I've Got Some Catching Up to Do...

We've been pretty busy around here and I definitely have some major catching up to do. I was a little overwhelmed when I uploaded fifty six pictures today. So here's to getting started...

Our very dear friends the Gaileys paid us a visit. We had a great day and ended it with some yummy (virgin of course) pina coladas. The kids particularly enjoyed the cherries on top.

Audrey thinks she is an official babysitter.

Dave got stuck reading the 12 Dancing Princesses to the kids. I'm not sure that's a book commonly read at their house.

It is a month of birthdays around here as well. I turned the mighty 29. I kind of had a moment where I realized it has been 10 years since I was a teenager. Where is this time going to? At least I have my beautiful family to remind me that my time has been well spent.

It was a good day. Some friends took me to lunch and Bryan got me some flip flops and a gift card.

We also went to a park and got eaten by mosquitoes. It's been a crazy wet year.

It really was a perfect day topped off with...

the yummiest ice cream cake ever. Bryan totally came through. Julia even declared that this was her favorite kind of cake. Many thanks to Bryan for making the day special and to family/friends for all the phone calls, messages and gifts.

A few days after my birthday is my little Audrey's birthday. She turned the big three. She was so excited for this day to come. I keep telling her she can start dance and go to preschool when she turns three. She knew this was a big milestone for her. Audrey's only request was a Tangled birthday (I think this is probably the request of 95% of all girls age 3-6). My mom was in town and got her this adorable Rapunzel dress.

Julia decided she needed to accessorize the outfit. Rapunzel needs a crown and a frying pan.

I know blogs are meant to feature amazing cake decorating skills and if that is what you came here for you will be severely disappointed.

My mom also brought Flynn and Rapunzel on the boat so we did blue frosting for the water and popped that boat on. I even did yellow blobs to represent the lanterns. Audrey loved it.

We had all purple balloons.

And opened some presents.

If only I could express in words how much joy these two dolls have brought my girl these past couple of weeks. She specifically requested the Rapunzel doll but I have to be honest, the Belle one is her favorite.

She successfully blew out her candles and we let her pick at the yellow blobs of frosting to her heart's content. It was her birthday after all. And I'm pretty sure the frosting to a three year old is the very best part.

Some facts about little Audrey at three years old...

She has a great and deep love for Little Caeser's cheese pizza. She asks for it every time we drive by.

She loves potato chips and crackers (which she pronounces "tacos")

She uses the letter "t" instead of "c" when saying words. For example "car" is "tar" and "candy" is "tandy."

She loves to play. Even if I give her some pretzels for a snack they take on human form. If there is little pretzel it is most certainly the baby pretzel.

Audrey loves babies and wants to be near them. She told me once that she was going to be a babysitter.

She is a tease and is incredibly silly. We are always impressed at her little sense of humor.

She really enjoys reading and is really patient when Julia is practicing her reading. Her favorite book is 101 Dalmations. She never ever tires of it and particularly loves when Bryan does the Cruella Devil voice.

She is very quick to ask for forgiveness and to forgive. I think this is one of her very best qualities. She doesn't want anyone to be mad at her and always tries to be a peacemaker when others are upset.

She has a great desire to learn. I can always tell when she's trying hard to focus on something.

She loves Julia. They play so well together and I am so so so thankful for that.

She loves her blanket and sucks on the corners of it to fall asleep. She has done this since she was little and is still very attached to it.

She is very cautious most of the time but lately she has been getting very brave. I am so proud of her when she tries new things like running accross the bridge at the playground which used to terrify her.

She is so stubborn. She will never back down when she's really put her mind to something without a fight.

Now that this post isn't long enough (I know many readers have given up at this point) I decided Audrey deserved a little interview like I did for Julia recently. Here we go...

What's your favorite food? Chicken nuggets.

What's your favorite color? Pink

What's your fovorite toy? Belle

What do you want to be when you get big? five

What is your favorite thing to do? Go to the zoo.

Whats your favorite animal? horse.

What is your favorite treat? pony fruit snacks.

What is your fovorite movie? Beauty and the Beast.

Who's your best friend? Hanky (her cousin)

What do you like to do with mommy? Go outside and play.

What do you like to do with daddy? Go to the zoo with mommy and daddy.

What's your favorite song? Tale as old as time.

We sure do love our Audrey girl. She has brought more joy to our home than I can express and we cannot imagine life without her.