birthday

Knowing that the moment all three kiddos sang Happy Birthday to you, 

together, three times in a row, 

was one of the best parts of your birthday...

That is why your the very best husband and dad in our world - as Eva would say.

Happy Birthday to you, 

Love you always and forever.

two

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She's two!

Helena, you have the biggest personality. 

You are fearless and shy, super quiet and screaming loud, hilarious and super serious, needy and fiercely independent... all of those things and more all of the time.  

You remind me of a prism, all the colors and all of them are bright. 

These last two years have been amazing watching you grow right into the mix with our family, chasing after Eva and wrestling Theo.  You might even have some hair finally!  

We can't imagine our world without you.  

Happy Birthday Helena!

Love all of us.

Four

Happy Happy Birthday Theo!!!

Wow buddy!
I seriously can't believe you're four years old,
but you are so awesome at being four - I think it is the greatest age ever.
You crawled into bed last night because "daddy was gone and I was alone."
So awesome that you are worried about me.

And the Minion shirt.
I think I need a uniform of them to keep you happy.
Kevin is your favorite and it is so cute how you know their names.  

You are such a little man now.

So kind, so curious and so loving.

Your big heart and sideways grin slays me everytime.  

Happy Four Years Little Man.

All our love.

Six

Six years!

Happy Birthday Eva.

5+364

Here we are... less than 24 hours until you are officially 6!

This is you yesterday on your 100th day of kindergarten.  

With a refashioned womens skirt from the thrift store, some glasses, pearls and a vintage purse - you were ecstatic to be dressed as a "100 year old grandma" as you kept saying.  All the while I just could not get over you.  Such a big kid now.

It always sends my mind reeling to look at your baby pictures.  I see so much of you in those pictures - little glimpses at the little lady you are now.  The way you hold your mouth when you are thinking or the way your eyes light up and shine when you smile.  

But it is hard to look at you now and see that little baby sometimes.  It is getting all filled in with this long-legged, grinning girl.  You're so tall and all legs and arms, laughing and telling horrible knock-knock jokes.  (You are really bad at them by the way!)  Sometimes how much you have grown and changed slaps me in the face catching me off guard,  taking my breath away.

Instead of seeing that little, chubby baby, I now see these little spots and peaks of the teenager and grown up you are becoming.  Crossing your legs on the park bench, rolling your eyes a little when I get really sappy, raising your chin and staring me down when I am saying something you don't want to hear, putting your hand on your baby sister's back to help lead her in the right direction, becoming fascinated with an idea and asking question after question until you learn all you can, seeing far off places and wanting to go visit them, running to catch a friend at the bus and waving bye to me over your shoulder and then blowing me a kiss from the window, going over the alphabet with Theo and patiently correcting him when he calls a D a B. 

Your heart is so big and so beautiful, Eva.  Thank you for these six years of you.  

Happy Birthday.

happy happy

Happiest Birthday to my younger, super handsome and infinitely-better better half.

I am so very lucky to be bouncing through this life by your side.

I love you.

Our babies are so excited for your birthday.

Not just because they know it means donuts, but because they know how awesome you are.

This picture has been one of my very favorites. Eva and Theo loved this "rainbow pillow", and I thought nothing could get them laughing harder... until you came to bounce with them.  You were one of the only grown-ups out there bouncing with his kiddos.  And you loved every minute.

We all love you, always and forever.

Happy Birthday!

One Year

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

We can't believe your one year old little one.
These last 365 days have been amazing.
So much love to you little one.

three

Mr. Theodore

Three years old.

Dear Sir, you are our force.

You bring the chaos, the light and the life to every moment of everyday.

The most loving guy in the whole world - you give hugs and kisses as you run by and then apologize for the thrown elbow or knees that land as you thunder through.

A true bruiser with a heart of gold.

Happy Birthday Dear Sir.

We love you to pieces.

five

five years

That is how long you have been with us Miss Eva.  

Really five years and nine months if you count the "Deedle Days" into the equation.  But those are so hard to count. You were in there growing, too busy making new cells to make the impression that would soon come.  You are our whole life, making us parents, and teaching us more than we could ever teach you.  

You have a fierceness and fire.  Your conviction and determination are a force.  At the same time you are quiet and gentle.  The idea of a big birthday party sounded fun but made you a ball of nervousness.  It took a few rounds of "Happy Birthday" from your family and Goggy and Poppy to get you loosened up.  On the third round, you said you were ready to smile.  All that attention made my fiery girl nervous and shy. 

