Ya'll!  My little girl is THREE today! Ugh.  It's all gone by so fast!

We had her three year pics taken (yes, I'm that mom) this past week, and I am in awe!  I got the CD from our photographer yesterday and I just had to share some of them with you!

Maybe I'll write a thoughtful post one day about L turning three, but not today.  Today I want to celebrate her turning 3!  I have planned to take her shopping to spend some of her birthday money, get her some cupcakes (her fave), take her swimming, and then let the evening carry us after that.  

Because she's only three once.  

All photos courtesy of Lee Barrow Photography.
Like Lee on Facebook. 

Sooo, this post was supposed to go up yesterday as a weekend re-cap, but it didn't.  Instead, it's going up today as a whats-been-going-on-around-here post.  I spent most of yesterday feeling like I was running behind, but I was truly just trying to catch up from the weekend.

L making a card for Daddy.

My "perfect top" cupcakes. It never happens, so I had to document it.

L adding the "special sprinkles" to Daddy's cupcakes.

The finished product.  Nice, huh? I was worn out by the time my head hit the pillow Friday night.  I signed up for my first 5k on Saturday morning.  I will be walking in The Color Run this year! Next year, I plan to run.  Wish me luck!  Saturday evening, L went to spend the evening with The Hubbs' parents and we went out to eat with my sister-in-law and her boyfriend at Lotawata Creek  We ate too much (but it was sooo good) and we came home and vegged on the couch for the rest of the evening. We slept in on Sunday, went to lunch with The Hubbs' parents for his birthday at Red Lobster, and came home and vegged some more.  The Super Bowl was on, but we only watched for the commercials.  Ha! I always have to see the new Clydesdale commercial and both of the commercials did not disappoint! I spent yesterday catching up from the weekend.  We had to run to the store and pick up a few things before the next round of snow came in (it's now here...snowing it's butt off..ugh) and I did my first work out on my treadmill yesterday.  Last night, L had her first play class at one of the local gyms.  We had loads of fun!  I counted it as a second dose of cardio yesterday-we did that much running around. That just about sums up the past four days!  I'll be back tomorrow with a new recipe!

I made these Elmo party favor bags for our daughter's second birthday party.  They were super easy to make and were a big hit!  So, if you have an Elmo fan in your life, this post is for you!

These bags took me about a half an hour to do from start to finish.  I had 8 to do, so not really a large amount by any means.  The longest part was the cutting out of all the pieces. After that I just glued the pieces on in the shape of an Elmo face and done!

Supplies You Will Need:

• Red bags
• White, Black, and Orange Construction Paper
• Glue Stick
• Scissors

Instructions:

Gather your supplies and start cutting out white circles, smaller black circles, a black mouth, and a nose-sized orange circle. Once you have the amount you need cut out, grab a red bag and start gluing pieces on like you see below:

I realize that L's party happened almost a month ago.  I also realize that you may have forgotten all about the party by now.  I had every intention of doing a post a few days after her party, but I was still cleaning up the house from the party, dealing with some minor setbacks, and generally I was just really tired.  So, the post didn't get done.

Until now.

(I know a lot of you are curious about the Elmo DIY Goodie Bags that I made-that is going to be a separate post.  I am working on that post too and should have that to you all shortly!)

Back in May, I posted a little inspiration board to help plan L's 2nd birthday party and a lot of you were pretty excited to see the final result of her party.  I had some great ideas, I had some not-so-great ideas, and I even had ideas that didn't even get done because I just ran out of time!

Oh well.  You can't win them all!

Anyway, here is L's Elmo Extravaganza 2nd birthday party in pictures!





Favorite Moments:  L clapping her hands and getting excited every time she was asked if she was having fun at her party, the look on her face when she unwrapped the toy horse my parents got her, her excitement over her new kitchen set that E's parents got her, and her riding around on her little Disney Princess Power Wheel that we got her.

We had a really good time watching L be the little social butterfly that she is.  She enjoyed opening presents this year and was very excited about everything she got.  She's plays with everything she got so that is a plus.  Before her party, I did a purge of some toys that she no longer plays with and that made room for the new that came in!

Now to start planning for Christmas.....Ha!

Dear L,

You are 2 today!  I can't believe how much you have grown this past year.  It really does seem like only yesterday that we were waking up every 3-4 hours so you could eat and get a diaper change.  Those first six weeks went by so fast.  People told me they would, but I didn't really let it sink in, until now.

Some day's I sit and watch you play and I am amazed that you are even in the same room as me.  You came from me, something that I was told wasn't possible, but here you are!  You are incredibly active (okay, actually, you are non-stop most of the day. HA!) and you are learning how to talk.  You say so many things now and I am floored each time you say something new.  I talk to you as much as I can, because I know that is how you learn.



We read books together and we play with your dolls.  We watch Caillou and Spongebob and Clifford.  You like Elmo and Snow White.  Ellie is your constant companion through it all, as am I.  You're my constant companion.  We go everywhere together, L.  You love the grocery store and you like to "help" me pick out food and put things in the cart.

You love to be outside and explore.  I have fun watching you play outside.  It isn't that I don't want to play with you when we are outside-I just love watching you.  You help Mommy to remember all of those things I have forgotten.  One day you will understand what I mean.  Don't be in a hurry to grow up, L.  I know I will hear you say this countless times over the years, but trust me, it all goes so fast anyway.  Enjoy it while you can.



You are Daddy's favorite.  Any time you get to spend with Daddy is your favorite time.  There are so many thing's Daddy can't wait to do with you.  He's talked about them so much this past year.  Oh, the fun you and Daddy are going to have!  I can't wait for those memories for you.



You are the sunshine in a lot of people's lives, L, just by being yourself.  Don't ever stop being yourself.  I hope that as you get older, you will remain true to who you are.  That's what I am here for-to help you with that.  There are a lot of thing's Mommy knows about that she wants you to understand.  Some of those things you will have to learn on your own, I know this, but I will always be here to help you when you need it.

I can't believe you are 2, baby girl.  You are napping right now and you will probably wake up soon, so I need to end this here.  Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you and we love you very much.  I can't wait to see all of the things you learn this year!

All my love,
Mommy

I just can't believe it guys!  Our little girl is turning 2 at the beginning of July!  Ahhh where did the time go?!

She has learned so much this past year and has really grown!  Her personality is starting to show and boy, is she a firecracker!  Her Daddy and I are so proud of her!  She is the light of many peoples lives and can make a complete stranger smile or chuckle.  

One of the things she acquired this year is the recognition and love for characters.  So far we like Snow White, Caillou, and.....


Until next time,

Image found here

I have to tell ya, today was great!  I got to spend the day with my husband and our daughter, just hanging out.  I didn't do any housework and I didn't have to cook!  I got several birthday wishes that warmed my heart, an Amazon gift card from my brother (heck ya!), a special gift I sent got received (more on that in a minute), and it has been a nice, relaxing evening. I also got a great idea for a running series on the bloggy blog! I am perfectly content today. :)

I have done one special thing for the past five years or so on my birthday.  It is a tradition that I started and I make sure, every year, it is carried out.  This tradition that I started, and will continue to do for as long as I possibly can, is a way for me to pay homage to someone that makes my special day possible....