Happy Birthday to Our Favorite Mr. Aiduk!

So today is J's birthday (Happy Birthday My Love!) and we are currently making our way to Niagra Falls to see Grandma Linza and then trying to beat the snow back to Cape Cod. So the poor thing isn't getting the usual birthday pampering. Just lots of "are we there yet?"s from Lily and Sam.

But they already gave him the cutest birthday present ever so we'll forgive them... 

We were walking into the dance studio a few weeks back and Lily shouts "OH MOMMY! We should get an eagle for Daddy for his birthday!"

I was like "Oh?"

And she's like, "YES! Eagles are his FAVORITE!" 

This was news to me (and isn't technically true) but I stopped myself before I just shrugged her off with a "No sweetie" and hustled her up the stairs for ballet.

We were early for once so I actually had time to think this through ;-)

Why not? Why not let them get J a dorky "trophy" for his birthday? Sure, we aren't really knicknack people and sure they aren't the cheapest gift ever. But she came up with it herself!

So we went in to check out the prices and we settled on this sort of bedazzled gold eagle. Lily told Sam that "Daddy would like this one best, because it's beautiful!" so they finally agreed. I asked them what they wanted engraved on it and they really wanted the entire Happy Birthday Song but we settled for a shorthand version.

Kids are cute. And it's nice to see them growing up and having generous and creative ideas for blessing others!

Happy Birthday Jesse! 

Ode to Samantha | Happy 4th Birthday to my Baby

She usually has on this smile. She got it from me. It's huge. And contagious. 

She has the most incredible moo-cow lashes I've ever seen. She got em from her Daddy. I'm jealous.

She's an in-your-face kind of girl. She only has one volume. And it's not quiet ;-)

She wakes up early every day. But she loves to snuggle and give kisses and tell you she loves you.

She's really into unicorns. And dinosaurs. And Star Wars. And reading stories together.

She's a bit clumsy but not at all afraid to get dirty. She thinks snails are so beautiful.

She's curious, generous, silly, and affectionate.

She loves sparkles.

And she's very excited about being four.

Happy birthday to Miss Wiggly-Do-Da!

We love you so much!

A Very Happy 5th Birthday to My Baby Girl

Happy Birthday Lily-Bear!!!


***insert typical mom-remarks about how fast time flies and how I can't believe she's already five and how I remember that face when it was five DAYS old and waaaaaa***

She was such a hoot today - I was actually in awe at her many kind remarks to Jesse and I about how awesome her special day was going!

I'm pretty sure she was the most thankful 5yo ever ;o)

And I was super pumped this year because she's old enough to actually be interviewed for her birthday ... to tell us her current favorites! 

But be warned - she was in the mood to talk in a super high voice for most of the interview AND she got super distracted a few times because I was keeping her attention by using the iPad facing her. 

Apparently it kept her attention a little too well ;o)

There really aren't words to properly express my love for this girl. 

As I look at these pictures and think about this day spent celebrating as a family, I can't help but smile. And the past five years? Now my smile's going to break my face and I'm probably going to start crying! 

I couldn't be more proud and more grateful for her. I love her budding sense of "fashion" and her silly antics. I love her laugh. I love her sensitivity. I love the way her eyes sparkle when she's excited. I love that blue is still her favorite color, followed closely by "the rainbow" (what, you didn't know that's a color?) and anything that has glitter!

She's one part girly-girl and one part tough-girl. And I can't wait to see how that continues to play out in her life.

Happy Birthday times a million to the girl who made me a Momma!

Happy #3 to the Baby

This girl.  I don't even know what to do with her sometimes.  Always on the run, always getting into trouble.  And never ever EVER sitting still!

Happy birthday to Miss Wiggly-do-da!

  

I had a hard time really interviewing her because whenever I tried, she just copied whatever Lily was saying (or doing) at the moment (story of her life)... but I'll try to fill in the blanks since I'm the Mom and all ;o)

Favorite color:  Definitely orange.

Favorite movie:  Not only the dinosaur movie (Land Before Time) but the Dinosaur Magic School Bus Episode.  And the movie Dinosaurs (yeeeeah she really likes dinos)

Favorite song:  She likes to sing along with Mup-ford-sons (Mumford & Sons) "I Will Wait"

Favorite stuffed animal:  Iris, her Build-a-Bear.

Favorite book:  That's a tough one... girl really loves to snuggle and read, but I haven't noticed a recent favorite.  She used to make me read the crap out of Fancy Nancy the Posh Puppy, because she wants a puppy.  (Last time we talked about it, she specifically wants an orange one the sweet thing)

Which reminds me that she has a Favorite request:  "Please you hold me?"  She loves to snuggle!  And sometimes she just needs a quick hug, that reassurance of your love, before heading back to play time.  And she's big into asking you to rub her back, it's so cute!

Happy Happy Birthday to Samma-lamma, Sammy-whammy... My Monkey.  We love you so much Miss Smiley Face!

The Four-Year-Old

I can't believe it's already been a week since Lil's birthday!  We had a blast and here are some pics of the day's fun. Steph offered to be my photographer for the day and it was so great to NOT be carrying my camera around.  