This time of your life, I think we will look back on as the "Clothing Negotiation Era" of your life.   Dressing is a battle in the morning and for bed.  You stash your favorite clothing (tutus, nightgowns and a few other essentials like newborn headbands or spiderman gloves) in drawers and cabinets throughout the house so you can fix you attire as soon as you get home (or when no one is looking.)


You amaze us, humble us, improve us, and make us sublimely happy.
You rock our world Miss Eva. 

holiday in photos

Ready for her first Christmas party.


Making Christmas cookies shaped like butterflies and suns.

a night seeing lights and meeting real reindeer

selfies on a horse drawn carriage ride and being up way past bedtime


half birthday celebrations for our 2.5 year old.

waiting on the wake-up and they had to be woke up at 8:30

sparkly princess gear and heels

new trains to add to the collection


princess gear being shared


so much fun and poppy and goggy's that naps are taken in a big boy bed with christmas lights


sparkly playdough sleepover party with Aunt Carri and Uncle Jesse intown


finally meeting cousin Aria and catching up with her mommy and daddy


Good night and goodbye 2014

The holidays were good to us.

We did a lot less stuff this year: less running and more snuggling, less wrapping and more playing, less rushing and more family.  I didn't worry (too much) about traditions to keep going from the years past. We still did yearly ornaments but we didn't make them until after Christmas.  We were visited by Gerald the Elf again, but a lot of days Gerald returned to the same spot as the day before and one time - two days in a row.  He was taking it easy this year too.

We had one holiday party without the older kiddos.  Helena wore a red bow and I wore her the whole time as she snoozed.  Eva and Theo had what Eva called her pizza/babysitter party.  We bought the few gifts we wanted to give mostly online.  Eva and I made a batch of cookies one afternoon and Theo helped us decorate them the next day. We used a box mix and a tub of bright green icing that stained all our fingers.  When going to pick out a tree was becoming more of a chore than fun trip, Michael ran out one night and bought an artificial tree on super sale. The kids were asleep so Gerald the elf gifted it to them the next morning. The tree was left un-ornamented and just filled with lights so no one had to worry about breaking/losing/missing ornaments.  We enjoyed lots and lots of family and adopted family-time - ordered Thai take-out and made easy dinners.  Michael and I took turns sleeping in and went to bed at 9 to ring in the new year.  

Doing less things may be the best tradition yet.  

celebrate

Today we celebrate the best daddy and husband I know.

A guy that decided the best way to handle itchy-costume complaints, stranger-danger fears, and make sure our night of trick-or-treat was enjoyed by all - have practice runs.  He pretended to be our neighbors and even changed his voice.  Waited in each room for the proper knock and trick-or-treat call and handed out marshmallows in our hallway.  

We love you.

Happy Birthday!

donuts

Thankfully, we found Stan.

Stan is a few blocks away and he makes great donuts.

Great donuts are essential for us.

Especially when there are birthdays to celebrate.

2

This guy...

who hates going to birthday breakfasts because he has to wait too long on food...

who let's his sister take a nap on his lap after a long play session at the splash pad...

who still gives me glimpses of the tiny baby he was - especially when he's sleeping...

That guy... he's 2 today.

Happy Birthday Theodore!

party

donuts with sprinkles and a bucket full of suckers

candle blowing

the donut decorations that were confiscated by the birthday girl

Theodore refueling

Eva taking a rest - it lasted two minutes.

climbing

our big friends playing with their little ones

Eva's party was a lot of fun.
She said so.

We hadn't done a big birthday party since she turned one.
And we wouldn't have - but she asked.
"a party with all her friends, balloons and Tinker Bell suckers"
So that is what we did.

It was terrible outside, but so many people braved the weather.
I think getting the kids out of the house and burning some energy at the play cafe seemed like a good idea to everyone.
It's always neat to see our friends all together.
Because so many of them we have known for so long...
and now lots of them are parents too.

Eva was a little confused...
her birthday wasn't until later in the week
 and I wouldn't let her be four yet.
I was holding on to those last few days pretty tightly.

I always feel like these things go by so fast.
The planning takes so long and then boom - day goes by in a blurr.
I didn't take many pictures.
I took a few and spent the rest of the time enjoying everyone.

Celebrating her day...
at 3 years and 363 days old.