Pump It Up Princess Party

Charlotte wanted a princess party at Pump It Up to celebrate her birthday this year, so that's what we did!

Ready for her party to start!...

When it was time for the safety video, we only had one guest!  Char and her BFF, Amelia watching the video...

The friends quickly started coming as soon as we got back to the first jump room.  Hunter and Noah just went down the big slide...

And there goes Hunter again...

Crawling through the tunnel...

Cousin Vanesa...

So happy to be playing!...

Charlotte is our fearless child, so she usually runs around on her own at places like this, but she was a little overwhelmed on her big day, so James did most things with her.  She was able to conquer this small slide all alone, though.  Look at that face!...

Playing peekaboo...

Aunt Katie and Zack...

Sliding with daddy...

She came up to me with a little pouty face and said, "None of the kids are sharing the ball with me!"  Uhhhh, ask them and I'm sure they will birthday girl!  And they did...

Sweet Evelyn...

Head first!...

Daddy slid with both kids and Amelia (she's hiding behind him) down the big slide...

Most of the kids made it to the group picture...

Then it was time to eat!

So happy to be the birthday girl!

Teagan...

We had to put our drinks in an ice chest to bring them over and the ice ruined all of my princess bottle wraps:(

Noah...

Fawkes and Satterfields...

Rich and Nana...

Posing...

Singing Happy Birthday!

Amelia helped her with the candle because she was having some trouble...that's what friends are for!

The Gorczycas...

Mmmmm chocolate!

Quinn, Presley and Teagan...

Carys and her mommy...

Fawkes kids...

Ethan...

Brother and sister...

Ronnie with the birthday girl...

And Carys...

And Areli...

And Hadley...

And cousin Zack...

She had a great party!  Thanks to everyone who celebrated with us!  I can't believe she's already three...she's been telling me that she's going to use the potty when she's three, so today I said, "You're three now, you need to stop using your diapers".  She replied, "I was three yesterday, now I'm two again."  Sigh.

The Birthday Girl

Char had a fun-filled birthday this year!  She woke up to cinnamon rolls (made by daddy!) and opened her present from James and I...

Her Bitty Baby "Feel Better Kit"!  (The Bitty Baby came later in the day.)

Anytime I call it her doctor kit, she says, "No, it's a purse."  What can I say?  The girl loves purses!

Then she and I and Hunter and cousin Zack went to go see Ice Age: Continental Drift.  We had tons of treats in the movie theater, and Charlotte and I lounged out in our two seats and cuddled during most of the movie.

After the movie we all headed to lunch with Grandpa and Aunt Katie and Vanesa at Chili's.  Char loves to choose Chili's as a place to eat, but doesn't really ever eat the food there.  She did have a couple bites of the dessert that they brought out to her.  She gave them the stare down the whole time they were singing to her...didn't crack a smile once.
That night Grandee and Poppy, Kate and her kids, and Nana joined us for dinner at Chick Fil A, and then came over for cake, ice cream and presents...

She was so sweet and excited with every gift...even all of the clothes she got from Nana, Aunt Katie and Grandee and Poppy...

Modeling her new Hannah Anderson necklace...

Nana gave her a tiny little baby with a potty and feeder seat.  Every single time we go to Target she begs to go to the baby aisle, and she always goes to those tiny babies at the end of the aisle.  She was so happy when she opened it, and I'm hoping the baby's potty will give her some sort of desire to use her own potty!

Then Grandee and Poppy gave her the Bitty Baby!

Hunter had asked me several times that day if he could go buy Charlotte a gift.  We've never had them buy for each other for birthdays before, so I hadn't thought of doing that ahead of time, and there was no way we could do it that day with Charlotte with us.  So I told him that we'd already bought her presents for this year, and he seemed satisfied with that.  After she finished opening her presents, he ran to the back for a second and came out with the biggest smile on his face.  He walked up to her and quietly said, "I have a surprise for you, Charlotte."  He held out his closed fist and handed her a new tube of chapstick.  It was the. sweetest. thing. EVER.  She was so thankful for the gift and he was so giddy to give it to her.  I love that he went "shopping" in my closet when I told him we couldn't go to the store.  I am cherishing this young, innocent age where they are so thoughtful and thankful.  I hope it sticks!

After presents, we sang and ate cake and ice cream...

I think she had a great day!  She can't wait for her princess party on Saturday!!

On Your Third Birthday...

Sweet girl, there are not words adequate to tell you how much I love you.  I think the last year of your life has been my favorite so far.  We've had our share of struggles, but isn't that your job right now?  Test your boundaries, push until you know how far is too far, stretch and grow into yourself.  You are well on your way, little one!  I've learned so much about who you are over this past year.  You are becoming the little person you were meant to be...oh, how I pray you will love that person as much as I do. 

God made you perfectly for our family, Charlotte.  You add so much life to us!  You love to sing (as loud as you can in the car...and to your own beat) and dance and practice your ballet moves...always telling anyone around, "watch this!"  You love to take care of your babies and play with your princesses.  You will be such a good mommy one day, my love.  Each little baby in your room (and there are MANY) is so special to you.  You gently carry them around or hand them to me and say, "Be careful" and then tell both of us, "I'm going to Bible study!  See you later!" as you strut down the hall, purse on your shoulder.  You are such a girly girl, just like your mama!

I've loved getting to know the person God made you and I can't wait to see more of her!  God loves you, sweet Charlotte, and He made you unique...there is no one else like you on the Earth.  He has a special plan for your life, and my prayer is that you will seek to follow it and make Him proud.  I know you will...