She did this neat project with Lily where she had her hold up her new number at all the locations and for all the fun we had.  Lily is so obsessed with holding up her number that she often incorrectly answers pretty much any question asked by holding up her fingers.  "Hey Lily, how are you?"  *holds up four fingers*  "Hi there, what's your name?"  *four fingers*  

Sweet girl.  So excited to be four!

As you can see, we enjoyed the crap out of our day.  There was sugar.  There were presents.  There were blue foods and blue clothes.  And sugar.  There was an indoor pool trip.  There was a play place visit.  There was more sugar.  Did I mention the sugar?  We even ended the night with a bowl of ice cream!

And the four-year-old was happy.  Very very happy :o)

Happy Birthday to Lillian Jayce!

Ahhh, the many faces of Miss Lily.  She's really into mimicking silly faces lately.  I love all her faces, and all her crazy moods.  (Well, MOST of her crazy moods.  Side eye to four year old tantrums! But it's her birthday so we won't talk about those...)

I can't believe she's four.  Four seems so... old.  Four is almost five.  Five is pretty much ten.  And after ten don't they just grow right up and move out of the house?  GAH!

Here's her birthday interview:

1.  Favorite color:  Blue  (still.  Going almost two years strong on that one I think!)

2.  Favorite movie:  "Dinosaur Movie" (Land Before Time)

3.  Favorite toy:  "Little Foot" (a teddy bear named for the favorite movie.  Little Foot, though a boy in the movie, is a girl in teddy bear form... and wears pink pants.) 

4.  Favorite song: "Jump on my shoulders" (at this point I think she might be messing with me and my little quiz here... but Awolnation IS one of my favorite bands to play when we needs some lively "good morning music" haha)

5.  Favorite book:  "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"  (Okay, now she's really messing with me.  Good thing this quiz is short.  In her defense, we DO have a book about the song.  But come on, THAT's her favorite? ;o) Who knows.  She also loves Fancy Nancy, The Little Engine that Could, and No More Jumping on the Bed.)

She's so awesome.  Curious about the world around her, learning more and more each day.  She loves German kindergarten and is so proud that she walks all the way there and back most days!

I'll try not to tear up too much, but there's just something about that face.  The face of the one who made me a mother.  It doesn't matter how old her gets, I look into those eyes and I remember the hours spent in her first weeks and months of life... hours just staring into that beautiful face.

Excuse me while I go kiss the crap out of her.

Seriously though no more sappy stories, we have a big day of all things BLUE and FUN planned for this sweet girl!  Happy Birthday Lily-Bear, Lily-Billy, Lily-Jayce, LJ, Lily, LILLIAN.  We love you so much!

Bright Birthday Scrambled Eggies

 

The Birthday Girl had a fantastic day!  I think.  I mean, when you're two years old and there is any sort of day involving balloons and sugar, I don't see how it can't be the best. day. ever.

We did most of the traditions I mentioned after Lily's birthday, but I added a fun twist to our birthday breakfast... colored eggs! (thanks for the idea Leah!)

I put three eggs in each bowl (four people were eating) and added a decent amount of gel food coloring.  Whisked with a fork and then grabbed the other adult set of hands (thanks Kirsten!) to simultaneously pour all three colors in at once. (Make sure to oil and heat your pan first!)  Then I covered it and waited a few minutes for the colors to set a little before I started scrambling... I wanted the colors to stay as separate as possible.   Make sure you have the heat low. It takes longer this way, but it prevents your eggs from burning and I hear that real egg nerds claim it makes for a less rubbery scramble.  Once the eggs were starting to set I scrambled in each color section before mixing them all together.

It was kind of like eating play dough.  Which was probably a bit confusing for Sam since she's always getting into trouble for trying to sneak a taste during play dough time ;o)  But they tasted like regular old eggs and they looked fantastic next to the Fairy Bread!

A big thanks for all the well-wishes, cupcakes (by Kirsten), and presents.  We have the best collection of friends and family a two-year-old could ask for!

My Baby's Not a Baby Anymore

Happy happy HAPPY birthday to my dear sweet Samantha Jordan!

If Lily is my serious-thoughtful-monkey then Sam is definitely my silly-smiley-monkey.  She smiled at a week old and no I'm not just exaggerating.  It was insane!  That kid would just look into your face and if you smiled or laughed she gave you the biggest toothless grin ever!  

Two years old!?!?!  Before I know it she'll be all grown up and driving a car and wearing makeup and giving me a heart attack with those gorgeous eyelashes.  But she'll always be my little monkey.

I ask her all the time for a kiss and she squeals "NOOOOOOO!" in her flirty little voice and I chew her cheeks and smooch her nose and yell "I gave birth to you I can kiss you whenever I want!"

And I tickle her squishy little belly and I hold her chubby little hand and my heart melts whenever she asks me to hold her.  I was rocking her "rocka like baby Momma!" the other day and just realizing how fast the days are passing...

Momma loves you Sammy.  Playing with makeup is fun, but don't grow up too fast, okay?