I heart faces - "Innocent Wonder"

This is my entry for this week's challenge over at i heart faces. 

 The theme this week is " Innocent Wonder"

I'm thinking this one fits the bill and doesn't really need any explanation....

snapshot

This Moment

Inspired by Soulemama {this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

It just goes to show....

 Whenever one of my kids has a birthday, I have a list of plans as long as my arm.  It always ends up being shortened, but often I spend a good bit of time agonizing over it first ;)  This birthday was all about shortening it.  I have been sick, and there was just not time or energy, for fancy.  But the beautiful thing about kids, is that they get excited over everything!  It's my birthday - YAYYYYYYYYYYYY  That expression of pure delight is for the teddy bear that her brother pulled out of his room and wrapped up for her, the night before her birthday when he realized that he hadn't gotten her a present.  Looks like it worked out just fine.

So I made the easy dress - it may not fit perfectly, but I don't think she cares.

I finished the most important gift on time.  She named her new doll Violet.

Violet has already made friends with the other dolls in the house.

And the cake - well she was very clear that it was going to be chocolate - with sooger in it (Sugar).  SHe may not like chocolate, but she knew what kind of cake she wanted.  That made for easy cake making - I used a gluten-free mix.  And tossing some gummy bears on top made her day.  Seriously.

Would *I* have preferred a fancier cake?  You bet.  Does she care?  Nope.

As long as there are candles to blow out - including that one in the middle that she insisted on putting on, and carried around the house all day long.  It's the candle from her brother's birthday cake this summer - it has the number 8 on it - but that's ok - she doesn't know her numbers yet, and besides, her big brother scratched the side of the 8 of to make it a 3.  It's a backwards 3, but I'm thinking it's the thought that counts.

Yes, I do think that simple is better.  Not that there isn't a time and a place for fancy - but I'm coming to realize that what matters most is the time spent together.  Not how many presents I've made with my hands, or how many layers and fillings the cake has (ok there are definite bonuses to yummy fillings lol!) - tho that is still a love of mine, but the enjoyment factor all around, well that sits at the top of the list.  Letting go.  Yup - that's a definite theme around here.

My Baby Turns Three Today

My baby is three years old today.  The time has flown by - as it always does.  The baby years are over, and that feels pretty huge.  Bare with me while I bombard you with pictures of my little lovely :)  

Friends

    

Love 

First Birthday Cake

First Steps

snapshot

This Moment

The Birthday Dress

When I was a little girl, to say that I loved dresses would be a serious understatement.

I'm fairly sure that I went an entire year wearing nothing but dresses - by choice.  

(one of the boys told me that only boys wore pants, and I believed him - I did really love dresses tho)

I still love dresses - tho I'll admit that the focus around here tends to be on little girl dresses ;)

I had to really cut down my list for Little Miss A's birthday, since I've been sick, so yesterday, when I had the full day to sew all by myself, I turned to my own tutorial and whipped up a birthday dress in no time.  Seriously - I don't think it took longer than 30 minutes and that was while watching "Glee" at the same time.  Wait - did I just admit to watching Glee?  Ugh.  

Without the birthday girl there, I had to guess at measurements - which pretty much just meant holding it up to a couple dresses after ;)

I'm pretty sure there's enough pink on there to make the girl happy - she's not quite as picky about the pink factor as her bigger sister is - not yet anyway.

I remember years ago, in a thrift store holding up something to show my oldest to see if she'd like it, and she looked at me with a most irritated expression, rolled her eyes, and said,

"Mom you *know* I only war pink and purple!"

She did eventually grow out of that - I believe the favorite color is blue now - tho she's not in exclusive ;)

My littlest birthday girl only wears dresses these days  - tho I managed to convince her that leggings aren't pants - they're *almost* tights ;)  I know this is really a summer dress, but my girls are so into dresses - she'll wear it indoors, or layered.

Not bad for a last minute rush job ;)

Can you keep a secret?

This is the newest addition to our family - a playmate for Little Miss A.

Her birthday is coming up, and I figured it was time for her to have her own little friend.

She's been playing with Big Miss A's doll for ages - all the dolls actually.  This photo doesn't do it justice, but the hair is just like Little Miss A's - a little bit curly, and many different colors of blonde, and light brown.

Little Miss A is out with her papa, so I snuck on here while Big Miss A was playing outside 

(she's a little young yet for secrets ;)  )