"Ladies and gentlemen! Kids of all ages! Welcome to..."

"... The Greatest Show On Earth!"

Ringling Brothers Circus is in town and thanks to my Dad and his birthday gift to Natalie, we had a very fun Saturday! It has been 20 or so years since I've been to the circus and I'd forgotten how amazing it all is! The acts, the animals, the whole atmosphere! It was, of course, wonderful to experience it through Natalie, too, who had only been to one small-town circus here at home 2 weeks ago. This is an event I want to repeat for years to come!

This is my Dad. Natalie named him Pe-Pa. She's been talking for a week about coming to "big circus with Pe-Pa!" During part of the show today she even made up her own song about coming to the big circus with Pe-Pa. No man should have felt more loved at that moment!

First Cotton Candy

I'd told myself I wouldn't spend the whole time behind the camera and I'd actually enjoy watching the show but Natalie asked for pictures of the tigers. So, while not of good quality, here one is.

Natalie LOVES the Elephants! Once we'd broken the no pictures rule we had to get some of these big guys! During one part of the show I swear one of the elephants was having such a good time he was swaggering in his steps. I mean, I know they sway as the walk, but this guy was really into it!

Lindsey enjoyed the show, too. The lights and music were a treat for her. She never got scared, never cried; she really seemed to like it.

Mid Circus Nap.

After the circus we all headed up to The Varsity for lunch. Nothing like hot dogs (for the guys), cheese sandwiches (for the girls), fries, onion rings, and apple pies to end a perfect day! I can't wait for next year!

=)

Mmmmm.

Q: How many chocolate covered cherries can I eat before getting a tummy ache?










A: Six.

Mini Me

In the last few months people are constantly saying how Natalie looks "just like" me. While I don't think she's quite my clone, I can see the similarities. Especially today....

She drives a truck

For the record, this is Josh's truck. But he's always driving my car into ATL to work, so I'm always driving the truck around town. Natalie thinks Dayee has a car and Ba has a truck.

She loves to read
especially the works of Eric Carle

at the Library today, a cold, no school Tuesday

First Haircut!

Now that Natalie is 3, I've decided it was time for a haircut. Her curls are so beautiful I've never been able to make myself cut them. But, it was time. We went to Snip Its because I thought it was the best chance we had at a positive experience. Boy, was I ever wrong. It wouldn't have mattered if we did this in the middle of Toys R Us it still would have been horrible. Those of you who know Natalie know of her stranger anxiety and her need to have things explained to her before they happen. This morning I showed Natalie the website in preparation and she was actually excited to get there. Once there, however, Farah the stylist didn't take heed to my advice. She was able to get Natalie to sit in the chair and even combed her hair with no problem but then she buckled her in without warning her first. "I stuck!" Natalie panicked! Mommy intervention #1. I reminded Farah that Natalie needed things explained to her first. We got the "smock" on with success. But then Farah sprayed her hair with water with no warning at all. Oh, dear God! Mommy interventions #2, 3, 4, pause for photo op, 5, 6, and 7 as I told Farah to just do it and I stayed face to face with Natalie bribing her with red lollipops, the fish puzzle and promise of a prize when it was all over if she'd just stay still. Farah, to her credit, did a good job of cutting the hair but then while I was paying she kept talking to Natalie. I don't know if she is stupid or just a sucker for punishment because every time she said something Natalie started crying all over again. The end result was some mild traumatization and good cut for Nat as far as I can tell. The nice thing about curly hair is that even if it's not cut straight it curls, so no one knows! We'll see you guys in a year!

Before Pic
(Nat wouldn't face the wall, so this is the best I could get)

I start to think all is going to go well...

Yeah, right. Who was I kidding!?

After pic

The curls

Lindsey's Blankey

A gift from Melissa C, this green crochet blanket has officially become Lindsey's Blankey. If she's sleepy, or even if you want to induce sleep, give her a paci and her Blankey and in 5 minutes she's out cold. Natalie even calls it "Winsey's Bayee." I love that both girls chose beautiful, hand made gifts for their special security item. Thanks, Melissa!

Soccer Party!

Here are some highlights of Natalie's Dora Soccer Party on Saturday. It was a huge hit with all the kids. Thanks to everyone who came, Natalie loves looking at the pictures and replaying the day in her own captions.

I stayed up way past my bedtime on Friday to finish Natalie's Dora Soccer Cake but it was totaly worth it. It was a big hit at the party.

Coach Laura doing warm up stretches with the kids at the party

Parachute time!

Teaching the kids about trapping the ball

The sidelines

Everett, the youngest in our crowd is demonstrating the "no hands" rule of soccer

Natalie's ready to kick!

Ava doing some fancy footwork

Auntie Andrea gets big hugs from Lindsey, Natalie, and Ava

Parker running away with the ball bag

Landon gets smooches from his mom Jennifer

Foster is ready to score!

After the game the group gathers in for a big high five

Maggie rolls up her sleeve to get ready for stamps and stickers

Parker gives Natalie a birthday hug

After the game, Natalie's ready for some cake!

Grandma (Josh's mom) gets some giggles out of Lindsey

The party room

Present Time!

Everyone's worn out after such a fun party. Here's my dad "Pe-Pa" with Natalie and Lindsey.

Can't wait to do it all again! Next year, that is!
=)

Happy Birthday, Natalie!

Natalie's 3rd Birthday was so much fun! She really understood that it was her birthday today. I think seeing classmates having birthdays, and them celebrating various character's birthday's on Word World she understood that it was her turn this time. She was so excited for each and every part of her day and the surrounding days with cupcakes for school and the party to follow on Saturday.

What Natalie woke up to this morning:

Since I was taking pictures of everything,
Natalie decided she wanted some of her own, too.

Opening a gift.

Opening James from Thomas & Friends.

Her big gift this year, a Dora Jeep

Then, a delivery!
Balloons from Uncle Kevin who is in California this month.
Great call and many thanks, Kev! They were a huge hit!

After Tiny Tykes Natalie had a picnic lunch of grilled cheese and pretzels with "lotsa bawoons" while watching a new Little Einsteins DVD.

After the cake went in the oven, we took her the Jeep out for a spin. Natalie had a blast until she got stuck in some mulch. She is actually driving in this picture though it looks like she is still. I suppose someone should teach her about the steering wheel.

Lindsey getting in on the birthday fun.

After dinner at O'Charley's ( a favorite of Natalie's) we came home and had a Baskin Robbins Ice Cream Cake.

My Birthday Girl is ready to dig in!

Happy, Happy Birthday Natalie!

I Do It To Myself, Don't I?

This is my week spelled out in five different to-do lists:

And the reason I have these lists is because of Natalie's birthday. She's turning 3, you'll recall. 3. Most people don't even remember their 3rd birthday parties but we, the mommies, strive to make it everything they could possibly dream of. We're having the Dora themed soccer game on Saturday with Chick Fil A food and a cake I'll make on Friday, a family party at home Friday morning that I have to get gifts wrapped for on Wednesday and balloons filled for on Thursday, dinner out Friday night, cupcakes at school on Thursday that I have to make on Wednesday, groceries to buy tomorrow, and I have 5 freaking to-do lists to make sure I can get it and all that goes with it, done. Oh, don't forget the doctor on Tuesday and the dentist on Wednesday!

But! I wouldn't trade all this planning and work for my Natalie for anything in the world!

And I should probably make sure Lindsey stays fed through it all, too. Wait, has anyone seen the baby!?!?


=)