Adieu, Two.

I'm beginning to think the cliche people are right...Time does fly.  They do grow up so fast.  And we should cherish every moment.  I blinked and my daughter turned 3 years old. Two was such a fun year for us and not at all terrible like some cliches suggest. 

This is Katie's birthday lunch...Nothing special, but it was what she wanted. Peanut butter and jelly (which she calls peanut jelly and butter) and a chocolate milk.  And not to mention a side of the most precious smile I have ever seen.

We had a few friends and family over to celebrate. The party was the day before her actual birthday, so we sort of billed her gathering as a Bon Voyage to 2! I let her pick two balloons that she wanted from the store and we went to the back yard and released them just before the party kicked into high gear.  We sent her balloons soaring and she yelled "Bye 2!" over and over. We watched them fly through the sky until we couldn't see them any longer.

We headed back inside for cupcakes and singing. She stood by very somberly as we all sang. Turns out she was interested in her cupcake yet and wanted to open presents instead.

Off to the presents them...Cake can wait. One of her first presents was a few packs of stickers that she promptly stuck all over her dress and face.

She got a Loin King puzzle and spent considerable time speculating how big Simba is in real life. Seriously.

Her big gift from us was a tricycle. She won't let us call it that - we have to call it a bike. She loves to ride it on the culdesac and the driveway. There's a nifty little basket on the back and so most of her animal friends get to come along for rides too.

Another gift that was immediately put into action was her new artist easel. Dry erase and chalkboard sides and special clips to hang your masterpieces. We've been practicing writing names and drawing shapes and erasing. Oh how she loves to erase! (Thanks Boozers and Clarks!)

Now that the presents were opened, she had worked up an appetite and wanted to return to her cupcakes. She pretty much just ate the icing. She made such a production out of eating this cupcake - it was as if this was the only cupcake she'd ever get to have in life and she wanted to savor every second of it.

Finger Lickin' Good!

I'm 3!

Are you talking to me?

Ding! (I hear the Orbitz ding/sparkle sound effect when I look at this picture)

Happy 3rd Birthday to my sweet Katie!  Your daddy and I can't wait to see what's in store over the next year.  You continue to amaze us and make us laugh every day. We thank God that you're ours and that we have the privilege of being your parents. We love you to the moon....and back!