the Easter Bunny brought some yummy carmel apples that looked like chicks for Becky and Mia, earrings for Becky and a book and stuffed poodle for Mia. Don't know how much longer the Easter Bunny will be able to get away with semi-healthy food. And I forgot to take a picture of the cute little apples before they were demolished.

Grandma made Mia's little Easter dress. She used to make Easter dresses for all the girls years ago.

After church this morning we headed out to brunch at this cute little place.

We went to Greg and Deirdre's for dinner where there was a real Easter egg hunt. She had to look for the eggs! And no gum! I know. I know. I shouldn't complain about free things!

We will all be sad to see Becky leave tomorrow, but we'll see her again in two weeks!