Zoe is three!

Celebrations began last night with a family dinner of Zoe's choice - turkey kielbasa, beans and rice - followed by pink birthday cake with white frosting and polka dot sprinkles,

and lots of presents,

including some kickin' Cowboy boots from Mimi,

a beautiful ballerina jewelry box from Baba and Nana,

and a Super Hero kit from Unca Stu complete with cape, mask, instructions, headquarters sign and Zuper Z power pills.

and Zuper Z was born!

Yiayia called in the middle of the festivities and
asked if she liked her scooter.
She said "I didn't get my scooter yet, so...."
Wow! It was what she wanted most of all.
Thanks Yiayia!

The rest of the evening was spent burning off the sugar calories
by "flying" around the living room (with her boots on)and trying to keep the baby away from the scooter.

Presents from PopPop and MorMor were opened earlier in the week, because, well, we just couldn't wait. And her marvelous Tinkerbell doll from Grandaddio. Thank you!

***

QUEEN FOR A DAY!

All day at school today Zoe was made much of,
she got to wear a special birthday hat

and choose the story, and sit in the special chair. After circle time when it was time for snack, Zoe got to send everyone by tapping one at a time. The kids then had to jump up and say "Happy Birthday, Zoe!" then wash their hands and go to table.

And then she got to make a wish and eat cupcakes with her big Sis by her side.

When I picked her up from school today, she was positively beaming and strutting like a rock star. This is much different from the bashful two year old that cried when too many people looked at her, let alone sang to her, last year.

However as enjoyable as her birthday was so far, she says she's still two because "there are no decorations." Apparently, in her eyes, she doesn't officially turn three until we get balloons and streamers and have a party in her honor. And that's not happening until Sunday...more celebrations to come!

Lego Man

John Patrick is a Lego Man.
He will crawl inside this bin
and play happily
for about the length of time it takes me
to sweep and mop the kitchen floor.
Totally cool.

Daily Affirmation

Athena was asked to draw "something she liked" and she drew, what else...herself!

(Specifically herself wearing lipstick and playing ball.)

I'm going to show this to her daily when she's 13.

Daddy's Home

Chris goes away on business trips ever so often. Luckily we have a Mimi who comes to visit when Daddy travels.

But when he comes home again it's always a celebration. This time with brownies.

The Joyful Life

I am choosing to live a more joyful life. It's too easy to get bogged down by all the work and business of motherhood. Recently I've been inspired to change my perspective, look forward to the day at hand and seek out the things that make me happy. Because ain't nobody happy if Momma isn't happy and I've been neglecting myself for some time now.

We are so blessed that we get to share our daily lives with three amazing little people. But childhood is fleeting and these children are growing older each day. I adore my babies and my family and want to experience this time fully with them, reveling in the many small wonders, instead of being overburdened by the challenges, and feeling grateful that I am here, in this moment.

I am inspired to live happy, embrace my age, wear red more often, let kids be kids, be romantic, do yoga and take care of me.

I've lost myself a little bit but I'm bringing me back.

Photos from our Saturday Afternoon

Saturday Morning

There is no sleeping in. Athena wakes us up at 7:13 by crawling in between us. We attempt to sleep just ten more minutes, but Athena is awake and complaining that Daddy is "hahing" in her ear (breathing).

We snuggle just a minute longer and then hear the baby start to wake. Over the monitor I think his little cries sound like a squeaky door, Athena thinks he sounds like a cat that wants to come inside.

I go to John Patrick who breaks into a big smile when he sees me. I pick him up and kiss his soft head again and again. With a freshly diapered baby in my arms I peer inside the girls' room, Zoe is asleep on the floor, but stirring.

While I'm nursing the baby on the couch, Zoe walks into the room dragging three blankets behind her. "Mommy" she rasps and then coughs and coughs and coughs. She is no longer officially sick just can't get rid of the cough. "It's the Valley air" a woman at Target told me yesterday.

Zoe cuddles with us until Daddy lures her into the kitchen with a promise of cereal bar breakfast and milk. It's soccer today, so breakfast is quick and both girls are hurriedly dressed and out of the house with Daddy. It's a whirl of activity, and quite a bit of whining, then they close the door and the house is quiet.

I linger for a moment in my dressing gown with my coffee. Then get dressed with John Patrick smiling at me in the middle of my room trying to crawl towards and attempt to eat one of my flip flops. I throw an Irish sweater over John Patrick's jammies, put some Elmo socks on him and pour the rest of my coffee into a thermos. It's just starting to be cool here in the mornings, refreshing and crisp.

Drinking my coffee, driving to the vegetable pick up stand and listening to NPR while John Patrick coos in the backseat is one of my favorite moments of the week. Rick Steves tells me the difference between "Prov-OHN-cal" and "Prov-AHN-cal" to Parisians. Interesting.

We pick up the vegetables to lots of comments of "Oh how cute!" and "You've got your hands full" as I balance a full vegetable box on one arm and heavy baby in puppy jammies in the other.

On the way home I drive swiftly past the joggers and walkers on the bike path and feel guilty...one of these days that will be me. Pulling up onto our driveway, I find that John Patrick is fast asleep in his carseat. I gently take him out, peel off his funky sweater and transfer him into his crib.

I pour myself another cup of coffee, and write this, as I wait for the door to swing open with loud voices and running feet bringing stories of soccer victories along with fresh bagels to enjoy over our second breakfast of the day.

Wordless Wednesday

Arg.

Princess Mania

Chris took the girls to see a matinee of Disney Princesses on Ice. Athena was literally shivering with delight throughout the entire performance. Chris tried to get pictures but could not quite capture her face of pure joy. Zoe was also totally captivated and enthralled for nearly an hour and a half. It is probably the longest she has ever sat still in her entire short life.

I remember when a three year old Athena first watched Cinderella, the mother who had a disdain for all things princesses thought "Uh oh, this is a slippery slope." And here we are, that mother is long gone, we are neck deep in the muck and its pretty darn cute actually.

I'm still NOT buying the Disney Princess bedsheets, however, and will toss any that "arrive" for Christmas (consider yourself warned).

Zoe on T.V.!

Yesterday, BELLE from Disney Princesses on Ice came and read to Zoe's preschool and the local news did a story on it!! You can see Zoe in the bottom right hand corner (wearing purple, of course, and jeans) and then when they are interviewing the kids she walks in the background. She was too shy to be part of the group photo at the end though.

Don't blink or you'll miss her!

http://www.kget.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?articleID=37077