Rubert Turns 3!!

I think most mother's would agree that the birthday's of their children trump their own birthdays. It could be our human nature in denial of the fact that we are indeed getting older. Or it could be that we are all young at heart still, and secretly we want the huge to-do with all the streamers, balloons, and cake frills for our birthday's. Even though when asked we continue to give the same mundane response of "oh, its ok we can just have homemade cupcakes or something small...no big deal." Now, Charlotte's birthday was in no way close to the gorgeous creations that you find at The TomKat studio but I like to think that in my own crude way I created an enjoyable day all about 3 year old partying style! The day started like most days have since we have uprooted and came to the Midwest, with Bethany providing an extremely early wake up call. Somewhere between Texas and Nebraska she came up with the idea that waking up early was the thing to do. Horrible habit that we are trying (unsuccessfully) to break. After rubbing the sandpaper out of our eyes, Charlie and I got up and made french toast for the entire family! FYI for all you homeschool questioners... reason to homeschool #54: Every morning can be like Sunday morning, with french toast, bacon, eggs, whip cream, and fruit medley! So take your stale 'nola bar and chew on that for a while! :) Of course when Charlotte got up she ( having the mind like a steel trap syndrome that most 3 year olds have) took one look around and after hearing the birthday well wishes wanted to know where her balloons were! Sidenote: if you have been reading my feeble attempt at blogging you will remember that back in March I was the lucky recipient of a very cool Hello Kitty balloon for my birthday, compliments of Charlotte. Not sure how I was gonna talk my way out of the "where's my balloons" big blue-eyed look from my eldest, it was Ga-Ga to the rescue when she pulled out some blow-em-up yourself balloons which, because you have to do it yourself were so much cooler! Note: I am not a heartless mother. I did order an extravagant balloon bouquet for her to be ready Sunday for her official birthday party, lots of princesses and sparkly things involved. Looking to trump the hello Kitty balloon since they didn't have one to match the previous one. So avoiding the first birthday crisis of the day the french toast making commenced. Charlotte got a very special stack...

It's a french toast birthday cake!

Complete with 3 candles and whip cream!  Yummy!

She wasn't sure about it I guess and assumed her usual discriminating stance.

In the end guilty pleasure won out and she ate it! Charlotte has a weak spot for anything covered in whip cream! I may have to try it on broccoli!!

For her birthday present Charlotte got a house. We figured since we are homeless in Nebraska the least we could do was to give our 3 year old a place of her own! She loved it!!

Complete with her own phone. I think she is talking to her friend Savannah at the moment. They are planning a long distance play date! :)

 After getting our daily sugar rush we packed a lunch for later and headed out to watch Esther dance at a local community center. It was the preschool carnival for some end of the year fun and when we walked up and saw all the games and booths set up Charlotte said, "Look Mama!  All for my happy birthday!" And I, being the shrewd mother that I am, took the opportunity to go along with her wonderfully self-centered naive brain and said, "yup baby, mommy and daddy got you carnival for your bday party!" Pleased as punch and brainwashed yet again into thinking her parents are the best people in the entire world, we had a great time at the carnival and then at the zoo later on that day. 

Miss Hollywood is ready for the dance recital to start!

At the carnival you could explore a real police car...unfortunately Charlie was detained a bit longer then the rest of us :)

Baby elephant at the zoo! Now only if it were real!

Charlotte refused to look at me for a picture but I persuaded her to smell the flower.

I might of bribed her with a sucker at one point for a decent photo :)

Off roading with daddy. What better place to view the world then your daddy's shoulders. :)

It's not a birthday without cake! So of course we had to stop at Jones Bros. cupcakes for chocolate cake!

Charlotte of course eats her cupcakes the only way you can. Icing first!!

Another year gone by and my Charlotte Ruth is another year older. She is talking about all her surroundings and asking "why?" to everything! She loves music and dancing. She loves reading books and coloring with markers. She snuggles with daddy every night before she goes to bed and almost every morning with mommy in bed before we start the day. She is the apple of her baby sister's eye and makes us laugh with her little girl commentary every day! When she touches your face and turns your head to look at you and says, "your so sweet!" it melts your heart and reminds you of how fast life passes. We are enjoying the good stuff. We love you Charlotte Ruth! Don't ever change Rubert!