B Turns Three!

So, yesterday was B's third birthday. Saturday night she slept with me, and we cuddled and talked about the day she was born. B was all smiles when she woke up. Not sure why she made this face in the picture below.

Seriously, I am only three today? I feel like a

40 year old. And I have the eye bags to

prove it.

Opening presents.

B eating the breakfast of champs. A cinnamon roll.

Those are her new dragons.

B's birthday sign.

I printed out coloring pages, then copied them onto

colored paper. It was easy, but took me awhile. I did

an animal a day.

This is the extent of my decorations.

I put one balloon bouquet on the dining

table, another on the buffet.

The jumpy house is from Dino Jump. I wanted

to make sure the kids had something to do. I am

glad the weather cooperated! Actually, this is

the first year since B's birth, that the temperature

was in the 60's. Her first birthday, 95 degrees.

I think we need a trampoline.

We lucked out. They set the Dino Jump up around

12:30. That is B in her pjs. It wasn't wasy to get her

changed into her birthday clothes. (Jeana helped.)

There is Grandpa in the back. I did a lousy job

of taking pictures this year. I usually try to take

one of everybody. The jumpers are (l-r): Luca,

Eileen, B and Wade.

My Dino jumping fiend. Never wanted to stop.

Present time. This triceratops moves

and roars on it's own.

The cool dinosaur is from Big Tony and Dorota.

(L-R): Wade, Lee (behind) B, Mike, Becky (in the orange)

Chase, and Cathie (in the purple).

(L to R): Max, B, Mike, Cathie P., and the back of

cousin Eileen's head. Jess sent her the Hotchkiss

sweatshirt (this is to replace the one she outgrew.

Thanks Jess!)

B had to open the Dino playset Lee gave her.

Almost couldn't tear her away for cake.

B's favorite cousin, Jeana. OK, there is a favorite cousin

tie between Jeana and her sister Jessica.

"Will there be enough cake for us?"

(These are our other children, Jake on the

left and Shadow on the right. Isabel, the cat, got

booted. She kept trying to eat the cake.)

B's cake. Carrot with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting.

Movable Feast made the cake, and it was good.

Way better than my carrot cake.

Lighting the candles. That is me in all my

pregnant glory.

B wasn't sure about all the singing and candle blowing.

Still, this is a rare photo of the three of us together.

Sniff. The three of us. I'll have to get used to the

four of us. Four is the magic number?

Instead of treat bags, B gave everyone cookies

from Lovin' Ovens. Aren't they cute? The bakery

isn't close, so Cathie P. picked them up for me.

B enjoying her cookie favor. Yeah, B's diet

yesterday kind of stunk!

It was a good day, filled with family and friends and (way too much) good food. My sister brought homemade potato chips with gorgonzola dip. They was incredible. And homemade pulled pork, mac and cheese from Movable Feast, lots of appetizers, homemade vanilla ice cream. And most of all, B had a really fun time. She enjoyed her guests. She was exhausted, even during the party (there was an "I don't want to share" tantrum), but I know she had fun. Isn't that the best present of all?

B's Birthday Invites

I sent them out awhile ago, but am finally getting around to this post.

The front.

Envelope Front

Inside.

Envelope Back.

I am surprised that they turned out so well. The front was actually the easy part. I used paper punches and cool paper. I did the octopus punch at a Archivers. It was the inside that almost made me sell all my crafty stuff. I couldn't get it to print properly for anything. I couldn't print directly on the card - too stiff for my printer. Then I wanted to use vellum. It smeared and took forever to try, then it faded! Finally, I cut cards to run through, they were too small. AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! Finally, I cut the cards a little bigger and ran them through on printer on landscape. AAAAAHHHHH........

The little crab holding the label in the front of the envelope was Mike's idea.

What other decorations do I have planned? Only a birthday sign and some fish like balloons (turtle and whale balloon bouquets). I did get a pinata, though I don't know where I will hang it. And I ordered a jumpy house for the kids. Favors are gorgeous decorated cookies from a place called Lovin Ovens. Not only are the great looking, they are super tasty.

I don't have a lot of people attending. Mostly family. If my little darling would start take naps, she might have a great birthday.