Madi Turns 1!

 Our beautiful baby is 1!  She continues to amaze us. 

Painting, Painting and More Painting

 A while back I went to Painting with a Twist with friends and had a great time.  The other day, the kids got an opportunity to paint and they had a great time. We were invited our neighbors' bday party (they are triplets and soooo adorable) and I was surprised that they did painting parties for 3 years old, but sure enough, the kids had a great time.

 

Mia's accidental dribbles were surprisingly artistic.

The kids on the block had a great time!

The party reminded me that I needed to have another night out painting with my friends.  I called the studio and they opened up a session and it turned out, only my friends went so we had our own private party!  Now I have another Christmas decoration!

My masterpiece

Our instructor

The Day O'Birthdays

 Today was the day of birthdays/parties.  At 10, Makaela had a friend's bday, at 12 the community had a festival, 2:30, the girls had a friend's  party and then at 6, we had a party.  I know it was a bit to commit to, but Matt and I managed to make it to all the parties on time, and while it was a bit stressful at times, we all had a great time.  The 2:30 party was at Pump It Up and Madi was all about this place.  Makaela and Mia were great big sisters and helped her bounce in all the houses.  I was amazed that she was climbing up the insanely steep ladders and sliding down equally steep slides. 

 And of course, she stopped to read a few books.

 And meet some new friends.  This is a teacher I worked with last year and it was great to meet her new baby and the girls loved each other.

The girls had their faces painted at the community festival and wanted to show up to Alexis's party with their faces painting. Needless to say, they stood out a bit.

 Matt and I went out to a neighbor's surprise 40th bday.  It was held at a downtown bar and grille right outside the Bridge of Lions. The scenery was spectacular and the company was even better.

It was also a weekend of the pirate festival, so we were surrounded by pirate wannabes.

Nadia (wife of bday boy) and Sway -the party planners

The neighborhood gals

The Jenns

Mia's Birthday

 My Mia is now 4!  I cannot believe how big she is. She is so inquisitive; always asking questions that are far beyond her years. When we read The Giving Tree, she asks why kids take so much and how could the tree be happy when the boy doesn't thank her? She is such a caring kid. The other day she stopped during our walk to go and upright a neighbor's fallen potted a palm tree. It was a small tree, but for a 4 year old to try to upright a ceramic pot and tree, it was not small feat. She is happy with the simple things and doesn't ask for much. When people asked what she wanted for her bday, my list was very small: Anna and Elsa dolls.  I didn't know how to make that stretch to all of our family members, so she now has dolls in all sizes.  The night of her bday, I let her stay up a bit late and she and Makaela bunkered down to sleep in bed with me that night.  At one point, she put her arm under my head and said, "This is what love looks like and I love LOVE." Melt my heart!  She has also started going to children's mass at church and I often hear her singing hymns and gospel music, and I can tell she has been absorbing some of the preachings because she came to me very concerned one day.  She said she knew heaven was going to be lovely, but she doesn't want to go to heaven because she never wants to leave me.  Matt and I are so blessed to have a child like her.

All Annas and Elsas

Our friend Jenn took Mia out for a girls' afternoon with her daughter (and Mia's friend) Ava. The girls bought princess wigs, jewelry, hair clips and had a great afternoon shopping.  Mia loved the attention.