We can't believe our baby girl is no longer, in any way, shape or form, a baby. She's three years old now, a preschooler, a big girl, a little girl, a beautiful girl. She's smart and funny and feisty, and comfortable with herself. Every single day she amazes us with her knowledge and her capacity for understanding the world around her. Its a gift and an honor to be her parents.
So last Saturday, June 5th, was the day the world celebrates her existence. We made German chocolate cupcakes which were decorated to look like sunflowers at her request (which makes us wonder if they still count as German chocolate without the signature topping...if not then we will just call them brownie cakes since that is what they tasted like...mmm-mmm-good!). She was such a gracious birthday girl handing out cupcakes to her gymnastics class, even choosing to split a cupcake with her brother so that each of the Kelseys (that would be Coach Kelsey and Miss Kelsey) could have one. Such a moment of pride as parents when you see your kids not only share nicely, but choose to share so that more people can have some joy.
After gymnastics we went to
Fairyland in Oakland for the first time, very geared toward small children with lots to see and do with a fairytale theme. (Its basically just like Enchanted Village for those of you in Oregon.) We met one of Justin's coworkers with a daughter just a few weeks older than B (also a daughter who just turned one). We all had a very nice time, it was bitter sweet for us parents to see how independent our daughters have become, running around and riding rides all on their own.
After we had had our fill of fun and sun, we said good bye to our friends (and then had to reassure B that this goodbye didn't mean months and months apart, that we could see Emmie again soon because she lived very close. Its heartbreaking to realize that she is used to saying good bye to family and friends who live so far away that she only gets to see them once or twice a year) and came home to open presents. Her big gifts were a pink trike and a 1/2 sized guitar (still a little big for her though); she also got a Ni Hao Kai-lan lego set, a set of Disney Princess books, a Tinkerbell watch, Candyland, an Ariel/Barbie that can play in the bath with her (from C...he even picked it out and everything), a big Doug & Melissa coloring book pad, Tinkerbell beach towel and the original Shrek book (thanks Gramma & Grampa) and a very cute outfit from Uncle Dustin and Auntie Jessica. She's very excited to go shopping with her money from Gigi Fischer (we asked if she wanted to go to the book store, the candy store, the clothes store or the toy store and she very decisively chose the toy store).
On Sunday we had dinner at our friends Morgan and Rhiannon's house and they surprised B with a wonderful play-doh set (also C got a toy guitar which everyone thinks is very fun).
What a lucky girl to have had so much birthday love, both on her birthday weekend and at Running Y a few weeks ago. She was so happy and full of gratitude and genuinely loved each of her gifts equally, we are all just feeling very blessed and satisfied and content and joyful. It was a wonderful birthday weekend!
** A couple weeks before her birthday, we talked to B about how she was going to be getting a lot of fun gifts for her special day and wouldn't it be nice for her to get a couple things for C to open so he didn't feel left out. She thought that was a great idea and picked out two Cars toys (Mater and Sarge) for him, which he is over the moon about.
J has fallen in love with surfing, he took to it much easier than he thought he would (he says the teachers were great) and he can't wait to make it a regular part of his life. Fortunately, there are some good surf spots within a half hour of us, so a weekly surf session is not out of the realm of possibility.
While the boys were surfing, all of the girls (and C) played on the beach and ate lots of snacks. C spent a lot of time working on his lady killin' skills (he took quite a liking to Miss Savannah). T, C and B all proved their incompatibility with the sun by coming home with bad, patchy sunburns.
After the beach, we all headed over to the (free) Santa Cruz Boardwalk, and it was so cute! T has been before, when she was about 15, but it was the first time for everyone else. Lucky for us it was 1907 night and after 5pm all rides were $1. The kids each got to go on a couple rides, J and the Moores enjoyed the roller coaster offerings. It will definitely be a spot we return to again. Although in the future (as we say each and every time we go to the beach) we'll just stay overnight.
We can't believe our baby girl is no longer, in any way, shape or form, a baby. She's three years old now, a preschooler, a big girl, a little girl, a beautiful girl. She's smart and funny and feisty, and comfortable with herself. Every single day she amazes us with her knowledge and her capacity for understanding the world around her. Its a gift and an honor to be her parents.
