The three year old's birthday recap

Haven's birthday was a success all around. There was a cake, presents and pizza which I'm pretty sure is some sort of preschooler trifecta. We're thankful she was able to celebrate with all of her bestest buds and to be surrounded by people who really love her. A few picture highlights for your viewing pleasure:

Chocolate chip pancakes to start the day per the birthday girl's request

One of her many gifts- a Princess game for her new LeapPad

Me and my girl

Hugging the life out of her new "Carey-Barey" as she likes to call it

The strawberry cake with a big "H" on top and Strawberry Shortcake accessories

Gibson and Haven patiently waiting for some food (and looking cute!)

Savoring every minute of having all the attention

Three years later

Three years ago this afternoon I was in labor. Six short hours later (well, they weren't short in the midst of them!) a love affair began when I first laid eyes on my daughter. Three years later, it's a story that continues to be written. And gets better by the day!

I'm not sure where the last three years have gone. Days filled with changing diapers, endless feedings and sleeplessness have given way to dress-up, art projects and reading books. And we've been everywhere in between. The first smile and laugh. (Now she's a comedian and lives to make others smile and laugh.) The joy of learning to walk. (Now she runs everywhere and is always being told to slow down!) The first real foods. (She's a born carnivore and will take meat anything over whatever else you're offering!) The magical first and second and thirtieth words. (Now it's paragraphs with barely a breath in between telling me what we should do, when we should do and how it can get done.)

One thing hasn't changed though; I'm still in awe of my daughter. Three years of watching this amazing little girl grow and develop. She is total joy. Today, I'm especially thankful that she's mine.

Happy Birthday, Haven!

The soundtrack of my day

Go here and buy this album, people! We've been listening to it all day and it is wonderful. We are loving it!

Go buy one (or two or ten!) and help Phil and Amber bring their baby home!

We did it!

Our Steelers did it again and we're Super Bowl champs! Here is one little part of the Steeler Nation celebrating the big win! What a game!

She's got her own ideas

I had this conversation with Haven the other day about her upcoming 3rd birthday.

Me: Haven, what do you want to do for your birthday?

H: Umm, blow out my candles. All by myself! I don't need annny help.

Me: Okay, we can do that. What kind of cake are you going to have?

H: Strawberry. Strawberry Shortcake with a big H on it.

Me: Okay. What else would be special that you would like to do on your birthday?

H: Just blow out my candles.

Me: That's it?

H: Well, maybe someone could get me a castle. Like the one I saw in that magazine and a pony and a carriage and some people.

Me: Yes, that would be nice. What should we have for dinner on your birthday?

H: Chicken, roast beef...carrots.

Me: What kind of chicken do you like?

H: The white kind. And roast beef, too.

Me: Okay.

H: And maybe we could have some friends over. To eat cake. With a big "H" on it. And blow out my candles. All by myself. Mommy, I don't need annny help!

All duly noted and taken care of. (Except we're having pizza, not roast beef!)

I doubt she will always be this easy to please!

Pinkalicious Princess!

Sweet

Cute
Sassy

Silly

I love this girl!

In the kitchen

I have spent a great deal of time this weekend in the kitchen churning out some good food. I'm not sure what was the motivator, but I am very pleased with the results. I was able to feed us well, share a few meals with my neighbor and put a few things away in the freezer.

-Multi grain pancakes
-Pinkalicious cupcakes (using a small batch recipe found here)
-Chicken cheese steaks with peppers
-Baked Pasta with Chicken sausage-2 pans
-2 loaves of my favorite French bread
-a huge pot of Double Chicken Dumpling Soup
-Peanut Butter Crunch Snack Balls -stored in the freezer so we can just get out a few at a time
-2 dozen mini blueberry oatmeal muffins
-banana strawberry and banana blueberry smoothies
-2 balls of whole wheat pizza dough- 1 in the freezer, 1 for tonight's BBQ chicken pizza
-1 loaf yogurt herb bread

Maybe it was the fact that I didn't really cook this past week on account of all the sickness ravaging our family, but whatever the reason it felt good to be so productive in the kitchen.

Time well spent this cold weekend!