Delaney Rose turns 3, Part two

Saturday afternoon the kids and I went to Val Verde to Dallas' under the sea birthday. An orca topped bounce house, hammerhead shark cake, and remote control giant shark balloon dominated the festivities. I didn't take any pix. Sunday afternoon we attended two back to back fetes; at Jane's much fun was had in the pink, purple, and green castle "jump tent" (bounce house with attached slide) and at Jack's (after a twenty minute en route power nap) where both kids enlisted in Jedi training and took on Darth Maul.  We were so happy to see daddy later Sunday night when he got home. We had made a second cake to share with him but decided to save it for the next evening due to all the other birthday celebrations that day.  Instead Delaney opened two special packages from Gramp and Aunt Linda and Uncle Chris; a pop-up pink princess tent with its own carrying case and a BAND in A Box! Both instant hits! Thanks Gramp and Aunt Linda!

Owen learned to write his whole name recently with Grandma's brilliant help on e and n. Here he writes Jane's name on her card- first time writing someone else's name. #proudmamamoment

Jane's bounce house

Jane blowing out her candles

Swordplay LA in Burbank

Jedi training

Happy birthday princess in her pink tent! 

#yaygramp!

band in a box!

#thisgirllovesmusic

dancing and jamming

checking out the harmonica

Part three: Laney's preschool friend party -coming this weekend

Delaney Rose turns 3! Part one

Delaney's third birthday came and went this past weekend, among lovely and simply wonderful birthday celebrations for three sweet friends turning 3, 4, and 5 this month.  She adored every moment, even though daddy was out of town. In honor of birthday number 3, here is a little game of 20 questions I grabbed from Kelly's Korner blog. 
1.  Favorite Color:  Pink

2.  Favorite Toy:  princess

3. Favorite TV Show: Caillou

4. Favorite Movie:  Little Cook and Big Cook

5.  Favorite Disney Princess: Pink one
6.   Favorite Food:  carrots and meatballs

7.   Favorite Animal:  elephant

8.  Favorite Song:  A princess song

9.  Best Friends:  Dane, Olivia, 

10.  Favorite Drink: orange juice
11.  Favorite thing to play outside: a shovel

12.  Favorite thing to wear: a princess dress

13. Favorite Breakfast: a princess to eat

14. Favorite thing to draw:  a picture of  you

15.   Favorite thing about school: playing on the swings

16.  Favorite thing about Owen: We can hold him.

17.  Favorite thing about Daddy: playing with some toys with him

18 .  Favorite thing about Mommy:  love to play with her

19.  Favorite Dessert:  some cake

20.  What do you want to be when you grow up?   a princess firefighter

Friday, Jan. 24 Laney is VIP at school. She brings carrots, bananas, pears, grapes, and cuties to share, along with bath baby, a collection of puppets, and Goodnight Little Bear, from Richard Scarry.

Saturday morning she was excited to see pink streamers decorating the door.

Cinderella (or Pinkerella) ate my daughter! Without much encouragement from me, she turned into a pink, princess loving girl this past Fall. As she says, she loves "pink, princesses, babies, and basketball." I'll take that. She arrived downstairs on her birthday to find a pink birthday tree with castle, crown, and tiara decorations as well

as her own princess tiara, necklace, and wand from grandma and grandpa.

All dressed up in her Hello Kitty headband and birthday shirt from mom and dad, and special princess jewelry from our sweet next door neighbor Amy. She keeps that jewelry on at all times. It came along with a soft, cuddly princess Rapunzel doll. Thanks, Amy!

After spending the day all dressed up and dancing to her new ballet dvd

Big brother and momma made a lemon cake with (what else?) pink frosting!

Grandma brought princess napkins too!

Grandpa happy with birthday cake!

celebrating with daddy and opening special family gifts coming up in Part two!

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Today Gramp heads back to Costa Rica (via a 12 hour layover in Houston). We will miss him terribly. What will we do at 7 AM when we emerge from our warm cocoon of sleep to scream joyfully as we spy Gramp sitting inconspicuously at the top of the stairs in the hall, patiently waiting to greet his grandkids as he has done every morning since Dec. 23?  We have certainly peppered the past two weeks with adventure upon adventure, from the simplest things like reading a story and exchanging bear hugs, to pajama playdates and playing at the park, all the way to unmatchable moments like eating fresh clams and oysters at the beach and being together on Christmas morning.

We have been spoiled by Gramp's wonderful long visit (after a 2 1/2 year hiatus); luckily Skype has allowed the littles to get to know him 2 dimesionally during that time; but nothing beats knowing that Gramp is accessible for a hug, a smile, a big smooch or an enthusiastic audience to preschool feats.