she's 3

(THREE!)

J' turned three a couple of weeks ago. Sorry I'm just now posting pics of her special day. Her bday fell on a Sunday, so we celebrated right after church when we arrived home for lunch. We made a decision when N' was born that we didn't want to get into the expense and effort of party throwing until the kids were old enough to understand what was happening and that it was for them. We've attended so many parties where the honored guest was asleep and the grownups were entertaining one another. We decided that at age 5 they would clearly understand the concept of birthdays and celebrating AND be able to enjoy sharing it with some friends. Soooo, it was just a family party: our fam, my sister's 3 girls, and Nana (my mom).

(The cousins gave J a "flower hat" and sunglasses, among other fun things, in her bday bag!)

(B tried on J's new flower hat.)

(J opening gifts: she loves puzzles! This one was from Nana.)

We've been to a few kiddo bday parties lately and J asked if she could have a cake with a picture on it for her birthday -- it was the only thing she asked for. So, we skipped our normal muffin-cake, cornbread, or other healthy substitute and went for the standard sugar-rich cake.

I haven't decorated a cake since before we were married (that means over 8 years ago!). I dusted off my decorating supplies, covered the blender in a cloud of confectioner's sugar while making a mountain of buttercream frosting, and baked a box mix lemon supreme cake. J wanted a dinosaur cake and I wanted a girlie cake, so I tried to combine the two. It didnt' turn out quite like I pictured it, but at three, J is easily pleased so she was happy with it. The dinosaur is a pteranodon -- J's current favorite dinosaur.

(What? You can't hear everyone singing "Happy Birthday dear...")

We don't typically allow the kids to have sugar, so this was a special treat! When we cut the cake after singing happy birthday, she asked if she could eat the frosting too. She had tasted the frosting the night before while I was decorating, but that was just a tiny lick off the tip of one finger. About a fourth of the way through her piece of cake she said, "Mommy this frosting is yummy and then it's yucky. Can you take it off my cake part?" I was a proud, pleased, happy mommy. She had sugar available and didn't even want it all! YAY! No such luck with N, he ate every bite. I still took B's frosting off -- I felt scandalous enough giving him the cake! :0) Go ahead and call me crazy... I can take it!

I can't believe she's actually 3! Wow! Time flies when you're having fun and Miss J definitely brings us great JOY! Thank you Lord for another year of life for our precious little lady.