- Flip floP -

Flippin' and floppin' and twistin' and turnin'... Let 7 weeks of toddler gymnastics commence!

We [Emma included] loved watching Harper get her groove on and do her thang during these 30-minute sessions!  She made a lot of progress with strength on the uneven bars and balance on the beam over the weeks.

Go, little gymnast, go!  We are proud of you!  :D

- Princess Tea Party -

This year for Christmas, my parents gifted Harper a ticket to a Princess Tea Party.  It was amazing on all levels, because a) who really needs more toys piling up in the house?, and b) who doesn't love a special/fancy day out?!!  I'll take experiences > junk any day! :)  Best of all:  Kate and her mommy were gifted tickets, too!  We gussied ourselves up and hit the road.

The princesses made crowns and sashes and wands and bracelets...

...and also a little mouse cupcake to take home as a treat for later!

There was story time with Prince Charming...

 ...a parade of princesses through the store...

...and then a full spread of food and drink for the Princess Tea Party!

Harper was in the early stages of a full blown, nasty cold and cough, but she mustered up the energy to make it through the afternoon. She was really excited to get home and tell Daddy allllll about the things she did and made, and I know she really enjoyed it all! 

Thanks for the royal treatment and a special day out, Grammy and Papa! What a wonderful idea! :)

- Deliciousness a la Daycare -

A few weeks before [the real] Thanksgiving, we were invited to a delicious Thanksgiving Family Feast at the girls' daycare!  It worked out perfectly, since it was scheduled on one of the days they were already in attendance there at school.  Brian and I rolled in right after work to our kids waiting for us and a hot meal prepped by their teachers! Harper was absolutely THRILLED to be there and have dinner in her classroom with the combo of her parents + sister + teachers + friends together at table, and it was so lovely to see her flourishing in her school environment!  Both kids are growing and learning so much there every Monday/Wednesday, and I loved watching the mutual adoration between them and their teachers during dinner!

^^ Harper was really proud to show off her class's bulletin board in the hallway, where she made painted handprints and said she was thankful for "Flowers" and "Mommy + Daddy"..... :)

"'Member 'dat night at 'da school, Mommy? 'Member when my teachers ate dinner wif us? 'Member 'dat, Mommy??? ...Why do I wook grouchy?" ...Word. Idk, dude!

^^ Scarlett couldn't verbalize what she was thankful for for her class's bulletin board, but I'm prettttty sure it's something along the lines of "Mommy + Daddy" as well...! 
 
Thanks to the school for providing the great meal tonight, but double thanks for taking such great care of our kids day in and out all year long!  It means a lot to have a place that we totally trust to keep our kids alive [and thriving!] while we're away at work, and we've found that safe feeling here. We are so thankful for you!!! :) 

- Garage Storing/Sailing -

Last weekend was our subdivision-wide garage sale -- AKA a subdivision-sized chocolate brownie with three juicy cherries on top for the 3-year-old packrat that lives under my roof. 

Brian generously topped off Harper's [already coin-filled] purse with three $1 bills to spend on "anything you want!" before he dashed off to work out at our new property...

...leaving me as the solo fun-sucking parent to answer to her continuous and exhilarated requests of, "MOMMYYYY! Ohhhh, come wook! Wet's get 'dis!"

When it was all said and done, she came home with a junky doll house [complete with a full family of dolls, furniture, and accessories], a gaudy Halloween/jack-o-lantern frame, and a collection of crap from the garage of a retired teacher [you know, stickers and paper pads and dice and dry-erase boards from one of those "4 items/$1 type of tubs].

Annnnnnd in light of saving my marriage, I managed to talk her down from a $10 ceramic lawn ornament, a $1 used sock monkey for Scarlett [previous property of the neighbor's dog], and a $5 candle-holding/singing Mrs. Claus [?] juuuuust to name a few. #packratforeverandever #idigress

She was so thrilled to show Brian her loot the next morning and immediately asked him if he/we could take her shopping at "some more garage stores sometime soon!" :)

- Tiny Dancers -

After the completion of gymnastics class way back when, Harper has been asking to start another class at the YMCA and so! A five-week stint of ballet/tap/dance it was! 

I was working an extra shift at the hospital on the evening of her very first class, so Brian happily agreed to get her dressed and off to class. A couple of hours later, Emma sent me these pics...

...and when I initially opened them at work I couldn't decide if I should be mortified/embarrassed for Harper or just fall off my chair laughing. Ohhhhh, Daddy...!!! Luckily, Harper didn't seem to mind her wardrobe... :D

For the next week, we dug a little ballet tutu out of her closet [thank you Aunt Lisa for the best hand-me-downs ever!] and she blended in with the other kiddos a little lot better... ;) :)

I/we absolutely loved watching Harper and Kate through the windows each week as they learned new dance steps and got their groove on! In the last few minutes of each class, the teachers invite the parents in for a "recital" so the kids can show off the new steps they've learned, and it's sooo adorable!

We are so proud of our BFF tiny dancers and can't wait to see what they choose to learn next! Love you two ballerinas!!! 

- Wild and THREE! #whoa -

**********

And whennnnn again did this happen?  I remember being all prego and whale-ish like 2015 was juuust the other day, and now there's a THREE-year-old in 'da house?!  Here are the "older girl's" current favorites: 

Book: "Marfa Don't Say Saw-rryyyy" [Martha Doesn't Say Sorry]
Food: "Chicken!"
Store: "Wal-Mart! But Daddy don't yike Wal-Mart. No, he don't yike it, do he Mommy?!"
Treat: "Donuts from Grammy Penny!"
Game: "My barn and princess puzzles!"
Song: "Head, Show-ders, Knees, and TOES!"
Snack: "Woh-gurt and no-wa!" [Greek yogurt + granola]
Toy:  "Ummmm, all dose babies!"
Drink: "Milk!"
Animal: "Doggies!"
Candy: "M-m's" [M&Ms]
Color: "Bwue yike Elsa's dress!" [blue like Elsa's dress]

A couple days before her "real birthday," we celebrated in Doc McStuffins style and fun was had by all!

The morning after the party, Scarlett and I soaked in some snuggles with our "older girl"...

...and were then spoiled with a morning manicure and makeover!  Harp loved all her birthday gifts, but the [pretend] makeup set definitely took the cake; we haven't left the house without it since!

A few hours passed and we were on to the "birthday vacation!" [Video here!]

Thanks for joining, Fiona and Elly!!!

Livin' large...!!!

...And because two full days of celebrating weren't enough, Harper's REAL birthday finally rolled around! We left Scarlett behind with Grammy and scooted off to Ergadoozy for the afternoon!

Happy birthday, Harper!!! As we were watching her birthday video this morning, she said, "I wan a-nudder birfday 'marrow, okayyyy Mommy?" 

...It's fun to be three!!! :)))